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A Ginger Barnes Mystery #6
Farewell Performance
Ginger Barnes must bring down the curtain on a killer...
"Stay away from Ludwig...or else!" Despite the ominous note, glamorous Hollywood actress Jan Fairchild is determined to visit her Pennsylvania hometown. But her old friend, amateur sleuth Ginger Barnes, is dead worried. Tragically, she can't save Jan's life. The beautiful starlet is found murdered during a nostalgic slumber party with high school chums. The night of comfort food, shared secrets, and shocking confessions hasn't led to any bonding moments of sisterhood. Instead it's opened up a Pandora's box of betrayal and jealously. Now Ginger is looking for the killer in a human drama dark with hatred. Or perhaps with obsessive love...
"Stay away from Ludwig...or else!" Despite the ominous note, glamorous Hollywood actress Jan Fairchild is determined to visit her Pennsylvania hometown. But her old friend, amateur sleuth Ginger Barnes, is dead worried. Tragically, she can't save Jan's life. The beautiful starlet is found murdered during a nostalgic slumber party with high school chums. The night of comfort food, shared secrets, and shocking confessions hasn't led to any bonding moments of sisterhood. Instead it's opened up a Pandora's box of betrayal and jealously. Now Ginger is looking for the killer in a human drama dark with hatred. Or perhaps with obsessive love...
272 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 15, 2000
3 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
About the author
Donna Huston Murray
17 books111 followersSince real life doesn’t always end well, Donna Huston Murray makes sure her mysteries do. STRANGER DANGER, the third in her female sleuth, crime/thriller series was awarded the Global Book Awards’ Silver Medal for thrillers, and became a Finalist in the National Indie Excellence Awards. The first two novels in the series each received Honorable Mention in genre fiction from Writer’s Digest..
The author’s Ginger Barnes cozy whodunits feature an amateur sleuth much like herself, a DIY headmaster's wife with a troubling interest in crime. The eighth, FOR BETTER OR WORSE, became a Finalist in the National Indie Excellence Awards. Donna has also been inducted into her high school’s Lifetime Achievement Hall of Fame.
When she isn’t plotting mayhem, Murray assumes she can fix anything until proven wrong, calls trash-picking recycling, and, even though she should know better by now, got a new puppy. Check her socials and you’ll understand.
Donna and husband, Hench, live in Gwynedd, PA, USA.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 30, 2024
FAREWELL PERFORMANCE opens with a bang and the action never slows down. Ginger Barnes is a delight, the kind of character I’d love to have as a best friend. She’s thoroughly capable even when juggling friends, family, and social obligations along with solving mysteries. The book’s Main Line setting was expertly described, and there are plenty of suspects to keep the reader guessing. A snappy plot, plenty of humor, and a protagonist to root for make this charming cozy mystery one to savor.
May 4, 2024
3.5 / 5.0 stars
Sometimes when life gets a bit too frazzled, we just want to go home to relive a moment or two when life was just far less complicated. So that's just what Hollywood sensation Jan Fairchild does to enjoy a happy reunion with her Philadelphia main line high school friends. Everything was going well. That is until a dead body puts a damper on the festivities. True to form, Jan's friend, Ginger Barnes, starts a bit of sleuthing to suss out the perp.
There are so many possibilities which author Donna Huston Murray deftly leads us through, methodically ticking each one off the list of suspects. Her writing is solid and the characters are well developed. The setting is well described. The dialogue is tender, sometimes a bit snarky and often humorous. Overall this was a satisfying read and the perfect palate cleanser between heavier books.
I am grateful to author Donna Huston Murray for having provided a complimentary e-copy of this book in its second edition. Her generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.
Publisher: Ravenhill Press
Publication Date: 2nd edition - June 25, 2024
No. of pages: 255
ASIN: B0D1VWNQLK
Sometimes when life gets a bit too frazzled, we just want to go home to relive a moment or two when life was just far less complicated. So that's just what Hollywood sensation Jan Fairchild does to enjoy a happy reunion with her Philadelphia main line high school friends. Everything was going well. That is until a dead body puts a damper on the festivities. True to form, Jan's friend, Ginger Barnes, starts a bit of sleuthing to suss out the perp.
There are so many possibilities which author Donna Huston Murray deftly leads us through, methodically ticking each one off the list of suspects. Her writing is solid and the characters are well developed. The setting is well described. The dialogue is tender, sometimes a bit snarky and often humorous. Overall this was a satisfying read and the perfect palate cleanser between heavier books.
I am grateful to author Donna Huston Murray for having provided a complimentary e-copy of this book in its second edition. Her generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.
Publisher: Ravenhill Press
Publication Date: 2nd edition - June 25, 2024
No. of pages: 255
ASIN: B0D1VWNQLK
April 14, 2024
Exciting and Engaging!
LOVED this story! It's a quick, engrossing read (almost finished, on a flight from BWI to IAH).
A suspicious death proves to be murder most foul. (What, you didn't know this was a murder mystery?) A group of high school chums reunite and the comraderies of childhood reform in unexpected patterns. Can you go home again?
Our heroine remains true to her nature, trying to unravel truths well-hidden, and yet in plain sight, in this exciting, hard-to-put-down (the plane landed and they made me stop reading and get off!), multi-level and multi-faceted tour de force.
As I read, there were scenes that played like Cinemascope at the drive-in (and for those who've never had this experience, my condolences--there are still a few theaters in the country), as well as small, intimate moments, all laced with a strong sense of humor and caring, tying the whole together. Brava, Ms Murray!!
LOVED this story! It's a quick, engrossing read (almost finished, on a flight from BWI to IAH).
A suspicious death proves to be murder most foul. (What, you didn't know this was a murder mystery?) A group of high school chums reunite and the comraderies of childhood reform in unexpected patterns. Can you go home again?
Our heroine remains true to her nature, trying to unravel truths well-hidden, and yet in plain sight, in this exciting, hard-to-put-down (the plane landed and they made me stop reading and get off!), multi-level and multi-faceted tour de force.
As I read, there were scenes that played like Cinemascope at the drive-in (and for those who've never had this experience, my condolences--there are still a few theaters in the country), as well as small, intimate moments, all laced with a strong sense of humor and caring, tying the whole together. Brava, Ms Murray!!
July 17, 2024
Somehow I missed this Ginger Barnes installment when it first came out, but I'm glad I got to read the new and improved version instead. The fun part for me was the setting, only about a half hour from where I live, so I knew all the roads and landmarks.
The plot is a well laid out mystery, nicely paced. I was a little confused at first by the flashbacks where Gin is relating what led up to the murder to the police, but that straightened itself out quickly. I can't say more without spoilers.
Recommended.
The plot is a well laid out mystery, nicely paced. I was a little confused at first by the flashbacks where Gin is relating what led up to the murder to the police, but that straightened itself out quickly. I can't say more without spoilers.
Recommended.
May 22, 2024
Jan Fairchild is returning to her hometown for a sleep=over reunion with her friends. The reunion wasn't quite what everyone had expected when Jan was found murdered. Suspects, you bet, and lots of them. Even friends at the sleep=over were suspects. It seems Jan had lots of enemies!! A great read.
June 5, 2024
Farewell Performance is a twisty, cozy mystery. Ginger Barnes is one of my favorite sleuths. Ginger is smart, creative and intuitive. She will need all her abilities to solve this particular murder of a hometown girl turned Hollywood actress who came home for a respite. Lots of suspeect and possible motives for Ginger to sort through!
June 9, 2024
Farewell Performance portrays the always so likeable Ginger Barnes in a manner that works. Compassionate and unassuming, intelligent and perceptive. A normal, imperfect human being. A protagonist who keeps the pages turning.
November 4, 2023
The sixth book in the Ginger Barnes mystery series. A light and entertaining cozy mystery.
April 6, 2024
Who killed Jan and why??? I learned some interesting driving tips during this story which I enjoyed and also recommended the book.
July 26, 2024
Enjoyable break from heavier tomes with a relatable protagonist.
June 7, 2024
Exciting and Engaging!
LOVED this story! It's a quick, engrossing read (almost finished, on a flight from BWI to IAH).
A suspicious death proves to be murder most foul. (What, you didn't know this was a murder mystery?) A group of high school chums reunite and the comraderies of childhood reform in unexpected patterns. Can you go home again?
Our heroine remains true to her nature, trying to unravel truths well-hidden, and yet in plain sight, in this exciting, hard-to-put-down (the plane landed and they made me stop reading and get off!), multi-level and multi-faceted tour de force.
As I read, there were scenes that played like Cinemascope at the drive-in (and for those who've never had this experience, my condolences--there are still a few theaters in the country), as well as small, intimate moments, all laced with a strong sense of humor and caring, tying the whole together. Brava, Ms. Murray!!
LOVED this story! It's a quick, engrossing read (almost finished, on a flight from BWI to IAH).
A suspicious death proves to be murder most foul. (What, you didn't know this was a murder mystery?) A group of high school chums reunite and the comraderies of childhood reform in unexpected patterns. Can you go home again?
Our heroine remains true to her nature, trying to unravel truths well-hidden, and yet in plain sight, in this exciting, hard-to-put-down (the plane landed and they made me stop reading and get off!), multi-level and multi-faceted tour de force.
As I read, there were scenes that played like Cinemascope at the drive-in (and for those who've never had this experience, my condolences--there are still a few theaters in the country), as well as small, intimate moments, all laced with a strong sense of humor and caring, tying the whole together. Brava, Ms. Murray!!
June 14, 2024
Donna Huston Murray always provides great consistency in quality in all her works like the best mystery writers such as —Agatha Christie, PD James, and others. I always look forward to each book knowing that it has been clearly outlined and diligently researched for accuracy, have interesting and well developed characters, and without a doubt create a most enjoyable read. By far “Farewell Performance,” is one of the best of this series taking one on a provocative, challenging and complex story through the eyes of the forever wise and determined sleuth-- Ginger Barnes.
June 17, 2024
A can't put down amateur-sleuth mystery
A riveting and entertaining mystery that I read in two non-stop sittings. We are taken through the days leading up to the murder, with all of the possible suspects, so that every word holds the reader's attention. Still, I had no idea "whodunit" until the very end. Highly recommended to fans of amateur-sleuth mysteries.
A riveting and entertaining mystery that I read in two non-stop sittings. We are taken through the days leading up to the murder, with all of the possible suspects, so that every word holds the reader's attention. Still, I had no idea "whodunit" until the very end. Highly recommended to fans of amateur-sleuth mysteries.
November 21, 2015
Just needed a quick read as I am bogged down on some of my other books.
Refreshing adventure with semisleuth ginger barnes in Ludwig just outside of the Main Line in Philadelphia. A movie star returns home to a class reunion and encounters threats to he safety. Just what I needed to reset.
Refreshing adventure with semisleuth ginger barnes in Ludwig just outside of the Main Line in Philadelphia. A movie star returns home to a class reunion and encounters threats to he safety. Just what I needed to reset.
July 10, 2024
An enjoyable, quick read. If you like cozy mysteries, you’ll love this one. Although I eventually figured out the ending, I was most of the way through the book before I did. Worth a read for mystery enthusiasts.
June 15, 2024
This was hit-and-miss for me.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews