By: Kasey Michaels
Genres: Mystery | Mystery Woman Sleuth
Posted: November 10, 2005
As if that wasn't bad enough, a heavy rainstorm traps cast and crew indoors with little to do but snap at each other or sneak off to the bedrooms together. Then, shortly after arguing with Maggie, the screenwriter turns up dead -- and it looks like murder.
An old manor house, cut off from help, with the electricity out and a murderer on the loose -- just the place for St. Just to take center stage and solve the mystery. After all, it's what he was created to do. And even in this strange new world he finds himself in, a murder is a murder. But the investigation gets personal when it appears the killer's next target could be Maggie herself.
I must confess this was my first Maggie mystery, so I wasn't sure what to expect. Michaels does an excellent job of bringing new readers up to speed, although I wish I'd read the previous books in the series to be a little more familiar with the characters. The story is a unique blend of mystery, chick lit and humor, and it works beautifully. There's an element of romantic tension between Maggie and St. Just, but more often than not, she finds her "perfect" hero a bit irritating in reality. Peppered with pop culture references and the clever use of mystery and Regency clichés, this book will no doubt please readers who already enjoy the series. And it's pulled in at least one new fan already.
Book Summary
We are not amused
Don’t get me wrong: There was plenty to laugh about when we first arrived in Merry Olde England to watch one of my novels being shot as a major motion picture. Alex was delighted with the location (a seventeeth-century manor house), but horrified with the surfer-dude mimbo playing him. I, personally, found the situation hilarious -- then the leading lady started rubbing up against "my" hero, leaving me no choice but to start a little flirtation of my own with the lord of the manor’s nephew. It was all very Regency House Party until the scriptwriter showed up ... dead.
Lights, camera...action! No, not that kind of action. Well, maybe a little
Okay, so things are suddenly getting hot and heavy between Alex and me -- and our timing is atrocious as usual, what with the murder and mayhem. Suspects? Don’t get me started. There’s Mr. Contemptuous Director, Ms. Man-Crazy Production Assistant, Mr. Fancy Pants English Actor, Ms. Diva Leading Lady, and -- yours truly. Yep, I was seen arguing with the victim right before his unfortunate demise, so I am, as the Brits would say, in a bit of a pickle...
It was a dark and stormy night...
No, seriously. Some truly nasty English weather has flooded the property, cutting off the power as well as access to the roads. Plus, someone’s stolen all the cell phones. Oh, there’s also that second body we just found. And did I mention the ghost? Mm-hmm -- the place is haunted. You know, it wasn’t too long ago that a scenario like this would have had me reaching for a cigarette. Now, it just has me reaching for Alex...
by: Kasey Michaels
Maggie Kelly mystery Kensington
December 5, 2005
Featuring: Maggie Kelly; St. Just; Sterling Balder
288 pages
ISBN: 0758208804
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