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kathydavie's review against another edition
4.0
Second in the Death on Demand mystery series revolving around the owner of a bookstore by the same name that specializes in mysteries.
My Take
A righteous murder of a nasty old bitch who terrorized everyone around her…and anyone else she could hurt. It's great fun reading Hart's stories if only for the list of mystery authors, series, and titles she sprinkles throughout the text. I keep stopping to add 'em to my list!
The Story
That bitch Sylvia enticing Tim into her bed and away from hers! Well, we'll see about that! The Prichard Museum simply won't allow Tim's paintings to travel as he has requested. Then the board wants a mystery nights! Well...at least she will have control over who is hired! Then that niece of hers! About to make the biggest mistake of her life.
Annie almost refused to create the mystery nights for Corinne Prichard Webster — the woman was so incredibly obnoxious. She's just lucky that the challenge was enough to overcome her attitude as Annie bubbles into plans trying to winnow down the possibilities. It certainly is a challenge creating a Mystery Nights that plays up the house-and-garden tour for Chastain, and Annie has created one plot already when the fax comes through, changing everything only for Annie to discover the sabotage.
The Characters
Annie Laurence is the owner of Death on Demand, a bookstore specializing in mysteries, on Broward's Rock in South Carolina. Ingrid is Annie's assistant in the shop. Max Darling is a wealthy lawyer who has been after Annie to marry him. He's followed her here and is determinedly setting siege. Barbie is his secretary.
Corinne Prichard Webster sees herself as the queen of Chastain society, believing that she is the only arbiter of how any one may live their lives. And as the leader of the Board, she has the power. Gail Prichard is her niece and "about to throw her life away" just like her father.
Other Board members include…
…Lucy, a woman whom Corinne manipulated into not marrying her brother Cameron; Roscoe Merrill, a lawyer, and his wife Jessica; Dr. John Sanford; Miss Dora, an ancient upright bitch; and, the very flamboyant Sybil.
Mrs. Brawley is a mystery reading fanatic willing to do anything to win. Idell Gordon is the innkeeper who saw and wanted too much. Bobby Frazier is the very careful reporter attempting to throw dust in everyone's eyes to hide his attraction.
The Cover and Title
The cover is murder with Poe's raven, a skull weeping on the side of a glass, and a red dagger lying on the wicker table as Agatha the cat looks on from a background of shelves and shelves of books.
The title, Design for Murder, refers to the Mystery Nights designed by Annie.
My Take
A righteous murder of a nasty old bitch who terrorized everyone around her…and anyone else she could hurt. It's great fun reading Hart's stories if only for the list of mystery authors, series, and titles she sprinkles throughout the text. I keep stopping to add 'em to my list!
The Story
That bitch Sylvia enticing Tim into her bed and away from hers! Well, we'll see about that! The Prichard Museum simply won't allow Tim's paintings to travel as he has requested. Then the board wants a mystery nights! Well...at least she will have control over who is hired! Then that niece of hers! About to make the biggest mistake of her life.
Annie almost refused to create the mystery nights for Corinne Prichard Webster — the woman was so incredibly obnoxious. She's just lucky that the challenge was enough to overcome her attitude as Annie bubbles into plans trying to winnow down the possibilities. It certainly is a challenge creating a Mystery Nights that plays up the house-and-garden tour for Chastain, and Annie has created one plot already when the fax comes through, changing everything only for Annie to discover the sabotage.
The Characters
Annie Laurence is the owner of Death on Demand, a bookstore specializing in mysteries, on Broward's Rock in South Carolina. Ingrid is Annie's assistant in the shop. Max Darling is a wealthy lawyer who has been after Annie to marry him. He's followed her here and is determinedly setting siege. Barbie is his secretary.
Corinne Prichard Webster sees herself as the queen of Chastain society, believing that she is the only arbiter of how any one may live their lives. And as the leader of the Board, she has the power. Gail Prichard is her niece and "about to throw her life away" just like her father.
Other Board members include…
…Lucy, a woman whom Corinne manipulated into not marrying her brother Cameron; Roscoe Merrill, a lawyer, and his wife Jessica; Dr. John Sanford; Miss Dora, an ancient upright bitch; and, the very flamboyant Sybil.
Mrs. Brawley is a mystery reading fanatic willing to do anything to win. Idell Gordon is the innkeeper who saw and wanted too much. Bobby Frazier is the very careful reporter attempting to throw dust in everyone's eyes to hide his attraction.
The Cover and Title
The cover is murder with Poe's raven, a skull weeping on the side of a glass, and a red dagger lying on the wicker table as Agatha the cat looks on from a background of shelves and shelves of books.
The title, Design for Murder, refers to the Mystery Nights designed by Annie.
book_concierge's review against another edition
3.0
Digital audiobook read by Kate Reading.
Book # 2 in the Death on Demand series, featuring mystery bookstore owner Annie Laurance. Annie’s been invited to stage a Mystery Night for the annual antebellum house tour of the Historical Preservation Society in Chastain, South Carolina. But there is some personal drama going on among the board members and Annie is used to embarrass the grande dame of the group. Annie and her fiancé Max have just about cleared her name in that kerfuffle when she finds a body on the grounds of the estate. The weapon is one of the props Annie brought along for the game and suddenly she’s the number one suspect.
Hart writes a fast-paced cozy mystery with a great central cast of characters and a wonderful premise. I love the mystery bookstore, though I did get a little irritated by how often an author / book was mentioned. I very much liked the Mystery Night puzzle going on at the same time that a real murder was being investigated, though I sometimes got confused about which “clues” referred to the game vs the actual crime. I didn’t have a copy of the text handy when I was listening; I’m sure I’d have had a easier time keeping it straight in text rather than audio.
Kate Reading does a marvelous job reading the audiobook. She’s a talented voice artist and was able to differentiate the many characters. For a short while I was listening at double speed and her diction was still clear and understandable.
Book # 2 in the Death on Demand series, featuring mystery bookstore owner Annie Laurance. Annie’s been invited to stage a Mystery Night for the annual antebellum house tour of the Historical Preservation Society in Chastain, South Carolina. But there is some personal drama going on among the board members and Annie is used to embarrass the grande dame of the group. Annie and her fiancé Max have just about cleared her name in that kerfuffle when she finds a body on the grounds of the estate. The weapon is one of the props Annie brought along for the game and suddenly she’s the number one suspect.
Hart writes a fast-paced cozy mystery with a great central cast of characters and a wonderful premise. I love the mystery bookstore, though I did get a little irritated by how often an author / book was mentioned. I very much liked the Mystery Night puzzle going on at the same time that a real murder was being investigated, though I sometimes got confused about which “clues” referred to the game vs the actual crime. I didn’t have a copy of the text handy when I was listening; I’m sure I’d have had a easier time keeping it straight in text rather than audio.
Kate Reading does a marvelous job reading the audiobook. She’s a talented voice artist and was able to differentiate the many characters. For a short while I was listening at double speed and her diction was still clear and understandable.
sharonsueg's review against another edition
3.0
Easy read. Mystery, relationships, and comedy in one book. Read series in order to understand characters and relationships better.
kraley's review against another edition
1.0
I didn’t finish this book. It was just too painful and Harry Potter cane available at my library, so I abandoned this one happily.
sleepgoblin's review against another edition
3.0
I hope the pattern gets mixed up a little more in the next one.
trisha_thomas's review against another edition
3.0
"It was finished, as neat a design for murder as could be envisioned. Murder with malice."
Audio book. It wasn't a bad cozy mystery - I enjoyed the humor and personality of Annie. She's a very fiery owner of a book store called Death On Demand. She is asked to host a big murder mystery for nearby small town. The town is full of small town gossip and rumors and drama, something Annie walks into but doesn't full know about - because she's an outsider, which is something a lot of the locals like to remind her.
When setting up for her murder mystery by placing the weapon and fake body, an actual dead body is found. It's the local busy body - horrible, pushy, nasty woman. And many of the locals have reason to want her dead. But the local bumbling detective doesn't want to look beyond the 2 out-of-town visitors - Annie and another gentleman. So Annie must figure out who the killer is just to clear her own name.
It was an silly mystery but I loved the prep of the actual murder mystery party. I also enjoyed the banter with Max and how silly Annie could be. it was cute, light and fun.
Audio book. It wasn't a bad cozy mystery - I enjoyed the humor and personality of Annie. She's a very fiery owner of a book store called Death On Demand. She is asked to host a big murder mystery for nearby small town. The town is full of small town gossip and rumors and drama, something Annie walks into but doesn't full know about - because she's an outsider, which is something a lot of the locals like to remind her.
When setting up for her murder mystery by placing the weapon and fake body, an actual dead body is found. It's the local busy body - horrible, pushy, nasty woman. And many of the locals have reason to want her dead. But the local bumbling detective doesn't want to look beyond the 2 out-of-town visitors - Annie and another gentleman. So Annie must figure out who the killer is just to clear her own name.
It was an silly mystery but I loved the prep of the actual murder mystery party. I also enjoyed the banter with Max and how silly Annie could be. it was cute, light and fun.
judyward's review against another edition
3.0
Well, great. You are asked to plan the annual spring house tour and a dead body turns up in a pond. Could this day get any better?
darylreads's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.0
princessleia4life's review against another edition
5.0
I think it was better the second time I read it.