There are good things that I liked and bad things that were annoying about this book. Good: I really enjoyed not knowing for sure what was going to happen next. Annie keeps right on getting herself into all kinds of trouble and Max keeps getting her out of it. They seemed to do more investigating in this one. Just about the time I thought I might know who the killer was another clue was dropped that through my guess all out of whack. I don't think that I would have ever guessed who the killer was just from the clues...was completely surprised at the end because Annie and Max kept finding reasons why it couldn't be them until the end.Bad: The constant reference to other books and authors was annoying to say the least. I wish that Hart would stop dropping names all of the time and just write her story. The constant name dropping detracted from the story...it was as if she wanted to make sure you knew that she was well read and new her mystery writers. Max's mother, Laurel didn't seem to add to the story. What does all her rambling about flowers and what they mean have to do with the mystery??? I think she could have been left out or made to add to the mystery better. That being said, I just tried to ignore the name dropping and enjoy the story.
Just like the one and only other Annie and Max book I read, this one got on my ever-loving nerves! Why must Ms. Hart constantly reference other books, authors and even characters? It happens on almost every single page of the 300+ page book. She combined the doggedness of Bertha Cool (who?) confronting Donald Lam (who?) with the serenity of Maud Silver (who?) quoting Tennyson. That entire sentence could have been written and better understood without all those extra people that mean nothing to most readers.Obviously she is a talented writer so why does she rely on other authors characters to move her story along? It was hard to stay invested in the mystery because all these references to other characters kept pulling my attention away from this mystery. That said, I did enjoy the mystery itself which literally kept me guessing until the last chapter. I never suspected the guilty party and was shocked. And honestly WTH did Laurel's flower crap have to do with the mystery? It was just put there for no reason and was another annoying aspect of this book.I own one other book in the Death on Demand series so I guess at some point I'll actually read it but I won't be picking up any others. They are just too irritating.
"Murder is, surprisingly, not all that uncommon on tiny Broward's Rock, an idyllic sea island community off the South Carolina coast. Annie Darling's popular mystery bookshop, Death on Demand, is where the locals come to discuss the juicy details of each criminal offense -- under the watchful gaze of a pampered feline prima donna named Agatha. But now Annie's dear friend (and best customer) Henny Brawley stands accused of murdering a Women's Club volunteer-cum-blackmailer. So dive into the shark pool of dotty eccentrics and imperious belles who constitute the island's smart set. Because only there can the Darlings prove hapless Henny innocent -- by determining who among the well-heeled had the dirtiest little secret ... and would kill to protect it."~~back coverRelatively formulaic, with mild side diversions into "the shark pool of dotty eccentrics" who inhabit Broward's Rock. Nice return to the mysterious vignettes at the start of the book.
—Kate
#11 in the death on demand mystery series. Murder is, surprisingly, not all that uncommon on timy Broward's Rock, an idyllic sea island community off the South Carolina coast. Annie Darling's popular mystery bookshop, Death on Demand, is where the locals come to discuss the juicy details of each criminal offense. Annie and friends rally the members of their various network of volunteer organizations to come to the defense of a prominent and popular member who is a murder suspect. Though the mystery is serious, the over all tone is light.It is a good read, however, Annie Darling takes a bit getting use to. Especially her tendency to continually drop names of authors, titles and characters in various mysteries.
—George
