I really like the Death On Demand series. Carolyn Hart's writing is always good, but I'm not as taken with her other series - the characters are somehow just not as tactile and reachable as Annie and Max and the rest of Broward's Rock.I know a lot of people don't like book series which have the same cast of characters again and again. In theory, I agree that you can only go through so many permutations of the same cast list before things get stale. However, it's my opinion that the mark of a good writer - and a good series - is that each of the minor characters gets a chance to shine as well, which then allows your two main characters a chance to show other dimensions of themselves. Plus, since I often "see" the characters and storyline in my head as I head (sort of my own private movie version), everything is leant a little more substance and weight as the characters are built up over several books. Carolyn Hart's working on that premise, although she doesn't quite have it mastered yet, in my opinion. A brilliant example is Charles DeLint and his Newford stories, which appear in dozens of his novels, novellas, chapbooks and short story collections, and have interwoven character lines so complex that I am continually drawn back into his work.That said, this new novel of Hart's features, as always, Annie and Max Darling, along with other faithful friends from previous books. The plot is one of Hart's favorites, a stalwart (familiar) character is framed for murder, but there is just enough doubt that something odd "might have happened" and a character whose integrity is supposed to be without question could have acted completely out of character due to extreme circumstances, such as blackmail, self defense, having been drugged, etc etc, and it's up to Annie, Max and the rest of the cast to prove their innocence, uncover the truth and save the day.Mystery readers like loose ends to be tied up, so they inevitably DO save the day, but there are enough twists in Hart's plots so that, while you're reasonably sure the accused is innocent, you have a hard time putting together the clues on who the true killer is until the very end. And that, honestly, is one of the best things about Hart - she does keep you guessing. I usually have figured out the killer before the characters do, but not so early in the book that it spoils my enjoyment.
"Annie Darling, owner of the Death on Demand mystery bookstore, is understandably upset. It isn't like her p.i. husband Max to abruptly disappear and homicide is definitely not his style. But when his car is found abandoned on a remote road with a brutally slain, once-beautiful young woman nearby and the murder weapon stashed in the trunk, Annie's worst fears seem justified."The police have Max all but tried and convicted except for Chief Billy Cameron, whose unshakable belief in his friend's innocence prompts his removal from the case. And as a media circus descends on tiny Broward's Rock, Annie will have to place her own life in jeopardy to clear her husband's name. But time is running out and she has only one slim chance to unmask a killer who just may have committed the perfect crime."~~back coverAfter so many books in this series following the same plot with different window dressing, this one came as a wonderful and welcome surprise. The only downside was another dose of Max and Annie's obsessive love for each other, which is guaranteed to warm most women's hearts but is so seldom encountered in real life.
Do You like book Dead Days Of Summer (2007)?
It's always nice to check in with old friends, even when they've fallen on hard times. In this book, poor Max is setup to take the fall for a murder and it's up to Annie and the gang to clear him.What I enjoyed:* I love Annie and Max's relationship. They are a great couple.* The cast of characters. * I really enjoy how these books start off with quick glimpses into the lives of the people who will be important.What could have been better:* The mystery itself. It was pretty obvious who the bad guy was.* Max might be too much of a gentleman. If he wasn't such a nice guy, he never would have become the fall guy.
—Diane ~Firefly~
Dead Days of Summer by Carolyn Hart is the 17th book in the Death on Demand mystery series. Annie Darling is the owner of Death on Demand mystery bookstore and her husband Max Darling runs Confidential Commissions. Max accepts a commission to locate a clients brother, but instead his client ends up dead and he is arrested for her murder. Annie, with the help of the other residents of Boward's Rock, set out to prove his innocence by finding the real murderer. I enjoyed this addition to the series, and it was good to catch up with the residents of Boward's Rock. It was good to see how everybody banded together, each bringing their own special skills to helping the couple, making the solving of the crime a combined effort. A comfortable, cozy read. I also think it is better enjoyed if readers are familiar with the series and are acquainted with the characters.
—Anastasia
This was a very interesting read. I jumped into the later end of this series without having read any of the earlier books, but I can assure you the author does a good job on "catching up" the reader. I didn't have any problems keeping track of which character was who, nor did I feel lost in any of the setting or other details. The main character's husband is accused of murdering the woman he's supposedly cheating with. The wife tries to clear him by finding the "real" murderer. The other woman, aka the deceased, was a man-eater, so there are many people on the island who are suspect. I'd recommend this book. Nice cozy mystery, with no graphic violence, sex, or gore.
—Megan Kelly
