Dead Days of Summer (Death on Demand Mysteries, No. 17)

The latest Death on Demand thriller brings danger closer to home than ever. While with a mysterious client, Max is kidnapped, drugged and then framed for a murder. When it looks like there is no hope of the police looking for another suspect, Annie puts on a disguise and enters the territory of a cool calculating killer. Can Annie keep her identity a secret? Can she ferret out the secrets that hide the real killer before they leave the island? As time runs out and the killer's family is packing up, Annie forces the killer into revealing himself, by playing a dangerous bluff and putting herself in danger.

It has been a couple of decades since I last picked up a murder mystery novel. I stopped reading them because I found most too predictable. However, I recently received Dead Days of Summer as a gift. I tucked it into my briefcase for a trip to Paris, and on my long, coach-class flight home I pulled out the book and dug into it. Before I knew it, we were descending into Dallas/Fort Worth. Carolyn Hart has blessed us with a wonderful page turner (I use that term very stingily), allowing us to peer into small-town life and a murder that had me trying to discern the culprit throughout most of the 280 pages. Given its beach community setting, it's the perfect summertime read. An enthusiastic thumbs up from this reader.

Things are not what they seem. On Broward's Rock, everyone has their share of excitement, but Annie Darling is at her wit's end. It's one thing to say goodbye, but when it's not your choice, that's another feeling altogether. Annie's husband, Max, has his own investigative business, which is doing fairly well, while Annie is having a ball with her Death on Demand bookstore. When Max takes on new client Vanessa Taylor, they don't anticipate him being caught up in the very mystery he's trying to solve. Annie is frantic when he doesn't show up at home and calls on her mystery-loving allies to help. Her panic soon turns to frenzy when the police find his car, a dead Vanessa, and the murder weapon in the truck. Max, disoriented and confused, is the prime suspect. Yet he feigns innocence, claiming that Vanessa hired him to find her brother ---- but when he went to his last known whereabouts, he was drugged. Needless to say, Annie doesn't take the news well. The media has had a field day with this, painting Max as an unfaithful husband. Annie takes matters into her own hands and plants herself dead center into the home of Vanessa's former employers. She soon finds out that Vanessa helped set Max up, but unknowingly contributed to her own demise. Annie is up against the clock as she sets out to find a cold-blooded killer and clear her husband's name. Once again, this series captures the attention of fans galore as Annie steps out to solve a mystery --- this time on her own. Hart does an excellent job in this portrayal of courage, depth and resiliency. Most of all, it proves that love prevails over all things. DEAD DAYS OF SUMMER is an awesome addition to this ever-popular series. --- Reviewed by Belinda Williams

Maxwell "Max" Darling's business is called "Confidential Commissions". It is much like a private investigator business. He gets a new client who is searching for her brother. Knowing his wife, Annie, would worry unless he let her know he'd be late, Max calls. Annie Darling gets worried when Max never gets home that night. A search party begins. The police locates a dead woman that same night. The murder weapon is found in the trunk of Max's nearby Jag. The lady had been seen by many witnesses at a bar the night before. Max and the lady looked to be having an affair. But no one knows where Max is. The police finally locate Max stumbling down a road. All the evidence, and there is quite a bit, points to Max begin the killer. But Annie refuses to believe it. Annie finally takes matters into her own hands and goes undercover to catch a killer. ***** It is no wonder this author has won several Agathas and Anthonys. Carolyn Hart's writing talent is still taking the Mystery world by storm and looks as though it may continue to do so for a long time. This novel is but one example of her awesome creativity skills. One thing is certain: I look forward to many more books in this mystery series. ***** Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Max Darling starts a new case helping a young woman look for her brother. But when he doesn't come home, his wife Annie starts searching for him. In her search, she encounters someone in his office in the dark. Annie is certain something has gone wrong. Max just doesn't disappear like that. When a young woman is found murdered in a cabin, Max becomes the number one suspect. But he's still missing. Annie and her friends step up the search. Finally he is found walking along a road and taken to the police station for questioning. Max doesn't remember much. What he does remember isn't helpful. He is arrested. Annie decides she has to do something to help free Max. There is too much circumstantial evidence against him. But, can she get the information in time without putting herself in danger? I really enjoy this series. I like series set in the south, and Broward's Rock, SC, is a great island setting. It has been a while since I had gotten to read one of these. I think that's part of the reason I had a little trouble getting into the beginning of the story. Once it got going, I fully enjoyed it. I liked the way Annie went undercover to help find the truth to free Max. Having the help of all her friends really made the difference. Annie is such a likeable character. I think the fact that she owns a mystery bookstore helps me like her a lot, too. Max is a fun character. The way he and Annie interact is wonderful. This book really let us see the strength of all their friends and that was great. I highly recommend this book! www.mysteryloverscorner.com [...]