Death of the Party (Death on Demand Mysteries, No. 16)

Max Darling is hired by Britt Barlow to help her find a murderer. Her brother-in-law was murdered one year ago, and she's invited everyone back to the island that was there the weekend he was killed. She knows he was killed because she took the wire off the stairs that was strung for him to trip over. Everyone thought it was an accident. Her sister was so sick when he died, she didn't want any scandal. Her sister has since died. Now she's ready to unmask the killer. She wants Max's help. He finally agrees to help and brings Annie along. The island is secluded with no way off until Sunday night. There's no cell phone reception either. When Harry, a hired hand on the island, goes missing, everyone believes he is the murderer. That is until another body turns up. Can Max and Annie find the killer without becoming the next victims? I really enjoyed this book. I think it was the secluded island that cinched it for me. I already liked Max and Annie from previous books. The South Carolina location is wonderful. Having them stranded on an island for a weekend with a killer increased the intensity. I kept trying to figure out who it was. The author did a great job of creating characters that were believable. She gave enough twists and turns to hide the killer to the end. I highly recommend this book.

I have read all of Hart's Death on Demand books and enjoyed this one as much as the first. The twists are great and keeps you wondering if you are "on the right track" to solving this murder. Great read for summer fun!

This whodunit which is the next tale of Annie and Max Darling, amateur sleuths, in Hart's Death on Demand Mystery series quickly sets the scene introducing all of the possible suspects of a murder that happened over a year and a half ago. Britt Barlow knew that her arrogant, media tycoon brother-in-law, Jeremiah Addison's deadly tumble down the marble staircase was no accident. But when she is blackmailed for her coverup of the murder by one of the nine guests who was on the island that fateful weekend, she is determined to find the true murderer and entices all the possible suspects back to the scene of the crime, Golden Silk Island off the South Carolina coast. Britt, now owner of the private island/resort, also invites Max and Annie Darling for the weekend to help uncover Jeremiah's murderer. Max and Annie quickly learn that all of the suspects had ample motive for doing in the overbearing Jeremiah. The plot heats up as all communication to anyone off the island disappears with the island handyman along with the boats and another murder occurs. Stranded on the island until the charter is due to arrive at the end of the weekend, Max and Annie feverishly set about to reveal the murderer before the murderer strikes again. ***** This is a wonderfully plotted whodunit reminiscent of the crafty Agatha Christie style. With the intriguing plot twists involving all of the suspects, Hart keeps the reader constantly guessing who the real murderer is and cleverly keeps the secret until the very end of this murder mystery. The quick dialog of the very likable Annie and Max has the reader feverishly turning the pages as this couple goes about their sleuthing. This is the first Death on Demand Mystery book that I have read, but I now want to read them all! Anyone who is an Agatha Christie fan would enjoy this cleverly plotted mystery. ***** Reviewed by Barbara Stabler.

Great addition to the Death on Demand series. Although I missed the normal characters the different setting was a refreshing change, and I was very surprised by the ending.

Britt Barlow lives on Golden Silk Island, a private place belonging to billionaire Jeremiah Addison, taking care of her sister who is dying of cancer. In the early morning hours, she hears a thump and sees Jeremiah at the bottom of the stairs, dead after falling over a trip wire. Someone on the island murdered him but with her sister dying she covers up the crime making it look like an accident so her sibling wouldn't be disturbed by the police or the media. A year later, Jeremiah's will has gone through probate and through her sister Britt inherits the island and a lot of money. She receives a letter in which someone claims they saw her cover up the murder. Rather than give in to blackmail, Britt invites everyone who was on the island a year ago to return so the murder can finally be resolved. She hires Max Darling of Confidential Commissions to help her. He and his wife Annie go to the island not realizing that before the perpetrator is revealed one person will leave taking the only transportation and communication with the mainland with him, a guest will be murdered, and Annie will be held hostage. Max Darling might like living a life of leisure but when he works, he lets nobody get in his way, even his beloved wife Annie. Carolyn Hart has written another exciting mystery with a cast of characters that are memorable because they each had a motive to murder Jeremiah. Readers will never guess who the real killer is and that is why Ms. Hart is such a popular mystery writer. Fans will be pleased with the latest DEATH ON DEMAND mystery. Harriet Klausner