Farewell Performance: Lights, Camera, Murder!

Ginger Barnes is an engaging sleuth, no question. In her early thirties, married, with two children and a dog, she does the routine juggling act perfected by so many women of today. Her husband is the head master of a struggling boy's school in a suburb of Philadelphia, where Ginger grew up, and still has family not too far away. This is the sixth of the series, and it didn't quite match the others for quality in my opinion. One of her high-school classmates is just about to make it big - BIG! - in Hollywood, and has come home for their class reunion. Many of their classmates still live in the area, and several of the women meet for lunch and even a sleep-over, just like old times. But, it isn't really just like those old times, for which most of them are grateful. Unfortunately, there were secrets then, just as there are secrets now, and the fear that some of these previously unknown facts will become public knowledge leads to murder. For some reason, this book doesn't have the usual sizzle and snap with which the author usually embues her work. Plot and characters are fine, everything works, but still, this book just doesn't quite work. It's all at sixes and sevens! Maybe it's because of the addition of Frank Giergielewicz, the policeman assigned to the case. He's one terrific guy--or he would be, in some other story. Having become acquainted with Ginger's husband Rip, and their family in the previous books, Frank made me nervous. There is a strong sexual attraction between Ginger and Frank, which really unnerved me, especially in the wonderfully-written car chase scene (remember the movie classic - Bullitt?)Ah, well, life goes on, I suppose. I hope it goes on for Ginger and Rip. Let Frank find his own woman.

Reviewing one's own murder could be a challenge, but I wanted to give it a try! when I "won" the St. Martin's Press "Buys This Book & We'll Kill You", I had NO idea what to expect. What I got was a memorable two years' worth of e-mail & a delightful face-to-face meeting with a multi-talented author. I also made a new & wonderful friend.Not to sound prejudiced, but I think Donna struck just the right note in an excellent story of "you can't go home again". When "Jan Fairchild" -- movie star extrordinaire -- does go home to the Main Line [PA], she ends up dead on page four. The story makes a clever & very smooth transition to the recall method in order to tell the story of "who done it" and why. Ginger Barnes, the lead character, continues to be a believeable, warm person with a wry wit and a gift for mystery solving. As a person who lived in the Philadelphia area for three of my adolescent years, I really enjoyed the local color described so well by Donna, especially during a memorable chase scene which leads to the book's conclusion. Donna's characters are very real, warts and all, and she admirably lets the reader get to know them in this very interesting series. Although Philadelphians will especially enjoy this book enormously, every city has an equivalent to "The Main Line", so geography shouldn't keep readers in other regions of the country from reading and fully enjoying this well-written and fast-paced series of mysteries. Who's the next vic, Donna? I volunteer to come back and be a continued victim. Now THAT's a new slant on mystery writing!

Are you planning on attending your high school reunion? You may change your mind after reading Ms. Murray's latest. A reunion of childhood friends goes wrong when the classmate who hit it big in show biz is found dead following a reunion sleep over. Gin Barnes, with the help of her family & friends, takes steps to find the killer. Gin manages to keep her family going while traking down clues. Lots of fun and action. A wonderful read.

The public adored the bright and beautiful Hollywood star Jan Fairchild, until someone murdered the actress in her hometown of Ludwig, Pennsylvania. Jan had returned to Ludwig for the first time in years. She was seeking to reconnect with her high school friends, especially Ginger Barnes, when the tragedy occurred.The weekend together healed some old wounds, but left others festering. Didi and Ginger hosted a pajama party on Saturday night. However, on Monday morning, Ginger tries to wake up Jan who has an engagement in Philadelphia, but finds her friend dead. Ginger quickly realizes that someone killed Jan, but the list of viable suspects is huge. Ginger, who already has solved several homicide cases, begins making inquiries, as she wants to remove her own name from the head of the police's suspect list.Donna Huston Murray, renowned for her entertaining Ginger Barnes mystery, provides her audience with an enjoyable new entry that shows why the author is highly regarded by readers. The secondary characters turn this novel into a fabulous amateur sleuth story as each one seems human and motivated to commit murder. The lead officer on the case provides an interesting perspective on Ginger because he believes she can contribute to the investigation. This triumphant tale will clearly not be the FAREWELL PERFORMANCE of a marvelous series.Harriet Klausner