Have Your Cake and Kill Him Too (Blackbird Sisters Mysteries Series)

Philadelphia society columnist Nora Blackbird seems to have a knack for being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Such is the case when she arrives on the grounds of "Fitch's Fancy", an old Main Line family's manor house, just as the body of Zell Orcutt, dirty old man extraordinaire and current owner of the estate, is found dead in the garden with an arrow in his chest. While it may be a bit unusual to commit murder with a bow and arrow, it turns out that the entire Fitch clan are all archery champions. Nora Blackbird finds herself "volunteering" to look into the murder when her friend and event planner Delilah Fairweather becomes the prime suspect for the murder. Several other story lines are woven into the plot along with the murder investigation. Most importantly, Nora finds herself unexpectedly expecting, and she's not quite sure if the father of her child is on-again off-again wiseguy boyfriend Mick Abruzzo or new love interest Richard D'eath. Nora's two eccentric sisters, Libby and Emma, figure prominently in the book. Libby is busy trying to recruit Nora and Emma to pose nude for a fund-raising calendar, and Emma has a mysterious new job. Author Martin introduces some well-crafted new characters who are the high-society relatives of the murder victim. Also, Nora's nephew Rawlins is prominently featured in this story and he is a very strong and entertaining character. It's so wonderful to find a series where the books keep getting better and better. Hard for me to believe, but "Have YOur Cake and Kill Him Too" was even better than the fourth book in this series "Cross Your Heart and Hope to Die". And again, author Nancy Martin manages to leave us all on the edge of our seats anticipating the next story in this series.

Our zany Blackbird sisters are providing more cRaZy antics than ever. You're not going to be disappointed, as this is the best (and who could have thought they'd get better??). Nora is having her own "family" crisis... Libby wants her sisters to "save" her society by posing nude for a calendar! Emma takes a job at the Dungeon of Darkness? There's more fun and zany blue-blood and not so blue characters in this novel. Nancy Martin mysteries are just pure entertainment!

...and I don't mean the mystery! Let's face it, those of us who have been reading this series from book one do not keep coming back for the oh-so-enthralling mysteries. No, we come back to find out if the on again, off again Nora Blackbird and Michael "the Mick" Abruzzo will ever get it together and finally decide to make it "official". Well, I guess I will have to just keep reading to find out but I must admit there is no couple I am rooting harder for, Bo and Hope have nothing on these two! In Maritn's newest Blackbird sisters mystery Nora finds herself entangled in yet another murder investigation, this time, however, one of her best friends is the prime suspect! Nora, with many other pressing issues on her mind such as her new pregnancy and her sisters constantly playing who's the daddy, is thankful for the distraction when asked once again to use her connections to look into the murder of one of the towns most hated men. Unfortunately the real distraction comes in the form of her ex-boyfriend Michael Abruzzo and whether or not he has really gone back into the "family business". 'HAVE YOUR CAKE AND KILL HIM TOO' is definitely the best book to come out of this delightful series thus far, and on the edge of my seat is where I am doomed to remain until the next installment...I can't wait!

"Have Your Cake and Kill Him Too" is Nancy Martin's latest adventure in the lives of society columnist - Nora Blackbird and her rather eccentric siblings. As usual, this latest effort is right on target when readers learn that Nora's vintage couture (handed down from Grandmama) is fitting rather snuggly. Nora is pregnant! Of course this comes at a rather inopportune time since she has not only split with Mick, but has been asked to model nude for Libby's calendar - designed for philanthropic purposes, of course! This doesn't stop Nora from investigating when there is murder and mayhem surrounding the latest nightclub called "Cupcakes." (Think "Hooters") The end result is a great mystery that will leave you wanting more of the Blackbird Sisters.

Ex-heiress Nora Blackbird is not having an easy time of it as she is still trying to pay the taxes on the family estate while looking for money to do so. She broke up with Michael Abruzzo, the son of a mafia don because he went back into the family business but she is pregnant and dating Richard, a crime reporter for a respectable Philadelphia newspaper. Neither her sister nor her friends know she is pregnant and she doesn't intend to tell anyone who the father is. Although she has to avoid stress because her pregnancy is high risk, she becomes involved in the murder investigation of Zell who married the widow Fitch; when she died he inherited the estate and the money. Nora goes to the Fitch estate to meet her friend Delilah Fairweather and sees Pierpont Fitch angrily leaving the premises and nearby is Boykin Fitch, a state legislator running for the senate. Zell refused to let them in the house. Delilah is the last person to see Zell alive and she fears because she is black, the police will zero in on her as a suspect. Knowing her friend isn't guilty; she agrees to help Delilah by finding the real killer. Once again Nancy Martin writes a serio-comic who done it featuring a protagonist who always goes from the frying pan into the fire. Not only is she investigating the many suspects who hated Zell, but she has to force herself to keep away from Michael; who might be involved in the kidnapping of the son of his family's enemies. Nora slowly realizes that all is not what it seems with Michael's activities and the police investigation. The author has written a who done it that is sassy, exciting and impossible to put down. The heroine has a charm and a vulnerability that endears her to the audience. Harriet Klausner