How to Host a Killer Party: A Party-Planning Mystery

"A wonderful, fast, and funny mystery that takes place mostly on the streets of San Francisco. Presley Parker is an extremely likeable heroine...the book is full of San Francisco characters...really good tidbits about SF society. I really liked this book from beginning to end. The characters are funny and also believable. You can be sad one minute and falling off your chair the next. I highly recommend this book to all mystery readers whether you like cozy or not. It's no wonder Ms. Warner is a bestselling author." ~ Mary Lignor, Once Upon A Romance

A fun, intriguing, and satisfying cozy mystery. "How To Host A Killer Party" has all the elements: offbeat characters, humor, party tips and plenty of suspense. After thirty years living in the San Francisco Bay Area, Alcatraz Island and Treasure Island still fascinate me. After reading Penny's book, I'm heading back to both places for another visit. Maybe I'll run into Presley Parker and her love interest, Crime Scene Cleaner Brad Matthews. Now settle back and enjoy. The second in the series is on its way.

How to Host a Killer Party is a fun read from start to finish and has everything a cozy mystery needs: clever writing, intriguing characters (including a hunky yet mysterious office neighbor), and lots of suspense. The book moves along at a good pace, thanks to all the humor and plenty of action. Having the main character be a party planner is a unique concept and provides a fun background for the story. The author does a great job of blending the party planning world into the murder plot. I especially liked the fun party tips at the start of each chapter, and the author even provides instructions at the end of the book for how to host your own geocaching treasure hunt. This is a fantastic start to a new series and I can't wait to read the next party book.

If you're looking for a fun mystery, something on the light side with humor and fast-paced action and a cast of appealing characters, you're gonna love "How to Host a Killer Party," the first of Warner's Party Planning mystery ... at least, I sure did! Presley Parker (no relation) reminds me of a West-Coast (slightly more serious) version of Stephanie Plum. I liked Presley immediately and am looking forward to reading more about her -- and her offbeat friends and family -- in the next in the series. The San Francisco/Alcatraz Island/Treasure Island locations are great fun too. Treasure Island is particularly intriguing. As a Bay Area native, I drive past it all the time. AFter reading Warner's mystery, I've decided I'll have to do a little exploring on one of my Bay Bridge runs. I recommend "How to Host" for when you're looking for a good read to pick you up when the "real world" and all the noir out there starts to get you down.... A cuppa hot tea (or maybe one of Presley's venti lattes), a comfy chair, and "How to Host a Killer Party" are an unbeatable combination.

Presley Parker is delighted when the San Francisco Mayor asks her to plan his upcoming wedding on Alcatraz Island. The exciting venue and A-list guests guarantee a boost for her new event planning business. That is, until the people involved with the event, start getting murdered. The lively plot twists and turns through the streets of San Francisco, with just the right mix of historical tidbits, sidesplitting laughs, and thrilling surprises. As an added bonus, there are plenty of tips on how to turn your next party into THE entertainment event of the decade on a very limited budget. I enjoyed every bit of it... I'm sure you will too!