Leading an Elegant de

If you like Diane Mott Davidson, you will like Paula Carter. There is the same sense of danger mixed with hilarious repartee. I really enjoy Ms. Carter's sense of humor. The characters were believable and easy to like.

I've read both of Paula Carter's new mysteries, Leading an Elegant Death and Death Day Party, and I can't wait for the next episode of Hillary and Jane, the most unlikely crime solving duo yet. Ms. Carter has a deft and masterful touch in creating characters whose foibles could quickly make them unsympathetic to the reader. However, both hilarious Martha Stewart take-off, Hillary, and domestically challenged Jane immediately capture our imagination, as do many of the minor characters, such as Billy the burglar, and Jane's young daughter who is sometimes more level-headed than her mother. This is a quick, fun mystery romp in magnolia country. Loved it.

Frankly, I can't understand the extremely negative and hostile reviews for this debut mystery in a new series. Hillary and Jane are not stereotypical characters; they have completely opposite personalities which allows for some very comical interactions. The characters are interesting and well-defined, and the interactions between Jane and her 10 year old daughter are very credible. The plot is interesting, although not extremely complex, but who says that all mysteries have to have a long convoluted plot line? This book is entertaining and worth the read.

Paula Carter does two things very well in this book. First she recalls all the foibles of being in a southern atmosphere and the small town activities so ingrained in many of the real southerners. Second she brings to life two excellent characters, Hillary and Jane. These two ladies are from different cultures and backgrounds and Paula uses this as an excellent device to interject humor, mismatched conversations, and off beat situations. If you are looking for something to read while your supper burns on the stove in the kitchen, then pick up this book and enjoy a delightful story. Paula knows southern culture and puts you right in the middle of it. An entertaining book with ingrained humor that just does not stop.

In Prosper, Alabama, TV homemaker show hostess Hillary Scarborough conducts a strange interview in her car with former law student Jane Ferguson, who has applied for the job of executive assistant. Hillary, accompanied by Jane, is going to visit a TV rival, Sylvia Davis. However, when they arrive at Sylvia's home, they find the woman dead. As Jane calls the police, Hillary, starts to clean up the murder scene. Officer Beau Jackson arrives and quickly sees both women, especially Hillary, as suspects. Hillary hires Jane as her assistant with her first assignment to ferret out the identity of the killer. Jane quickly learns that Sylvia had problems with Cyclone Dan Malone (car dealer), Regina Conyers (politician), and Reverend Collins (womanizing politician). As Jane, with the help of Hillary and safecracking expert Buddy investigates, attempts on her life occur. If she does not uncover the identity of the killer soon, Jane may find herself joiningthe victim. LEADING AN ELEGANT DEATH, the first novel of a new regional mystery series, is humorous and fun to read. The jocular interplay between the characters, especially with California Jane and several of the locals is very amusing. Though the who-done-it is interesting, it is not complex and lacks early clues to allow the reader to try to solve the puzzle. Still, Paula Carter displays much talent as the south comes to life through her darling characters.Harriet Klausner