Maggie Without a Clue

This book in the series brings with it further independence for Saint Just and Sterling. Murder, Kidnapping and little old ladies that have BIG secrets. The main story line revolves around Bernice (Maggie's publisher) who is accused of murdering her second flaky husband - the shady Buddy. Maggie, true friend that she is, sets out to prove her friend is innocent, with the help of Saint Just and company. Again, the characters (Sterling and Saint Just who were developed originally from Maggie's imagination, become more human. Maggie becomes more bewildered and the good guys win!! Well worth the time to read - and enjoyable read at that.

When Maggie Kelley's agent, Bernie, calls tearfully informing her that Buddy is dead, Maggie thinks her friend is simply drunk again, at first. To the best of Maggie's knowledge, Bernie's ex-husband has been dead nearly seven years. However, when Maggie, along with Alex and Sterling, the two characters who have made her a best selling author and come to life literally, arrive at Bernie's, they find that yes, Buddy is in the bed, with his head almost taken off thanks to a deep knife slash. Fortunately, Alex, the Viscount St. Just is one of the best detectives ever invented and has a cool head on his shoulders. Taking charge, he sets things in motion for Bernie to be capably defended and starts his own investigation. If only Bernie's problems were all Maggie and Alex had to face! Recently, St. Just and Sterling agreed to housesit for Maggie's neighbor, and it looks like the old lady did something to get the mob afer her. First, they trash the house, and St. Just's big screen TV, then they kidnap Sterling, his valet. Yet, St. Just is as amazing as Maggie invented him to be, and can handle two cases at once and perhaps further his pursuit of Maggie along the way. **** This series is just plain fun. St. Just, Sterling, and Maggie are easy to love. Ms. Michaels deftly shifts the voices telling the story, smoothly covering all the bases. Humor, drama, romance, what more could a reader want in one book? Easily, this is one of the best romantic mystery series in the land. **** Amanda Killgore

This is the 3rd in the series and continues to get better and better. I can't wait for the next one.

Right off, you should know that I'm a big fan of this author and in particular, this series. The "Maggie" books are charming, romantic and fun to read. I'm particularly intriqued by Ms. Michael's character, St. Just. The author describes him as resembling a young Clint Eastwood - enough said. Kasey Michaels' third book, Maggie Without a Clue, finds our intrepid threesome (Maggie, St. Just and Sterling the affable side-kick) tracking down another murderer in NYC. There is an additional side story concerning Maggie's senior citizen-aged neighbor. This kind lady has subletted her apartmant to St. Just and Sterling but her past may be coming to call. It is here that Ms. Michaels loses some control over the plot. This little side-bar eventually careens over the edge leaving one of the major characters decidedly, well, out of character. I have enjoyed Kasey Michaels' writing style and the characters that she has created, enough to sit tight and wait for the fourth installment of the Maggie series. I can only hope that she puts her characters back on track 'cause I really like the ride!

When Maggie Kelly's romance writing career tanked, she started authoring Regency mysteries starring Viscount St. Just Alexandre Blake and his loyal and gentle sidekick, Sterling. She became a bestselling author, winning many awards until the unbelievable happened. St Just and Sterling popped out of her mind and into her apartment as real people who others see and talk with. She allowed them to stay at her apartment but now they are moving next door to her neighbor's apartment. While she is dealing with the empty nest syndrome, even if its only a few yards away, Maggie's closest friend Bernie calls her up in a panic. Her husband believed lost at sea is in her bed, dead and covered in blood from a knife wound. Maggie and St Just arrive on the scene to see that Bernie is soaked in blood, the murder weapon is one of her own knives, and she has no memory of the night before. The DA, who is running for reelection, believes Bernie is his ticket to another term in office while Maggie, St. Just and Sterling, along with a police officer attracted to Maggie, try to find the evidence that will clear Bernie. Readers will find themselves believing that the heroine thought St. Just and Sterling into existence. They are very believable because they act as if they came from Regency England. It is impossible to figure out who the real killer is until the author chooses to reveal him and it will come as a total shock. Kasey Michaels, known for her upbeat and charming amateur sleuth mysteries, has written another winner, one that will garner her more fans then she already has. Harriet Klausner