Synopses & Reviews
Death is no joke on Broward's Rock, though reading about deadly doings remains as popular a pastime as ever for citizens of the stormy South Carolina sea island. Now, with spring newly sprung, Annie Darling has conceived of an ingenious promotional scheme to draw customers into her Death on Demand bookshop for the upcoming in-store appearance by world-class mystery author Emma Clyde. Offering a free book to anyone who can solve a series of clues about popular whodunits, Annie and hubby Max pass out their flyers all over town. But an April Fool prankster is distributing a counterfeit flyer, supposedly devised by the Darlings, offering clues to several lethal local "accidents" that have occurred lately -- including the drowning of Ms. Clyde's own husband -- complete with not-so-vague accusations of murder.
Suddenly the Darling name is mud, thanks to the vicious slanders of an unknown counterfeiter. And Annie knows that she herself is going to have to do the bulk of the sleuthing -- with the only intermittently effective aid of Max--if she doesn't want this particular April Fool's to last well past Memorial Day.
Then, just as things couldn't seem to get any worse, they do. In the wink of a bloodshot eye, Annie's hunt for a malicious trickster has become a desperate search for a killer. Because now more than her reputation is at stake. If she can't rid her idyllic isle of a secret slayer, the malefactor's next murderous "joke" may be on her!
Brimming with stunning surprises, rapier wit, and wonderful suspense -- boasting the author's trademark cast of uniquely unforgettable eccentrics -- Carolyn Hart's lucky thirteenth Death on Demand novel is an unmitigated delight, ranking with the very best of this, or any, contemporary cozy mystery series. No foolin'!
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Rave reviews for Carolyn Hart and the Death on Demand Series“Displays the charm and coziness of Christie.” Chicago Sun-Times
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“One of the cleverest puzzle plots around.” Toronto Globe and Mail
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“The Darling duo is as winning as ever.” Baltimore Sun
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“A tantalizing mystery...Perfect for Murder, She Wrote fans.” Booklist
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Praise for April Fool Dead:“Harts 13th winning outing....evokes classic screwball comedy.” Publishers Weekly
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“...An honest-to-goodness whodunit, with enough red herrings to fill a pickle barrel...a tour de force.” The State Columbia (SC)
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"Carolyn Hart's craftmanship makes her mystery's Queen of C's--cozy, clever, and chock full of charm." Mary Daheim
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“Carolyn Harts thoughtful innovative mysteries make her, without a doubt, among the best crime writers living today.” Earlene Fowler
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“The reigning monarch of the amateur sleuth mystery delivers royally.” Cleveland Plain Dealer
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“Hart creates lively, sympathetic characters and interesting locales and maintains a snappy pace.” Booklist
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Praise for Sugarplum Dead“A lively tale with well-drawn characters.” Orlando Sentinel
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“Carolyn Hart has served up yet another delicious mystery that kept me guessing until the end. YUM!” Diane Mott Davidson
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“Ill admit it. Im a sucker for Carolyn Harts Annie and Max series.” Robert Crais
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“Tantalizing...Keeps the reader guessing all the way.” Denver Post
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“Carolyn Harts craftmanship makes her mysterys Queen of Cs--cozy, clever, and chock full of charm.” Mary Daheim
About the Author
A recognized master of mystery and spinetingling suspense, Carolyn Hart has written four previous
Henrie O mysteries:
Dead Man's Island(an Agatha Award winner).
Scandal in Fair Haven (nominated for both an Agatha and Macavity Award),
Death in Lover's Lane, and
Death in Paradise. She has been nominated for and has won multiple Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity Awards for the books in her popular
Death on Demand series, and is one of the founders of Sisters in Crime. Mrs. Hart lives in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.