by Lorie Lewis Ham
Details on how to enter to win a copy of Dead by Midnight at the end of this review!
For the last several years I’ve spent most of my time reading only books I had to review and so I’ve lost track of some of my early favorite mystery authors and series. One of those authors is Carolyn Hart and recently I had the chance to read my first Death On Demand book by Carolyn Hart in many years and they are just as wonderful as I remembered! 
In the latest installment of the series, Annie Darling, owner of mystery bookstore Death on Demand in Broward’s Rock, South Carolina, is shocked when new employee Pat Merridew commits suicide. Annie’s long time friend and best customer Henny was a friend of Pat’s and is convinced this was not suicide, so they set out to find evidence to prove it. Soon the police get sidetracked from Pat’s case by the murder of a rich lawyer, Pat’s former boss Glen Jamison.
Convinced the murders are connected, and feeling bad because her nosiness put her in a position to give evidence that pointed toward someone she felt was innocent, Annie is bound and determined to find out who the killer is. Annie enlists the help of her handsome husband Max and they set out to find the truth.
In the midst of all the danger and excitement Annie has to keep the bookstore going and is forced to deal with her often flighty mother in law Laurel who insists that Annie sell cat prints with clever sayings on them in her store. She also gets herself in some danger and trouble along the way, causing Max and the sheriff some unwanted scares.
This series is absolutely wonderful. Not only are Annie and Max the perfect fun couple working together to solve mysteries, but their interchanges and wit remind me of the Thin Man Movies. I adore her store and all of the inside references to mystery authors, titles and covers! It seems so real I feel like I could just walk through the door and head for the coffee bar in the back and enjoy a cup of their delicious coffee in one of the fun mystery mugs while petting store cat Agatha. Maybe I’d even get lucky and win the book cover contest!
The mystery in Dead by Midnight kept me guessing almost as long as it did Annie. I highly recommend this book! It is a wonderful, good old fashioned mystery with great characters! I can’t wait to find time to go back and read all the ones I’ve missed.
Learn more about Carolyn’s other books on her website.
To enter to win a copy of Dead by Midnight, simply email KRL at life@kingsriverlife.com with the subject line “Midnight”, or comment on this article. Only U.S. residents please. A winner will be chosen next Saturday, June 11, 2011.
Thanks for the giveaway.
I am another who loves Carolyn Hart’s books. I can’t wait to read Dead by Midnight! Good review Lorie!
Carolyn Hart would be a new author for me. I’d love to read this! It sounds really good!
You are right, it’s been too long since I’ve read a Carolyn Hart book.
Thanks-this really was a great book and I can’t wait to find the time to go back and read the ones I’ve missed! Good luck on the giveaway!
Lorie Ham
Carol and all, Ms. Hart’s books, at least the ones I read so far, are wonderful. They are perfect for summer vacation reads. This one is a draw for me for two reasons: I LOVE gazebos — one of my favorite places is the gazebo in St. Helena in Napa Valley. There’s just something about that that pulls me; maybe because they are a part of another time and place.
And bookstores — my version of Disneyland is a bookstore.
Jan Long is the winner! Thanks to all who entered please keep coming back for more mystery fun!
Lorie Ham, KRL Publisher