by Lorie Lewis Ham

Details on how to win a copy of Death At The Door at the end of this review, along with a link to purchase the book where a portion of the sales go to help support KRL!

I have been a fan of Carolyn Hart’s Death On Demand mysteries since the beginning, and was excited to read the new one, Death At The Door. And it didn’t disappoint!

Annie Darling owns the Death On Demand mystery bookstore on the island community of Broward’s Rock and loves a good mystery–but preferably not real ones even though she has ended up solving her fare share. In Death At The Door, two unexpected deaths shake the island community within a short period of time–first a much loved doctor takes his own life, and then the wife of a local artist is bludgeoned to death by his sculpting mallet resulting in his arrest for her murder. Because of Annie’s reputation for solving crimes, the doctor’s sister comes to her and her husband Max, determined that her brother was murdered and wanting them to prove it. She brings with her a sketch he did soon before his death that links him to the murdered woman. The police have decided that both cases are solved, and even Max is skeptical, so it is up to Annie to find out the truth.

With the help of Max’s eccentric mother Laurel, local mystery author Emma Clyde , Annie’s friend and faithful customer Henny Brawley, and of course the adorable and easy going Max, Annie catches the murderer and uncovers many secrets along the way.

This book has a fun mystery plot filled with twists, turns and surprises, but my favorite part of every Death On Demand book are the delightful characters and the wonderful setting. Annie and Max are the perfect couple, and her friends and mother-in-law add some wonderful fun and flavor to the mix. I love every trip to Death On Demand–it is a wonderful mystery bookstore complete with a bookstore cat named Agatha and coffee served in the back. Each book has a contest where the characters are trying to guess the book titles that go with the posters of book covers hanging on the wall of the store–which adds an extra bit of fun for the reader. I also enjoy reading the names of the various mystery novels that line the bookstore shelves.

If you love mysteries and great characters, don’t miss this latest trip to Death On Demand. While you’re there, see if you can win the poster contest and don’t forget to grab a cup of coffee!

To enter to win a copy of Death At The Door, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “Death,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen June 14, 2014. U.S. residents only.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & short stories in our mystery section.

Lorie Lewis Ham is our Editor-in-Chief and an enthusiastic contributor to various sections, coupling her journalism experience with her connection to the literary and entertainment worlds. Explore Lorie’s mystery writing at Mysteryrat’s Closet.