Death on Demand

Carolyn G. Hart

Annie Laurance owns a mystery bookstore on Broward's Rock Island, South Carolina. Although Death on Demand is closed on Sundays, on Sunday evenings she has a gathering of local authors discussing writing books. This Sunday murder steps out of the pages of their books. Elliot Morgan is threatening to reveal past secrets of the members. Before he can start his talk, the lights go out. When they come back on, he is dead.

Annie's day had had it's excitement earlier as well. She has lived in South Carolina since the summer, leaving a non-promising acting career in New York. There she had known Max Darling, the rich playful man who plays but never works. She was attracted to Max, but didn't like his lifestyle. She left New York without a message for him. Now he has finally tracked her down and shows up on Broward's Rock Island. He is in Death on Demand when Elliott is killed.

The local sherriff suspects Annie of Elliott's murder. Max steps up and acts as her attorney. More people die on the small island. The clues keep pointing to Annie. She investigate murders. As she and Max get closer, their lives also are in danger.

This is a pleasing cozy mystery, the first in the Death on Demand series. Carolyn G. Hart has developed some fun characters in Annie Laurance and Max Darling. There's a lot of potential for growth in these characters that I'll look forward to reading in the subsequent books in the series. The mystery was built well. I guessed who was the murderer because I've read many of this type of mystery. But if I had been in the situation, I wouldn't have known.

Death on Demand
Design for Murder
Something Wicked
Honeymoon with Murder
A Little Class on Murder
Deadly Valentine
The Christie Caper
Southern Ghost
The Mint Julep Murder
Yankee Doodle Dead
White Elephand Dead
Sugar Plum Dead
April Fool Dead
Engaged to Die
Murder Walks the Plank
Death of the Party
Dead Days of Summer
Death Walked In
Dare to Die