DNF

After 40 minutes, I simply couldn’t take any more. In the first 40 minutes, there were two massive listings of mystery writers. Each one no less than ten names. This followed on the heels of a massive info-dump, at the end of which, I couldn’t remember any of the introduced characters. Finally, in the last ten minutes, I was treated to an exhaustive description of one person, practically down to the size of pores on her nose.

I nearly fell asleep listening to this and I was cooking at the time. ( )

25 books in, and Hart still writes a fairly decent murder mystery.

Annie is flying solo for the first time, as Max has gone fishing for a week, and even the three stooges (long-time recurring characters that include her mother-in-law, a best-selling island author, and Annie's best customer) are off cruising the Mississippi. This group exodus allows Annie to work with her friend and island crime reporter Marian Kenyon, who has a very personal interest in the latest murder.

Hart is an excellent author, if at times a bit too emotional for my tastes, and most of the time disturbingly good at plotting a crime. This is one of her few books where I was able to single out the murderer before the denouement, but her writing is so atmospheric and her characters are so vivid that knowing whodunnit doesn't ding my enjoyment of the story. What did was the introspective angst and a morally questionable stunt at the end. If it had been developed a little more carefully and allowed to build up naturally along with the story, it would have made an excellent springboard for a 'does the end justify the means?' discussion, but whether by design or by poor editing, it felt tacked on instead, leaving it firmly in the 'stunt' category.

After 25 books, I'm too heavily invested in this series to quit, but I'm crossing my fingers that the 26th will be a stronger showing. ( )

As usual, Ms. Hart's Death on Demand cozy series delivers. I always look forward to a new Max and Annie Darling mystery. I love the series because these are two of the most likeable protagonists out there, and the setting always delights. In this book Annie is on her own for most of the book because Max is on a fishing trip with some friends. It's July in Broward's Rock (a small island off the coast of South Carolina) and the weather is steamy. Annie's mystery book store is busy with summer tourists and she's reveling in running her store, making reading recommendations to her customers and setting up a big book party to honour an old Broward's Rock alumni who is a famous author. But Alex Griffiths has brought more than his bestselling book back home. He has promised to do a tell-all about who the characters in his book were based on from his old hometown. And there are lots of people who don't want all these old secrets dredged up. Annie's friend Marian Kenyan happens to be one of them and Annie finds herself drawn in to help her friend when the infamous author is murdered. There are lots of suspects and lots of very good motives for this crime and it takes Annie, Marian and the Broward's Rock small police force to make sure that the right perpetrator is caught. ( )

Before I start my review, I have good news for all the Death On Demand fans. This was supposed to be the last book in the series, but author Carolyn Hart has decided to continue! She said the characters just wouldn’t stay quiet. Thank you Annie and Max for whispering into your author’s ear! :-)

Once again Carolyn Hart has outdone herself. She pulled out all the stops with DON’T GO HOME. It’s no wonder she has won multiple Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity awards, along with an Amelia Award. When it comes to good ole traditional, edge of your seat mysteries, this story tops the list.

When I started reading this story, I was just going to read a few chapters than get some work done. I read the entire book without too many breaks. I just didn’t want to put it down until I knew who the killer was. The ending of the book, the reveal, was straight out of a Christie novel! I half expected Miss Marple to walk in and point her finger at the killer.

Once you’ve read DON’T GO HOME, you’ll understand why Carolyn Hart has been called America’s Agatha Christie. It’s a title very well earned.

Here’s to book twenty-six! ( )