Death Comes Silently (Death on Demand Series #22) [NOOK Book]

In the 22nd release in her famous DEATH ON DEMAND series, Caroly

In the 22nd release in her famous DEATH ON DEMAND series, Carolyn Hart offers a thoughtful, tantalizing mystery based in Broward's Rock, SC. Once more, readers are invited to join Annie and Max Darling as they hunt a killer on the loose in this bucolic setting. When mystery bookstore owner Annie Darling asks Gretchen Burkholt to fill in for her at the charity shop, she has no idea Gretchen will end up dead. Annie immediately goes into "sleuthing mode" and wonders if Gretchen's death could be connected to a suspicious drowning that occurred two weeks earlier. As always, Ms. Hart offers a delightful puzzle for her fans to solve. Intricate plotting, well-developed characters and enough red herrings to keep readers on their toes make this mystery a treasure to read. This is a series that should never end.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Annie Darling, owner of mystery bookstore Death on Demand, is de

Annie Darling, owner of mystery bookstore Death on Demand, is dealing with slow business so when she has the chance to host a book signing for a local writer, she asks Gretchen Burkholt, a fellow volunteer at a local charity resale shop, to take her scheduled shift. During the book signing Gretchen calls Annie when she discovers information on an index card found in the pocket of a jacket belonging to the late Everett Hathaway among clothes donated by his family after his supposed accidental drowning that could mean he was murdered instead.

Annie goes to the shop to discover Gretchen has been murdered and the paper with the information is missing. Suspicion falls on an ex-convict handyman but as Annie digs deeper into the connection between Gretchen's and Everett's deaths even more suspects emerge and it soon becomes apparent that one of them wants her out of the way.

This series is one of my favorites in the cozy mystery genre and this newest story lived up to my expectations. I always like reading about the relationship between Annie and her husband Max as they embark on sleuthing adventures together. All the regular characters are likeable which makes the series fun to read. Hart always does a good job of creating enough suspects to keep the reader guessing right up to the end and that was the case in this storyline as well.

Fans of this series won't be disappointed and newcomers will enjoy it even if they haven't read the previous titles as there is enough background given on the various characters to explain the relationships.

I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher but the opinion of it is my own and was not solicted, nor was a positive review required.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Death Comes Silently

This marks the twenty-first novel in the Death on Demand series featuring the mystery bookstore owner, Annie Darling, and her husband, Max, who runs Confidential Commissions, through which he offers “counsel to people in trouble.” There is, of course, a death early on, a seemingly accidental drowning of Everett Hathaway, who was, strangely [it being early January], kayaking before somehow tipping out into the water and suffering hypothermia before drowning. Very soon thereafter there is another death, one that shakes Annie to the core: The victim was Gretchen Burkholt, who had taken Annie’s place at the charity shop at which they both volunteered so that Annie could attend a booksigning at Death on Demand. When Annie returns to the shop after a series of calls from Gretchen, she discovers her body on the floor, a blood-covered ax nearby.

Annie is guilt-ridden at the fact that Annie herself should have been there, not Gretchen, and is determined to find the killer. When it becomes known that Gretchen had discovered something in the clothing that the dead man was wearing the night he died, with shocking implications, Annie is not persuaded that his death was an accident, and believes that that discovery might have led to Gretchen’s death. Annie is aided in this by the usual cast of characters: husband Max, and his mother, Laurel; local crime writer Emma Clyde, whose booksigning took place on the night Gretchen was murdered, and Annie’s long-time friend Henny Brawley. The reader is introduced to a whole cast of characters, any one of whom had a motive to kill

The action takes place in Broward’s Rock, a barrier island 40 minutes from the South Carolina mainland described by the author as “undoubtedly the most glorious place in the universe to live.” Fans of this delightful series will smile in recognition, as I did, at Agatha, the store’s resident feline [the one who shares Annie and Max’ home is named Dorothy L]. The story shifts from one to the other of these amateur sleuths, as they pursue different aspects of the investigation while the police continue to believe that Hathaway’s death was an accidental drowning.

There are of course references to many much-loved mystery authors scattered along the way, along with the observation that “that was the comfort of mysteries. Bad things happened, but good people tried to mke things better.” A sentiment with which readers of this wonderful series can agree. A charming read, and recommended.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Death Comes Silently - Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Sti

Death Comes Silently - Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat; Think With Your Taste Buds; A Book and A Dish




Annie was struck by the weariness evident in his broad face. He was Billy, big,

brawny, and muscular, but Billy without his customary equanimity. Tight lines

marked the corners of his eyes, bracketed his generous mouth. Instead of a

jacket and slacks or a suit, his usual dress for work, he wore a navy pullover

and jeans. His blue eyes had a lost look. "I know you support me, but that

isn't what matters at this point. There's a dangerous killer out there who will

remove anyone seen as a threat. Right now Henny is safe. Jeremiah's arrest

will reassure the killer that she doesn't know enough to be a danger. As for

the rest of you" - he looked at Annie, Emma, and Laurel in turn - "don't even

think of trying to investigate." Annie felt a deep twist of disappointment.

"Jeremiah's innocent!"




Annie Darling is owner of Death on Demand, a mystery bookstore. She is also a

volunteer for Better Tomorrow, a charity shop that offers groceries, clothing and

other needs for those in financial binds. Due to a scheduled booksigning for

author Emma Clyde, she switched days with Gretchen Burkholt. This switch turned

out to be fatal for Gretchen when she found a note in the pocket of a jacket

that had belonged to Everett Hathaway. Everett's body had been found two

weeks earlier floating not far from his overturned kayak. An autopsy listed

drowning due to unconsciousness as a result of hypothermia as the cause of

death. According to the voice mail messages from Gretchen to Annie's cell

phone, the note she found leads her to believe his death wasn't an accident but

murder.




There are three people who would benefit from Everett's death. His much

younger wife, his nephew who wants to manage the family advertising business and

his 16 going on 21 year old niece who wants to run her own life, with her own

money. So which hated him enough to want him dead? Could Annie be wrong and

Jeremiah is the guilty party? Or was Everett's death actually an accident and

has nothing to do with Gretchen?




I can't get enough of Author Carolyn Hart's books. She has entertained me with

all of her Death on Demand stories and I simply love her Bailey Ruth ghost

stories, which I hope she writes more of soon. With all of her books Hart

combines love, humor and a 'whole lot of mystery' making each page flip by

quickly to see what clue the next holds. You can't help but love this author.

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Charming Mystery What a great read. After repeated phone calls

Charming Mystery

What a great read. After repeated phone calls from a volunteer about being afraid, Annie goes over to the charity shop and discovers the volunteer's body...murdered. An axe points to a suspect who declares his innocence. With Henny, Annie and Max on the case, there is no escape for this killer. The action started immediately in this well-scripted mystery that I could not put this book down. The mystery kept me guessing and on my toes as I navigated the clues and was caught unawares when the killer was identified. I love the comfortable tone, the small town atmosphere and the lovable yet eccentric cast of characters that are a delight with my annual visit to Broward Rock. I look forward to the next exciting adventures that awaits the Darlings and their friends in this charming and terrific series.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

I love Carolyn's Death on Demand books. Wonderful addition to a

I love Carolyn's Death on Demand books. Wonderful addition to a wonderful series.

WolfyTopaz

Im here. Now what?

0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

I was dissappointed in the ending

I thought this story moved rather well. Lots of suspects and a good plot idea.

But I felt things were dropped to the wayside and never explained.

I do enjoy this series but I felt the ending could have been explained better. You don't give your reader the "the police got their confession from the murderer" but don't write it out for your reader. What happened? What was their reasoning? Explain the evidence that was found. Why were people killed? I felt that was all skipped over to get to the happy ending....

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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