Murder Walks the Plank

15th book in the "Death on Demand" series. Although these stories are what I call "formula" mysteries (same story, different words), somehow they are still very readable. Annie Darling owns a mystery book store called "Death on Demand". The fanatical mystery readers who frequent her store become like old friends -- some you like better than others. Of course, there is always a murder or two and Annie and her husband are involved in the solving. If you're looking for an easy, enjoyable read, you might like this series. ( )

I just went to Amazon to see how this book was rated, and there are plenty of five-star ratings and rave reviews. Hmm. I thought it was a pleasant enough book with a fairly good mystery, but I wasn't in the least taken by the main character and her circle of friends, who are gather are an ongoing group in the series. I was actually annoyed by the too-perfect marriage of the main character, Annie Darling, and her husband Max. The closest they seemed to come to any kind of discord was when she insisted an accident wasn't an accident but a murder; and Max disagrees but still does at least half of the investigative work on the case.

The red herrings were plentiful and I didn't find the solution unbelievable, but I just didn't care about any of the characters.

Another somewhat irritating aspect for me was the idea that so many of the characters had such a depth of knowledge of mysteries. I've been reading them all my life, too, and while I recognized the names of perhaps a quarter or a third of the authors mentioned, there were plenty I didn't. In particular, the 'mystery paintings' contest featured in the book described five paintings that represented five books, none of which I've ever heard of. And yet one of the characters in the book unerringly names all five of them without skipping a beat? Not entirely sure I buy that, really.

Oh, well, this is obviously appealing to many readers; I note she has 42 books on Amazon. And a slew of awards. And I'm sure a pile of money. Good for her.

Once again Carolyn Hart has created a mystery that didn't let on whodunit until the last few pages. Two women in the community die within hours of each other, both presumed accidental, but our Annie doesn't think that is the case at all. Then another body, someone unknown to the Island, is found shot to death. Are all connected in some way. Somehow our sleuths think so. Watch how Emma, Annie, Max and Henny figure this out with the proverbial anecdotes from Laurel whose strange advice always ends up on the money. ( )

On a mystery cruise someone is attacked, but who would want to hurt the town saint? ( )

Annie Darling is owner of the Death on Demand Mystery Bookstore in the small Atlantic seacoast town of Broward Rock, where the usual six degrees of separation is reduced to one, two at most. It’s a place where everybody knows everybody else, or so it seems. A charity cruise aboard the Island Packet is the site of Murder Walks the Plank’s first “accident,” when a champion volunteer winds up overboard.

In short order, two more deaths occur – a wealthy matron police believe committed suicide, and a natilly dressed out-of-towner cops speculate was a carjacking victim. Annie’s hubby Max agrees with the police, but Annie doesn’t. Her usually reliable gut tells her the three events are related and she sets out to prove the relationship between the three victims. Max and Annie set out on separate investigations that wind up converging.

As usual, Carolyn Hart gives readers an interesting cast of characters, a knotty mystery to unravel and secondary plots that add to the fun. As her investigation progresses, Annie also faces the task of hammering out some difficulties with her newfound half-sister and previously long-lost father. And, as usual Carolyn Hart drops in references to mykstery novels old and new – she’s a fountain of mystery trivia.

Authors walk a fine ling between “dependability” and “predictability.” Carolyn Hart is dependable. Her books are like the children of Lake Wobegon: they’re all above average. Murder Walks the Plank is a terrific, fun read: light on violence, heavy on human relationships, with flawless plotting and smooth writing. She makes it easy for readers to like her books.

By Diana. First Published in Mystery News, February-March 2004 ( )