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In a world where ice sculptures turn deadly, it's up to one wedding planner to keep D.C.'s best chefs alive… If there is one thing Annabelle Archer can't stand, it's a diva chef. But her career as a wedding planner to the elite socialites of D.C. has her dealing with plenty of them. When one such prima donna rubs her the wrong way, she's not completely surprised to find him impaled on his own ice sculpture… After the hotel's catering director begs the planner to clear her name, Annabelle show more seeks out the culinary criminal. With the clues stacking up against the catering director, the egg timer begins ticking down for her to find the true killer. Can Annabelle solve the mystery before she becomes the main course for a murderer? show lessTags
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Though I enjoy this cozy mystery that takes place in Washington, D.C. I have to say that this one ended up bugging me a lot. The reveal behind the murder was nonsensical and I got really tired of Annabelle's friends telling her who she should go out with. They were aggravating to the extreme to me in this one. I also cannot stand the next door neighbor who invites herself in. Probably because I am an introvert (with extrovert tendencies) I just found myself ready to pummel this person. I with that Annabelle would stand up for herself more and get more of a personality too.
"For Better of Hearse" has Annabelle dealing with another dead body. A loathsome chef is found dead before one of her weddings (seriously how does she still have a show more job?) and when one of Annabelle's friends is accused she takes it upon herself to investigate. I think my main issue with this series is that there is not a real organic way for Annabelle to keep investigating. She's a wedding planner. Why in the world the police don't warn her for being involved with things is baffling. It's one thing when the main character is a private investigator or something.
I also couldn't stand Annabelle's friends in this one, Richard and Kate were off-putting about a potential love interest. I liked the idea of someone else being interested in Annabelle since I am not a fan of the detective character at all. He's bland and jerky.
The writing is good. I was more interested in the wedding planning details though of the crazy brides to be. I found myself annoyed anytime we went back to the murder mystery cause I really didn't care. Maybe I should just read some chick lit wedding planning romance books or something.
The setting of DC is always a favorite of mine and Durham definitely knows her way around the city. I just find it hard to believe that the rich of DC would not be shunning Annabelle's wedding planning business after two of her weddings have been ruined by dead bodies. show less
"For Better of Hearse" has Annabelle dealing with another dead body. A loathsome chef is found dead before one of her weddings (seriously how does she still have a show more job?) and when one of Annabelle's friends is accused she takes it upon herself to investigate. I think my main issue with this series is that there is not a real organic way for Annabelle to keep investigating. She's a wedding planner. Why in the world the police don't warn her for being involved with things is baffling. It's one thing when the main character is a private investigator or something.
I also couldn't stand Annabelle's friends in this one, Richard and Kate were off-putting about a potential love interest. I liked the idea of someone else being interested in Annabelle since I am not a fan of the detective character at all. He's bland and jerky.
The writing is good. I was more interested in the wedding planning details though of the crazy brides to be. I found myself annoyed anytime we went back to the murder mystery cause I really didn't care. Maybe I should just read some chick lit wedding planning romance books or something.
The setting of DC is always a favorite of mine and Durham definitely knows her way around the city. I just find it hard to believe that the rich of DC would not be shunning Annabelle's wedding planning business after two of her weddings have been ruined by dead bodies. show less
Pretty funny. 2nd book in series. I guessed the identity of the murderer pretty early on. Some of the characters were amusing, but some were just annoying. But the hysterical brides from hell were really great.
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25 Works 538 Members
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- For Better or Hearse
- Original publication date
- 2006-02-28
- Important places
- Washington, D.C., USA; Alexandria, Virginia, USA
- Dedication
- For my amazing husband, who makes my heart skip a beat.
- First words
- "I barely escaped being sliced up like a sushi roll, Richard."
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)"All's bare in love and war."
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- Members
- 96
- Popularity
- 335,262
- Reviews
- 2
- Rating
- (3.74)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 7
- ASINs
- 1
