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Liked It “Recipe for mayhem: Take one stressed out Mystery writer, an apparently deliberate case of food poisoning, a handsome Columbo-ish police detective, various and sundry suspects connected to the publishing world and combine. Add two fictional Regency era characters from said Mystery writer's...” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“This is a good new mystery series which has a bit of a fantasy thrown in, a hint of romance and plenty of intrigue. A good read for about a week or so, since I had a late start. ”
Kristen H wrote this review Tuesday, April 7 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Recipe for mayhem: Take one stressed out Mystery writer, an apparently deliberate case of food poisoning, a handsome Columbo-ish police detective, various and sundry suspects connected to the publishing world and combine. Add two fictional Regency era characters from said Mystery writer's popular series. After stirring into chaotic situation, fold in romantic overtones from one real and one fictional character. Serve with Arsenic and Californian red wine.
liv4bks wrote this review Friday, March 13 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Maggie Kelly, better known to fans of the St. Just mystery series as Cleo Dooley, has a problem. Or two. Or three. Or four. One - Her two main characters, Alexandre Blake, Viscount St. Just and his sidekick Sterling Balder, just appeared in her living room. Two - Her Editor's ex-husband who is also Maggie's ex-boyfriend and her publisher, Kirk Tolland, is trying to re-start their relationship. Three - While in total control of her hero in the pages of her book, Maggie is quickly losing control in the real world. St. Just, now calling himself Alex Blakely, is slowly taking over Maggie's apartment, credit cards and her next book idea. Four - Kirk wangles a dinner date with her and ends up dead, apparently from mushroom poisoning.
Enter hunky Police Lieutenant Steve Wendell, who has definite questions about Maggie's "cousin" Alex and his friend Sterling showing up just before the murder. He thinks they're illegal aliens, Alex thinks the Left-tenant is an idiot. Both go about solving the murder in their own way, getting in each other's way intermittently, and finally working more-or-less together to figure out who killed Kirk.
Having read nearly all of Ms. Michaels previous stories, from Regency to Historical to Contemporary, I found this book to be just as fascinating. I wasn't thrilled with Maggie being a chain smoker and junk-food junkie, but they were necessary elements to show Maggie's insecurities. I enjoyed St. Just's independent forays into modern day New York although a couple of instances, like the run-away carriage, were a little too surrealistic.
This is a really great summer read! I only wish I had waited until the sequel Maggie by the Book was in print. It's going to be hard waiting a couple of months to see how Maggie handles her growing personal relationships with Policeman Steve and "Figment of her imagination" Alex!
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