Rating: 
Summary: A fast-paced story with memorable characters and dialogue
Review: "When I think back on everything terrible that happened that autumn --- the murders, the grim discovery I made, the danger I found myself in --- I realize I probably could have avoided all of it if my love life hadn't been so sucky." So begins A BODY TO DIE FOR. Author Kate White continues this amiable, breezy style throughout this fast-paced story.Bailey Weggins lives in New York City and is a freelance writer --- of crime stories mostly --- with an occasional contracted article that is meant to expand the horizons of women who read Gloss magazine. She has an optimistic outlook on life and is immediately likeable. A friend invites her to spend a weekend at the spa that she owns and although Bailey is not into most of the "goofy" spa stuff, she does enjoy a good massage. And besides, her mother has been worried about her and thinks a vacation could cheer her up. So she jumps in her Jeep and heads up the Connecticut Turnpike to be pampered for the weekend. Amateur detective novels can be implausible at times, what with psychic cats and stuff, but here the tie-in with her job lends credibility as Bailey discovers a dead body within hours of arriving at the Spa and then spends the next few weeks tracking down clues to discover whodunit. Like a professional detective, Bailey is methodical in her investigation, constantly reviewing clues she logs in composition books and following threads of evidence that she keeps pulling at until the whole mystery unravels. Mysteries are so popular and there are hundreds of good writers out there, but only a few stand out above the rest. What set them apart are the additional strengths that go beyond telling a good story. Top writers create memorable characters, people who readers can love or hate or identify with. They write dialogue that sounds realistic, and they put into words insights and observations that cause the reader to smile in agreement or nod knowingly. For example, Bailey is thinking about the hunky cop she just met and she decides "...it was a complete aberration --- like one of those blinding pains you get in your temple one day that convinces you (that) you have a brain tumor the size of a beefsteak tomato but never occurs again..." A BODY TO DIE FOR, which follows Kate White's successful debut novel, IF LOOKS COULD KILL, is the second of a great new series for us fans of Sue Grafton, Janet Evanovich, and the two Roberts --- Crais and Parker. --- Reviewed by Maggie Harding
Rating:
Summary: A To-Die-For Book
Review: A Body to Die For is the second book "starring" Bailey Weggins, a freelance journalist who writes true crime stories. We've met Bailey before in Kate White's first novel If Looks Could Kill. She's back...and better than ever. Bailey is recovering from being involved in a murder investigation and a broken heart. She tries to get away to a spa and inn for the weekend owned by a family friend. Of course there's no relaxing for Bailey, though; she's just found a dead body at the spa! She morphs into true crime journalist mode and sets out to solve the murder mystery and get her friend's inn back to business. Bailey becomes embroiled in all of the shady business at the spa, the history of the murder victim, and the secrets of others. The best thing about this book is that it's very difficult to figure out who the murderer is. You are taken on a suspenseful journey and led different ways to throw you off track. Kate White creates great characters and plot lines. Excellent murder mystery!
Rating: 
Summary: Beach read!
Review: A Body to Die For is the second book of a new series featuring Bailey Weggins, a freelance magazine writer who specializes in true crime stories. In this installment, Bailey travels from NYC to Massachusetts for some rest and relaxation at a spa owned by a long time friend of Bailey's mother. Shortly after Baily arrives, a spa employee is found murdered. Bailey soon discovers that this is not not the first death during the past few months at the spa, and that several other intrigues are also going on. In the true spirit of nosy writers who interfere with police work, Bailey begins interviewing reluctant spa employees and other bystanders, and following up on clues. At the same time, Bailey is managing her conflicted romantic life, finding herself interested in both a boyfriend from the past and one of the policemen involved in the murder case. Kate White's writing style is breezy and not unlike that of the fashion / beauty magazine Ms. White edits. The phrasing is awkward or blunt at times, and Bailey frequently acts like too much of a neophyte for her crime writing background. However, A Body to Die For is a swift paced read perfect for lazy summer afternoons.
Rating:
Summary: An enjoyable quick read
Review: A Body to Die For is the second entry in what hopefully will be Kate White's long series of mystery novels featuring the likable, sharp-witted writer Bailey Weggins. Though not as good as If Looks Could Kill,the first book featuring Bailey, the plot revolving around a death of a masseuse at a Bed & Brekfast/day spa hums along nicely ,with a lot of interesting characters and intriguing sub-plots. This is a fairly quick read and it can easily be finished in a day or two.It's a fun, enjoyable book.Not great literature obviously but still a guilty pleasure.
Rating:
Summary: Yep, great for the Beach
Review: A Body to Die For is, quite simply, great fun. I had been reading some heavier books, and put them aside to read this. I was a fan of If Looks Could Kill and was hoping that this book would fulfill the promise that White had shown in her first novel. She does. I, for opne, was glad to see Bailey taken out of New York and put in a New England setting ... we know this was only temporary for Bailey is a real New Yorker. White is very good at introducing multiple characters and red herrings and she really keeps you guessing until the end. The most refreshing thing about this book is how everybody at this spa seems to have a secret and nobody is squeaky clean. This book is a fun read, and White's prose is intelligent and cleverly written so you don't have to worry about mediocre writing. A great read while curled up in your chair.
Rating:
Summary: A worthy follow-up
Review: A Body to Die For is, quite simply, great fun. I had been reading some heavier books, and put them aside to read this. I was a fan of If Looks Could Kill and was hoping that this book would fulfill the promise that White had shown in her first novel. She does. I, for opne, was glad to see Bailey taken out of New York and put in a New England setting ... we know this was only temporary for Bailey is a real New Yorker. White is very good at introducing multiple characters and red herrings and she really keeps you guessing until the end. The most refreshing thing about this book is how everybody at this spa seems to have a secret and nobody is squeaky clean. This book is a fun read, and White's prose is intelligent and cleverly written so you don't have to worry about mediocre writing. A great read while curled up in your chair.
Rating: 
Summary: A mystery wrapped in Mylar...
Review: A suspense novel that makes a great summer beach read, A Body to Die For features the hip and irreverent, Bailey Weggins. Bailey is a freelance writer for Gloss Magazine, specializing in true crime. This adult Nancy Drew is all wrapped up in solving a murder at the spa she visits for a simple weekend of R and R. This au courant young New Yorker, sophisticated enough to maintain a career in New York City, is still as enthusiastic and romantically flexible as the girl-next-door. Bailey plunges ahead, undaunted. Visiting the Cedar Creek Inn, owned by a longtime friend of her mother's, Bailey is ostensibly reestablishing old ties. But she is also checking up on mom's friend Danny and her new husband. And it is the perfect getaway from the morbid thoughts of a broken romance Bailey is trying to forget. Within hours of her arrival, Bailey stumbles across a murder victim in the Cedar Creek spa, who turns out to have been one of the masseuses. The body is tightly wrapped in Mylar, then secured with duct tape. Like a young "Sue Grafton" without P.I. license, Bailey's sleuthing is amateur but well intentioned. Of course, it doesn't hurt that the homicide detective attached to the case is devastatingly handsome. Caught between her immediate physical attraction to the detective and the loss of her recent boyfriend, Bailey indulges in some romantic flights of fancy. Meanwhile she uncovers motives that invariably put her in the wrong place at the wrong time, consequently, face to face with a murderer. A Body to Die For is "mystery lite", perfect for a few hours of escapism. White knows her demographic and writes directly to her target audience. With cheerful abandon, the author sends Bailey Weggins plummeting into the middle of a murder mystery made to order for fans of the intrepid young journalist. Luan Gaines/2003.
Rating:
Summary: not bad but book took a bit too long to unfold...
Review: Although "A Body to Die For" did possess a rather intriguing storyline, ultimately the book did prove to a bit of a bland read for me. Bailey Weggins is in dire need of some rest and relaxation -- her workload is beginning to get to her and her promising romance with Jack Herlihy (a professor of psychology) seems to have mysteriously fizzled. So that when close family friend, Danny Hubner, who owns and runs a health spa and inn (Cedar Inn) in Warren, Massachusetts invites Bailey to spend the weekend there, it seemed to be just the ticket. Except that Bailey discovers the dead body of one of the massage therapists in one of the treatment rooms. A quick talk with Danny reveals that things have been rather strained lately, and that Danny has been at a lose to figure out what's been going on. And so Bailey volunteers to help out her friend by snooping around. But the clues are few and leads hard to come by. However Bailey is determined to discover what's going on at Cedar Inn as well as unmask the killer, esp after the killer sends Bailey an ominous message warning her to stop her investigation... If you're stuck somewhere over the weekend with nothing to do and no where to go (like an airport, or a hotel room) then you really won't feel too shortchanged if you invest your time (and money) on this book. The trouble with "A Body to Die For" was that it was 1) a bit of a bland read; 2) the mystery took too long to unfold; 3) the clues and suspects were really scarce; 4) there were very few clever twists and turns; and 5)for a seasoned professional crime columnist, Bailey seemed unbelievably naive. On the plus side, some of the dialogue was snappy and humourous and Bailey Weggins was easy to relate to and empathise -- in fact was what really saved the book for me and made it readable (even if I found it really amusing that Bailey's rolodex was full of 'phone numbers of people whom she had never met but who were willing to help her figure out what was going on at Cedar Inn). So, if you're looking for a book to while away the time and that is entertaining as well, "A Body to Die For" will do; but if you're looking for a good mystery novel that will keep you riveted by the events that are unfolding between the pages, then you might want to try something else.
Rating: 
Summary: Tedious
Review: Bailey Weggins, freelance writer of true crime stories for Gloss magazine is spending the weekend at the friend's spa in rural Massachusetts. She is looking forward to getting away from her hectic work life and her ho-hum romantic life. Bailey barely arrives at the spa before the first body turns up. Since she is on the scene she decides to help out her friend and perhaps get a story while she is at it. This is the second book by Kate White featuring Bailey Weggins. I liked the first one, but this one just did not connect with me. When I read this book, I couldn't help but compare it to the Stephanie Plum books by Janet Evanovich. Unfortunately, it compares unfavorably. Stephanie pulls off the sarcastic wit. Bailey fails miserably. Stephanie knows she is inept at her job, Bailey thinks she is good, but she's just lucky. She grills various people with question after question and they answer her. I just want to scream, "why are you telling that woman a thing. Tell her to bug off." Dialogue is stilted, characters are unpleasant, and plot is substandard. My advice would be to skip it.
Rating:
Summary: Relax and Read a Good Book
Review: Bailey Wiggins a freelance crime journalist is visiting her good friend Danny who runs the Cedar Inn a couple of hours outside of New York City. Discovering that she left her watch behind after a massage, Bailey discovers the dead body of a beautiful masseuse wrapped mummy style in silver paper. Bailey proceeds to investigate the murder but discovers a lot of things others do not want uncovered, putting herself in extreme danger.
A good story with a great female lead character. The ending however is a little too convenient and it is not real likely the police force would respond in the way they do upon just hearing what they do, which is all that drops this great book from five to four stars. Highly recommend read. I'll definitely check out other novels by Kate White.
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