Rating:  Summary: I love a mystery, but... Review: ... I find I do not love a mystery that lectures me ad nauseum about every other mystery ever written. Ms Hart's "Death On Demand" series always features plenty of references to mystery novels, and that can be irritating (whether I get the references or not quickly becomes immaterial, I always end up skimming over them in the hope of getting back to the plot) but this one, with its endless, tedious lectures on Agatha Christie, is the worst of the bunch. I tried, I really did -- as a longtime Christie fan I felt guilty about disliking this story as much as I did, but I simply found it unreadable. I finally skipped to the ending, which was clever. If Ms Hart had spent as much time developing her characters as she does inserting great, indigestible lumps of Christie lore into the narrative (and they're often not even integrated, they just lie there like something the cat ... up on the carpet) this might have been a dandy mystery. As it was, I found the whole thing unbelievably annoying.
Rating:  Summary: One of Hart's best Review: Although I'm no longer that fond of Agatha Christie, this book was a real pleasure. The plot was clever, and Annie and Max were as enjoyable as ever. The ending of this book made it one of the most satisfying of Caroyn Hart's books.
Rating:  Summary: A celebration of Agatha Christie's birthday includes murder! Review: Annie Laurence Darling, the proprietor of the south's leading mystery bookstore, plans a celebration of the 100th anniversary of Agatha Christie's birthday. When someone is murdered, the celebration changes to a real whodunit,which is really fun for all. If you are just starting to read mysteries,start with this one,because of the trivia. Ms. Hart has spiced her tale with authors and titles of books "to die for." It makes the next trip to the bookstore a blast
Rating:  Summary: Christie's friends and enemies Review: Author Carolyn Hart's admiration of Agatha Christie comes to a crescendo in this book about a festival devoted to Christie and created by Death on Demand bookstore proprietor, Annie Darling. There is a treasure hunt, a trivia quiz, and a costume ball all devoted to Christie and her books. Not everyone at the Caper is a Christie fan, however. Neil Bledsoe, a book critic, comes to tout his new book which he says will reveal new truths about Christie which will not be at all flattering. Since he is surrounded by Christie advocates, it is not surprising that someone begins making threats on his life. Annie, her husband Max and the local police chief band together to protect the obnoxious Bledsoe, but despite their best efforts, murders do occur. The many would-be detectives in the group investigate the crimes and come to the conclusion that many people had a motive and opportunity to commit the murders. Finally the perpetrator is discovered and there is a nice little twist at the end. Obviously this book would be extremely appealing to someone who was familiar with Christie's books, but the mystery can be enjoyed even if the reader is not a Christie devotee.
Rating:  Summary: Enter a world of mystery that you could only dream of! Review: Carolyn G. Hart writes a true mystery, she will keep you analyzing, guessing, and involved throughout her books. If you enjoyed the 'Nancy Drew Mysteries' or 'Hardy Boys' as a young person, you will soon realize you are immersed in a adult version of your favorite mysteries, in a completely new style, version, and excitement! Mrs. Hart's knowledge on mystery writers and plots go beyond any mystery books I have read. The '5 paintings' in her character's book store, "Death On Demand", that are not revealed until the end of the book, are just one of the ways she tantalizes you! To take one of the most famous mystery writers and write a modern day mystery, involving the past with the present, is a accomplishment that goes beyond many writers today. Three cheers (or five!) for Carolyn Hart! Not only does she keep your mind active with the mystery, but she adds the human, fun and loving touch of all our personalities!
Rating:  Summary: Very Good! Review: I enjoy the Carolyn Hart mysteries, particularly the ones about Max and Annie. Annie is a normal, average every day person with her own set of problems who just happens to solve murders. Max is a rich guy who loves Annie enough to do the things she asks (like work!) This mystery is enjoyable. One of the things about reading the Max and Annie stories is you walk off with a lot of other titles that might be fun to read, as Annie is always talking about other mystery books. This book is no exception. As an AC fan I enjoyed the book and it's mystery. I found the end to be particularly satisfying. Enjoy.
Rating:  Summary: Too Much Christie! Review: I must agree with Shelley McKibbon who was overwhelmed by the endless and frequently inappropriate Christie references. OK--we get it--Carolyn Hart knows her Christie novels to a fault but it was too much like name dropping and most of the references confused rather than clarified the plot. If you left out a good portion of the references the story itself was rather clever. I loved the ending but it took a long, long, time getting there.
Rating:  Summary: Good reading! Review: If I have counted correctly, this is the 7th book in the Annie and Max Darling series and is just as good as the earlier ones. I especially like the references to other mysteries giving me hints as to other good reading.
Rating:  Summary: "A puzzle for mystery buffs that is clasic Agatha Christie" Review: The Christie Caper is filled with fun trivia, witty dialogue and a romp
through the mystery world.
It has a wickedly clever plot (according to author Joan Hess) along with my sleuthing duo Annie Laurence and Max Darling.
"This is a mystery with a terrific twist" Mystery Book
Rating:  Summary: Traditional mystery par excellence Review: THE CHRISTIE CAPER is one of my all time favorite cozy mysteries. I first read it when it came out in 1991 and it has been on the top of my favorites list ever since. I have also read it once a year since that first reading. Interestingly, Hart provides a cast of characters -- names and descriptions -- at the beginning. From the very first the victim, Neil Bledsoe, proceeds to make himself thoroughly obnoxious. Leading characters are introduced, one at a time -- Victoria Shaw, Henny Brawley, Kathryn Honeycutt, John Border Stone... until we get to Annie Darling, who is the sleuth/protagonist. By this time the setting has been set, the battle lines drawn and the story is well underway. Hart has structured the story along the lines of Christie's work and she has provided well-rounded, distinctive characters to make the reader's experience an amusing and informative romp. I love the references to Christie's books, her mentions of mysteries by other writers, Annie's ever-present watercolor competition in which her bookstore customers compete in recognizing paintings of famous mysteries, the last scene where all is revealed in classic Christie fashion . . .all these details combine to weave a contemporary tale into the traditional form and fascinate the reader. If you're not a mystery fan you can learn a lot about the Dame of traditional mysteries from THE CHRISTIE CAPER and have great fun doing it.
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