Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner
Leading an Elegant Death
Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Paula Carter
Class/Genre: Mystery Humorous Woman Main Character
Berkley, Feb 1999, $5.99, 243 pp.
In Prosper, Alabama, TV homemaker show hostess Hillary Scarborough conducts a strange interview in her car with former law student Jane Ferguson, who has applied for the job of executive assistant. Hillary, accompanied by Jane, is going to visit a TV rival, Sylvia Davis. However, when they arrive at Sylvia's home, they find the woman dead. As Jane calls the police, Hillary, starts to clean up the murder scene. Officer Beau Jackson arrives and quickly sees both women, especially Hillary, as suspects.
Hillary hires Jane as her assistant with her first assignment to ferret out the identity of the killer. Jane quickly learns that Sylvia had problems with Cyclone Dan Malone (car dealer), Regina Conyers (politician), and Reverend Collins (womanizing politician). As Jane, with the help of Hillary and safecracking expert Buddy investigates, attempts on her life occur. If she does not uncover the identity of the killer soon, Jane may find herself joining the victim.
LEADING AN ELEGANT DEATH, the first novel of a new regional mystery series, is humorous and fun to read. The jocular interplay between the characters, especially with California Jane and several of the locals is very amusing. Though the who-done-it is interesting, it is not complex and lacks early clues to allow the reader to try to solve the puzzle. Still, Paula Carter displays much talent as the south comes to life through her darling characters.
Harriet Klausner
Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner
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