Book Review: April Fool Dead

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

April Fool Dead     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Carolyn G. Hart
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Cozy   Amateur Sleuth   Woman Main Character
Series: Death on Demand # 13
Morrow, April 2002, $23.95, 320 pp.

Max and Annie Darling live on the island of Broward’s Rock off the coast of South Carolina. Annie is a type A personality who believes in the work ethic while Max is a charming and rich individual whose definition of work is golf, tennis and sex. In the case of this husband and wife team opposites attract and work together well especially when they are involved in a homicide investigation as they have been a dozen times in the past.

Murder is the furthermost thing from Annie’s mind as she gets ready for a book-signing event at her store Death on Demand. She is doing a lot of promotion for this occasion, but becomes furious when somebody steals her ideas to stir up gossip about old crimes and scandal by distributing a flyer that looks like it came from her bookstore. When a local resident is murdered and the flyers are found at her home, Anne feels like she has an obligation to find out who the killer is (with a little help from Max of course).

April Fool Dead is the quintessential amateur sleuth novel starring two delightful protagonists. Part of their charm resides in the fact that they are happily married and not afraid to show it. The mystery itself is intricate, complex and multi-layered and it’s only when the audience reaches the end does the reader finally understand how cleverly the sub plots tie back to the main story line. Ms. Hart pens another winner.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner