Death of the Party (Death on Demand Series #16) » (~)

An accomplished master of mystery, Carolyn Hart is the author of more than forty books, including eighteen Death on Demand novels. Her books have won multiple Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity Awards. She is also the creator of the highly praised Henrie O series. One of the founders of Sisters in Crime, Hart lives in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Britt Barlow is certain her media mogul brother-in-law Jeremiah Addison's fatal tumble a year ago was no accident -- especially since she herself discovered, and disposed of, the trip wire someone had strung across the stairs. Now she's bringing all who were in attendance that weekend back to Golden Silk -- Addison's luxurious secluded island estate -- and inviting two extra guests, Annie and Max Darling, to help uncover a killer.Annie Darling wouldn't miss this party for the world! And there certainly is no lack of suspects among the guests, each of whom had a substantial motive for doing in the insufferable tycoon. But the party turns deadly when a houseman mysteriously vanishes, along with the boats which are the only escape off Addison's island -- leaving the Darlings stranded on a floating rock in the middle of nowhere, too close to a solution for comfort, and stalked by a crafty murderer.

Publishers Weekly

That comfy crime-solving couple, bookstore owner Annie Darling and her devoted husband, Max, investigate the murder of media magnate Jeremiah Addison in Hart's feel-good 16th Death on Demand mystery (after 2004's Murder Walks the Plank). Addison apparently fell by accident down the marble staircase inside his mansion on his private South Carolina island, Golden Silk, but his sister-in-law, Britt Barlow, knows better, because immediately afterward she removed the trip wire she found strung at the head of the stairs. Britt had her reasons for not informing the police, but now, some six months later, she wants Max, who runs Confidential Commissions, to attend a reunion of the people present on Golden Silk at the time of the murder in order to unmask the killer. Hart provides plenty of suspects including troubled sons and their wives, a sexy reporter, a pompous politician and her husband then plants intriguing clues, another murder and just enough red herrings to keep readers guessing until the denouement. Those looking for a change of pace from more street-smart crime fiction will enjoy this cozy whodunit in the Agatha Christie tradition. Agent, Deborah Schneider. 8-city author tour. (On sale Mar. 29) FYI: Hart has won multiple Agatha, Anthony and Macavity awards. Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.