Sugarplum Dead

Annie Darling's yuletide preparations have been put on hold because her mother-in-law, Laurel, has taken to chatting up ghosts in the local graveyard. Across Broward's Rock, onetime movie star Marguerite Dumaney Ladson has called together all of her kin and their exes for a gala celebration. Among the honored guests are Annie's father and Dr. Emory Swanson. Ladson has fallen for Swanson's new-age-pseudo-occult gobbledygook. Right after the announcement that she's leaving her fortune to the charlatan's Evermore Foundation, there's a murder. And the finger of suspicion seems to be pointing straight at Annie's recently arrived deadbeat father. Annie doesn't believe for a minute he's guilty. When a second murder occurs, Annie realizes she will need all the help her easy-going P.I. husband, Max, can offer.©2000 Carolyn G. Hart; (P)2000 Books on Tape, Inc.

Very good

Well thought out and Annie Darlings father and sister will make great additions. Keeps you guessing on who it might be but keeps you involved.

Annie Finds Her Father

Two new important characters are introduced in this book. Annie finds her estranged father and a young sister she didn't know she had. This reunion forces Annie to come to grips with some negative feelings about her long absent father. The tone of the book is more serious than some other entries in the series.

One of my favorite parts of the book is a bizarre house where Annie encounters a group of very odd characters. The descriptions of the house are well written. I found myself smiling and chuckling as I read them.

Laurel, Annie's seemingly ditzy mother in law, is a unique and fascinating character. Do not take her at face value - she's not nearly as silly as you might be led to believe.

This is one of my favorite series. The cast of characters is interesting and Broward's Rock seems like a real place to me.

Kate Reading's narration is superb. She is one of the best!

This is a satisfying, entertaining cozy.

Family is Complicated

The interaction between Annie and her step-sister is developing nicely though she's as whinny as Annie. Quick listen.

Problem at chapter 9

There was a problem with the recording at chapter 9. The audio kept cutting out. I restarted the app, restarted my phone, deleted the book off the app and downloaded it again, but it didn’t fix the problem.

Other than that, I love the book! This is another wonderful Death on Demand to enjoy and remind you of other mysteries to read. I always enjoy Kate Reading as a reader.

Unrealistic and Weak

This was a typical Death on Demand Book in which Annie and Max have to save the day. The mystery aspect of the book was okay, but it was second to the many relationship problems in the book. Annie's father returns to Annie claiming that he had been looking for her for years and had never found her. However he admits that he knew Ambrose and thought that he would lead him to Annie. If that was the case, why did it take him so long? Annie who is usually level headed and strong wimps out and forgets about the fact that dear old dad had abandoned her and her mother. I felt like the different relationships in this book was the true focus of the plot. It just didn't ring true for the characters.