Something Wicked (Carolyn G. Hart)

Annie and Max's wedding plans are moving forward with the help of Max's mother, Laural. But the footlights beckon as Max takes the roll of Mortimer Brewster in the classic ARSENCI AND OLD LACE. Rehearsals are rough as actors refuse to learn the lines, torn curtains, and when Max is scheduled to find a body in the window seat -- the corpse's place has been taken by a dead cat. Someone is out to sabotage the production. SOMETHING WICKED by Carolyn G. Hart brings all the favorite character to center stage and provides an interesting backdrop of some of the most famous authors, titles, and characters in the mystery genre. A great cozy for a midnight read. HaintsWriting as a Small Business

Carolyn G. hart is definately one of the best mystery authors out there. Her stories are very captivating and interesting and a fun easy read. If you like a cozy mystery give Hart a try with her Annie Darling mysteries. Annie is a great charcter and she is always surrounded by a cast of crazy characters that make her life more exciting. She is a bookshop owner... so a few murders are obviously constantly popping up on her doorstep.

This is the third in the Death on Demand series. In it we have Annie and Max involved in summer theatre. They are part of the cast in "Arsenic and Old Lace". Weird things seem to be happening on the set of the rehersal stage, and then someone turns up dead. Annie is even more motivated to solve the case herself because her fiance has been accused of the crime. The book was pretty good, and it kept me turning pages, but I must admit that the characterization of the Circuit Court Judge, Posey, was a bit over the top. I don't think anyone could be as obtuse and objectionable as Ms. Hart portrayed him to be. It was overdone, and I think the idea of Annie and now Max being accused of murdering someone has been over-worked. Hopefully in the next book there are other suspects besides this precious pair.

This third offering in Hart's DEATH ON DEMAND series has fully received the advantage of repeated features building upon themselves and establishing immediate reader intimacy. I was anticipating (and not disappointed) the repetition of key elements, one of which was the first couple chapters (prior to the entrance of Annie and Agatha) being crisp, brief, chilling dips to the murderous "footprints" in the novel. I don't know if it was because I've come to expect this type of sly entry into Hart's Annie & Max series, or if it's because the author's style has leap-frogged itself, solidifying into better and better types of seasoning... but, the initiating chapters seemed to have zapped up a few levels in mood and intrigue, as chilling stage setters for Annie's warm and perky entrance, which seemed even warmer and perkier than the prior 2 books which were already at what seemed to be peaks of performance. The anticipated Annie and Max personality mixes moved quickly into cozy entertai... Read more

Annie Laurance and Max Darling take part in a summer stock production of "Arsenic and Old Lace". They enjoy it until someone starts sabatoging the rehearsals and the ego of Shane, a former player in surfer movies, begins to grate on all of the cast members. When a murder occurs, Max seems to be the most likely perpetrator and Annie has to do some fast detective work to convince the local police that Max is innocent. Comic relief is provided by Max's mother, who keeps coming up with "creative" ideas for Max and Annie's wedding. This is another enjoyable cozy by Carolyn Hart.