Last Scene Alive

Rating:
Summary: Roe's getting back on the track...
Review: and it's typical that it needed a murder to rouse her. This series seems to have recovered a little of the light-heartedness that had dimmed over the last few books, but it is NOT (despite idiot jacket blurbs) a "cozy."

The plot is thinner than is typical in a Harris mystery -- mostly, I think,so readers can get to know the "new" Roe -- a woman who was widowed with shocking suddenness as an almost incidental incident in a series of nasty crimes. Harris does an excellent job with Roe's gradual recovery, though she focuses exclusively on Martin Bartell's death and ignores the trauma and misery that must have resulted from the attendant crimes. And what would be sufficient to distract Aurora Teagarden in her half-frozen state? Murders old and new, of course.

The movies are coming to town, and they are filming a script based on a true-crime book dealing with a horrid series of murders that plagued Lawrenceton many years earlier. Roe had been instrumental in exposing the killers in that case (nearly dying herself in the process). Roe is NOT happy about this movie, which tastelessly commercializes the deaths of people she knew and cared about, but the rest of the town is star struck. The movie provides an excellent vehichle for bringing Roe's sullen and immature stepson, Barrett, and her one-time, almost-boyfriend, Robin (author of the true crime book), back to town.

However, the movie set is not where Roe finds important information about the new crimes in Lawrenceton. It's her library's collection that holds some of the keys to the mysteries. The murder itself has a fairly wispy plot with not much of anything to detect; the associated crimes are somewhat more melodramatic.

If you've been reading this series, you'll enjoy the development of several long-time characters, as well as Roe's deepening relationship with her mother. This book does a great job in setting up the next one, and it is absorbing to read. If you are new to the series, though, do NOT read this one first. It doesn't quite stand alone.

Rating:
Summary: Last Scene Alive
Review: Charlaine Harris is an interesting mystery writer, in part because she is willing to take chances in her books. In Roe's last outing, A Fool and His Honey, an abrupt death near the end of the book brings the reader up short. We are not used to having sympathetic, continuing characters die in mystery fiction.
But, of course, life is like that.

In this outing, the mystery situation is pretty farfetched, but Harris makes it enjoyable, by bringing us along as Roe Teagarden re-enters her life following the death of her beloved husband.

A fast, fun read, but not the best of the series. Still--worth your time.

Rating:
Summary: Roe is back, and it's good to see her
Review: Charlaine Harris is an interesting mystery writer, in part because she is willing to take chances in her books. In Roe's last outing, A Fool and His Honey, an abrupt death near the end of the book brings the reader up short. We are not used to having sympathetic, continuing characters die in mystery fiction.
But, of course, life is like that.

In this outing, the mystery situation is pretty farfetched, but Harris makes it enjoyable, by bringing us along as Roe Teagarden re-enters her life following the death of her beloved husband.

A fast, fun read, but not the best of the series. Still--worth your time.

Rating:
Summary: Terrific Teagarden ale
Review: It has been over a year since Aurora "Roe" Teagarden's husband has been murdered but the Lawrenceton, Georgia librarian is still in deep mourning. She is not at all happy that a Hollywood crew is coming to town to shoot the scenes from "Whimsical Death" based on the first homicide Roe ever solved. Also coming to town is Robin Crusoe, Roe's ex-boyfriend, and the person who helped her solve the case but subsequently went on to write the book on their investigation that has led to the movie.

Roe is also unhappy that her stepson Barrett is starring in the movie because they despise each other. When Robin hits town, old sparks ignite and Roe begins to realize that the movie filming might be a blessing in disguise. What Roe doesn't know is that there is a murderer amongst the Hollywood set. This person plans to kill the movie's star and target Roe as his next victim.

Fans of the Aurora Teagarden series will like the way the heroine displays her grief while moving on with her life. Readers will delight with the appearance of a new man in Roe's life, one that is different than her deceased husband. It is very easy to see why Robin and Roe click. The story line is fast-paced, well plotted, and exciting with enough twists and turns to keep readers on full alert.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Depression over? Thank God!
Review: It's was nice to read that Harris was back on track in this latest installment of the Aurora Teagarden Mysteries.

Roe is getting on with her life after her husband's death. Although she is not getting out much and is mostly concentrating on her job and home, things change when action comes to town. Robin returns when one of his books, based on Roe, has been turned into a movie and the entire production crew arrives to film. At first Roe is put off when all her friends find some place in the movie, either stunt work or leasing the church for filming, but gets over it when her once upon a time romance with Robin begins to heat up again. (Excuse me, but are those books your shelving or are you just happy to see me?)Of course it wouldn't be a mystery without a little murder. When the leading lady turns up dead, it's up to Roe to find out Who Dune It.

Rating:
Summary: Better and better
Review: The Aurora Teagarden series keeps getting better with each installment. Charlaine Harris seems to keep her characters fresh and exciting. They are believable people who might live in your neighborhood. The problems are real, the emotions human. Life is lived between books so there is always something to catch up on. Roe, her coworkers, and friends seem to be real, breathing people who solve their problems in real ways. The storyline is just as important as the characters, and this story will not disappoint. It allows the reader to learn about some new area of interest while enjoying a series that keeps the reader coming back for more. If only the author could write faster...

Rating:
Summary: A great addition!
Review: This is a great addition to the aurora teagarden series!
After the somewhat depressing A Fool and his Honey, Aurora
is back and better than ever!
Roe has spent the last year in a daze after being widowed.
But now she finds out a company is making a movie based on the
first set of murders she was involved with so long ago.(Real
Murders, 1990)Along with the production company, her old almost-
flame, Robin Crusoe returns. He is the author of the book their
movie is based on.
The chemistry between Roe and Robin is fabulously written. I
found myself easily adapting to the idea of Robin, and Harris does a great job of showing Roe's turmoil about this new relationship and her feelings for her deceased husband.
The plot is enjoyable, blending many of the previous secondary
characters readers have been fond of. The Murder itself is not
as all inclusive as some of the others in the series, but Harris does a great job of drawing the readers back into the series after the depressing A Fool and his Honey.
I strongly recommend reading this book, but I suggest that if you are new to the series you begin back at Real Murders and work your way into this book. Either way is enjoyable, but you will really appreciate the characters more if you have followed them in the series.

Rating:
Summary: Last Scene Alive
Review: This new series is to awful for words.