Maggie Without a Clue

Rating:
Summary: not as good as the first two
Review: Right off, you should know that I'm a big fan of this author and in particular, this series. The "Maggie" books are charming, romantic and fun to read. I'm particularly intriqued by Ms. Michael's character, St. Just. The author describes him as resembling a young Clint Eastwood - enough said.

Kasey Michaels' third book, Maggie Without a Clue, finds our intrepid threesome (Maggie, St. Just and Sterling the affable side-kick) tracking down another murderer in NYC. There is an additional side story concerning Maggie's senior citizen-aged neighbor. This kind lady has subletted her apartmant to St. Just and Sterling but her past may be coming to call. It is here that Ms. Michaels loses some control over the plot. This little side-bar eventually careens over the edge leaving one of the major characters decidedly, well, out of character.

I have enjoyed Kasey Michaels' writing style and the characters that she has created, enough to sit tight and wait for the fourth installment of the Maggie series. I can only hope that she puts her characters back on track 'cause I really like the ride!

Rating:
Summary: fine paranormal amateur sleuth
Review: When Maggie Kelly's romance writing career tanked, she started authoring Regency mysteries starring Viscount St. Just Alexandre Blake and his loyal and gentle sidekick, Sterling. She became a bestselling author, winning many awards until the unbelievable happened. St Just and Sterling popped out of her mind and into her apartment as real people who others see and talk with. She allowed them to stay at her apartment but now they are moving next door to her neighbor's apartment.

While she is dealing with the empty nest syndrome, even if its only a few yards away, Maggie's closest friend Bernie calls her up in a panic. Her husband believed lost at sea is in her bed, dead and covered in blood from a knife wound. Maggie and St Just arrive on the scene to see that Bernie is soaked in blood, the murder weapon is one of her own knives, and she has no memory of the night before. The DA, who is running for reelection, believes Bernie is his ticket to another term in office while Maggie, St. Just and Sterling, along with a police officer attracted to Maggie, try to find the evidence that will clear Bernie.

Readers will find themselves believing that the heroine thought St. Just and Sterling into existence. They are very believable because they act as if they came from Regency England. It is impossible to figure out who the real killer is until the author chooses to reveal him and it will come as a total shock. Kasey Michaels, known for her upbeat and charming amateur sleuth mysteries, has written another winner, one that will garner her more fans then she already has.

Harriet Klausner