Killer Market: A Deborah Knott Mystery (Deborah Knott Mysteries (Hardcover))

Rating:
Summary: Great addition to the Maron series...good plot and character
Review: Being a native North Carolinian and a lawyer, I've enjoyed reading about Judge Deborah Knott from Colleton County, but the Judge in this book was STUPID. She goes to High Point during the furniture market without a room reservation. N.C. District Court judges have access to a sec- retary who would have handled any reservation. Maron doesn't even discuss Knott staying in the home of the Judge for whom she's subbing. It is inconceivable to image a Judge sleeping on a stranger's couch. She could have slept at the courthouse. Opps, no story! So we have an implausible story with cutsy dialogue. Upon meeting someone who recognizes her, Judge Knott replies "You have the advantage of me sir". Yes, all Tar Heels speak this way, just as a District Court Judge will take up with a stranger at a mall and follow her all over High Point. Please, some- thing better next time!

Rating:
Summary: Love Deb'rh, just not this book
Review: Dunno why but this installment of the the Judge Deborah Knott series left me cold. I did not find the High Point setting to be interesting, or terribly realistic. This is the only one of her usually VERY FINE books that drags. Deborah, stay in your home county!

Rating:
Summary: Judge Debra Knott, start at the intro of this character
Review: I am an avid reader that enjoys many different approaches to a good mystery. I read often and love discovering an author I have never read before. I have never read any books by Margaret Maron so this book was an introduction to both the author and an the established character, Judge Debra Knott. After reading Killer Market I intend to pursue and read other books by Margaret Maron. Her style is crisp and intriguing. You find your self being drawn in to the story early on and she succesfully keeps you there. So why the medium rating? More my fault possibly than the author's or Judge Knott's ability to keep your attention. The Debra Knott character is so well written you find your self wanting to know more about this female judge-amateur sleuth. Questions arise that were undoubtably covered in earlier adventures. I suggest therefore reading the earlier books with Judge Debra Knott. Background info will make this read much more enjoyable and the reader will be less distrated by questions that may crop up. Another point should be noted as well. There were alot of side plots to the main that brought depth to the book overall. I however found the final solution a little wanting for something more in the end. I don't know exactly, maybe a little Perry Mason laying down the facts type scenario to catch the culprit. After alot of twists and turns the climax was kind of flat, wanting of more drama and emotion. Over all the book was enjoyable and Margaret Maron has snagged a new fan.

Rating:
Summary: It Was Okay
Review: I have to be truthful I wasn't in love with this character. But parts of the book was okay. But the story drag on for too long. But the ending more than made up for the plot. This was not her best series. the ending was superb.

Rating:
Summary: Great detail
Review: Maron's Southern mysteries are just terrific; from the accurate descriptions of the courtroom scenes, the "hearty" Southern food, the family, and the country, it is obvious that Maron has either lived through these experiences or has done some really good research. I started the series with this book and have gone back and forth in the series until I finished them all. This one was possibly my favorite, in that Maron posed so many possible suspects with so many possible motives that it really was hard to tell who the murderer was (although some of my friends claim that they spotted the murderer right off the bat). In any event, Maron does keep you guessing. My only complaints, and they are gentle ones, is that the chapter headings seem to have no bearing on the story itself and simply serve to bog the reader down. Additionally, it seems as though the later books in the series presuppose that the reader has read the previous ones; some characters and relationships just "appear" and are not explained in enough detail to determine their relevance to the story or to Deborah. Otherwise, an excellent book and an excellent series.

Rating:
Summary: Highly recommended
Review: This author is remarkably easy to read and her Deborah Knott series always extremely entertaining. Usually Deborah's adventures are set in her home town among her large family. This homespun feel adds a lot to the attractiveness of the series. This was necessarily missing in this installment as Deborah travels to another town to help out a fellow judge for a week. Also, the author chose to centre the plot around an international furniture market being held in the same town that week. While the change of settings added novelty, the furniture market setting was a bit distracting and confusing. Nevertheless, as with all books by this author, it is very highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Highly recommended
Review: This author is remarkably easy to read and her Deborah Knott series always extremely entertaining. Usually Deborah's adventures are set in her home town among her large family. This homespun feel adds a lot to the attractiveness of the series. This was necessarily missing in this installment as Deborah travels to another town to help out a fellow judge for a week. Also, the author chose to centre the plot around an international furniture market being held in the same town that week. While the change of settings added novelty, the furniture market setting was a bit distracting and confusing. Nevertheless, as with all books by this author, it is very highly recommended.