An Opening for Murder

Rating:
Summary: as much a romance as it is a mystery
Review: After years of study and working hard, Sculptor Maggie Kean is finally having a showing at the prestigious opening The Outlook. Her significant other, homicide detective Sam Villari is accompanying her, much to her chagrin because she doesn't want to feel too much for him or any man, but the police officer is nothing if persistent. The gallery's manager wants Maggie to mingle but instead she escapes with a potential buyer to the studio.

When they reach the area of the kiln and see that it is on, Maggie peeks in and sees a charbroiled body. The showing comes to a complete halt and the Gallery is sealed off. Maggie, who has a way of sniffing out clues that puts the police to shame, goes into sleuth mode and despite the warnings of Villari, does her level best to find out the identity of the killer.

AN OPENING FOR MURDER is as much a romance as it is a mystery as there are some very sensual love scenes as well as a well crafted who-done-it. The various sub-plots tie seamlessly into the main story line. The protagonist has enough free flying neurons to keep a psychiatrist happy for decades but readers will adore her anyway.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Suddenly Maggie's back in the middle of a murder mystery
Review: An Opening for Murder is the second Maggie Kean mystery and returns the character of the spunky artist/sleuth to new audiences. Here Maggie's involvement with a homicide detective brings new romance, while her professional life is enhanced by a showing of her art - until a body is discovered at the opening, burned in the studio's kiln. Suddenly Maggie's back in the middle of a murder mystery in this compelling mystery.

Rating:
Summary: Maggie Kean: In Every Book She Grows Closer to Your Heart!!
Review: From the very beginning I was drawn into Maggie's life with such a force that I felt I had just made a new friend!! Nageeba Davis is a master of description, creating characters who have ups and downs, real emotional baggage, and the "sometimes craziness" that we all experience in being human. This mystery has a truly clever plot that takes quick, intriguing turns combined with fascinating sub plots that are beautifully woven into the plot.
Maggie and her Italian boyfriend Sam Villari often vascillate between love/passion and anger/trust issues as the book develops into a "can't put it down" murder investigation that would just happen to occur during Maggie's first showing of sculpture. Maggie's friends Lisa, Mark and Jamie, brother Andy, and the old red jeep that is totally undependable, add to the excitement. When old Hank Duran enters the scene, the book becomes a perfect blend of amusement and charm all the while growing in intensity over who actually DID commit this murder.
Both "An Opening for Murder" and "A Dying Art" demonstrate what incredible talent Nageeba Davis has for depth of character development, unfolding of a complicated plot, and certainly for humor. This book is extremely entertaining, really "has it all" and should not be missed. I cannot wait for the next book in the series to come out, a feeling shared by all the other people I know who have read "An Opening For Murder."

Rating:
Summary: Not as good as the first
Review: I really enjoyed the first book in this series, so I was really disappointed at how much I disliked the second book.

In the first book, it made sense why Maggie would involve herself in the murder. In this book, it made no sense at all. And it made even less sense that should would involve herself in ways that put her in so much danger, such as following suspects up mountain roads by herself, breaking into suspect's homes and businesses, and confronting suspects face to face with no backup.

I also found her personality especially annoying in this book compared to the previous one. I kept wondering why Villari didn't lock her in a cell and toss away the key...for good.

I haven't found any more books in this series...if there are more, I hope I enjoy them as much as the first one, or I'll cut this series off sooner rather than later. This one was just painful to finish.


Rating:
Summary: At her opening, Maggie finds a man dead in a kiln
Review: It's the night of Maggie Kean's first opening. Her sculptures will be on display for the public. She is very nervous. Mark, the manager and overseer of the Outlook, the upscale gallery for her show, introduces her to Henry Duran who is interested in her sculptures. But, he wants something with a little more edge to it. She takes him into the studio in back to show him one of her sculptures that didn't make it into the show. She feels it might be just what he is looking for. On their way back there, she smells something burning. Without thinking, she opens the peephole on the kiln in the firing room and finds a man curled up in the kiln, dead.

Maggie's boyfriend, Detective Sam Villari, is in charge of the investigation. While he is working, she is questioned by another detective.

Maggie and Villari have a very volatile relationship. He loves her and readily admits it. Maggie isn't sure what she feels and definitely can't voice it.

Mark and his wife Jamie seem to be having trouble. Mark says Jamie is distant and won't talk to him. Maggie has spoken to Jamie about it, and she says work is just busy. Maggie does not believe this to be what is causing their trouble, but she isn't certain what is. Then Maggie follows Jamie when she gets into a black car with another man. Unfortunately Maggie's car is not very good. She ends up losing them.

She, Duran and Maggie's friend Lisa begin investigating. They are looking into various leads to determine who killed Jeff Riley and why. They find themselves in some very interesting predicaments and often in danger.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Maggie Kean is the girl next door, but she has her own baggage as well. Her relationship with Villari is on again, off again. You never really know what's up. Her car really adds to the story as well. Her friend Lisa is terrific and sticks with her through thick and thin. Duran is a character in and of himself. He is so well written and described. I wonder if he'll be in future books.

I am not an art fan, but this was such an enjoyable read, that I never really thought about it. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more!

Rating:
Summary: At her opening, Maggie finds a man dead in a kiln
Review: It's the night of Maggie Kean's first opening. Her sculptures will be on display for the public. She is very nervous. Mark, the manager and overseer of the Outlook, the upscale gallery for her show, introduces her to Henry Duran who is interested in her sculptures. But, he wants something with a little more edge to it. She takes him into the studio in back to show him one of her sculptures that didn't make it into the show. She feels it might be just what he is looking for. On their way back there, she smells something burning. Without thinking, she opens the peephole on the kiln in the firing room and finds a man curled up in the kiln, dead.

Maggie's boyfriend, Detective Sam Villari, is in charge of the investigation. While he is working, she is questioned by another detective.

Maggie and Villari have a very volatile relationship. He loves her and readily admits it. Maggie isn't sure what she feels and definitely can't voice it.

Mark and his wife Jamie seem to be having trouble. Mark says Jamie is distant and won't talk to him. Maggie has spoken to Jamie about it, and she says work is just busy. Maggie does not believe this to be what is causing their trouble, but she isn't certain what is. Then Maggie follows Jamie when she gets into a black car with another man. Unfortunately Maggie's car is not very good. She ends up losing them.

She, Duran and Maggie's friend Lisa begin investigating. They are looking into various leads to determine who killed Jeff Riley and why. They find themselves in some very interesting predicaments and often in danger.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Maggie Kean is the girl next door, but she has her own baggage as well. Her relationship with Villari is on again, off again. You never really know what's up. Her car really adds to the story as well. Her friend Lisa is terrific and sticks with her through thick and thin. Duran is a character in and of himself. He is so well written and described. I wonder if he'll be in future books.

I am not an art fan, but this was such an enjoyable read, that I never really thought about it. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more!

Rating:
Summary: A good continuation of a promising mystery series
Review: Nageeba Davis wowed me with her first book in the Maggie Kean series, A Dying Art. The second book, although it didn't hold my attention quite as well as the first one, still was a fun read.

Maggie Kean is a bit stressed out because she is having her first art show. She wants everything to go perfectly. Her opening does make the news when Maggie finds a body burning in the kiln. Maggie feels it is her duty to the dead man to find out who killed him and ruined her art show in the process.

Maggie's sometime boyfriend Sam Villari (a cop who investigated her for murder in A Dying Art) returns in this book and is kept on his toes by Maggie. Sam wants Maggie to stop investigating the murder but of course she just can't seem to stay away. Everyone she knows seems to be involved in something suspicious and Maggie is determined to find all the answers. With the help of her best friend Lisa and new friend Hank Duran (a truly fun character I hope makes appearances in future books)Maggie is able to find the clues to solve the case.

Maggie's and Sam's relationship grows during this book and the ending left me with a smile on my face-and looking forward to more in this series. Maggie's character also grows as she learns to accept problems in her past-and chooses to not let it effect her future. This is a great summer read!

Rating:
Summary: Magnificent Maggie
Review: She's at it again! Magnificent, and sometimes mysterious, Maggie Keane tries to live a normal life. All she wants to do is build a reputation as a respectable and talented artist, while cuddling up in her favorite sweatshirt with the love of her life. Never mind that the sweatshirt has seen better days and that she is completely blind to her feelings for Sam. She's just going about her business the best way she knows how and wham! A dead body appears in the middle of it.

Well, this is, unfortunately, normal for Maggie, as those of you who have read 'A Dying Art' already know. And as Sam tries to keep her out of danger, Maggie only manages to make matters worse for her man and herself, finding herself in situations that are alternately hilarious and terrifying. Ms. Davis has created a delightful central character who will amuse you and frustrate you, but definitely keep you turning the pages!