A Toast Before Dying

Rating:
Summary: A good sequal for this new mystery talent
Review: Bartender Thea Morris is found murdered in the ally behind the Harlem bar where she worked. Normally disinterested in another Harlem statistic, the New York City Police Department have an instant prime suspect in Thea's co-worker and lover, Kendrick Owen, who was seen holding the corpse at the murder scene. Kendrick's older sister Bertha frantically calls her pal, Mali Anderson, pleading with the former cop to investigate the murder because she believes her sibling is innocent.

When some G's are tossed into the pot, Mali places her masters in social work on hold, and begins to investigate. She quickly learns that Thea has a long romantic history. Apparently while seeing Kendrick, she was also romantically tied to at least two other men. When other people related to the case begin to die, Mali realizes that she must uncover the culprit fast before she herself joins the police department's unofficial Harlem statistics.

In the second Anderson novel, A TOAST BEFORE DYING, Grace F. Edwards proves that she a talented writer as she avoids the sophomore slump. The who-done-it story line is quite good and will entrance readers. Mali is an interesting lead protagonist, and the return of secondary players along with the introduction of some charismatic secondary characters bring to life the streets of Harlem. It is that intricate look from Harlem out towards the rest of the city that raises Ms. Edwards' novel to a special level that will be devoured by mystery fans.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: A Toast Before Dying
Review: I enjoyed the Harlem settings in this book. I read her other book too and it was just as enjoyable!!!!!!When is ther next book coming out???????

Rating:
Summary: Three Cheers and Four Stars for A Toast Before Dying!
Review: I really liked this book. If you had asked me right after I finished the last page, I would've told you that I loved this book, but after I thought about it awhile, well, like is good too! There were a few things resolved too quickly, a few too many strings left hanging for me to really love this book. I think hardcore mystery fans might be a light disappointed, but as I read only 4-5 a year I thoroughly enjoyed this.

I loved reading about Harlem. Edwards does a wonderful job of balancing Harlem of today and yesterday. The characters are skillfully presented. Edwards gives the reader enough information to keep them vested and interested in the characters and story. I for one will buy the next Mali Anderson mystery.

Rating:
Summary: A Toast Before Dying
Review: Title-"A Toast Before Dying"
Author- Grace F. Edwards
Classification- Mystery
Summary- The book was about this girl named Mali. Her fiend thea was mudered at the Half-Moon night club. Then there were contious muder's of the club owner. But it's mostly about Mali trying to figure out who killed Theathey but Mail's friend Kendrick in jail because he was with her when she was mudered. but he's inoccent.!!!!!
While since this was the first time reading a mystery book I found the book boring and it didn't catch my attention.
Page 85 "Glady's voice rose in tears when the tall straight-backed woman came foward once more to sing, and again when a slim brown man of about forty, handsome in a pinstriped suit, approached the casket, rested his hand on the side, then turned and walked out." I was touched by the way the he went into detail and the message they were sending. It was so powerful the way he explained her tears of sorrow. I identify with the character to much. That's pretty much what happened with my Grandpa's funeral. It all happened so fast and the tears were just a coming. But anyways this part of the book touched me so much I guess cause I can relate to it.
I was a little dissapointed with the book cause it wan't what I expectd at all. But for all the mystery book lover's out there this would be an excellent book. So go and check it out give it a chance like I did.