Beauty Dies: A Claire Conrad/Maggie Hill Mystery

Rating:
Summary: Sex and the City meets Jane Austen
Review: I find it very discouraging, when an Author feels they must use the F word on the very first page of the novel. It stopped me cold. I closed the book. Can a book not be written without such profane words?

Rating:
Summary: The best mystery ever
Review: I have both books of the outstanding trio Claire Conrad, Maggie Hill and Boulton and I can't wait to read more from them. So, Melodie Johnson Howe, keep writing.

Rating:
Summary: Hilarious and provoking
Review: I'm writing this review in case the author ever takes a look. I love this mystery, and its predecessor, THE MOTHER SHADOW. Claire, Maggie, and Boulton are lively, intriguing characters, and the sarcastic asides about gender roles are delightful. MJH, please, please write more!

Rating:
Summary: Sex and the City meets Jane Austen
Review: The contemporary wit of this novel and of THE MOTHER SHADOW is appealing and refreshing. The mystery female protaganist genre is well represented by Ms. Howe and is in ways surpassed by her unique and engaging characterizations. Grafton, Paretsky, Barnes and Pickard write amusing, sometimes riveting tales, but Howe kicks it up a notch creating her Everywoman Maggie Hill. Another novel by Howe would find a wide, appreciative audience.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best new series to come along
Review: The two books in this series are very well written, with intriguing plots, and well crafted narrative. The characters are interesting, likeable, and well developed. We need more of these!

Rating:
Summary: The best mystery ever
Review: We need more Melodie Howes! The characters are clever and eccentric but still quite believable. The plots are interesting without seeming contrived. The two books in the series are fun and never insult the reader's intelligence. Howe handles the 90's well without resorting to cliche, shock, or political correctness - pretty rare. My favorite mystery authors are Rex Stout, Jan Willem van Wettering, and Sjowall and Wahloo - and Howe has the potential to be right in there. Please, Melodie, write some more!