A Dying Art

Rating:
Summary: Sure, the Plot's Not so Hot, but the Dialog Makes up for it
Review: I can forgive a lot of flaws if I like the characters and I like Maggie. I like Samuel Villari, the detective (although I agree with Maggie's conflict of interest comments). I like his parents. The scene where Maggie meets Papa Villari and the Dragon Lady is my favorite in the whole book.

It's a pity that Elizabeth was killed instead of one of her obnoxious grandchildren because I would have liked to have seen more of her. She was a grand lady.

Why did Elizabeth want to see Lindsay Burns? How does the obnoxious cop whom Maggie calls "Vacuum Nose" fit into the picture? How is Maggie going to find Elizabeth's killer while Will and Cassie are pestering her about the money and Villari (in time-honored professional male detective/cop dealing with female amateur fashion) is telling her to butt out before she gets herself killed?

Don't expect a lot in the way of suspense. I bought this for the promised laughs and on that score, the book delivers, for which I thank the author.

Rating:
Summary: 'F' IS FOR FANTASTIC
Review: Loved this witty and humorous mystery. Maggie Keane is believable, down to earth and so real. This mouthy starving artist isn't sexy or well dressed and doesn't expect attention. But she sure gets more than her share in this crisply written and energetic tale of a very lovable, brave snoop. The trouble that grabs her from the beginning and winds around her until the end will keep you flipping pages as fast as you can. This novel is charming and lots of fun. I can't wait for Maggie's next adventure!

Rating:
Summary: Humorous amateur sleuth tale
Review: No one could ever have as lousy a day as art teacher Maggie Keane is having unless they just dropped dead or were run over by a semi. She burned her toast twice, tripped over a lamp stubbing her toe and breaking half the nail, and her toilet is backed up nothing seems to be wrong with the indoor pipes. The capable plumber checks the septic tank only to find someone having a worse day than Maggie as her next door neighbor Elizabeth Boyer lies dead there.

The police grill Maggie whose snappy retorts only anger the law enforcement officials. That changes when the brass assigns homicide detective Villari to head the investigation forcing Maggie to cooperate a little more. To her shock, Maggie learns that Elizabeth named her the fiduciary of her ten million-dollar estate. This makes the deceased's adult grandchildren angry since they will have to ask Maggie for money from the estate. Other events added to what is already known makes Maggie a prime, viable suspect who conducts her own inquiries to prove her innocence.

This brilliant debut mystery contains a dark plot. The repartee between the heroine and the rest of the cast is humorous while allowing the audience to further focus on Maggie's character. Readers will welcome Nageeba Davis to the real world where the road rules are that she must return with a second tale starring the magnificently mouthy Maggie.

Harriet Klausner