Carolyn G. Hart

This is the first in a series of cozy mysteries featuring the owner of a bookstore specializing in mysteries. It's a bit dated now (this one was published in 1987), but I enjoyed some of the humor in it, as well as all the references to classic mysteries and mystery writers. I also had a hard time keeping track of all the characters, but I was listening to the audio which probably contributed to that. I'm not sure I'll seek out the second in the series, but I wouldn't kick it out of bed for eating crackers, either (i.e. if it falls into my lap at some point, I'd be happy to read it) :)

3.5 stars… (more)

I really enjoyed Dead Man's Island by Carolyn G. Hart. If you have read all of Agatha Christie's book, you will see that it is a variation of And Then There Were None. What attracted me to this book was a cover that featured a hurricane raging against a mansion. The idea of a hurricane tearing apart the mansion did add plenty of drama to the murder mystery.

Also because I am older, I am drawn to older women sleuths.I hope to buy more of this entertaining series. It is the first of seven in this series and I have already added the second one to my wish list.

Henrietta O'Dwyer Collins has been a news reporter for five decades, she decided to retire and write crime fiction. Athletic and with an agile mind, she has covered a myriad of diasters and murders. Receiving a phone call from an old flame from about four decades ago, she reluctantly agrees to the plea for help from Chase Prescott, the head of a news empire. An attempt on his life has been made previously and he has drawn up a list of possible suspects. Henrietta will be joining the suspects in his mansion on his private island.

Besides the excellently crafted mystery, Henrietta entertained me with appropiately related trivia which prompted frequent lookups on the Internet. This is a thinking woman's mystery.… (more)