Romanced to Death

E.J. Pugh #8

by Susan Rogers Cooper

The new E.J. Pugh mystery - Romantic novelist E.J. Pugh has been nominated for a coveted award from the American Romance Writers Association . . . The convention should have been fun and informative. It should never have resulted in the dead body found at the bottom of the stairs. After six years of peace, E.J. is again thrown into a crime scene, where the big questions assault her: why, and who did it? And whom can she trust?

Genres: Mystery

336 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Susan Rogers Cooper is an American mystery novelist. A self-proclaimed "half fifth generation Texan; half Yankee", she sets her novels in Texas (the E.J. Pugh and Kimmey Kruse novels) and in Oklahoma (the Sheriff Milt Kovak novels). She is currently living in Central Texas, coming up with fresh new ways to get her characters into trouble.

Reviews

[Laura (Kyahgirl) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok, but not compelling enough to make me want to read any more in the series. Nicole Poole was a good narrator.

[D · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good narration by Nicole Poole. About 8 hours. Cooper does a good job of sustaining suspense with multiple viewpoints. This could have been a disaster with a short book, but she also manages to keep up the action with some interesting twists. Part of the action is happening in E. J. Pugh's home town of Black Cat Ridge, Texas, the rest is set at American Romance Writers Association convention in Austin.

E. J. Pugh has been nominated for a Lady award and is attending her first ARWA convention. She is immediately introduced to a group of veteran writers, a truly obnoxious convention administrator--"The Beast", and her greatest fan, a/k/a, stalker, who she dubs Comb-over Boy. It's no surprise that someone is murdered.

Meanwhile, back at Black Cat Ridge, someone is stalking her adopted daughter, Elizabeth. In the first book in this series Elizabeth's entire family was murdered. While E.J. solved that mystery, it's clear that someone connected with it is now after the lone survivor. Meanwhile E. J.'s 15 year old son is about to learn an important lesson about girls.

[Glenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title story of this cozy mystery takes place during EJ's visit to Austin while the subplot unfolds back in EJ's home town and features her teenage children. With scenes alternating between the two plots, I was sometimes reluctant to leave the main story and switch to the subplot. Toward the end of the book, each plot picks up the pace and both stories race to the end. Looking back on the book as a whole, I realize that I will likely remember the teen's story best.

I enjoyed the audiobook version and I found that the reader's portrayal of EJ was particularly convincing. I hope that the other audiobooks in this series have the same reader.

[Mary Kay · Rating 2 out of 5]

The mistakes in this book made me cringe: "toe" for "tow", "reigned" for "reined", for just two of the many instances. The worst was when she actually sounded out the word "pshaw" as "pashah". English majors, stay away!

[Debra B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, I enjoyed the book, but the back and forth between the present and the past was confusing and annoying. Frankly, I couldn't see the relevance in the subplot of the past since it didn't have any connection with the main story.

[Marci · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good fluff to listen to while cleaning the house!

[Ava Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this read. E.J. is snarky and cheerful and I smiled through the whole story. Plus, murder at a romance writers' convention is near and dear to my heart.

[Nancy H · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was okay but not as good as others in this series.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a fast read. Enjoyable and fun!