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Blackbird Sisters Mystery #8
No Way to Kill a Lady
The Blackbird sisters are back—and as witty and wonderful as ever!
For richer, for poorer... Nora Blackbird, the Bucks County ex-debutante with a haute couture wardrobe, a hot job as a glamorous society columnist and a stone cold bank account, might finally have her own life just right, but everyone around her is going down in flames. Her sister Libby seems destined to be the lead character in a tabloid sex scandal. Her sister Emma is expecting a mysterious love child. Her best friend, Lexie Paine, is serving time in the slammer. And now her mobbed-up boyfriend, Mick Abruzzo—who might actually be her husband—is conducting clandestine capers from Blackbird Farm while under house arrest. What’s a good girl to do? Find a killer, that’s what! Word arrives that the sisters’ great aunt, Madeleine Blackbird, has died in a volcanic eruption on an Indonesian island and left her fabulous country estate, worth millions, to the three of them. But when the Blackbird sisters show up to claim their windfall, they find the house in a state of disheartening decay and all of Madeleine’s to-die-for treasures gone. Worse, the mansion has been hiding a grisly the body of a woman who died there many years ago. All the evidence points to a high society murder...
Nora’s special bond with flamboyant Aunt Madeleine compels her to seek out the truth. With her aunt’s amorous stepson dogging her footsteps, her unscrupulous lawyer acting like a skunk, and her devoted housekeeper not to be found, Nora’s investigation is going nowhere. Good thing Mick’s close by to offer Nora distractions both dark and delightful. And, as ever, her irrepressible sisters provide some unexpected... and highly unorthodox... assistance when she most needs it.
For richer, for poorer... Nora Blackbird, the Bucks County ex-debutante with a haute couture wardrobe, a hot job as a glamorous society columnist and a stone cold bank account, might finally have her own life just right, but everyone around her is going down in flames. Her sister Libby seems destined to be the lead character in a tabloid sex scandal. Her sister Emma is expecting a mysterious love child. Her best friend, Lexie Paine, is serving time in the slammer. And now her mobbed-up boyfriend, Mick Abruzzo—who might actually be her husband—is conducting clandestine capers from Blackbird Farm while under house arrest. What’s a good girl to do? Find a killer, that’s what! Word arrives that the sisters’ great aunt, Madeleine Blackbird, has died in a volcanic eruption on an Indonesian island and left her fabulous country estate, worth millions, to the three of them. But when the Blackbird sisters show up to claim their windfall, they find the house in a state of disheartening decay and all of Madeleine’s to-die-for treasures gone. Worse, the mansion has been hiding a grisly the body of a woman who died there many years ago. All the evidence points to a high society murder...
Nora’s special bond with flamboyant Aunt Madeleine compels her to seek out the truth. With her aunt’s amorous stepson dogging her footsteps, her unscrupulous lawyer acting like a skunk, and her devoted housekeeper not to be found, Nora’s investigation is going nowhere. Good thing Mick’s close by to offer Nora distractions both dark and delightful. And, as ever, her irrepressible sisters provide some unexpected... and highly unorthodox... assistance when she most needs it.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published August 7, 2012
50 people are currently reading
961 people want to read
About the author
Nancy Martin
138 books561 followersWinner of the 2009 Lifetime Achievement award for mystery writing from Romantic Times magazine, Nancy Martin announces the release of the 8th book in her popular Blackbird Sisters mystery series, NO WAY TO KILL A LADY. Set in Philadelphia, the story features three heiresses whose parents have run off with their trust funds. Now thay have a chance to regain their wealth when their aunt, "Madcap Maddy" Blackbird dies in a volcano and leaves her estate to the sisters. But Nora Blackbird soon discovers all the treasures in Aunt Maddy's house have disappeared...information that leads her to believe maybe Maddy didn't die the way everybody thinks.
Author of 48 pop fiction novels in mystery, suspense, historical and romance genres, Nancy created The Blackbird Sisters in 2002--- mysteries about three impoverished heiresses who adventure in couture and crime --as if “Agatha Christie had wandered onto the set of Sex and The City.” Nominated for the Agatha Award for Best First Mystery of 2002, HOW TO MURDER A MILLIONAIRE won the RT award for Best First Mystery and was a finalist for the Daphne DuMaurier Award. Currently, she is at work on the Roxy Abruzzo mystery series for St. Martin’s Minotaur. In 2009 she received the Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award for mystery writing.
Nancy lives in Pittsburgh, serves on the board of Sisters in Crime and is a founding member of Pennwriters. Find her on Pinterest and Facebook.
Author of 48 pop fiction novels in mystery, suspense, historical and romance genres, Nancy created The Blackbird Sisters in 2002--- mysteries about three impoverished heiresses who adventure in couture and crime --as if “Agatha Christie had wandered onto the set of Sex and The City.” Nominated for the Agatha Award for Best First Mystery of 2002, HOW TO MURDER A MILLIONAIRE won the RT award for Best First Mystery and was a finalist for the Daphne DuMaurier Award. Currently, she is at work on the Roxy Abruzzo mystery series for St. Martin’s Minotaur. In 2009 she received the Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award for mystery writing.
Nancy lives in Pittsburgh, serves on the board of Sisters in Crime and is a founding member of Pennwriters. Find her on Pinterest and Facebook.
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July 6, 2012The 8th book in the Blackbird Sisters mystery series was a hoot to write. I hope everybody enjoys getting back to Nora's world as much as I did.
March 14, 2016
It should be retitled, Why Don't They Kill Stupid or Did I Really Just Waste Time Reading This Drivel?
Where to start....Pros. The storyline of the death of the Aunt and her companion was an intriguing storyline. Estranged aunt dies, leaves the house to her nieces, they find a skeleton in the house elevator, then another skeleton is found a few days later. The premise was what made me want to read the book.
Cons....there are many, so many! The nieces (Nora, Emma, and Libby) are all incredibly stupid! Nora, the main character, was married to Todd who turned into a coke fiend (and I'm not talking coka-cola) and Nora decides to ignore it and her friends warnings until his drug dealer kills him. Then she takes up with an ex-con who just got out of prison and is on house arrest at her farm. Oh, and he's a mob boss that wants to go straight. Unless of course Nora or her sisters need someone beat up or their property burned down, and then everyone is OK with it. She gets sexually and physically attacked at a party when thankfully, a waiter appears and Nora's attacker leaves. How does Nora deal with it? She goes back to the party, has a drink and then goes home and has sex with her boyfriend and we never hear about the attack ever again. That passage is so incredibly demeaning to any victim of abuse.
Emma is pregnant, we're not really sure how far along as it varies depending on the chapter. One chapter she's eight months pregnant and ready to pop and another chapter we're told she has several weeks to go. I have to admit, I wasn't paying much attention by this time as I really didn't care, so there may have been an explanation to the time difference. The baby daddy, oh, he's a slim ball that's engaged to a wealthy woman and of course doesn't want to give her or Emma up. But is he really the baby daddy? There are several men who come up and ask Emma to marry them as they all assume they're the father. Look, I'm not judgmental, but really, if you're going to sleep around, be an adult and use protection. Oh not Emma, she's just as stupid as her sisters.
Libby, has five kids and has decided that her youngest (12 month old Max) is the one that will take care of her by becoming an NFL kicker and being in the SuperBowl. I'm not sure who the father is of the children (because once again I failed to give a hoot), but she flirts with every man who comes her way and never seems to spend anytime with the kids. She was the least annoying, but probably because she wasn't mentioned as often.
I loved the Aunt, but she was dead the entire book.
There were pages that were complete fluff and in no way moved the story forward. The pacing was at a snails pace and the characters were unlikeable and even more offensively, they were uninteresting.
How all three sisters decided that they'll just be taken care of by men and none of them truly felt a need to take care of themselves, was disappointing and irritating. They continued to play the victim the entire book and took no responsibility for their actions. The old story of, love will turn a man straight is so cliched. To state the Nora's boyfriend/fiancé will change is way is unbelievable when he continues to run the family business and conduct any illegal actives Nora and her sisters ask/infer that he take care of. There are a few more storylines that once again just didn't add to the overall story of Aunt Madeleine....it was just drivel drivel drivel.
As you can tell, this book really got under my skin as one of the most loathsome books I've read. Ugh...what a foolish and dull-witted book of nothingness.
Where to start....Pros. The storyline of the death of the Aunt and her companion was an intriguing storyline. Estranged aunt dies, leaves the house to her nieces, they find a skeleton in the house elevator, then another skeleton is found a few days later. The premise was what made me want to read the book.
Cons....there are many, so many! The nieces (Nora, Emma, and Libby) are all incredibly stupid! Nora, the main character, was married to Todd who turned into a coke fiend (and I'm not talking coka-cola) and Nora decides to ignore it and her friends warnings until his drug dealer kills him. Then she takes up with an ex-con who just got out of prison and is on house arrest at her farm. Oh, and he's a mob boss that wants to go straight. Unless of course Nora or her sisters need someone beat up or their property burned down, and then everyone is OK with it. She gets sexually and physically attacked at a party when thankfully, a waiter appears and Nora's attacker leaves. How does Nora deal with it? She goes back to the party, has a drink and then goes home and has sex with her boyfriend and we never hear about the attack ever again. That passage is so incredibly demeaning to any victim of abuse.
Emma is pregnant, we're not really sure how far along as it varies depending on the chapter. One chapter she's eight months pregnant and ready to pop and another chapter we're told she has several weeks to go. I have to admit, I wasn't paying much attention by this time as I really didn't care, so there may have been an explanation to the time difference. The baby daddy, oh, he's a slim ball that's engaged to a wealthy woman and of course doesn't want to give her or Emma up. But is he really the baby daddy? There are several men who come up and ask Emma to marry them as they all assume they're the father. Look, I'm not judgmental, but really, if you're going to sleep around, be an adult and use protection. Oh not Emma, she's just as stupid as her sisters.
Libby, has five kids and has decided that her youngest (12 month old Max) is the one that will take care of her by becoming an NFL kicker and being in the SuperBowl. I'm not sure who the father is of the children (because once again I failed to give a hoot), but she flirts with every man who comes her way and never seems to spend anytime with the kids. She was the least annoying, but probably because she wasn't mentioned as often.
I loved the Aunt, but she was dead the entire book.
There were pages that were complete fluff and in no way moved the story forward. The pacing was at a snails pace and the characters were unlikeable and even more offensively, they were uninteresting.
How all three sisters decided that they'll just be taken care of by men and none of them truly felt a need to take care of themselves, was disappointing and irritating. They continued to play the victim the entire book and took no responsibility for their actions. The old story of, love will turn a man straight is so cliched. To state the Nora's boyfriend/fiancé will change is way is unbelievable when he continues to run the family business and conduct any illegal actives Nora and her sisters ask/infer that he take care of. There are a few more storylines that once again just didn't add to the overall story of Aunt Madeleine....it was just drivel drivel drivel.
As you can tell, this book really got under my skin as one of the most loathsome books I've read. Ugh...what a foolish and dull-witted book of nothingness.
March 28, 2021
So nice to jump back into the blackbird lives!! A good story where Libby didn’t drive me bonkers and Emma and Nora were as delightful as always! An interesting mystery too!!
July 29, 2012
In Nancy Martin’s long awaited eighth book in the Blackbird Sisters Mysteries, it looks like things are looking up for the sisters. Forced to live in genteel poverty since their parents absconded with their trust funds, news that they inherited their Aunt Madeleine’s estate seems the answer to their prayers. Life is complicated for the sisters, Nora’s lover, Michael, is in jail, Emma is pregnant with no chance of marrying the father and Libby is ….well, Libby.
When they get to the site of the mansion, they discover that the house is a wreck, all of the valuables are missing and to top it off, they find skeletal remains in the elevator. Add to the mix a smarmy cousin, Sutherland, who might contest the will, and it’s obvious that this is not going to be the answer to the sister’s problems. There is some good news, Michael is released to the Blackbird farm on supervised home release but that means his thuggish entourage also will be on the premises. Michael has another surprise for her, but it's a big surprise to him as well.
Nora works on finding out what happened to her aunt, clearing her aunt’s name after salacious rumors surface, and finding out what happened to all of the pilfered items from the house. Nora uses her job as a society columnist to get information about her aunt’s history and finding out who would have had access to the estate. Her aunt’s lecherous lawyer seems pretty suspicious and there are a few society matrons who were very jealous of Aunt Madeleine and would have been happy to see her gone.
I have always enjoyed this series because of all the different threads that run through every story. I love the insider look at mainline society and the descriptions of the vintage outfits Nora wears to events. The contrast between that life and the mob family connections of Michael’s has led to problems in the relationship in the past but in this book they seem to be on a pretty even keel. Emma’s pregnancy is stressing her out physically and mentally and the off/on relationship with the father does not help. Libby is convinced her toddler son is destined for athletic superstardom and is still on the prowl for anything in pants. Nora has a full plate of craziness to deal with and Michael is her anchor even with his problems. They are perfect together even though their life is still unsettled.
If you have been a fan of this series, you will love this book. The biggest problem will be waiting for the next one to come!
When they get to the site of the mansion, they discover that the house is a wreck, all of the valuables are missing and to top it off, they find skeletal remains in the elevator. Add to the mix a smarmy cousin, Sutherland, who might contest the will, and it’s obvious that this is not going to be the answer to the sister’s problems. There is some good news, Michael is released to the Blackbird farm on supervised home release but that means his thuggish entourage also will be on the premises. Michael has another surprise for her, but it's a big surprise to him as well.
Nora works on finding out what happened to her aunt, clearing her aunt’s name after salacious rumors surface, and finding out what happened to all of the pilfered items from the house. Nora uses her job as a society columnist to get information about her aunt’s history and finding out who would have had access to the estate. Her aunt’s lecherous lawyer seems pretty suspicious and there are a few society matrons who were very jealous of Aunt Madeleine and would have been happy to see her gone.
I have always enjoyed this series because of all the different threads that run through every story. I love the insider look at mainline society and the descriptions of the vintage outfits Nora wears to events. The contrast between that life and the mob family connections of Michael’s has led to problems in the relationship in the past but in this book they seem to be on a pretty even keel. Emma’s pregnancy is stressing her out physically and mentally and the off/on relationship with the father does not help. Libby is convinced her toddler son is destined for athletic superstardom and is still on the prowl for anything in pants. Nora has a full plate of craziness to deal with and Michael is her anchor even with his problems. They are perfect together even though their life is still unsettled.
If you have been a fan of this series, you will love this book. The biggest problem will be waiting for the next one to come!
July 18, 2012
Things aren't going well for Nora, the love of her life Mick, and her best friend are both incarcerated, her sisters are still driving her crazy and her parents have taken off again. Than comes word that Great Aunt Madeline has passed away, and the real adventure begins. There are a few twists and turns and an unexpected dead body (of course!), but the end result is an outstanding 8th outing for Nancy Martin's Blackbird Sisters Series. Do yourselves a favor and add this one to your 2012 summer MUST READ list, you will not be disappointed ... well except for the nagging problem of waiting for the next one!
August 20, 2012
As always, Nancy Martin has written another wonderful and intriguing Blackbird Sisters mystery. I was so excited when I found out that she was writing a new book, that I think I had this on pre-order for about 2 months!
I absolutely love the Blackbird Sisters antics and all of the situations that they find themselves in. Of course, my favorite is Nora, she always seems to be the one that everyone turns to for help. Her relationship with Mick is complicated yet she always seems to make it work. I am desperately hoping that there are more Blackbird Sisters books to come.
I absolutely love the Blackbird Sisters antics and all of the situations that they find themselves in. Of course, my favorite is Nora, she always seems to be the one that everyone turns to for help. Her relationship with Mick is complicated yet she always seems to make it work. I am desperately hoping that there are more Blackbird Sisters books to come.
October 9, 2012
As always, Nancy Martin has you laughing through the entire book with the escapades of the three sisters. It is a continuation of her previous books but if the reader just picks this one up without reading the rest, she does fill you in briefly. If you are looking for a light read with plenty of good laughs, pick up any of her books.
July 10, 2018
Hokey Yuk! I put it down!
June 10, 2017
Nora Blackbird and her sisters have inherited a houseful of treasures when an aged aunt - traveling the world these past 20 years - is killed in a natural disaster. However, when they show up to view the loot, they find the house emptied of anything valuable and a crumbling corpse in the elevator.
I just love this series! It's got high fashion, exasperating (and often hilarious) family drama, society folk both rich and hoping, romance, and a good mystery in each book. Light, entertaining, and quite addictive.
Nora is a Philadelphia socialite who had to step up when her parents ran off with the last of the family fortune, leaving her with a crumbling heap of stone and a $2 million dollar tax bill. She has a ditzy older sister obsessed with men and odd spiritual notions (usually of a sexual nature), and a self-destructive younger sister who does a great impression of an alcoholic nymphomaniac. Nora's boyfriend - to complicate matters - is a member of a crime family who tries to stay on the straight and narrowish, but keeps getting sucked into family hijinks and is the constant focus of lawmen and reporters. Nora's involvement with murders doesn't do him any favors in those areas.
I just love this series! It's got high fashion, exasperating (and often hilarious) family drama, society folk both rich and hoping, romance, and a good mystery in each book. Light, entertaining, and quite addictive.
Nora is a Philadelphia socialite who had to step up when her parents ran off with the last of the family fortune, leaving her with a crumbling heap of stone and a $2 million dollar tax bill. She has a ditzy older sister obsessed with men and odd spiritual notions (usually of a sexual nature), and a self-destructive younger sister who does a great impression of an alcoholic nymphomaniac. Nora's boyfriend - to complicate matters - is a member of a crime family who tries to stay on the straight and narrowish, but keeps getting sucked into family hijinks and is the constant focus of lawmen and reporters. Nora's involvement with murders doesn't do him any favors in those areas.
April 27, 2018
In spite of all the trouble she's gone through lately, Nora's life is finally starting to fall into place. There are lots of challenges, but mentally and emotionally she's beginning to find her place in the world. She and Michael are figuring out how to work together, and they support each other in their individual challenges, letting the other work, but still clearly there when needed.
The mystery of who her great-aunt was is intriguing and even though solving who killed her isn't a huge part of the book, the overall story is wonderful. There is still a lot of resolving to do with Emma's situation, but it's set up to boil over in the next book. And Libby's craziness was a little toned-down, but it might be gearing up for some more antics in the next book.
The mystery of who her great-aunt was is intriguing and even though solving who killed her isn't a huge part of the book, the overall story is wonderful. There is still a lot of resolving to do with Emma's situation, but it's set up to boil over in the next book. And Libby's craziness was a little toned-down, but it might be gearing up for some more antics in the next book.
February 24, 2022
This is another zany romp with the Blackbird sisters. They are faced with the death of their Aunt Madeline. More surprising is that she left her estate to them. Sadly the estate has been plundered and it's up to Nora and her sisters to figure out what happened. This quest leads them to murder.
All the fashion references are lost on me, but I get the impression that Nora has a great sense of style. I also never had any connection with Nora's late husband, Todd, who ODed. This is the first time that Martin opens a window into Nora and Todd life before his drug addiction. All in all this was a very satisfying book.
All the fashion references are lost on me, but I get the impression that Nora has a great sense of style. I also never had any connection with Nora's late husband, Todd, who ODed. This is the first time that Martin opens a window into Nora and Todd life before his drug addiction. All in all this was a very satisfying book.
February 27, 2023
The perfect book for when you don’t want anything too heavy. Sister Libby is always good for a laugh, and Norah always seems to make the hard decisions . Michael is under house arrest, Emma is about to have her baby, and Libby is starting a new on-line business. Luckily the Blackbird sisters have just come into an inheritance. Unluckily, it seems Aunt Maddie wasn’t just a social butterfly. Hmmmm… read on.
October 14, 2019
There's nearly always too much happening in these stories, and it's unrealistic to believe that it all just wraps up neatly at the end. But as with most cozies, you suspend your disbelief (majorly) and just keep going, at which point they usually become cute and funny. This series gets particularly cute and funny when you accept that it's nonsense.
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January 18, 2020I haven't read one of the Blackbird sisters' mysteries in years, but I hope there are more. I like Nora and her crazy sisters and her gorgeous "trying hard not to be a mobster" boyfriend. Another fun adventure, though it wrapped up really quickly.
April 28, 2021
There’s nice and kind, and then there’s doormat. I’m a bit tired of Nora being a doormat. So many things she should’ve said no to, including attempted rape. Instead, she just walked them off and went on her way as if these things didn’t happen. Stop, Nora. So unhealthy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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March 28, 2024Aunt Madeline is reported dead. The Blackbird girls are to inherit. A body is found in the elevator. Nora follows the clues. Emma is ready to have her baby. Libby pursues the Deputy. Michael is released on house arrest. Nora figures out who killed Madeline and Pippi too!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 13, 2017
Took me almost half the book to really grab my interest. While it did have a few good lol moments and the story line was ok, It just wasn't my cup of tea.
January 22, 2018
The Blackbird sisters are at it again in this fun-filled book.
June 13, 2018
Bravo - so very entertaining!! Nancy Martin writes a fast paced, funny, and at times sad, mystery. One of my favorite authors.
July 6, 2018
I just love this series. The characters are quirky, but believable. And the mystery keeps me guessing until the end.
July 9, 2018
it's a great (quick) summer read
September 13, 2018
Body in an elevator! How did the great aunt die? Why?
November 29, 2018
Another winner
Nancy Martin writes cozy mysteries for those of us who are interested in more than just a plucky heroine who bests the police at solving crimes. A joy to read.
Nancy Martin writes cozy mysteries for those of us who are interested in more than just a plucky heroine who bests the police at solving crimes. A joy to read.
October 23, 2019
I thought that the previous book in the series was too angst-ridden and just not interesting or funny enough. But this book seems to getting the series back on track.
I was just wondering, if Nancy, Bess, and George grew up would they be Nora, Libby, and Emma? And don't try to tell me that Nancy, Bess, and George were any smarter or better detectives because, if you go back and read books from that series again, they weren't. How many times did Nancy go out detecting on a dark night with dead flashlight batteries?
I was just wondering, if Nancy, Bess, and George grew up would they be Nora, Libby, and Emma? And don't try to tell me that Nancy, Bess, and George were any smarter or better detectives because, if you go back and read books from that series again, they weren't. How many times did Nancy go out detecting on a dark night with dead flashlight batteries?
November 14, 2019
I love these books and will be sad when the series is done!
December 9, 2020
Great read, as always.
February 13, 2021
Nora's character upped my rating to four stars. Nora s kindness is heartwarming and just so lovely to read. And then there's her fabulous wardrobe :)
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January 13, 2022Another good installment in the series set in and around Philadelphia.
June 6, 2022
Love this series!!! I found the Michael reunion underwhelming but the outfits are good, I like seeing Nora with a backbone
August 4, 2022
It was fun diving back into this series. A good vacation read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 166 reviews