A Gift for Murder

Market Center #1

by Karen McCullough

The Gifts and Home Decoration trade show provides Heather McNeill with the longest week of her hectic life. As assistant to the director of Washington, D.C.'s, Market and Commerce center, she's point person for complaining exhibitors, missing shipments and miscellaneous disasters. It's a job she takes in stride—until murder crashes the event.

A major supplier of gifts and accessories is found dead in a Dumpster, a wound to the head indicating it was no accident. Heather's first priority is damage control—keep the rumor mill from killing the trade show. The victim, Tim Bethel, left behind a trail of broken hearts—including his wife's. Though Mrs. Bethel may be the prime suspect, Heather thinks the true motive for murder involves Tim's business indiscretions, not his personal ones. But can she solve the crime before she loses her career, her sanity…or her life?

Genres: Mystery

Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an original setting for a murder--it happens at a trade show. The heroine of A Gift For Murder works for the Commerce & Market Show Center. Heather MacNeil is the assistant to the Center's Director, which means she has to juggle and solve the many behind-the-scenes problems that come up at any trade show. Heather has a special talent for listening and making people feel comfortable in her presence. She uses this ability to quietly question exhibitors about the body she found murdered in a dumpster.

Although the police are focused on the dead man's wife as their prime suspect, Heather thinks she's innocent and decides to do some amateur detecting. New to the trade floor security team is ex-cop Scott Brandon. Soon he and Heather are working together to solve the crime. They are also exploring the possibility of a romantic relationship.

There is a good deal of authentic detail about what it's like to manage a big trade show. I particularly enjoyed the rogue popcorn machine!

The characters are sympathetic, the plot is well-developed, and the narrative builds to a tense and exciting conclusion. I did wonder why the police homicide detectives were so ineffective, but this is a perennial problem with amateur detective stories.

I enjoyed this novel and would highly recommend it to cozy mystery fans...or to anyone who likes a well-told story.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I vacillated between a 3 and 4 rating for this mystery. I do wish I could have given it a 3.5.

It started off well and then dragged a bit in the middle and the ending was a bit of an anticlimax.

However, I would read other books by this author.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trouble at the trade show. If Heather McNeil ever thought she had it rough as Assistant Director of the show, she was sadly mistaken. This great book is one that I just couldn't put down. You'll certainly agree with me when you read it.

[Nathalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this Market Center Mysteries and look forward to more adventures with heroine Heather McNeil.

[Nancy Jones]

I won this one in a giveaway and never received the book, therefore, no review at this time.

[Tammie Gunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great first book in a 3 book series. Read and shared with my friend

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heather McNeil has faced some very unusual incidents since she became assistant to the director of the Washington, D.C. Commerce & Market Show Center but the most recent one tops them all. The current show at the market center is one where wholesalers display their merchandise and retailers visit the show and place orders for the merchandise. The competition is fierce and the show keeps Heather and her boss, Janelle Addison, very busy.


Tim Bethel, partner in Grantwood & Bethel has disappeared. Although he was seen around the show floor the previous day, he has not put in an appearance at the Grantwood & Bethel booth. Heather leaves the show and goes to Bethel’s hotel in the hopes of finding information about his whereabouts. A maid at the hotel confidentially informs Heather that she doesn’t believe Bethel slept in his room the previous night. Heather informs Bethel’s partner and his assistant Ellen Spencer that if they don’t locate him soon the authorities might have to be called in.

Later, Heather asks Mark, the show’s electrician to accompany her to the receiving area to follow up on a complaint that the area was a mess. Heather and Mark began to clean up the area in receiving that had been left in a mess. That’s when the body of Tim Bethel was discovered in the dumpster.

Soon the whole show was buzzing with gossip about what might have happened to Tim Bethel. It seems that Scott Brandon, who was a former police officer, had been hired just in time. Heather began her investigation much to the dismay of the police and her boss. Brandon agreed to help her out. Naturally, Heather’s questions rubbed some people the wrong way and Heather soon found herself not only in trouble at work but also in danger from the person who murdered Tim Bethel.

This is the first book in the Market Center Mysteries.

[Claude Forthomme · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not a habitual reader of cozy mysteries but this one charmed me, particularly with its vivid evocation of the pressure-cooker world of trade fairs. Some scenes were really enjoyable, e.g. the one with a perennially malfunctioning pop corn machine that spread a revolting smell of burned corn to adjacent booths and the display of decorative angels indiscriminately shedding their tinsel on customers.

The protagonist, young Heather McNeil, amateur sleuth and administrative assistant, is an engaging character and the romantic suspense is ensured when dashing Scott Brandon, a hired security guard, steps in. The plot functions well and the reader has a hard time figuring out the culprit. For me, there were some slow passages, no doubt because I'm not used to the pace of cozy mysteries, but I feel confident that lovers of the genre will thoroughly enjoy this book.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've attended a number of large conventions, but never spent any time thinking about the people who run the conference facility. Of course, as far as I know, I've never attended a convention that featured a murder, either. The Home and Gift show is the largest event of the year at the Washington, D.C. market show center, and Heather McNeil, assistant to the director, has her hands full even before a body is found. She works with the newest security guard, handsome Scott Brandon, a former policeman, to keep the other attendees safe, but is gradually persuaded to investigate by the arrest of a suspect Heather thinks is innocent. Next convention, I'll look for the people quietly keeping things running smoothly.

[Susan Frances · Rating 3 out of 5]

Something big happens in chapter one centered around mysterious circumstances played out in a manner reminiscent of Agatha Christie. The subsequent chapters had me drifting away from the story as the narration, written in first person, loses its motivation. The prospective is from career-oriented Heather McNeill who takes it upon herself to discover the identity of the murderer though it’s never made clear what compels her to become an investigator.

I was provided a copy of Karen McCullough's book from BTS emag. My full review can be found on page 90 in the August issue of BTS emag located here: http://e.issuu.com/embed.html#6645829...

[Phoebe Matthews · Rating 4 out of 5]

This writer either worked at the same type of job as the heroine or did an amazing amount of research on the details and perils of trade shows. She knows all the things that can go wrong, and they pop up in this interesting mystery. Plus a well defined background and a puzzling murder, the story includes a realistic cast of characters involved in believable situations. If you have ever been to a trade show, you will love this cozy mystery. And if you haven’t, you may want to go to one. Just remember to stay clear of the dumpsters by the loading dock.

[Kaitlyn Dunnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable traditional mystery with lots of series potential. The title doesn't make much sense to me, but I like the convention center setting and the main characters are appealing and believable. The plot was complex without being too tangled and the murderer and the motive for it made perfect sense once they were revealed, although I was kept guessing right up until then. I did spot an early clue, but didn't figure out why it was important until the sleuth did, which for me is one of the marks of a successful mystery novel.

[Laurie Pinnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

the chaotic world of trade shows becomes a matter of life and death. Yes, for Heather McNeil, assistant to the director of the Show Center it becomes a matter of life or death when she finds a corpse in the dumpster. I found this book hard to put down because I just had to find the answers to the many questions that plagued Heather and many others at this trade show. Who murdered Tim Bethel and will they kill again? Can we catch them before they take another life? A definite must read for mystery lovers everywhere.

[Marlene Chabot · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read by Karen Mc Cullough. Anyone who enjoys a good amateur sleuth mystery would enjoy the way this novel is weaved together. Wait till you find out who the killer is. Working at a commerce and market center in the Washington, D.C. area, Heather Mc Neil runs into plenty of problems one particular week, including finding a body in a dumpster.
of a business person in a dumpster.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I won this book on Goodreads Giveaways"

This was a refreshing simple read. No gruesome details, no sex or bad language. Just a nice little mystery with just a touch of romance. I enjoyed that, but the story did drag in spots. I would read more by this author.

[Margaret Boehm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written. Good mystery.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fine cozy mystery with a gutsy protagonist. I look forward to reading more in this new series.