Charmed Circle

by Carol Smith

Twenty-seven-year-old Joanna Lyndhurst has no idea what's in store when she decides to celebrate passing her medical boards with a winter holiday on the sunny Caribbean island of Antigua. She goes alone, leaving her lover Sebastian behind in London. In Antigua, she meets a gang of friendly Lowell Brooks, a judge from Massachusetts, and his lover, Vincent van de Voorst, an art historian from Amsterdam; Cora Louise and Fontaine Ravenel, a mother-daughter team of socialites from Charleston, South Carolina; Merrily Morgenstern, a hard-edged New York banking exec on the prowl for a husband; and Jessica Sutherland, a cheerful Brit who organizes music festivals. The trip surpasses Joanna's expectations as the holiday becomes a tradition; the tight-knit group meets up every December, each trip bringing more adventures. More than one of the women has designs on the eligible Lowell, not realizing the truth of his own private life; Jo meets a handsome stranger who vanishes and reappears when she least expects it; and all the friends grow closer and closer. Yet not one of them is exactly who they seem, and when the first violent murder occurs, the remaining six gather in New York to console each other and get on with their lives. But more tragedy awaits. In a dramatic--and highly suspenseful--conclusion, Joanna discovers the identity of her dark stranger, and finds that some of her friends are not who they seem . . . and that there really may be no such thing as an accident.

Hardcover

First published July 1, 1998

About the author

Librarian's Note: There is more than one author with this name.

Carol Smith was born in London and worked in the book trade, both in London and New York, before becoming a full-time writer herself. For much of that time she ran her own literary agency, focussed on finding and developing new talent, although now her own writing takes up most of her time. She lives in Kensington. She also writes under the name Alex Crowe.

Reviews

[Sydney Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are very few books that can have an ending that I don't see coming. This is one of them.

At the heart of this story is friendship and what it means to have relationships with people.

Honestly if you like Four Weddings and a Funeral, I think you'll enjoy this book, it has a similar feel. Personally I think it's better than the movie but that's just me.

What I can say is that Carol Smith created a story that inspired me to become an author. I was able to give this book to my daughter almost twenty years later, and now she loves it too.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I liked the characters in this and it kept me riveted until the end.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good story, but a bit overdone.

[Cynthia · Rating 1 out of 5]

ANTIGUA - Pointless.

[Chris Bullock · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK to read, but a bit long-winded and predictable.

[Melissa (Always Behind) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good mystery. Group of friends meets in Antigua every year, then murders occur. Back cover gives away too much, so avoid reading that.

[Ja'nai · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just couldn't get into it. I gave up prior to finishing.