What do you think?
Rate this book
Mali Anderson #2
A Toast Before Dying
Murder casts a shadow over the soul of Harlem....
When she's not studying for her master's or dropping in on her father's jazz gigs, ex-cop Mali Anderson checks out the scene at Harlem's smoky Half-Moon Bar. She wasn't there for singer-bartender Thea Morris's birthday party, but someone else was--someone who shot Thea to death outside in the alley. Was it her boyfriend, now sitting in jail on suspicion of murder? His sister insists he's innocent--and wants her friend Mali to clear his name.
Thea herself is a a lonely beauty in an apartment too deluxe for a woman living on tip money, with a gamut of lovers from an aspiring actor to an ambitious politician. It will take all Mali's savvy--and sources from street-corner buzz to uptown cocktail chat--to unravel Thea's life and death. And it will take her every survival instinct to catch a killer who will kill again to keep a deadly secret.
When she's not studying for her master's or dropping in on her father's jazz gigs, ex-cop Mali Anderson checks out the scene at Harlem's smoky Half-Moon Bar. She wasn't there for singer-bartender Thea Morris's birthday party, but someone else was--someone who shot Thea to death outside in the alley. Was it her boyfriend, now sitting in jail on suspicion of murder? His sister insists he's innocent--and wants her friend Mali to clear his name.
Thea herself is a a lonely beauty in an apartment too deluxe for a woman living on tip money, with a gamut of lovers from an aspiring actor to an ambitious politician. It will take all Mali's savvy--and sources from street-corner buzz to uptown cocktail chat--to unravel Thea's life and death. And it will take her every survival instinct to catch a killer who will kill again to keep a deadly secret.
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
9 people are currently reading
189 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 26, 2020
A Toast Before Dying is compelling mystery fare with the distinction of a black female ex-cop narrator instead of your typical straight white male detective. The backdrop of Mali Anderson's Harlem with beauty parlor and jazz club settings makes for a cozy and colorful ride. The romance is a bit saccharine but breaks up the beat nicely and provides a refreshing departure from the boobed blondes that historically populate this genre.
June 7, 2010
A Toast Before Dying is a thoughtfully, engaging mystery. Mali Anderson, the ex-detective, has to solve a crime that a dear friend has been wrongly accused of committing, and in doing so, Mali uncovers the seedy underworld of Harlem nightlife and crooked politicians. The story is perfectly paced and has a very satisfying ending.
January 4, 2011
I REALLY LOVE THIS BOOK!!!!!Although it is sad that Thea died. She was such a beautiful girl and everything like that. But, Mali found out the REAL murderer and TADA! Yay for alomost everyone! This book is great. Read it, and you will love it, unless you aren't the type for murders and the hard, cold truth. Well, read it and enjoy!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 29, 2012
Grace Edwards takes the reader into a Harlem unseen by tourists.
August 27, 2014
A great mystery and thriller...I was guessing through the whole book. And not a long read either.
November 10, 2014
Enjoyed it but I figured out long before the end what the mystery was.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews