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Madeline Maclin #2
A Hard Bargain
After solving her first big murder case in the small town of Celosia, North Carolina, Madeline Maclin hopes at last to be taken seriously as a private investigator. She's opened an office in the home of her best friend Jerry Fairweather, a man haunted by his past who enjoys running harmless scams.
Jerry doesn't feel worthy of anyone's love--bad news for Madeline--although she thinks Jerry's sister Harriet knows more about the accident that killed their parents than she'll say.
Madeline is hired to find Kirby Willet, an eccentric inventor who left boxes of his belongings, including one filled with money, at Frannie Thomas house. Meanwhile Voltage Films director, Josh Gaskins, is in town and thinks Jerry's old house will be perfect for his horror film, ""Curse of the Mantis Man,"" about Celosia's mythical beast. Is this monster actually real?
Celosia is also hopping with the Pageantoids, rabid fans from Madeline's days as a beauty queen, who have come to Celosia to produce more pageants. And then there's Rick Rialto, one of Jerry's shady con artist friends.
When Gaskins is murdered, Madeline uncovers several suspects and is forced to make--and investigate--some hard bargains. At least one of which is with Jerry.
Jerry doesn't feel worthy of anyone's love--bad news for Madeline--although she thinks Jerry's sister Harriet knows more about the accident that killed their parents than she'll say.
Madeline is hired to find Kirby Willet, an eccentric inventor who left boxes of his belongings, including one filled with money, at Frannie Thomas house. Meanwhile Voltage Films director, Josh Gaskins, is in town and thinks Jerry's old house will be perfect for his horror film, ""Curse of the Mantis Man,"" about Celosia's mythical beast. Is this monster actually real?
Celosia is also hopping with the Pageantoids, rabid fans from Madeline's days as a beauty queen, who have come to Celosia to produce more pageants. And then there's Rick Rialto, one of Jerry's shady con artist friends.
When Gaskins is murdered, Madeline uncovers several suspects and is forced to make--and investigate--some hard bargains. At least one of which is with Jerry.
229 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2007
8 people are currently reading
71 people want to read
About the author
Jane Tesh
38 books172 followersJane is a 2022 Book Excellence Award Finalist for her fantasy novel, Butterfly Waltz and a 2023 Book Excellence Finalist for her mystery novel, Ghost Light.
Jane lives and writes in Mt. Airy, North Carolina, the real Mayberry. She is the author of the Grace Street Mystery Series, the Madeline Maclin Mysteries, four fantasy novels, and over thirty plays for children.
Jane lives and writes in Mt. Airy, North Carolina, the real Mayberry. She is the author of the Grace Street Mystery Series, the Madeline Maclin Mysteries, four fantasy novels, and over thirty plays for children.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
March 25, 2014
This is the second in the series. The story underscores the old saying, "You can't go home again" as Josh Gaskins goes back to small town Celosia to film a movie about Mantis Man, a local legend. Gaskins has several reasons. He wants to show off, he needs financing, and he has subject matter that has not been used previously. Unfortunately, in his climb for prestige, Josh was not entirely honest, which is the motive for his murder. In the end, Madeline solves the crime. Jerry did go home again and discovered that a con man was responsible for the deaths of his parents. Jerry then surprises her with a proposal after his brother's wedding, which is the lead-in to the next novel. Madeline & Jerry seem more comfortable in the small town. They accept the good & the bad of everyone knowing everything about everybody. Privacy is almost impossible in such circumstances, but they seem content with that.
April 15, 2012
The movies are coming to Celosia! A former resident is back and has written a horror movie about the local legend. Not everyone is excited.
Madeline Maclin is a former beauty queen who is trying to make a name for herself as a private investigator. She just solved her first big murder and is looking forward to her next case. But there's not much going on. She's been hired to track down an eccentric inventor who left some boxes at a woman's house.
And then... there's a murder on the set. The former town resident has been killed and it looks like Madeline has a case. But can she do all this while living with the man she hopes will realize that she's more than just his friend? Especially when his conman past has come back to roost.
Madeline Maclin is a former beauty queen who is trying to make a name for herself as a private investigator. She just solved her first big murder and is looking forward to her next case. But there's not much going on. She's been hired to track down an eccentric inventor who left some boxes at a woman's house.
And then... there's a murder on the set. The former town resident has been killed and it looks like Madeline has a case. But can she do all this while living with the man she hopes will realize that she's more than just his friend? Especially when his conman past has come back to roost.
October 6, 2017
Not up to snuff with the Grace Street Mysteries. Need lots more of those. I'll continue to read these though. Does Goodreads have a way to notify us when your work comes out? I'd like that. It'd also be great if they listed series in order & added published dates. Keep them coming!
June 25, 2017
Nice beach read; romance, mystery, well plotted and narrated. No offensive stuff.
October 12, 2020
Another great book by Jane
Great story line, and an enjoyable read. Mac is a character you can visualize. I’m ready to begin book 3!
Great story line, and an enjoyable read. Mac is a character you can visualize. I’m ready to begin book 3!
October 20, 2014
This second in the Madeline Maclin series is a continuation of Madeline's struggle to make it as a private detective in a small town in North Carolina. Like many small towns in murder mysteries, there is an inordinate amount of crime there. In this case, Madeline is trying to track down the Mantis Man, the subject of Celosian myth and a current extremely low budget horror movie. As Madeline tries to maneuver her best friend Jerry away from small-time conning and his evil girlfriend and toward legitimate (if low-paying) jobs and her, she has several setbacks. I don't think the emotions of the characters seemed that real in terms of them falling in love, but I do enjoy the concept of them and found the plot page-turning.
April 3, 2019
Madeline Maclin and her best friend (would that he were something more!) Jerry are back, solving crimes in the little southern town of Celosia. A graduate of the local high school is returning to film a horror movie, using Jerry's house in the exterior shots. Private investigator Madeline also has other cases, but none is as interesting as the murder that occurs during the filming. But almost more important to her is the mystery of Jerry's parents, who died when he was six, and whose deaths have scarred him deeply.
June 24, 2015
I enjoyed the first one, A Case of Imagination, enough to try the second one. It was good and I'll definitely be reading more of this series.
It moves quickly, usually witty/humorous, no offensive content, stays focused, and other good qualities. Not sure I particularly relate with any of the characters, but I certainly don't dislike any of them.
I recommend this book, and what I've read of the series.
It moves quickly, usually witty/humorous, no offensive content, stays focused, and other good qualities. Not sure I particularly relate with any of the characters, but I certainly don't dislike any of them.
I recommend this book, and what I've read of the series.
June 25, 2013
Madeline Maclin is a retired beauty queen pestered to get back into the pageant scene but concentrates on her new PI business, taking such cases as tracking down library books, looking for an umbrella that's gone missing, and then dealing with the murder of a filmmaker who has come to town to incorporate a local legend--Mantis Man--into a horror flick.
Nothing I hated, nothing I loved.
Nothing I hated, nothing I loved.
March 7, 2014
It's much fun to read an author you've met at a conference as I did with Jane Tesh at Murder in the Magic City, Birmingham. I enjoyed the first book in this series even though I know nothing about beauty pageants. Loved learning more about Mac, Jerry, and their new town with all its quirky inhabitants in this second installment. Will look forward to the 3rd, Jane!
April 22, 2014
I started to listen A Hard Bargain randomly with no expectations, so I was pleasantly surprised to find it an amusing book to listen. The story of an ex-beauty queen turned private investigator in a small town was nothing special, but still interesting enough to keep me listening. Marguerite Gavin has a pleasant-enough reading voice, the plot is decent and the characters sympathetic.
July 19, 2012
This was an easy read, and proved to be a very enjoyable story. The main characters are charming, and how they interact with the more eccentric townspeople around them makes for a fee laughs. Good story!
December 22, 2011
Characters are a little more fleshed out in this one. It's a predictable story but still enjoyable.
August 26, 2012
A fun read! I love cozy, quirky, small town mysteries like this!
September 10, 2012
Better than the first in the series. Maybe because the main characters are more fleshed out. I will go one more in the series to see.....
March 13, 2013
I've tried twice to read this but Madeline annoys me so much that I can't finish it.
December 12, 2013
Easy and enjoyable read with charming characters. Written by the librarian in the elementary school where I taught.
April 22, 2015
I liked this book; it's not my usual crime-fiction fare but a change every now and then is good to shake things up a bit.
April 16, 2007
a fun story though i was a bit confused with all the detecting..i enjoyed it...
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews