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Death on Demand #17
Dead Days of Summer
The murder of an exotic young woman brings crime too close for comfort Murder hits close to home for Death on Demand bookstore owner Annie Darling and her beloved husband, Max. While investigating a new case, Max calls Annie to let her know he may be late getting home. He never shows up. Annie knows something dreadful has happened to him. During the search for Max, his car is found on a remote road -- with a murder weapon in the trunk and a beautiful but very dead young woman nearby. The case becomes a media sensation with Max portrayed as an unfaithful husband willing to kill to get rid of a mistress. As the evidence against Max continues to mount, chief of police Billy Cameron is called off the case. But Billy risks his career to continue the hunt for a silver car briefly seen following Max's on the night of the murder, and Annie is forced to go undercover in a desperate attempt to clear her husband's name. Risking her life, she enters the victim's unfamiliar world in the hopes of understanding how and why Max is involved. With time running out, Annie has one last chance to capture a wily murderer who just may have committed the perfect crime.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2006
85 people are currently reading
752 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn G. Hart
126 books944 followersAlso writing as Carolyn Hart.
An accomplished master of mystery with 46 published books, Carolyn Hart is the creator of the highly acclaimed Henrie O,Death on Demand, and Bailey Ruth Raeburn series. Her books have won multiple Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity Awards. Letter from Home (2003), her standalone mystery set in Oklahoma, was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. Her latest book is Dead by Midnight (William Morrow/HarperCollins, 2007). She is one of the founders of Sisters in Crime, an organization for women who write mysteries. She lives in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma."
New Books: Dead By Midnight Carolyn Hart
DEAD BY MIDNIGHT by Carolyn Hart On Sale March 29
The police say suicide. Annie Darling suspects murder. Max is unconvinced until Annie follows a trail behind the dead woman's house.
Annie unravels the mystery of a towel hidden at midnight in a gazebo, the interesting lack of fingerprints on a crystal mug, blood on a teenager's blue shirt, and the secret of a lovers' tryst. Max plunges deep into the woods to find incriminating evidence.
Annie sets the perfect trap for a merciless killer, but her cell phone rings and Death is on the line.
www.CarolynHart.com
And for cat lovers:
DEAD BY MIDNIGHT by Carolyn Hart
I love to have fun when writing a mystery. If I laugh, I think a reader will laugh. In the Death on Demand series, I especially enjoy writing about Annie Darling's ditzy mother-in-law, Laurel Roethke. Laurel is usually excited about a new interest, something that surprises and often confounds Annie.
In Dead by Midnight, Laurel creates Cat Truth Posters, which she wants Annie to hang in the bookstore. Annie thinks books should be the store's focus, but the posters enchant her.
Each poster features a cat's photograph with a caption. Here are three of the Cat Truth posters;
. . . a silky furred, mitted, and bicolored Ragdoll stretched out on a red silk cushion, looking as comfy as Eva Longoria in a Hanes ad: Go with the Flow.
A rectangular-muzzled, green-eyed, cholocolate colored cat appeared as brooding as a Gothic hero: Always Say Yes to Adventure.
. . . a thick-furred, piebald Siberian forest cat, its white front a brilliant contrast to a charcoal back and head. Its face appeared almost angelic: Always try a Smile First.
And yes, one of the posters points to a killer.
Fun for me and fun, I hope for readers
An accomplished master of mystery with 46 published books, Carolyn Hart is the creator of the highly acclaimed Henrie O,Death on Demand, and Bailey Ruth Raeburn series. Her books have won multiple Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity Awards. Letter from Home (2003), her standalone mystery set in Oklahoma, was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. Her latest book is Dead by Midnight (William Morrow/HarperCollins, 2007). She is one of the founders of Sisters in Crime, an organization for women who write mysteries. She lives in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma."
New Books: Dead By Midnight Carolyn Hart
DEAD BY MIDNIGHT by Carolyn Hart On Sale March 29
The police say suicide. Annie Darling suspects murder. Max is unconvinced until Annie follows a trail behind the dead woman's house.
Annie unravels the mystery of a towel hidden at midnight in a gazebo, the interesting lack of fingerprints on a crystal mug, blood on a teenager's blue shirt, and the secret of a lovers' tryst. Max plunges deep into the woods to find incriminating evidence.
Annie sets the perfect trap for a merciless killer, but her cell phone rings and Death is on the line.
www.CarolynHart.com
And for cat lovers:
DEAD BY MIDNIGHT by Carolyn Hart
I love to have fun when writing a mystery. If I laugh, I think a reader will laugh. In the Death on Demand series, I especially enjoy writing about Annie Darling's ditzy mother-in-law, Laurel Roethke. Laurel is usually excited about a new interest, something that surprises and often confounds Annie.
In Dead by Midnight, Laurel creates Cat Truth Posters, which she wants Annie to hang in the bookstore. Annie thinks books should be the store's focus, but the posters enchant her.
Each poster features a cat's photograph with a caption. Here are three of the Cat Truth posters;
. . . a silky furred, mitted, and bicolored Ragdoll stretched out on a red silk cushion, looking as comfy as Eva Longoria in a Hanes ad: Go with the Flow.
A rectangular-muzzled, green-eyed, cholocolate colored cat appeared as brooding as a Gothic hero: Always Say Yes to Adventure.
. . . a thick-furred, piebald Siberian forest cat, its white front a brilliant contrast to a charcoal back and head. Its face appeared almost angelic: Always try a Smile First.
And yes, one of the posters points to a killer.
Fun for me and fun, I hope for readers
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
April 20, 2017
The relationships between the characters in the Death on Demand books has always been what made these books for me. This is the group of people that I want around me regardless of the situation, because they will do absolutely anything for a friend. As usual, the story moves along very quickly, and I love Hart’s writing style. There were a few things in this one that made me absolutely crazy however. First of all, there are starting to be way too many characters running through these books, which makes it hard to keep up sometimes with who is whom. Secondly, how in the heck was there a whole group of folks on Broward’s Rock that didn’t recognize Annie, one of whom worked in town near her shop? And thirdly, if these folks didn’t know Annie, they didn’t know Max either, so why go to such extensive links to frame him for the murder? And when Laurel was so central to the action for so long, how did she just vanish from the story until the end? There just seemed to be a lot of unanswered questions when this book is finished, which led me to a lower rating than I typically give this series.
July 15, 2016
Another fast moving, cozy mystery (# 17) about island bookstore owner Annie Darling and her P.I. husband. Carolyn Hart creates lots of suspense for the inhabitants of Broward's Rock, a beach community in S.C. This time Annie's husband Max appears to have murdered his lover and spends much of the book imprisoned while Annie and friends, never believing the overwhelming evidence against him, set out to solve the crime. A few loose ends leftover but otherwise an entertaining read.
September 5, 2021
This was a pretty good installment - it felt less "cozy" and more "suspense" because Max is a suspect. Good use of the strongest secondary characters in the series, and even Max's mom is a bearable nuisance.
Glad to see that the rest of Annie's extended family was given a book off . . . they aren't missed. The books are better when they are kept to the core group of Annie, Max, Henny and Emma.
There are still antics by Annie that really tax credulity (even for a fictional story), but they are more towards the end and didn't impact my overall enjoyment with the story.
Glad to see that the rest of Annie's extended family was given a book off . . . they aren't missed. The books are better when they are kept to the core group of Annie, Max, Henny and Emma.
There are still antics by Annie that really tax credulity (even for a fictional story), but they are more towards the end and didn't impact my overall enjoyment with the story.
April 12, 2020
This book had a 4 star plot set up and a 2 star ending. There were a few unanswered plot holes and a couple things essential to the plot that never made sense to me. The Whodunnit part didn’t wow me.
I’ve also seen a shift in the last few books of this series. Gone are the maps of the island that used to be given when characters were pooling evidence. And several characters have fallen off the radar when they were once prevalent in the stories. Other characters have taken a larger role and I don’t really like them as much.
I’ve also seen a shift in the last few books of this series. Gone are the maps of the island that used to be given when characters were pooling evidence. And several characters have fallen off the radar when they were once prevalent in the stories. Other characters have taken a larger role and I don’t really like them as much.
August 6, 2022
It was just ok. I found it too descriptive for my taste.
February 22, 2008
I really like the Death On Demand series. Carolyn Hart's writing is always good, but I'm not as taken with her other series - the characters are somehow just not as tactile and reachable as Annie and Max and the rest of Broward's Rock.
I know a lot of people don't like book series which have the same cast of characters again and again. In theory, I agree that you can only go through so many permutations of the same cast list before things get stale. However, it's my opinion that the mark of a good writer - and a good series - is that each of the minor characters gets a chance to shine as well, which then allows your two main characters a chance to show other dimensions of themselves. Plus, since I often "see" the characters and storyline in my head as I head (sort of my own private movie version), everything is leant a little more substance and weight as the characters are built up over several books. Carolyn Hart's working on that premise, although she doesn't quite have it mastered yet, in my opinion. A brilliant example is Charles DeLint and his Newford stories, which appear in dozens of his novels, novellas, chapbooks and short story collections, and have interwoven character lines so complex that I am continually drawn back into his work.
That said, this new novel of Hart's features, as always, Annie and Max Darling, along with other faithful friends from previous books. The plot is one of Hart's favorites, a stalwart (familiar) character is framed for murder, but there is just enough doubt that something odd "might have happened" and a character whose integrity is supposed to be without question could have acted completely out of character due to extreme circumstances, such as blackmail, self defense, having been drugged, etc etc, and it's up to Annie, Max and the rest of the cast to prove their innocence, uncover the truth and save the day.
Mystery readers like loose ends to be tied up, so they inevitably DO save the day, but there are enough twists in Hart's plots so that, while you're reasonably sure the accused is innocent, you have a hard time putting together the clues on who the true killer is until the very end. And that, honestly, is one of the best things about Hart - she does keep you guessing. I usually have figured out the killer before the characters do, but not so early in the book that it spoils my enjoyment.
I know a lot of people don't like book series which have the same cast of characters again and again. In theory, I agree that you can only go through so many permutations of the same cast list before things get stale. However, it's my opinion that the mark of a good writer - and a good series - is that each of the minor characters gets a chance to shine as well, which then allows your two main characters a chance to show other dimensions of themselves. Plus, since I often "see" the characters and storyline in my head as I head (sort of my own private movie version), everything is leant a little more substance and weight as the characters are built up over several books. Carolyn Hart's working on that premise, although she doesn't quite have it mastered yet, in my opinion. A brilliant example is Charles DeLint and his Newford stories, which appear in dozens of his novels, novellas, chapbooks and short story collections, and have interwoven character lines so complex that I am continually drawn back into his work.
That said, this new novel of Hart's features, as always, Annie and Max Darling, along with other faithful friends from previous books. The plot is one of Hart's favorites, a stalwart (familiar) character is framed for murder, but there is just enough doubt that something odd "might have happened" and a character whose integrity is supposed to be without question could have acted completely out of character due to extreme circumstances, such as blackmail, self defense, having been drugged, etc etc, and it's up to Annie, Max and the rest of the cast to prove their innocence, uncover the truth and save the day.
Mystery readers like loose ends to be tied up, so they inevitably DO save the day, but there are enough twists in Hart's plots so that, while you're reasonably sure the accused is innocent, you have a hard time putting together the clues on who the true killer is until the very end. And that, honestly, is one of the best things about Hart - she does keep you guessing. I usually have figured out the killer before the characters do, but not so early in the book that it spoils my enjoyment.
February 1, 2011
I give the writing, plot and characterization a 3, but the editing a 2. That unfortunately seems to be a trend with this series. In one instance, Annie calls Vanessa's sister "Ginger" when her name is Ginny, short for Ginivieve, and another time the "e" was left off the end of "crease." I don't know why these obvious mistakes keep popping up. Maybe the editor needs to make a chart while reading to keep track of names, including middle names in some of the previous books, and maybe catch some of these silly errors. perhaps it would help the author to do this while writing, too, since someone mentioned a character having two different middle names in the span of a few pages in theie review of Yankee Doodle Dead.
I really have a hard time believing Max, and presumably Annie by extension, are still only 29 years old. Of course, I also didn't believe Annie was only 23 in the first book, Death on Demand. My suspension of disbelief refuses to accept that Annie graduated college, moved to New York to pursue and give up on an acting career, decide she needed to get away from Max, move to Broward's Rock and completely renovate her uncle's bookstore (which at first sounds like it wasn't even a store, but just a place for writers to hang out) all in the space of a year. It's hard to tell from the books, since this is only the second time out of all the novels that I've noticed either of their ages definitely mentiones, but it seems like it's been longer than six years since the start of the series, in their lives. If I'm really bored, I should go back through each one and make a chart, since the month is usually mentioned. The last four or five books have all been about six months apart, alternating between winter and summer, so it just seems like more time has passed.
I really have a hard time believing Max, and presumably Annie by extension, are still only 29 years old. Of course, I also didn't believe Annie was only 23 in the first book, Death on Demand. My suspension of disbelief refuses to accept that Annie graduated college, moved to New York to pursue and give up on an acting career, decide she needed to get away from Max, move to Broward's Rock and completely renovate her uncle's bookstore (which at first sounds like it wasn't even a store, but just a place for writers to hang out) all in the space of a year. It's hard to tell from the books, since this is only the second time out of all the novels that I've noticed either of their ages definitely mentiones, but it seems like it's been longer than six years since the start of the series, in their lives. If I'm really bored, I should go back through each one and make a chart, since the month is usually mentioned. The last four or five books have all been about six months apart, alternating between winter and summer, so it just seems like more time has passed.
February 11, 2015
Dead Days of Summer by Carolyn Hart is the 17th book in the Death on Demand mystery series. Annie Darling is the owner of Death on Demand mystery bookstore and her husband Max Darling runs Confidential Commissions. Max accepts a commission to locate a clients brother, but instead his client ends up dead and he is arrested for her murder. Annie, with the help of the other residents of Boward's Rock, set out to prove his innocence by finding the real murderer. I enjoyed this addition to the series, and it was good to catch up with the residents of Boward's Rock. It was good to see how everybody banded together, each bringing their own special skills to helping the couple, making the solving of the crime a combined effort. A comfortable, cozy read. I also think it is better enjoyed if readers are familiar with the series and are acquainted with the characters.
August 22, 2020
Annie Darling is the owner of the Death on Demand mystery bookstore in fictional Broward's Rock, South Carolina. She's married to Max Darling who runs an investigative service company called Confidential Commissions, though he mainly solves puzzles, rather than conducts hardcore private investigations. One evening, her husband doesn't come home after meeting with a new client. Then, the next day, he's missing and his snazzy Jaguar is abandoned near the cabin where the body of a brutally slain young woman is discovered. Everything points to him being the murderer, even to the murder weapon that is stashed in the trunk of his car. But Annie knows he's innocent, so she goes undercover to get the proof and find a killer. Risking her life, she insinuates herself into the victim's unfamiliar world in the hopes of figuring out how and why the young woman was murdered, in order to prove that Max has been framed. Time is running out, though, so she devises one last ploy to capture a cold-blooded murderer. In the long run, I liked the story, but, as the Booklist review said, "Top-notch plotting but very melodramatic language and skimpy characterization." No doubt, since this is the 17th book in the series, the characterizations of the familiar, returning folks in the story were carried out in earlier installments – my own fault for starting the series so far along!
April 4, 2020
This one came back to series. We had our mystery team back, but at a price, Max has been accused of murder and Annie and the gang of course have to save him.
However it seemed weird with how serious Max being accused is taken. We have been down this same plot before. Both Annie and Max, and even Laura have been accused of murder someone. Sometimes on the island, sometimes off the island, sometimes with police detectives that now them, sometimes with police detectives that don't them. What mom and I are try to say is that Max has been accused in multiple different scenarios and never taken it seriously. Annie has taken it seriously every time and Max has always taken Annie safety seriously every time too. (Though mom and I will admit that it seems Max has become more concerned about Annie as the series has gone along, more the author changing than Max.) Anyway where we were headed is in the direction of the idea the Max seeming to take being accused of murder and taking it seriously was just hard to believe. The book did make it a bit more seriously, but it was still hard to swallow the idea the Max was seriously in trouble, or that Max was worried.
The book was good and it was fun watching Annie disguises herself. We can't wait to read the next book.
However it seemed weird with how serious Max being accused is taken. We have been down this same plot before. Both Annie and Max, and even Laura have been accused of murder someone. Sometimes on the island, sometimes off the island, sometimes with police detectives that now them, sometimes with police detectives that don't them. What mom and I are try to say is that Max has been accused in multiple different scenarios and never taken it seriously. Annie has taken it seriously every time and Max has always taken Annie safety seriously every time too. (Though mom and I will admit that it seems Max has become more concerned about Annie as the series has gone along, more the author changing than Max.) Anyway where we were headed is in the direction of the idea the Max seeming to take being accused of murder and taking it seriously was just hard to believe. The book did make it a bit more seriously, but it was still hard to swallow the idea the Max was seriously in trouble, or that Max was worried.
The book was good and it was fun watching Annie disguises herself. We can't wait to read the next book.
May 13, 2017
Very frustrating (in a good way). A Death on Demand mystery. Max calls to say he is going to be home late and doesn't turn up. Annie is worried and becomes more so when a girl's body is found and it looks like Max is the murderer. With the help of her friends from the island, Annie proceeds to investigate and find her husband.
All the way through the book you feel frustrated that you can't help solve the disappearance of Max and why the girl is killed. Great writing; would recommend.
All the way through the book you feel frustrated that you can't help solve the disappearance of Max and why the girl is killed. Great writing; would recommend.
March 9, 2018
Totally enjoyed this fast paced book. Didn���t want to set it down. Max was in jail for a crime he didn't commit or even understand. Annie set out to solve the mystery and put herself in danger during the process. Lots of friends were there to help and I had some problem keeping up with who reach person was. Still, I really enjoyed this murder mystery.
July 17, 2022
The best one yet! This story just flowed. The characters are introduced and the background research made them come to form. This author knows exactly how to describe the setting in just the appropriate number of words. Some authors spend pages describing the beach to you and it isn't necessary. I don't like to give plots away. You just have to read it!
December 27, 2018
I really enjoy this cozy series. This one has a bit more threat and jeopardy, as the protagonist's husband is kidnapped and framed for murder, with all kinds of obstacles that might keep him from proving his innocence.
July 7, 2019
Sometimes I feel like mysteries are decent tales, but there are loose ends. Not so with Dead Days of Summer. Carolyn Hart wrapped up every single thing in this intriguing story. I read it in less than twenty-four hours because I COULD NOT STOP! :)
November 12, 2019
This was a good book but I wouldn’t classify it as a thriller. Good suspense but no real thrill. I was curious to find out The Who done it part but other than 1 life in danger moment it was pretty uneventful.
March 7, 2020
I had not read a Death on Demand bookstore mystery in a while, so it was fun to catch up with Annie Darling. This series is more of a cozy than I usually read, but still enjoyable. Kristi & Abby Tabby
July 29, 2020
I was really wrapped up with Annie's fight to save Max. The chips were really piling up against Max. Their plan to pull out the truth was circumstantial and really saw it all falling apart. Good book and plot against Max
September 16, 2021
Suspenseful to the end!
I have read other in this series but never this early one. I tend to visualize main characters in my mind but never suspected Max was only 29! Another twist filled Annie and Max episode.
I have read other in this series but never this early one. I tend to visualize main characters in my mind but never suspected Max was only 29! Another twist filled Annie and Max episode.
November 7, 2021
There were too many things that didn't make sense for me to really enjoy this. How could Annie have possibly gone undercover in her own town? And there was never a reason for the setup to frame Max. Sadly I found myself skimming parts.
December 9, 2023
A book I truly enjoyed. It had a great plot, and lots of twists and turns. The main character was kind of over the top, but the storyline was thorough and well done. This is the first time I've read a book by Carolyn Hart. I believe it was well done. Highly recommend.
February 21, 2017
This series is just really, really fun to read. The twists and turns...the mystery bookstore as a central location...what could be better?
June 19, 2017
This was an ok inn the series...some of plot lines went nowhere and the story was a little flat.
September 22, 2017
Really liked this book. I will read more of the series!!!
April 30, 2019
I've read this a long while back. And now, I have just finished rereading it. Carolyn Hart is indeed one of my fave mystery writers.
July 31, 2019
This was a very good mystery
June 11, 2020
It was slow reading in the beginning, but improved as I read further. Wonderful writing.
July 6, 2021
Good (4 to 4.5)
I enjoyed this book. I have read this author before. I tend to reserve 5 for books that I would read again some time.
I enjoyed this book. I have read this author before. I tend to reserve 5 for books that I would read again some time.
March 5, 2023
This was a quick read, a nice addition to this series.
July 9, 2023
Cozy mystery - fast read - characters that keep you entertained as they solve a murder - small town with friends that will help in anyway - found it to be interesting from the beginning to the end.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews