The Death of a Dancing Fool

Bonnie Indermill Mystery #6

by Carole Berry

Believing her old friend, Fast Eddie Fong, has gone straight in his efforts to make his New York club a success, Bonnie Indermill accepts a part-time job from him only to become suspicious in the wake of a mysterious celebrity death. Reprint.

Genres: Mystery

272 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published October 1, 1996

About the author

Carole Berry is an American mystery fiction writer who is best known for her amateur sleuth series featuring New York City office temp worker Bonnie Indermill.

Reviews

[Tyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book came to me in an odd way similar to the protagonist's new temp job. While staying in a hotel room, my boyfriend and I found a hand-edited manuscript of the book. Seeing the editing process of the book was exciting, a peek behind the scenes of all of the work that went into creating it. Having forgotten about my brief admiration for the wonders of publishing, it wasn't until months later that I was gifted the final copy of the book as a Christmas present.

A mix of sharp wit and nostalgia for old New York mix into a compelling story of mysterious deaths and Hell's Kitchen before it gentrified. Carole Berry can make having a friend on the lam seem as relatable as the struggle of not eating an entire box of chocolates in one sitting.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Berry's Bonnie Indermill mysteries and am disappointed that the last in the series was written in 1999. Yet another victim of the changes in the the publishing world, I suspect. I haven't read 3 of the books in the series yet; maybe I'll be able to find them via PaperbackSwap.

In this book, Bonnie goes from leading a quiet life in Long Island, living with her fiance and teaching ballroom dancing at a local Y, to helping a friend -- and the police -- by trying to whip a new dance club's paperwork into shape. Even Bonnie's professional dancer past comes in handy as she tries to figure out what's really going on at The Dancing Fool.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting mystery revolving around a dance club in New York City. There's a bit more death, drugs, and celebrity stalking than I normally would choose in my mystery picks, but it was still an entertaining story. I don't really know anything about life in NYC and I've never done anything but pass through it on my way to New England, but I can imagine it a bit more through reading this story.

This is the first book I've read in the Bonnie Indermill series by Carole Berry. I would be willing to go back and read more of the books in this series.

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

New York dance club.
Bonnie commutes from Long Island where she is living with fiance.
She puts office together 2 week job and also investigates for police.
Good.