What do you think?
Rate this book
Death on Demand #1
Death on Demand
At Annie Laurance's Death On Demand bookstore on Broward's Rock Island, South Carolina, murder most foul suddenly isn't confined to the well-stocked shelves. Author Elliot Morgan's abrupt demise during a weekly gathering of famous mystery writers called the Sunday Night Regulars is proof positive that a bloody sword is sometimes mightier than a brilliant pen.With Annie in the unenviable position of primary police suspect, the pretty young mystery maven and her wealthy paramour, Max Darling, embark on an investigation into a classic locked-room mystery with high stakes. For failing to unmask a brutal and ingenious killer could mean prison for Ms. Laurance. While success could mean her death.
195 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 1, 1987
About the author
Carolyn G. Hart
126 books950 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
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 444 reviews
April 24, 2011
This was a fairly light, enjoyable read, but, in many ways, it was just okay.
Annie was, for the most part, a likeable enough character, but there were times when I found her annoying, stupid and clueless. In her determination to clear her name and find the real murderer, she did a lot of cringe-worthy things that had me shaking my head. Sneaking into Elliot's house to read the floppy disk on his computer without thinking of how incriminating her actions were or of how her fingerprints would be all over the place...really? Only after discovering the dead body in Elliot's house did she realize the predicament she had put herself in and tried to erase the evidence of her presence.
I did like Max. He was funny, audacious, handsome and rich. I think Annie was a little harder on him sometimes than she should have been, especially about getting a real job. The banter between them was quite funny at times and I'm sure their relationship will develop further in the subsequent books.
Sheriff Saulter was a total incompetent moron, in my opinion. He suspected Annie of being a cold-blooded murderess, based on no real evidence, and didn't look beyond his own narrow-sightedness to investigate the other suspects.
The setting was great...a small island chock full of mystery writers and other interesting characters and a bookstore that specialized in mysteries. I also enjoyed the frequent references to other famous mystery writers, such as Agatha Christie, Rex Stout, et al, even though many of them were unfamiliar to me.
I'm hoping the series gets a little better with the later installments, so I will definitely read the next book to see what other mysteries Annie and Max get involved in.
Annie was, for the most part, a likeable enough character, but there were times when I found her annoying, stupid and clueless. In her determination to clear her name and find the real murderer, she did a lot of cringe-worthy things that had me shaking my head. Sneaking into Elliot's house to read the floppy disk on his computer without thinking of how incriminating her actions were or of how her fingerprints would be all over the place...really? Only after discovering the dead body in Elliot's house did she realize the predicament she had put herself in and tried to erase the evidence of her presence.
I did like Max. He was funny, audacious, handsome and rich. I think Annie was a little harder on him sometimes than she should have been, especially about getting a real job. The banter between them was quite funny at times and I'm sure their relationship will develop further in the subsequent books.
Sheriff Saulter was a total incompetent moron, in my opinion. He suspected Annie of being a cold-blooded murderess, based on no real evidence, and didn't look beyond his own narrow-sightedness to investigate the other suspects.
The setting was great...a small island chock full of mystery writers and other interesting characters and a bookstore that specialized in mysteries. I also enjoyed the frequent references to other famous mystery writers, such as Agatha Christie, Rex Stout, et al, even though many of them were unfamiliar to me.
I'm hoping the series gets a little better with the later installments, so I will definitely read the next book to see what other mysteries Annie and Max get involved in.
January 17, 2023
Good start to a long running series. The audio book is read by the great Kate Reading. I did figure this one out partway through. The MC owns a mystery book store. Lots of mentions of lots of mystery books and authors. Looking forward to book 2.
September 15, 2020
Annie Lawrence has inherited the Death on Demand mystery bookstore on Broward’s Rock off the coast of South Carolina. She has allowed the bookstore to continue to be used by a group of mystery writers on Sunday nights. On this particular Sunday night, one of them is murdered, and Annie becomes the chief suspect. Good thing that her not-quite-ex, Max Darling, is on the island to help her clear her name. But can they do it?
While I’ve read other books by the author, I have yet to dive into this series. I’m glad I finally took the plunge. The mystery is complex with a good puzzle and lots of twists before everything is resolved. Annie and Max are strong and fantastic lead characters. The suspect could have been a bit stronger, although they got better as the book went along. The references to other mystery authors and novels was a lot of fun, although occasionally it did feel like it was a bit much. There was more foul language than I am used to in a cozy mystery. The setting, essentially a resort community, was fantastic. This book came out in 1987, so some things were dated, but just keep that in mind when you pick up the book and you’ll be fine. Now that I’ve visited the store, I will definitely be back.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
While I’ve read other books by the author, I have yet to dive into this series. I’m glad I finally took the plunge. The mystery is complex with a good puzzle and lots of twists before everything is resolved. Annie and Max are strong and fantastic lead characters. The suspect could have been a bit stronger, although they got better as the book went along. The references to other mystery authors and novels was a lot of fun, although occasionally it did feel like it was a bit much. There was more foul language than I am used to in a cozy mystery. The setting, essentially a resort community, was fantastic. This book came out in 1987, so some things were dated, but just keep that in mind when you pick up the book and you’ll be fine. Now that I’ve visited the store, I will definitely be back.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
August 20, 2009
One of my favorite things about the Death on Demand series is Hart's numerous references throughout her books of other mysteries and mystery authors. A fairly prolific mystery reader I have been surprised by how many titles and authors she's introduced to me.
July 20, 2019
เริ่มจะรู้สึกว่าตัวเองไม่ค่อยจอยกับงานแนวสืบสวนเท่าไร เพียงแต่จะหยิบมาอ่านเพือใช้ขั้นเวลาตอนลุยแนวดราม่าติดกันหลายๆ เล่ม แบบให้ได้เปลี่ยนรสชาติเสียบ้าง
อย่างไรก็ตาม งานสืบสวนก็ยังต้องเลือกสักนิด ไม่ใช่จะอ่านอะไรก็ได้ เหมือนตอนอ่านโคนันที่คนเขียนยัดอะไรมาให้ก็อ่านหมด มันคงเลยวัยนั้นไปแล้ว
เดธออนดีมานด์เป็นเรื่องที่เกิดขึ้นในร้านหนังสือที่เน้นจำหน่ายงานสืบสวนสอบสวน กลางงานปาร์ตี้ที่มีแต่นักเขียนคอเดียวกัน ผู้ตายเป็นนักเขียนหนุ่มร่างกำยำจอมยั่วเย้ารูปหล่อราวนักรบโรมัน แฟนนางเอกก็หล่อล่ำ พ่อรวย ยิ้มหวานมีคารมณ์เป็นต่อ แถมยังเป็นอึ่งอ่างจอมขี้หึงที่พึ่งพาได้ทุกสถานการณ์ เอาล่ะครบ ผมหยิบ!
เรื่องก็ตื่นเต้นพอใช้ ไม่ถึงกับหักมุมเท่าไร ส่วนใหญ่จะอ่านเอาโมเม้นจู๋จี๋เสียมากกว่า (นี่ชั้นทำอะไรอยู่) แต่คาดว่าแฟนๆ คอสืบสวนต้องชอบเพราะคนเขียน เล่นหยอดชื่อหนังสือ ชื่อนักเขียน และเอ่ยอ้างตัวละครนักสืบจากเล่มอื่นๆ เต็มไปหมด ขนาดเวลาเย้ยกันยังเชือดนิ่มด้วยชื่อตัวละครในเชิงอรรถอ่ะคิดดู อีกฝ่ายหัวร้อนไปแล้ว นี่ยังอ่านว่าเค้าเป็นใครไม่เสร็จเลย 555
โดยรวมอ่านได้เรื่อยๆ แต่ไม่อ่านก็ไม่ได้พลาดอะไรไปเท่าไร / ยักไหล่
อย่างไรก็ตาม งานสืบสวนก็ยังต้องเลือกสักนิด ไม่ใช่จะอ่านอะไรก็ได้ เหมือนตอนอ่านโคนันที่คนเขียนยัดอะไรมาให้ก็อ่านหมด มันคงเลยวัยนั้นไปแล้ว
เดธออนดีมานด์เป็นเรื่องที่เกิดขึ้นในร้านหนังสือที่เน้นจำหน่ายงานสืบสวนสอบสวน กลางงานปาร์ตี้ที่มีแต่นักเขียนคอเดียวกัน ผู้ตายเป็นนักเขียนหนุ่มร่างกำยำจอมยั่วเย้ารูปหล่อราวนักรบโรมัน แฟนนางเอกก็หล่อล่ำ พ่อรวย ยิ้มหวานมีคารมณ์เป็นต่อ แถมยังเป็นอึ่งอ่างจอมขี้หึงที่พึ่งพาได้ทุกสถานการณ์ เอาล่ะครบ ผมหยิบ!
เรื่องก็ตื่นเต้นพอใช้ ไม่ถึงกับหักมุมเท่าไร ส่วนใหญ่จะอ่านเอาโมเม้นจู๋จี๋เสียมากกว่า (นี่ชั้นทำอะไรอยู่) แต่คาดว่าแฟนๆ คอสืบสวนต้องชอบเพราะคนเขียน เล่นหยอดชื่อหนังสือ ชื่อนักเขียน และเอ่ยอ้างตัวละครนักสืบจากเล่มอื่นๆ เต็มไปหมด ขนาดเวลาเย้ยกันยังเชือดนิ่มด้วยชื่อตัวละครในเชิงอรรถอ่ะคิดดู อีกฝ่ายหัวร้อนไปแล้ว นี่ยังอ่านว่าเค้าเป็นใครไม่เสร็จเลย 555
โดยรวมอ่านได้เรื่อยๆ แต่ไม่อ่านก็ไม่ได้พลาดอะไรไปเท่าไร / ยักไหล่
November 18, 2008
I really did not like this book at all. I didn't care who did it, and the only reason I finished it was because I wanted to see how the author crafted the motive for the murders. The descriptions read like something written by a college student in a creative writing class. The dialogue was not convincing at all. I should have followed the review written by one reader on amazon.com in which s/he complained about the dialogue but also the idiotic things the main character did. I thought the "name dropping" along the way would be fun (it had been described as such), but it was tedious, especially if one was not familiar with the nuances of all of the writers mentioned. I will NOT be reading more in the series or from this author.
October 25, 2012
Audio book performed by Kate Reading.
Annie Laurence inherited her uncle’s estate on Broward’s Rock Island, South Carolina, including the mystery bookshop Death on Demand. She’s made a success of it, partly because the quiet island is home to several successful authors, who regularly meet at her store on Sunday evenings for coffee and an informal presentation about writing mysteries. But tonight one of them – Elliot Morgan – is planning to reveal the other authors’ secrets, and Annie would just as soon not have a scene in the store. When the presentation is interrupted by a power failure she is momentarily relieved, only to find that while the lights were off Elliot was murdered. Before long she is the target of the police chief’s suspicions regarding not only Elliot’s murder, but her uncle’s untimely death, and the deaths of several other island residents. Her dear friend Max Darling lends a hand to help clear her name and find the true culprit.
This is a fun cozy made more enjoyable by the many references to mystery writers, books and famous literary sleuths (Mrs Pollifax, Hercule Poirot, etc). If the murderer is a tad too prolific (and successful at killing) in such a short time frame, well that can be forgiven. Hart keeps the plot moving and the interest level high. The romantic tension is mostly in the background but adds a nice touch of spice to the mix. Kate Reading does a fine job on the audio, with a good pace and enough changes in inflection to differentiate the characters.
Annie Laurence inherited her uncle’s estate on Broward’s Rock Island, South Carolina, including the mystery bookshop Death on Demand. She’s made a success of it, partly because the quiet island is home to several successful authors, who regularly meet at her store on Sunday evenings for coffee and an informal presentation about writing mysteries. But tonight one of them – Elliot Morgan – is planning to reveal the other authors’ secrets, and Annie would just as soon not have a scene in the store. When the presentation is interrupted by a power failure she is momentarily relieved, only to find that while the lights were off Elliot was murdered. Before long she is the target of the police chief’s suspicions regarding not only Elliot’s murder, but her uncle’s untimely death, and the deaths of several other island residents. Her dear friend Max Darling lends a hand to help clear her name and find the true culprit.
This is a fun cozy made more enjoyable by the many references to mystery writers, books and famous literary sleuths (Mrs Pollifax, Hercule Poirot, etc). If the murderer is a tad too prolific (and successful at killing) in such a short time frame, well that can be forgiven. Hart keeps the plot moving and the interest level high. The romantic tension is mostly in the background but adds a nice touch of spice to the mix. Kate Reading does a fine job on the audio, with a good pace and enough changes in inflection to differentiate the characters.
August 27, 2015
Great first book to this series.
After reading a few in the middle, I know I'm a rebel, I got my hands on the very first one. I enjoyed it and will continue on from here.
After reading a few in the middle, I know I'm a rebel, I got my hands on the very first one. I enjoyed it and will continue on from here.
July 20, 2010
#67 - 2010.
I read about Carolyn Hart in Mystery Scene magazine and so requested this first of her series about a married couple who runs a mystery book store. Although they aren't married in this book, one can see the writing on the wall. Evidently one of the things that series fans enjoy is the married couple's good relationship and I was curious to see how that might be done without getting cloying. It is "cozy" without being too much so and the idea of a locked room mystery (more or less) in a roomful of mystery authors has piqued my interest.
Final comments: I actually enjoyed every single thing about this mystery ... except ... I pegged the murderer as soon as the murder happened. Let's face it, a crowd of suspects and one stands way out from the others in such a way as to lull suspicions. It wasn't hard. I did, as I say, enjoy the rest so I will give her second in the series a try with the hopes that she grows in skill at hiding the murderer a bit better.
I read about Carolyn Hart in Mystery Scene magazine and so requested this first of her series about a married couple who runs a mystery book store. Although they aren't married in this book, one can see the writing on the wall. Evidently one of the things that series fans enjoy is the married couple's good relationship and I was curious to see how that might be done without getting cloying. It is "cozy" without being too much so and the idea of a locked room mystery (more or less) in a roomful of mystery authors has piqued my interest.
Final comments: I actually enjoyed every single thing about this mystery ... except ... I pegged the murderer as soon as the murder happened. Let's face it, a crowd of suspects and one stands way out from the others in such a way as to lull suspicions. It wasn't hard. I did, as I say, enjoy the rest so I will give her second in the series a try with the hopes that she grows in skill at hiding the murderer a bit better.
June 21, 2023
Rating: 2.85 / 5
There's a definite charm to this thereabouts that helps to sell what the cover promises.
Meet Annie, a book store owner on an island off yonder from South Carolina, whose store specializes in mysteries. And, wouldn't you know it?--the whole island is practically inhabited by mystery writers, all of whom happen to be present in the same room...
...when one of their own is killed. What a coincidence, amirite?
Anyways, take it all in all, this is just what it promises to be: a nice, cozy little mystery.
(Can't such much else without spoilers.)
There's a definite charm to this thereabouts that helps to sell what the cover promises.
Meet Annie, a book store owner on an island off yonder from South Carolina, whose store specializes in mysteries. And, wouldn't you know it?--the whole island is practically inhabited by mystery writers, all of whom happen to be present in the same room...
...when one of their own is killed. What a coincidence, amirite?
Anyways, take it all in all, this is just what it promises to be: a nice, cozy little mystery.
(Can't such much else without spoilers.)
March 4, 2025
An obnoxious author is murdered in her bookstore, so the owner, along with her wealthy paramour investigate.
Not as whacky as some cozies, and I think that's a good thing in this case.
Not as whacky as some cozies, and I think that's a good thing in this case.
July 24, 2022
Oy....this book proved once again why I detest cozy mysteries.
1. Ridiculous set-up.
2. A totally inept main character.
3. Super easy to figure out the villain because all the clues are VERY obviously pointing away from that person.
I don't know how/why I decided to try this book. I think it popped up on OverDrive as a "rec" and it had a fun title and didn't sound too awful.
Annie inherited a book shop on a wealthy/resort island from her uncle. Once a week she hosts a night for the island's mystery authors to get together. One author, Elliot, says he has a new idea for a book - a tell-all about mystery authors. On the night he's planning on dishing all their secrets, someone kills him and unfortunately Annie is the main suspect. Lucky for her, her super wealthy, super good-looking, and super smart ex-boyfriend shows up and offers to help. (She left him because he didn't have a "real job.")
SPOILERS ABOUND BELOW! Don't read if you don't want to know whodunnit!
Annie and Max uncover that everyone in the group has a terrible secret. Who knew all mystery writers were actually murderers? *insert eye roll here*
I'm sorry but there is no way all the authors on one little island are actually murderers hiding their secrets. That's ridiculous. And guess what? Only one member of the group, Annie's good friend Captain Mac, doesn't have a murdery secret....
Max is instantly jealous of Captain Mac, because I'm SURE Annie, the super gorgeous ex-model can't help but fall in love with an old retired police detective. That makes perfect sense. (The whole jealousy thing was so stupid, the more I write about this book the dumber it gets.)
Annie is dumb. She makes the stupidest choices and is always yelling at people. I couldn't help but think of this YouTube Video. I don't love it when the main character in a mystery is an idiot. Like when she broke into Elliot's house. She takes one look around and assumes no one is watching her even though she should know that people are always watching in secret.
Then there was the end when she randomly got into a competition with Max, the only person who believes in her and is helping her out. That's so irrational. Not to mention, always yelling at the police when everyone, including her own common sense, kept telling her to, as the video states, STFU.
I thought the mystery name dropping would be fun but it was WAY overplayed and used WAY too much. I also didn't recognize 90% of the books mentioned, and I read a lot of mysteries. (Though I typically stick with tried and true series.)
If Annie hadn't been such a dimwit I might've considered trying book #2, to see if it got any better, but I shudder at the thought of reading anything else about her.
I just now realized what this book reminded me of - fan fiction. Which is great if you like to read that kind of stuff, but I do not. Kate Reading was the narrator and she did a great job.
1. Ridiculous set-up.
2. A totally inept main character.
3. Super easy to figure out the villain because all the clues are VERY obviously pointing away from that person.
I don't know how/why I decided to try this book. I think it popped up on OverDrive as a "rec" and it had a fun title and didn't sound too awful.
Annie inherited a book shop on a wealthy/resort island from her uncle. Once a week she hosts a night for the island's mystery authors to get together. One author, Elliot, says he has a new idea for a book - a tell-all about mystery authors. On the night he's planning on dishing all their secrets, someone kills him and unfortunately Annie is the main suspect. Lucky for her, her super wealthy, super good-looking, and super smart ex-boyfriend shows up and offers to help. (She left him because he didn't have a "real job.")
SPOILERS ABOUND BELOW! Don't read if you don't want to know whodunnit!
Annie and Max uncover that everyone in the group has a terrible secret. Who knew all mystery writers were actually murderers? *insert eye roll here*
I'm sorry but there is no way all the authors on one little island are actually murderers hiding their secrets. That's ridiculous. And guess what? Only one member of the group, Annie's good friend Captain Mac, doesn't have a murdery secret....
Max is instantly jealous of Captain Mac, because I'm SURE Annie, the super gorgeous ex-model can't help but fall in love with an old retired police detective. That makes perfect sense. (The whole jealousy thing was so stupid, the more I write about this book the dumber it gets.)
Annie is dumb. She makes the stupidest choices and is always yelling at people. I couldn't help but think of this YouTube Video. I don't love it when the main character in a mystery is an idiot. Like when she broke into Elliot's house. She takes one look around and assumes no one is watching her even though she should know that people are always watching in secret.
Then there was the end when she randomly got into a competition with Max, the only person who believes in her and is helping her out. That's so irrational. Not to mention, always yelling at the police when everyone, including her own common sense, kept telling her to, as the video states, STFU.
I thought the mystery name dropping would be fun but it was WAY overplayed and used WAY too much. I also didn't recognize 90% of the books mentioned, and I read a lot of mysteries. (Though I typically stick with tried and true series.)
If Annie hadn't been such a dimwit I might've considered trying book #2, to see if it got any better, but I shudder at the thought of reading anything else about her.
I just now realized what this book reminded me of - fan fiction. Which is great if you like to read that kind of stuff, but I do not. Kate Reading was the narrator and she did a great job.
January 19, 2019
Annie Laurance owns a mystery book store on an island inhabited by a slew of literary sleuths. When one of the group is killed during one of their monthly gatherings, just as he was about to release the skeletons from their closets, the local law enforcement agent points his accusational finger directly at Annie. Another murder follows and soon past deaths are called into the queue as to who.
Annie has a cohort in finding that remedy in her ultra rich, back in touch beau, Max Darling. Together,!they plot out the motives, interview their suspects, unearth some dirt, and get the job done.
Lots of name dropping of mystery writers I will be adding to by TBR list.
Appreciate the lovey dovey being kept at bay. Good dialogue, tho Annie needs to be reined in a bit.
Annie has a cohort in finding that remedy in her ultra rich, back in touch beau, Max Darling. Together,!they plot out the motives, interview their suspects, unearth some dirt, and get the job done.
Lots of name dropping of mystery writers I will be adding to by TBR list.
Appreciate the lovey dovey being kept at bay. Good dialogue, tho Annie needs to be reined in a bit.
August 10, 2018
An easy listen, especially as read by my favorite Kate Reading. The heroine does the usual dumb things, and I was pretty sure who the murderer was way before the denouement, but I really enjoyed the references to other murder mysteries, and Annie and Max make a good detecting team. I will probably try more from this series.
June 9, 2018
Ho hum. I didn’t particularly like the main character or the endless references to mystery writers. It was hard to keep the various suspects straight and their personalities never really gelled. I pushed through but I won’t read any more in the series.
September 3, 2019
Really, really could not get into this book. Skimmed through it, and still didn't care who did it. It just didn't come together for me either in interest, characters, or storyline. Will not go forward with the series.
December 29, 2025
Decently entertaining Who Done It. I will continue with the series at some point.
September 12, 2015
I read Death on Demand (not the one by Gordon Ashe--a pseudonym of John Creasey) quite some time ago (years ago), and decided to revisit it since it has been so long that frankly, I couldn't remember much about it except the bare bones outline of Annie Laurence inheriting her uncle's bookstore and making a go of it, and acquiring a rich beau (Max) who wants to marry her as soon as he can get her to say "yes." Oh, and that it was quite good.
Well, that's not quite true--it's more than that. It's a real tribute to the old-style murder mystery, set up in the same way many of the 1940's mysteries were, complete with diagrams of where who was sitting when, and where who lives, and other delightful touches. But one of the best is the leavening of the story with many, many references to fine old murder mysteries and their authors. After the first few were mentioned, I got a sheet of paper and pen and wrote them down. I got a whole page and a half! I intend to look them up and start reading all that I can find. Some are just a single book, others are series, and some will be a body of work (like Agatha Christie's stuff). Of course, I have read a fair number of these years ago, but it's been years, and revisiting them won't be a hardship, but like making new friends. And I'm fairly sure I didn't review any of them, either, so I can go ahead and have fresh ground!
Death on Demand by Carolyn Hart is well written and its characters are three-dimensional and quite interesting in their own way. With each of the "suspects," I had a preference for those I wanted to be guilty and those I thought were nasty enough that they should have been guilty, but were probably red herrings. Still, with all the clues, I didn't catch on to who really did it until the very page before exposure, and usually I know within a few pages of the killer being introduced! This is a very fine mystery, indeed, and the first in a series. To me, this book didn't have much in the way of humor in it, but I seem to recall that later books in the series do have more humor in them (hope! hope!). I am already looking for the next book in the series and I want to see if Max manages to corral Annie in it or he has to wait until a later book.... I heartily recommend this book to mystery lovers everywhere.
Well, that's not quite true--it's more than that. It's a real tribute to the old-style murder mystery, set up in the same way many of the 1940's mysteries were, complete with diagrams of where who was sitting when, and where who lives, and other delightful touches. But one of the best is the leavening of the story with many, many references to fine old murder mysteries and their authors. After the first few were mentioned, I got a sheet of paper and pen and wrote them down. I got a whole page and a half! I intend to look them up and start reading all that I can find. Some are just a single book, others are series, and some will be a body of work (like Agatha Christie's stuff). Of course, I have read a fair number of these years ago, but it's been years, and revisiting them won't be a hardship, but like making new friends. And I'm fairly sure I didn't review any of them, either, so I can go ahead and have fresh ground!
Death on Demand by Carolyn Hart is well written and its characters are three-dimensional and quite interesting in their own way. With each of the "suspects," I had a preference for those I wanted to be guilty and those I thought were nasty enough that they should have been guilty, but were probably red herrings. Still, with all the clues, I didn't catch on to who really did it until the very page before exposure, and usually I know within a few pages of the killer being introduced! This is a very fine mystery, indeed, and the first in a series. To me, this book didn't have much in the way of humor in it, but I seem to recall that later books in the series do have more humor in them (hope! hope!). I am already looking for the next book in the series and I want to see if Max manages to corral Annie in it or he has to wait until a later book.... I heartily recommend this book to mystery lovers everywhere.
August 29, 2021
Fun intro to the Death On Demand cozy mystery series! I hope Annie smartens up in the next installment! Max should stop acting so smarmy, smug, and full of himself, too.
Unlike some reviewers, I loved the references to many new-to-me mystery authors/titles/series within the story.
Unlike some reviewers, I loved the references to many new-to-me mystery authors/titles/series within the story.
August 16, 2012
After a reading jolt (meant in a very good way) of James Lee Burke, I usually have to take a brain rest with a little, quick read “cozy.” Little, yes 200 pages; quick read, no I had a lot going on; easy to follow, no, not so much with a lot of characters; fun read, definitely!
Set on a small South Carolina barrier island called Broward’s Rock Island, the area is a haven for mystery writers and has one mystery book store aptly named Death on Demand. Lucky them, having everything I love; the ocean, mystery writers and books!
Surprisingly, Death on Demand was published in 1987 but it made no difference in book itself.
The sleuthing team of book store owner and previously NY model, Annie and Max, an independently wealthy and non-practicing lawyer, Annie’s beau, was top notch. It was fun hearing them bicker about who really solved the crime…Annie with her deduction skills or Max who got a critical clue. They were simply fun to listen too, going back and forth.
The one thing that stands out for me in this nice cozy is the drawings which I just loved and found helpful. There was a pen drawing of the island showing where all the characters lived, the ferry and reserve, etc. Another drawing of the inside of the book store where a character was killed and who was sitting/standing where when the crime was committed. And still another couple of lists including one on the alibis of everyone who was a suspect, which totaled nine more or less.
And another thing I liked about the book was the author ‘dropping’ the names of mystery writers from the beginning to end some of which I was familiar with and some not. The two stand outs for me were Rex Stout, creator of the Nero Wolfe series, which are great mysteries and Agatha Christie, creator of Miss Marple and Detective Poirot. Knowing my likes in genres, my favorite bookseller Vanessa recommended this one for me and again, she hit the mark!
To say it’s high literature, no. To say it was fun to read, yes, indeed, and I will certainly pick up another Carolyn G. Hart in the future.
Set on a small South Carolina barrier island called Broward’s Rock Island, the area is a haven for mystery writers and has one mystery book store aptly named Death on Demand. Lucky them, having everything I love; the ocean, mystery writers and books!
Surprisingly, Death on Demand was published in 1987 but it made no difference in book itself.
The sleuthing team of book store owner and previously NY model, Annie and Max, an independently wealthy and non-practicing lawyer, Annie’s beau, was top notch. It was fun hearing them bicker about who really solved the crime…Annie with her deduction skills or Max who got a critical clue. They were simply fun to listen too, going back and forth.
The one thing that stands out for me in this nice cozy is the drawings which I just loved and found helpful. There was a pen drawing of the island showing where all the characters lived, the ferry and reserve, etc. Another drawing of the inside of the book store where a character was killed and who was sitting/standing where when the crime was committed. And still another couple of lists including one on the alibis of everyone who was a suspect, which totaled nine more or less.
And another thing I liked about the book was the author ‘dropping’ the names of mystery writers from the beginning to end some of which I was familiar with and some not. The two stand outs for me were Rex Stout, creator of the Nero Wolfe series, which are great mysteries and Agatha Christie, creator of Miss Marple and Detective Poirot. Knowing my likes in genres, my favorite bookseller Vanessa recommended this one for me and again, she hit the mark!
To say it’s high literature, no. To say it was fun to read, yes, indeed, and I will certainly pick up another Carolyn G. Hart in the future.
May 27, 2016
This was a super-fun cozy mystery! I loved almost everything about it and am excited it's a series with more books. A fun, fast, easy read that zipped along at a perfect pace.
I loved Annie and Max as a squabbling couple of intrepid sleuths. They reminded me a little of Nick and Nora [although perhaps not quite as slick and polished]. The banter and competitiveness between them was hugely entertaining, and really added to my enjoyment of the story.
The mystery itself was good, and although I never try to figure out whodunnit, I think that someone who likes to will find sufficient clues to do so if they are good at it.
Because Annie owns a mystery bookstore, the theme is murder mysteries, and it is a fun additional feature that Annie thinks of everything in terms of murder mysteries, and quotes, or attributes or compares, most everything that goes on to a variety of mystery authors and main characters. If you are an avid reader of mysteries, you can play at identifying which book or series this or that sleuth is from as Annie mentions them.
The setting is also kind of neat, being on an island that has to be reached by ferry. How the author will manage to keep having murders happen on such a locale will be interesting to see, but as there are already a number of books in the series, I assume that she does.
Overall, I found this to be everything one hopes for in a cozy - fun quirky characters, plenty of shenanigans, a good theme and a well-thought-out plot. I really look forward to reading future books in this series.
Note: I listened to this on audiobook format, and the narrator is someone I've listened to other books from. She is wonderful and really brings the characters fully to life, giving them the personality the author has written and personalizing them with unique voices. If you are interested in audiobooks, this is a good one to try.
I loved Annie and Max as a squabbling couple of intrepid sleuths. They reminded me a little of Nick and Nora [although perhaps not quite as slick and polished]. The banter and competitiveness between them was hugely entertaining, and really added to my enjoyment of the story.
The mystery itself was good, and although I never try to figure out whodunnit, I think that someone who likes to will find sufficient clues to do so if they are good at it.
Because Annie owns a mystery bookstore, the theme is murder mysteries, and it is a fun additional feature that Annie thinks of everything in terms of murder mysteries, and quotes, or attributes or compares, most everything that goes on to a variety of mystery authors and main characters. If you are an avid reader of mysteries, you can play at identifying which book or series this or that sleuth is from as Annie mentions them.
The setting is also kind of neat, being on an island that has to be reached by ferry. How the author will manage to keep having murders happen on such a locale will be interesting to see, but as there are already a number of books in the series, I assume that she does.
Overall, I found this to be everything one hopes for in a cozy - fun quirky characters, plenty of shenanigans, a good theme and a well-thought-out plot. I really look forward to reading future books in this series.
Note: I listened to this on audiobook format, and the narrator is someone I've listened to other books from. She is wonderful and really brings the characters fully to life, giving them the personality the author has written and personalizing them with unique voices. If you are interested in audiobooks, this is a good one to try.
November 12, 2012
I've been reading Lorna Barrett's Booktown Mysteries and on the front or back cover, it says that fans of the Death on Demand series would like Booktown Mysteries. I like Booktown Mysteries pretty well, so I checked to see if my library had Death on Demand. They have most, if not all, of them, so I put the first one on hold. That's about all I knew about it. I assumed it was another cozy mystery series.
So, this series is older. The pub date on the first one says 1987. I was 10 in 1987. So remember that, along with my failing memory. Did you really not used to be able to move floppies from one computer to another if it wasn't the same BRAND? I mean, yeah Apple's not compatible, but ANY of them?
The two main characters, Annie and Max, are incredibly stupid. I mean, in most books like this, yes the main person scoots around the law, but how incredibly brazen these two are about withholding and obliterating major evidence? I also found it hard to believe, from the drawings in the book of the island and it's layout, that the ferry driver could NOT know someone. I mean, the island was TINY. I know that Max probably only marked the players on the map, but still, there wasn't a lot of space left over for all the other people. Also, why ARE all these authors living on this island? Oh, and in the beginning when Max is waiting for the ferry, he can JUST BARELY see the island in the distance, but on the map, the island is VERY close to the mainland. But I'm willing to believe that map's not to scale. Also, without spoiling, that end thing with Max? Really? I realize this is a series, but the island can support that? Um, yeah. See above where there can't be that many people on the island.
So, this series is older. The pub date on the first one says 1987. I was 10 in 1987. So remember that, along with my failing memory. Did you really not used to be able to move floppies from one computer to another if it wasn't the same BRAND? I mean, yeah Apple's not compatible, but ANY of them?
The two main characters, Annie and Max, are incredibly stupid. I mean, in most books like this, yes the main person scoots around the law, but how incredibly brazen these two are about withholding and obliterating major evidence? I also found it hard to believe, from the drawings in the book of the island and it's layout, that the ferry driver could NOT know someone. I mean, the island was TINY. I know that Max probably only marked the players on the map, but still, there wasn't a lot of space left over for all the other people. Also, why ARE all these authors living on this island? Oh, and in the beginning when Max is waiting for the ferry, he can JUST BARELY see the island in the distance, but on the map, the island is VERY close to the mainland. But I'm willing to believe that map's not to scale. Also, without spoiling, that end thing with Max? Really? I realize this is a series, but the island can support that? Um, yeah. See above where there can't be that many people on the island.
October 16, 2011
"Death On Demand" by Carolyn Hart is the first mystery novel in this series.An owner of a bookstore specializing in mystery books holds weekly Saturday evening meetings with the island's mystery writers. At one of these meetings,the power goes off, a thud and a scream ring out in the darkness. When the lights come on, one of their own is found dead on the floor, a poisoned dart in his throat.
The island's rather ineffective police chief wants to pin the murder on Annie, the owner of the bookstore. But she knows she didn't do it, and so does her boyfriend, Max. If the police aren't going to search too hard for the murderer, then they'll have to do something about it themselves.
And so their investigations begin. What did Elliot, the dead man have on all of those gathered at the meeting? He had said that he was going to be announcing all the nasty secrets of them all. Is that what caused his death? It does seem that none of the Saturday evening attendees had a spotless past. But which was it that was enough to kill? And what connection, if any, did this murder have to do with the murder of a vet just the night before, and a 3rd murder the day after? And was the accidental death of Annie's uncle really a murder?
Annie and Max are pressed for time trying to tie all these questions before the killer strikes again or before Annie is arrested for murders she did not commit. I enjoyed reading this book and will continue to read other books in the series.
The island's rather ineffective police chief wants to pin the murder on Annie, the owner of the bookstore. But she knows she didn't do it, and so does her boyfriend, Max. If the police aren't going to search too hard for the murderer, then they'll have to do something about it themselves.
And so their investigations begin. What did Elliot, the dead man have on all of those gathered at the meeting? He had said that he was going to be announcing all the nasty secrets of them all. Is that what caused his death? It does seem that none of the Saturday evening attendees had a spotless past. But which was it that was enough to kill? And what connection, if any, did this murder have to do with the murder of a vet just the night before, and a 3rd murder the day after? And was the accidental death of Annie's uncle really a murder?
Annie and Max are pressed for time trying to tie all these questions before the killer strikes again or before Annie is arrested for murders she did not commit. I enjoyed reading this book and will continue to read other books in the series.
September 9, 2018
This is my first experience reading a novel by Carolyn G. Hart and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
"Death on Demand" is the name of the bookshop which caters to my first choice of reading selections ~ Mystery and Detective Stories. With the numerous references to mystery titles and mystery authors throughout the story, I could now go back and savor exploration of those I did not recognize. I also appreciated the descriptive language used by Carolyn G. Hart that captured my attention and added to my visualizations as I was reading. Here are a few examples:
Closing the novel there remains one question which is quite perplexing to me. What is the purpose of the dog being shown on the front cover?
"Death on Demand" is the name of the bookshop which caters to my first choice of reading selections ~ Mystery and Detective Stories. With the numerous references to mystery titles and mystery authors throughout the story, I could now go back and savor exploration of those I did not recognize. I also appreciated the descriptive language used by Carolyn G. Hart that captured my attention and added to my visualizations as I was reading. Here are a few examples:
“Saulter’s ulcer burned like melting tar in August.”
“…pointing out the constellations that glittered in the southern sky like diamonds against black velvet.”
“The only sounds were the occasional rustle as squirrels scampered from limb to limb, the soft thud of falling cones, and the tap of fragrant pine needles against the pitched roof of the house.”
Closing the novel there remains one question which is quite perplexing to me. What is the purpose of the dog being shown on the front cover?
August 1, 2020
If you are an AVID reader of mysteries, you might enjoy this more than I did. Mystery novels, and their authors/characters are referenced 'ad nauseum', making me, the casual mystery reader feel like an outsider. That, along with awkward 'product placement' (Bud Light! Epson & Apple!, Kentucky Fried Chicken! etc) and a not very likeable main character made this a tedious read for me. The multiple murders and eventually resolution wasn't very compelling and actually didn't make a lot of sense.
P.S. There is a vicious dog on the cover. Did I miss the part with the vicious dog?
This is the first in a series and I'm not likely to read any more - though I kind of like Max, and am curious how Annie will be able to maintain her Bookstore in a tiny island community where she has badgered and accused most of the prominent writers in town.
I, along with Mrs. Brawley, will relish the next Mrs Pollifax instead.
P.S. There is a vicious dog on the cover. Did I miss the part with the vicious dog?
This is the first in a series and I'm not likely to read any more - though I kind of like Max, and am curious how Annie will be able to maintain her Bookstore in a tiny island community where she has badgered and accused most of the prominent writers in town.
I, along with Mrs. Brawley, will relish the next Mrs Pollifax instead.
February 27, 2015
Death On Demand is a Bookstore on Broward's Rock Island in South Carolina. It is owned and run by Annie Laurance. When during a book signing by Elliot Morgan of her latest book during a weekly gathering of Famous Mystery writers called the Sunday Night Regulars is proof positive the Bloody Sword is mighter than a pen . When Elliot Morgan is found murdered in the locked bathroom in the book store. Annie becomes the prime suspect. So she sets out to catch the killer with the help of her Boyfriend Max Darling the stakes are high failing to catch the killer could mean prison for Annie but catching the killer could also mean her Death!
February 2, 2013
I'm torn with rating this book. On the positive side the mystery was pretty good, and I didn't figure it out until closer to the end. And the characters of Max and Annie were cute, although Annie seemed alternately impulsive and prissy. Negatively, though, there was a LOT of mention of famous mystery writers and their characters, most of which I was unfamiliar with. So a lot of the clever thinking was lost on me since I didn't recognize the books or the situations. I'd rate this book 2.5, but I'll round it up and try another in the series to see if it gets better.
August 31, 2015
This was a reread of a book that brought me back to mystery reading in the 1980s. The first in the Death on Demand series, it incorporated some of my favorite elements in a mystery: island setting (in this case, off the coast of South Carolina), bookshop owner as the main character, and other mystery writers providing the closed group of suspects. I loved the many references to classic mystery titles, reminding me I have so many more to read. A very entertaining read. 3.5 stars rounded up to four.
Read
September 21, 2009Just finished this one up. I like Max way more than Annie. I'm not sure if I like the sprinkling of other titles or if I'm annoyed by it. I think that the author might have done it a bit too much. Okay, okay I get it the main character owns a bookstore specializing in mysteries. Still think there may be a bit of overkill. I'm hoping that since it was just the first book in the series that she eased up a bit in the rest of the books. We'll see.
December 16, 2009
Unabridged audio book.
Another book I stumbled onto because my wife loved (and needed)audio books. I started listening in my vehicle.
Here we meet Annie Laurance who runs a mystery book store and is suspected of murder. She's still somewhat annoying, but not so much as in the later books.
If you've read the books you probably know what I'm refering to, if not...well, that would be a spoiler.
Not a bad read.
Another book I stumbled onto because my wife loved (and needed)audio books. I started listening in my vehicle.
Here we meet Annie Laurance who runs a mystery book store and is suspected of murder. She's still somewhat annoying, but not so much as in the later books.
If you've read the books you probably know what I'm refering to, if not...well, that would be a spoiler.
Not a bad read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 444 reviews