Killer Listing

Darby Farr Mystery #2

by Vicki Doudera

Multimillion-dollar listings, hefty commissions, and cutthroat deals are the name of the game for Kyle Cameron, south Florida's stylish and driven star broker. But her fast-track life ends abruptly when she is fatally stabbed at an open house.

Suspicious of the cops' haste in blaming the infamous "Kondo Killer," real estate agent Darby Farr puts her sharp instincts to work. Along with a disputed listing worth a cool forty million, Kyle had a shocking secret--one that could've sealed her violent fate. Suspects include Kyle's estranged suicidal husband; her ex-lover, a ruthless billionaire developer; and his resentful, politically ambitious wife. And Darby's investigating puts her at the top of the killer's hit list.

Praise:

"A touch of romance, a hint of danger and a mystery that keeps you guessing spice Darby's second case."--Kirkus Reviews

"Diverting . . . cozy fans with an interest in high-end real estate will be satisfied."--Publishers Weekly

"This is a good, southern mystery! Colorful characters abound and mysteries keep you guessing!" --Suspense Magazine

"Doudera has created an interesting and likeable character in Darby Farr, whom we'll surely meet again." --Portland Press Herald

"Doudera masterfully uses the backdrop of high-stakes realty as a great setting for a murder mystery." --Bangor Daily News "Sexy, savvy, and entertaining."--Julia Spencer-Fleming, author of One Was a Soldier "Readers beware: though the setting is sunny, there's a twist around every corner."--Hank Phillippi Ryan, Anthony, Agatha and Macavity Award-winning author

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction

336 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2011

About the author

Vicki has written scores of magazine articles, two travel books for people interested in Maine, a CD walking tour about her town, and a new mystery series featuring red hot Realtor Darby Farr. First in the series, A HOUSE TO DIE FOR, has received rave reviews, and KILLER LISTING, Darby's second mystery, comes out in April of 2011. (Midnight Ink.)

Vicki likes to say she is "all about houses." She writes about them in her mystery series, sells them as a real estate agent on the coast of Maine, and helps build them through her longtime involvement with Habitat for Humanity.

She is an avid reader, hiker, knitter and skier and enjoys writing the kind of books she herself loves to read.

Reviews

[Christine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really convoluted, lots of extraneous characters, and if Darby Farr were anymore brilliant and perfect, I'd kill her myself.

[Kathy Davie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Second in the Darby Farr real estate mystery series revolving around Darby Farr, a realtor based in San Diego. This story takes place in Serenidad Key, Florida. It was also chosen as a "Best Book of 2010" by Suspense Magazine.

My Take
Okay, I'm sensing a theme here with Darby ending up in Florida visiting her aunt's real estate partner, Helen Near, and a realtor is killed. I'm curious in what part of the country Darby investigates next time. And how many realty licenses she collects.

An enjoyable read with some interesting characters — nice job on creating unique individuals, Doudera. I'm definitely hungry for a grouper sandwich followed up by a Mojito...gotta remember that trick about the mint stems.

For all that, it was a bit too surface. A strange mix of following the bullet points for writing a successful novel yet not quite pulling it together. Doudera has some pretty iffy reasons for pulling Darby into the police investigation here. Quite contrary to what one would expect from most detectives and I am curious as to how some of those minor subplots are intended to affect future installments as they sure didn't make much sense in this story other than to pad it out and create some tension.

Some of the rather useless characters who help with the padding include Hensley, McGee, Sutton, and the whole nursing home thing.

Foster is tossed in to make things interesting only Doudera doesn't go anywhere with him or with the "big worry" about the fraud that may include Kyle. Sassa and Mindi are only there to give some color to the characters. I don't see much point in Alexandra or Chellie except for some misplaced tension that should have been exploited or placed elsewhere. Doudera really had some great characters she put a lot of time into but with whom she didn't really do anything. Either go somewhere with this or tighten it up!

A few loose ends flopping in this story: I would like to know who the father was...Doudera sure made a big deal of it; all the leadup about Alexandra, the let down was a lead balloon; and, I'd've liked some sort of resolution about Kyle. Was she a bitch or was she the sweet person? Yeah, I realize people usually are both depending upon the situation, but, still, a summing up would have been nice. I felt like I was left hanging.

The Story
A visit with Helen Near in Florida to wrap up her recently-deceased aunt's partnership in their real estate business, Near and Farr Realty, finds Darby caught up in the murder of a potential investor who just happens to have a close relationship with one of Helen's childhood friends.

There is no shortage of red herrings as the suspects range from a lover, an about-to-be-ex-husband, business associates, a serial killer, family, the arson fire of one of Jack's restaurants, or ???

An attraction also rises up between the detective assigned to Kyle's case and Darby.

The Characters
Darby Farr is a young realtor based in San Diego who lost the aunt who raised her one month ago. Now she's in Florida to tie up her aunt's interests in the Near and Farr Realty there with Helen Near. Besides her detecting skills (??), Darby has "exceptional palate memory". [I could go for that!] Enrique Tomaso "ET" Gomez works with Darby in California and is the only reason she can take off on these jaunts. Miles Porter, the investigative/financial journalist Darby met in A House to Die For.

Kyle Cameron is the estranged wife of Jack Cameron and a killer real estate agent. Everything she touches turns to gold...for her. She's just broken up with her latest lover, Foster McFarlin, and is about to turn over a new leaf into a new life, family, and business. Sassa Jorgenson is her masseuse.

Jack Cameron is a depressed addict who turned his wife off with his lifestyle and hookers. It takes a nasty turn underwater to turn his life around. Marco is his very reliable bartender at his Luna restaurant. Mitzi Cameron is his mother and Helen's childhood friend and sure seems to be the only one in the family who loves Jack. Alexandra Cameron is Mitzi and John's only natural child and has taken years to find her niche.

Foster McFarlin is a sex addict and seems to have some real estate issues big-time, and he's married to Chellie Howe, the lieutenant governor of Florida. A very scheming couple. Mindy Jackson is Howe's angry and abused press secretary. Candace Sutton is a high-priced escort with Jack and John Cameron on her books as well as Foster.

Marty Glickman is the asshole in charge of the branch office of Barnaby's, Kyle's place of employment. Peter Janssen is a fellow realtor at Barnaby's. Clyde Hensley was a cellmate of Kyle's dad with his own assorted agendas in Serenidad Key.

Detective Jonas Briggs is the policeman in charge of the murder; he also ends up on a task force [the reason we need to know this escapes me]. He hasn't any problem tagging Darby for help in investigating the murders. Kelly McGee is a fellow cop in love with Briggs and partnered up with Dave DiNunzio, a detective who can't keep his mouth shut.

Tag Gunnerson, the famous golfer, owns the island being listed by Kyle. Hideki Kobayashi is the buyer with an unexpected link to Darby's past through her mother.

The Cover and Title
The cover is definitely Florida with its extensive front lawn, the fountain, and the quintessential architecture of the huge mansion surrounded by palms.

I do love the real estate sign with the title and author's name. It is a Killer Listing in more than one sense of the phrase!

[Just · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe because I never read book 1, so I don't have an answer to this.. buy why is Darby playing detective? There are real police to do their jobs, 3 to be exact, so why did they need her to do interviews and stuff? That part of this book really rubbed me the wrong way. I didn't hate the book even though that's all it was about, but it annoyed me the entire time.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Florida setting with a vibrant real estate deal. Lifestyles of the rich and famous meets murder.....

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

A library find.
December 2023.
It was not exactly what I thought it would be.
It didn't hold my attention for very long.

[Nora-adrienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Killer Listing
By: Vicki Doudera
Copyright April 2011
Publisher Midnight Ink

Synopses
Million-dollar listings and hefty commissions come easily for Kyle Cameron, south Florida's star broker. But her career ends abruptly when she is fatally stabbed at an open house. Because of a family friend's longstanding ties to the Cameron clan, realtor Darby Farr gets pulled into the investigation and learns that Kyle had a shocking secret—one that could've sealed her violent fate. Suspects abound, including Kyle's estranged suicidal husband; her ex-lover, Foster McFarlin, a ruthless billionaire developer; and Foster's resentful, politically ambitious wife. And Darby's investigating puts her next on the killer's hit list.

Review
Darby is visiting with her friend and partner (in her New England Office) Helen Near down in Serenidad Key, Florida. She’s there to meet and hopefully sell off her shares in the Florida business that she inherited from her aunt Jane. Not to be picky but this now makes 3 companies that Darby is involved in. But she is a very sharp young woman and a well respected Real Estate Broker in her own right.

When Kyle Cameron is found dead at the site of a house showing, Darby is asked by the Detective in charge of the case to see if she can find out anything that would help. It appears that Darby’s skill as an amateur detective have followed her from New England to Florida. So doing what she does best (snooping around and asking leading questions) she extends her visit (since she also needs to find a new buyer for her share of Near and Farr) and starts putting together the clues that will ultimately reveal the true killer and put another notch in her legend.

On a personal note, I grew up in my family's real estate business. And never in all my years of working in the office, helping with appraisals and collecting rents did I ever have adventures like Darby.

Vicki Doudera is a full time writer and Real Estate agent. She can be found at: http://www.vickidoudera.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.p...

FTC Full Disclosure: I borrowed this book from my local library with the full intent of reviewing it.

[Ashley Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kyle Cameron has it all, or at least that is how it seems to most people. She sells real estate and is great at it, she is buying into a smaller business, but bringing along some big clients, she is in good shape, but none of that stopped her from being the victim of a murderer. Darby has come to Florida to sell her portion of Near and Farr Realty, but all that falls through when Kyle is murdered at an open house.
Detective Biggs is quick to blame Kyle’s murder on the “Kondo Killer”, but Darby isn’t so sure. Darby realizes there is a long list of people who may have wanted Kyle out of the picture. These people include her suicidal husband, her ex-lover, a millionaire and her ex-lover’s wife. She just can’t resist doing a little investigation of her own, but doing that may be the last thing she does!
Darby has some personal issues along the way, including missing her job in California, her very able assistant needing monetary help and taking in all the southern manners and hospitality! All this doesn’t distract her or the murderer from Darby’s investigation.
This is a good, southern mystery! Colorful characters abound and mysteries keep you guessing!
Reviewed by Ashley Wintters for Suspense Magazine

[Jeannie and Louis Rigod · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book in the series and Darby is becoming more complete to the reader.

Darby Farr is an Asian/American Real Estate Broker that lives in Southern California and manages her Aunt's former business in Maine. Darby receives a panic telephone call to come to the aid of her Aunt's former partner in Sarasota,Florida.

Helen Near of "Near and Farr," is so excited to meet with Darby and asks for her help in selling the Farr portion of the business to the brilliant sales person, Kyle Cameron.

Before the transaction can occur, Helen learns of Kyle being the latest victim of the "Kondo Killer." Helen begs Darby to stay and help find the true killer.

Is the killer a loved one, or is it business rivalry gone too far? Grab a Mojito with Darby and join the police hunt. A good read.

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

If your tempted to think the hardy boys solve the mystery just in time you haven't read this book. Too many characters and story lines happening all at once. When I finished the book there was no satisfaction. It was hard to remember what the actual mystery was. Reading any old recommended book on my overdrive app isn't always good use of time.

[Sue Farrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read by this author but it won't be my last. I really enjoyed the fast moving page turner. I'm wondering which of the secondary characters will show up in other books. My only complaint is the final confrontation scene between Darby and the killer was just a little too graphic for me.

[Trish · Rating 2 out of 5]

A few too many stories going on at the same time. I would have preferred that she just stuck to the main storyline. Also, there are a few minor inconsistencies in the book, it could have used some more editing. But not bad.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book very much, but liked the first book in the series even more, since it was about Maine. This one was about southern Florida, the area on the main land near the Keys.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great mystery, well-plotted, kept me guessing until the end.

[Shandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Liked and disliked

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 STARS