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BOOKED FOR MURDER
by Tim Myers
Berkley, October 2004
202 pages
$5.99
ISBN: 0425198081


Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

The Hatteras West Inn and Lighthouse is the showplace for the Carolina Rhapsody Emerald. This emerald is very large, almost flawless and is the property of Reston Shay.

Alex Winston and Elise Danton are thrilled that their Inn is the showplace, but will both be relieved when the emerald leaves. Unfortunately, on the afternoon of its departure, the security guard is murdered and the emerald stolen. Alex feels that his livelihood is threatened and decides to help the local police in their investigation.

In addition to this violent crime, there are several culinary feuds occurring in town. A new woman has appeared calling herself the Muffin Lady. She plans to replace the local diner as the source of all muffins. In addition, a new upscale restaurant has opened and might force the only other local restaurant out of business. Alex must help his friends with their problems in addition to stopping a murderer.

BOOKED FOR MURDER combines the dangers of modern life with a small town coziness. Alex is just as worried about his friends as he is about the murder. While this focus on non-criminal elements of the plot can get annoying in some books, Myers manages to make the mix seem natural. After all, most amateur detectives have other things that they must get accomplished in their daily routine.

The development of the reoccurring characters is well done. Alex and Elise have been trying to decide if they want to attempt a relationship for the past three or four books. While this plot element does get old, they continue to grow as characters rather than remain stagnant due to this ongoing dilemma.

Characterization in general is well done. While the guests are not a main part of the plot, several of them stand out as individuals rather than appear as stock characters. In addition, the new restaurant owner and his troubles stand out even though he is not vital to plot. Tim Myers tries to create describe characters so that they seem to be part of your own community rather than fictional lifeless entities.

BOOKED FOR MURDER is the fifth book in the Alex Winston series.

Reviewed by Sarah Dudley, October 2004

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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)


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