Big Black Dog in Vallarta [Hardcover]

Mary Branham (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1998

Sydney Reardon had been an actress in London and a decorator in New York before she met the love of her life, an anthropologist, and moved to Santa Fe. She was barely recovering from his untimely death when she received a desperate call from Mexico. Maude Adams, a friend since school days, was planning suicide. Hoping to prevent the tragedy, Sydney rushes to Puerto Vallarta where she becomes entangled with witchcraft, a handsome Gringo lawyer, a trio of possessive friends, a New York cop, a huge black dog--and murder.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In her second outing (after Little Green Man in Ireland, 1997), jet-set decorator Sydney Reardon flits from place to fashionable place, enjoying vapid chats with supporting characters, gushing relentlessly about food and decor and trying not to let murder interfere with lunch. Sydney is urgently invited to Puerto Vallarta by her longtime friend Maude Adams, who plans to commit suicide. Maude has a heart ailment and prefers to make her own exit rather than deteriorate until her natural death. But at her lavish "going away" party, she is stabbed to death. Suspicion falls on beneficiaries of her will: son Rob, who thinks he was shortchanged; lawyer Hale Hoard, who collected unexpected riches; and Sydney herself, who got money and Corn Dog, Maude's large black chow chow. The story's suspense is numbed a bit by the chattering, idle characters, although the brevity and lightness of the effort are intentional: according to the publisher, Branham deliberately set out to write a series of mysteries that could be "enjoyed" on an airplane flight "of reasonable length."

Copyright 1998 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Actress-turned-decorator Sydney Reardon races to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, when her long-time friend Maude, an oil heiress, informs her that she intends to commit suicide. Once there, Sydney learns of Maude's heart condition, her inclusion in Maude's will, and Maude's plans for a final grand party. Murder interrupts the plans, however, and Sydney must contend with the aftermath, which includes Maude's good-looking lawyer, her greedy, hateful son, assaults in the night, and a black Chow named Corn Dog. Memorable characters, slick dialog, and almost whimsical settings make this a delightful short read for larger collections. By the author of Little Green Man in Ireland (Sunstone, 1997).
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 94 pages
• Publisher: Sunstone Press; 1st edition (December 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0865342776
• ISBN-13: 978-0865342774
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,220,209 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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