A Body to Die For [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Kate White (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2, 2003

A New York Times Bestselling Author

Bailey Weggins heads to the Cedar Inn Spa for a rest after solving her last case. But when she finds a dead body getting a seaweed wrap, her detective instincts are unable to go on hiatus. As Bailey uncovers the victim's mysterious past, she finds herself becoming infatuated with Jeffrey Beck, a detective working on the case.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Bailey Weggins, the heroine of Cosmo editor-in-chief White's bestselling debut, If Looks Could Kill (2002), proves that her sleuthing ability was no fluke in this solid follow-up. Depressed by her nonexistent love life, Bailey, a freelance true-crime writer for Gloss magazine, leaves Manhattan for some R&R at the Cedar Inn and Spa in Warren, Mass., owned and run by an old friend of her mother's. Her first night there, however, she stumbles on the corpse of one of the inn's female therapists-wrapped in silver Mylar paper. Anna Cole's murder, on top of the accidental death of a male client months earlier, could spell doom for the inn, unless Bailey can get to the bottom of things. Meanwhile, Jack Herlihy, the smooth shrink from her prior outing, surfaces with a plausible excuse for his earlier disappearing act, while "dashing" Jeffrey Beck, the local detective who's looking into Anna's murder, also attracts, despite his cool professional demeanor. Bailey bravely deals with threats (a dead mouse wrapped in Mylar in the mail), deftly pumps people for information (a scene with a local waitress is a gem) and comes to a startling conclusion after the murder of a second therapist just before the heart-stopping, heroine-in-peril climax. Though the glamorous New York magazine world has only a small role here, fans will find Bailey's sassy wit as engaging as ever and are sure to admire the skill with which White pulls together all the threads.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Bailey Weggins, the smart-mouthed true-crime writer for Gloss magazine, returns in a book equally as entertaining as its predecessor, If Looks Could Kill [BKL My 1 02]. Last time Manhattan was the backdrop for murder; now the scene shifts to the country, as Bailey tries to help an old friend figure out why the guests at her inn/spa are turning up murdered. And murdered in particularly nasty ways--the first is packaged like a leftover sandwich in the shiny mylar paper used for herbal wraps. White, editor-in-chief of cosmopolitan, cleverly offers her readers a whole tray full of tasty red herrings to nibble on. Almost everyone in the story is a suspect, but the fun lies not only in trying to guess whodunit but also in watching Bailey evolve as a woman (with two sexy guys after her) and a detective, who follows where the case leads. Kelly Ripa, of Live with Regis and Kelly, chose Looks as her first book-club selection, so this follow-up is sure to have a ready-made audience. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 460 pages
• Publisher: Thorndike Press (September 2, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786257679
• ISBN-13: 978-0786257676
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,226,042 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Kate White is recognized internationally as not only the veteran editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan, the best-selling women's magazine in the world, but also as the critically acclaimed author of both fiction and nonfiction books. Few high-profile editors have successfully balanced the rigors of overseeing a major magazine title with a thriving and independent writing career.

It all began when Kate won Glamour magazine's Top Ten College Women contest and appeared on the cover. Kate earned a position at the magazine and quickly rose from editorial assistant to feature writer and columnist. After holding key jobs at several national magazines, she became an editor-in-chief, running four magazines (including Redbook) before taking the helm at Cosmopolitan in 1998.

Drawing on experiences from her successful career, Kate published the bestselling career bibles Why Good Girls Don't Get Ahead...but Gutsy Girls Do in 1995 and 9 Secrets of Women who Get Everything They Want in 1998. Her most recent nonfiction book, You on Top: Smart Sexy Skills Every Woman Needs to Set the World on Fire published in 2006.

But Kate also has a passion for writing fiction. In penning her first novel, If Looks Could Kill, in 2002--which was selected as Live With Regis and Kelly's first Reading With Ripa Book Club pick--Kate introduced her gutsy and irreverent sleuth, Bailey Weggins. Ms. Weggins went on to solve more grisly murders and entertain readers in A Body to Die For (2003), 'Til Death Do Us Part (2004), Over Her Dead Body (2005), and then again in Lethally Blond (2007), all New York Times bestsellers. The books were recently optioned by Lions Gate Pictures.

Kate's highly anticipated first thriller, HUSH, with her new publisher HarperCollins, will be available in bookstores March 2010. HUSH marks Kate's entry into a whole new genre. Set in the world of fertility clinics and hailed as a "pulse-pounding, chilling, and provocative" read, it's the story of an ordinary woman who flees the scene of a murder and realizes it's not just the law that is hunting her.

Kate's writer's eye has been described by the New York Times as "scathingly observant," capturing "the mood...with a verisimilitude some of her peers might recognize." The Los Angeles Times says of Kate's work: "It's like devouring a box of chocolates!"

Through her magazine work and books, Kate White has influenced at least two generations of women with her unique honesty, passion, and imagination. She is the winner of the Matrix Award for Outstanding Achievement in Communication, as well as the Woodhall Institute Award for Ethical Leadership.

Kate currently resides in Manhattan with her husband and two children.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beach read!, May 20, 2003

By 

E. Griffin (Wilton, CT, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: A Body to Die For (Hardcover)

A Body to Die For is the second book of a new series featuring Bailey Weggins, a freelance magazine writer who specializes in true crime stories. In this installment, Bailey travels from NYC to Massachusetts for some rest and relaxation at a spa owned by a long time friend of Bailey's mother. Shortly after Baily arrives, a spa employee is found murdered. Bailey soon discovers that this is not not the first death during the past few months at the spa, and that several other intrigues are also going on.

In the true spirit of nosy writers who interfere with police work, Bailey begins interviewing reluctant spa employees and other bystanders, and following up on clues. At the same time, Bailey is managing her conflicted romantic life, finding herself interested in both a boyfriend from the past and one of the policemen involved in the murder case.

Kate White's writing style is breezy and not unlike that of the fashion / beauty magazine Ms. White edits. The phrasing is awkward or blunt at times, and Bailey frequently acts like too much of a neophyte for her crime writing background. However, A Body to Die For is a swift paced read perfect for lazy summer afternoons.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars not bad but book took a bit too long to unfold..., May 31, 2003

By 

tregatt (Portland, Oregon) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Body to Die For (Hardcover)

Although "A Body to Die For" did possess a rather intriguing storyline, ultimately the book did prove to a bit of a bland read for me.

Bailey Weggins is in dire need of some rest and relaxation -- her workload is beginning to get to her and her promising romance with Jack Herlihy (a professor of psychology) seems to have mysteriously fizzled. So that when close family friend, Danny Hubner, who owns and runs a health spa and inn (Cedar Inn) in Warren, Massachusetts invites Bailey to spend the weekend there, it seemed to be just the ticket. Except that Bailey discovers the dead body of one of the massage therapists in one of the treatment rooms. A quick talk with Danny reveals that things have been rather strained lately, and that Danny has been at a lose to figure out what's been going on. And so Bailey volunteers to help out her friend by snooping around. But the clues are few and leads hard to come by. However Bailey is determined to discover what's going on at Cedar Inn as well as unmask the killer, esp after the killer sends Bailey an ominous message warning her to stop her investigation...

If you're stuck somewhere over the weekend with nothing to do and no where to go (like an airport, or a hotel room) then you really won't feel too shortchanged if you invest your time (and money) on this book. The trouble with "A Body to Die For" was that it was 1) a bit of a bland read; 2) the mystery took too long to unfold; 3) the clues and suspects were really scarce; 4) there were very few clever twists and turns; and 5)for a seasoned professional crime columnist, Bailey seemed unbelievably naive. On the plus side, some of the dialogue was snappy and humourous and Bailey Weggins was easy to relate to and empathise -- in fact was what really saved the book for me and made it readable (even if I found it really amusing that Bailey's rolodex was full of 'phone numbers of people whom she had never met but who were willing to help her figure out what was going on at Cedar Inn). So, if you're looking for a book to while away the time and that is entertaining as well, "A Body to Die For" will do; but if you're looking for a good mystery novel that will keep you riveted by the events that are unfolding between the pages, then you might want to try something else.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Jessica Fletcher she ain't, June 6, 2003

By 

penandra (Livermore, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Body to Die For (Hardcover)

This is the first book I've read by Ms. White, and while I might read the earlier book, chances are I'll check it out of the library rather than purchase. I never saw the supposed closeness in the relationship between Bailey and Danny so, although I finished the book, it was tough for me to generate any empathy for the characters.

Bailey, a crime-writing divorcee from Manhattan comes across as Nancy Drew without George, Bess, or Ned. Having said all that, if you're looking for a nice easy read while laying in the beach or taking a flight --- this may be the book. If you leave it behind, you probably won't spend alot of time wondering whodunnit.