A Body To Die For (Savannah Reid Mysteries) [Kindle Edition]

G. A. McKevett (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Soon after plus-sized PI Savannah Reid helps San Carmelita, Calif., Det. Sgt. Dirk Coulter nab a peeping Tom at Clarissa's House of Pain and Gain in McKevett's lively 14th mystery to feature the proprietor of the Moonlight and Magnolia Detective Agency (after 2008's Poisoned Tarts), obnoxious diet guru Clarissa Jardin reports her womanizing, gambling husband, Bill, missing. When Bill turns up as a frozen corpse with a bullet in his skull, Bill's mother hires Savannah to prove Clarissa killed her son or hired someone to do it. Savannah suspects Clarissa offed her hubby, but she and Dirk discover a few other potential culprits, notably Clarissa's twin, very fat sister, who posed for Clarissa's fake before pictures in ads promoting her fitness and diet plan. McKevett (the pseudonym of Sonja Massie) delivers another amusing tart-tongued cozy that goes down like a yummy guilt-free dessert. (Jan.)
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From Booklist

This is the fourteenth adventure for PI Savannah Reid, owner of the Moonlight Magnolia Detective Agency. If you haven’t had the pleasure of meeting her before, she is a voluptuous Georgia native transplanted to ritzy San Carmelita, California. Several of the more recent novels, including this one, concentrate on those who have unhealthy obsessions with dieting and exercise. There are also fascinating forensic details a bit out of the typical cozy realm. This time Savannah and her wizard technical assistant, Tammy Hart, help her police friend, Dirk Coulter, catch the locker-room perverts who are snapping illicit pictures at a health club owned by Clarissa Jardin, the queen of weight loss. But then Jardin’s husband goes missing and is eventually found shot to death. As usual, Savannah’s zany relatives and good friends make appearances while the trio works to solve the crime—and everyone has ample opportunity to enjoy Savannah’s delicious cooking. --Judy Coon

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Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 488 KB
• Print Length: 321 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 075821555X
• Publisher: Kensington Books (January 1, 2010)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B002ZFGK66
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #63,262 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

More About the Author

Since publication of her first novel in 1986, Sonja Massie has authored over fifty published works, including the highly popular and critically acclaimed SAVANNAH REID MYSTERIES under the pseudonym G. A. McKevett.

Sonja's novels range from Irish historicals to contemporary thrillers. Her earthy humor and fast-paced plots delight her fans, while critics applaud her offbeat characterizations and incisive observations on human nature.

Irish by ancestry, Sonja has authored two non-fiction books on the history of Ireland: THE COMPLETE IDIOT'S GUIDE TO IRISH HISTORY AND CULTURE and IRISH PRIDE: 101 REASONS TO BE PROUD YOU'RE IRISH. Both books impart detailed knowledge of the complex and controversial Irish story with a light hand and plenty of humor. Her Irish novels include: DREAM CARVER, CAROUSEL, DAUGHTER OF IRELAND and the bestselling FAR AND AWAY - the novelization of the Ron Howard movie starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman.

On nationwide tours, Sonja lectures to published and "pre-published" authors in her workshop, "The Novel Approach," a seminar which covers such topics as: story structure, characterization, plotting, pacing, and marketing manuscripts.

Sonja has taught numerous courses at university and adult continuing education facilities including: general fiction, historical research, and mystery writing. She was managing editor at "Single Living" magazine and has functioned as a manuscript doctor and storyline editor for major publishers. Earlier in her career, she was a prolific ghostwriter, authoring both fictional and non-fictional books for celebrities and professionals.

Having lived in Los Angeles, Toronto, and County Kerry, Ireland, she now resides in New York.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This Savannah Reid mystery rocks, February 1, 2009

A Kid's Review

This review is from: A Body To Die For (Savannah Reid Mysteries) (Hardcover)

I am always ready to visit Savannah, a P.I., in San Carmelita.
She is always on her toes while stuffing her face with goodies.
Dirk, the detective, is always great to have along on a case.
His banter and friendship with Savannah, is one of the reasons I keep coming back for more.
This case is a sticky case, with way too many suspects and clues for them.
But, with the help of friends like Tammy, with computer skills, they always get the job done. Well done. A great read for anyone who loves mysteries with friendly faces and good detective skills.More, Please.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable series!, June 17, 2009

By 

J. Schneider - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Body To Die For (Savannah Reid Mysteries) (Hardcover)

I have read all of the Savannah Reid mysteries, but I didn't want to review on each one. So, I will say that I have enjoyed the entire series, including this book. My favorite thing about this series is that Savannah is not an amateur sleuth. So many "cozy mysteries" involve amateur sleuths who should really just mind their own business. They never actually solve anything. They don't find out who the killer is until the person shows up to kill them or they stumble upon the killer doing something. Savannah and the Moonlight Magnolia Detective Agency actually solve crimes the way that police and investigators do - by interviewing witnesses, stake-outs, internet searches, etc. Plus, they don't get kidnapped or threatened in the process.

I have two gripes with this series. (1) the constant reminder that Savannah is plus-size - is it really necessary? (2) the ages of her brothers and sisters don't add up. If her sister Atlanta is only about 18 and Savannah is in her 40s, then she wouldn't have been around when Atlanta was growing up because was already on the San Carmelita police force when she was in her 20s. In "Fat Free & Fatal" she mentions that she and all her brothers and sisters were found behind the bar in their hometown playing in the glass. Again, she would have been at least 24 years old if all of her brothers and sisters were involved. Ms. McKevett's continuity editor should have caught all that.

Otherwise, I enjoy the books if I overlook this stuff.

4.0 out of 5 stars A Body to Die For, July 19, 2011

By 

Jennifer Rummel - YABookNerd (Norwich, CT) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Body To Die For (Savannah Reid Mysteries) (Paperback)

Savannah finds herself entangled with the country's leading fitness guru. Her husband's missing. When Savannah and Dirk discover his body, they start investigating. Savannah finds herself hoping to uncover flaws in the guru's story. She can't help it if she's unhappy with the woman who calls people "tub-o" That's not healthy for anyone, even for someone pushing people to lose weight. Soon Savannah's deep in secrets and trying to discover the truth. Can she uncover the murderer?

An adult mystery from a series that I adore. It's sort of a foodie mystery (without the recipes, but you can find one here). I love the relationship that Savannah has with food. I love her Southern charm. I love her relationship with Dirk - sweet and sassy! I admit that I do not like the new cover style as it does not fit with either the previous covers or Savannah herself. If you like these try also: Joanne Fluke and Diana Mott Davidson