Bowled Over (Maggie Kelly Mysteries) [Paperback]

Kasey Michaels (Author)

Book Description

Series: Maggie Kelly Mysteries | Publication Date: November 1, 2007

Mystery author Maggie Kelly had enough on her mind wondering how she was going to keep her fictional Regency Era creation from dropping to one knee with a marriage proposal. Then a murderer crosses the foul line - way too close to home...Maggie wouldn't mind putting a little distance between herself and the hunky Regency hero of her novels, Alexandre Blake, the Viscount Saint Just, who has miraculously come to life with talk of sweeping her straight down the aisle. But now that her parents have split up, Maggie is having trouble resisting Alex's tender loving care. So she invites him along to visit her family. Unfortunately, they arrive just in time to watch her father being taken away in handcuffs as a murder suspect!The local police are convinced Evan Kelly has killed his bowling buddy, who happened to be having an affair with Maggie's mom. It doesn't help that Evan's bowling ball was found next to the dead body. Her dad may have had motive, but Maggie knows he's definitely no killer. Luckily, she has Alex riding to the rescue - and making her wonder if a happily ever after might not be out of her league after all...

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this entertaining sixth Maggie Kelly mystery (after 2006's High Heels and Holidays), the scatterbrained mystery novelist faces a more dysfunctional family Christmas than usual. Just before leaving New York, Maggie breaks her foot, and then hobbles home to suburban New Jersey only to see her father arrested for murder. Local lothario Walter Bodkin has been found dead, and the weapon of choice was a bowling ball engraved with Maggie's father's initials. Maggie is sure that her father is innocent, but to get to the bottom of this murder, she'll have to learn more than she wants to know about her mother and sister's extracurricular activities, which definitely go beyond bowling. Her siblings aren't giving her much assistance, but droll, charming Alex, the hero of Maggie's books come magically to life, is there to keep her anxieties in check. Fans of romantic cozies will find this light read a welcome escape from their own holiday stress. (Nov.)
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Review

"* "Part fantasy, part romance, and part good old-fashioned mystery, this book has it all." - Romantic Times." --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Kensington (November 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0758208847
• ISBN-13: 978-0758208842
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,409,220 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Encore!, October 30, 2007

By 

Detra Fitch (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bowled Over (Maggie Kelly Mysteries) (Paperback)

Historical mystery author Margaret "Maggie" Kelly used to believe that she was slowly going insane. The handsome Regency hero of her novels, Alexandre "Alex" Blake, the Viscount Saint Just, and his lovable side-kick, Sterling, had miraculously come to life in the not too distant past. That is enough to make anyone doubt their sanity. But now that some time has passed, Maggie is beginning to believe that maybe the two new men in her life will not go - poof - someday and disappear. Perhaps Maggie and Alex have a chance together after all.

The holidays are coming up, so it is time for Maggie to travel to Ocean City, New Jersey, for another Kelly Dysfunctional Christmas. She is taking Alex and Sterling along for the ride (moral support and all that). But first Maggie wants to stop and tour a huge Manhattan house she is considering to purchase. While doing so, Maggie breaks her foot on a metal doorstop. Therefore, Maggie must wear a bulky cast and use a walker. NOT one of Maggie's more graceful times.

Alicia and Evan, Maggie parents, have split up. So the trio head for Evan's apartment and arrive just in time to watch Maggie's father being arrested as a murder suspect. The local police believe Evan murdered one of his bowling buddies, Walter Bodkin, who happened to have had a brief affair with Alicia. Evan's bowling ball, the murder weapon, had been found near Bodkin's body. It is up to Maggie, Alex, and Sterling to prove his innocence. Problem is that there are SO MANY suspects. The late Bodkin had many amorous adventures with the local ladies (wed or not). In fact, Maggie cannot help but wonder if she is the only female who has never had a fling with the guy.

***** Author Kasey Michaels has an imagination that just won't stop. I must say that I find her characters to be unique and quite a refreshing change of pace. The character of Maggie will come across to many readers as realistic due to the way she uses humor as a defense mechanism. (My shield of choice too.) As with all great mysteries, all the clues are there for readers to browse through and test their wits upon. A true delight for all fans of mysteries. ENCORE! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Smart, Fun Read, October 27, 2007

By 

Laura Clark - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bowled Over (Maggie Kelly Mysteries) (Paperback)

When last we saw Maggie she was preparing for the holidays. Preparing to visit her parents - who are currently separated. To say she was dreading the visit is an understatement. To take her mind off of what's ahead (and in an effort to secure a tax break) Maggie goes house hunting. One slight misstep in the house of her dreams and she breaks her foot, gets a cast and has to hobble along with the aid of a walker. None of which garner her any sympathy from her family.

Just missing her father at his apartment, and not ready to face her mother, Maggie indulges Sterling's love of casinos and drives him and Saint Just to Atlantic City where she immediately "runs into" Henry Novack and steals his jackpot. Well, to hear him tell it at any rate. And he doesn't intend to leave her alone until she gives it back to him.

When she finally makes it back to her father's apartment she can only watch as he is taken away in handcuffs, accused of murder. The evidence against him is circumstantial but the police won't even consider any other suspects so it's up to Maggie and Alex to prove his innocence. With each new piece of evidence they uncover, Evan Kelly looks more and more guilty. Will they be able to uncover that once piece of evidence that will clear him - even with Henry shadowing their every move?

Bowled Over is reportedly the final installment in the Maggie Kelly series. Kasey Michaels has written it with her usual humor and smart dialogue (just ask Maggie how she broke her foot). The reader is given more insight into Maggie's family and a few more of the skeleton's fall out of the closet. The reader is also treated to a look into the "shadowy figure's" head. As always the story was a lot of fun and I read the entire book in one afternoon. While Ms. Michaels has written a nice ending to the series, she also left it open to the point the story could continue without taking away from the ending she's written. And I, for one, hope this is not the last we see of Maggie, Alex, Sterling and even Henry.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Maggie, Saint Just, Sterling #6 - The end?, September 30, 2009

By 

T. Taylor (Lafayette, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bowled Over (Maggie Kelly Mysteries) (Paperback)

This, sadly, is the last book in the series. That being said, it is also the most revealing and hysterical.

Maggie wins big at the Casino, is stalked by a demented 42 year old. Maggie's father is accused of murder - sweet mild mannered Evan? - and Maggie and Saint Just set out to clear his name.

Sterling and Alex discover that they are becoming more human. Every day.

Maggie stands up to her Mom (at last). And there is, folks, a happy ending.

Admittedly, I enjoy Kasey Michael's sense of humor - the author "asides" are hilarious!!!

This was an extremely fun read and the end of a series - Darn it!!!!!!!!!