Dead Man Dancing (Hannah Ives Mystery Series, Book 7) [Paperback]

Marcia Talley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2009

The new Hannah Ives mystery - Driving a wedge between Ruth and her fianc, Hutch, is not what Hannah intends when she recommends J & K Dance Studios to her sister. Ruth is determined to shine on her wedding day, but when stunning dance teacher Kay Giannotti greets Hutch with a kiss, its clear this isnt the first time theyve met. Talked into auditioning for Shall We Dance?, a TV talent show, the auditions end in tragedy. Accident or murder? Hannah is on the case . . .

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

At the start of Talley's lively seventh Hannah Ives mystery (after 2006's Through the Darkness), doughty cancer survivor Hannah suggests that her sister Ruth, newly svelte and bronze-haired spiked, prep for her coming wedding to bright young attorney Hutch, a former ballroom dance enthusiast, with lessons at the J & K Dance Studios in Annapolis, Md. Hannah reflects wryly on the exorbitant costs of dance competitions, a culture addicted to glitzy shows like American Idol, and the nasty potential for child exploitation. With Ruth sidelined by a leg-busting sabotage attack, Hutch and a new partner, Melanie, audition for a TV dance talent hunt, but their instructor falls victim to an exotic poison and Melanie drowns in the South River, jolting Hannah's spunky Nancy Drew nose for clues into classy action. Full of tangy Annapolis local color, this airy concoction won't satisfy all whodunit hungers, but never-say-die Hannah makes it a tasty dessert.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Talley’s latest Hannah Ives mystery is sprightly and engaging and, unusual for a mystery, focuses on the world of competitive ballroom dancing. Hannah’s sister, Ruth, is getting married to Hutch, an accomplished amateur ballroom dancer. Ruth is determined to become as good a dancer as Hutch so she can “dance him proud” at their wedding, but she desperately needs lessons to do so and begs Hannah to sign up, too. The first few sessions go well, and the dance instructors are so impressed with Hutch’s (and Ruth’s) skill that they convince them to audition for the TV show Shall We Dance? Then Ruth is violently attacked. Desperate for Hutch to go ahead with the competition, the dance studio finds a new partner for him, but when a brutal murder takes place on the eve of the competition, Hannah must use her amateur-sleuthing skills to find the killer. Snappy dialogue, a level-headed heroine, and just enough dry humor enliven the newest entry in this entertaining series. --Emily Melton --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: Severn House Publishers; Reprint edition (April 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1847510868
• ISBN-13: 978-1847510860
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,699,056 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Marcia Talley is the Agatha and Anthony award-winning author of A QUIET DEATH and nine previous mystery novels featuring survivor and sleuth, Hannah Ives.

Marcia is author/editor of two star-studded collaborative novels, NAKED CAME THE PHOENIX and I'D KILL FOR THAT set in a fashionable health spa and an exclusive gated community, respectively. Her short stories appear in more than a dozen collections. A recent story, "Can You Hear Me Now?" is featured in TWO OF THE DEADLIEST: NEW TALES OF LUST, GREED AND MURDER FROM OUTSTANDING WOMEN OF MYSTERY, edited by New York Times best-selling author, Elizabeth George.

Marcia is immediate past President of Sisters in Crime International, serves on the board of the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the Mystery Writers of America and is a member of the Crime Writers' Association (UK) and the Authors' Guild of America. She lives in Annapolis, Maryland, with a husband who loves to sail and a cat who doesn't.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The stars are for the book....not the ending, October 31, 2008

By 

M. C. Carter "cartertoggle" (Columbia, Md USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dead Man Dancing (Hannah Ives Mystery Series, Book 7) (Hardcover)

I have been a fan of this series from the beginning...never thought that the author suffered from 'sophomore slump' and the characters show definite development from outing to outing. The same feelings apply to Dead Man Dancing. Lots of real life Annapolis infused into the setting and Hannah is believable. My quibble with this book is the ending. I had a good idea who the murderer was (and I was right) but the last few pages were so rushed and unsatisfying! After re-reading the final 2 chapters for a fourth time I almost think that the author had an ending a and alternate ending b in mind and somehow managed to mesh bits and pieces of both endings in the final (unsatisfying) edit.

You won't be disappointed with this latest in the Hannah Ives series, but in my opinion, the ending doesn't do justice to the rest of the book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hannah is Back!, November 16, 2008

By 

S. Dana (VA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Dead Man Dancing (Hannah Ives Mystery Series, Book 7) (Hardcover)

What a treat to have another Hannah Ives mystery to enjoy. Marcia Talley continues to be a joy to read. The only problem is having to wait for her next book!