Death In A Beach Chair: A Susan Henshaw Mystery [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Valerie Wolzien (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 12, 2004

For Susan and Jed Henshaw and their friends Kathleen and Jerry Gordon, the tiny Caribbean resort called Compass Bay has everything. White sand, luxurious cottages, rum punches to die for - even a gorgeous unattached blonde ornamenting the premises. But Kathleen and Jerry are having marital problems, and when the mysterious blonde turns up murdered, the cloud hanging over their little paradise grows black indeed.

Available only in Mystery 4.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A nice writing style and considerable wit."
-- Chicago Tribune (Chicago Tribune )

From the Inside Flap

For Susan and Jed Henshaw and their friends Kathleen and Jerry Gordon, the tiny Caribbean resort called Compass Bay has everything. White sand, luxurious cottages, rum punches to die for?even a gorgeous unattached blonde ornamenting the premises.

But Kathleen and Jerry are having marital problems?and when the mysterious blonde turns up murdered, the cloud hanging over their little paradise grows black indeed. It turns out that the victim is the once-frumpy sister of Jerry?s first wife. Many years ago, Susan, Jed, and Jerry had known her well, and the island police don?t believe it?s coincidence that she appeared at Compass Bay at the same time as her old friends. Nor does Susan, who shifts into investigative red alert?and finds a serpent in Eden, its fangs loaded with venom. . . . --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 391 pages
• Publisher: Thorndike Press; 1 edition (November 12, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786270519
• ISBN-13: 978-0786270514
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #784,320 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I'm really thinking a 3 1/2, not bad, but she does better, March 11, 2004

By 

Moe811 (New York USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Death in a Beach Chair (Mass Market Paperback)

I was kind of disappointed in this latest Susan Henshaw mystery. While it was nice to see the four main characters again, the story line was not as strong as usual. This is not to say that I didn't like the book. Susan, Jed, Kathleen, and Jerry go to a Carribbean island for a vacation. Jerry and Kathleen seem to be having marital problems. It turns out that his ex sister in law is on the island also. She tells everyone that she is having an affair with Jerry. She also tells every one that she will die a tragic death. She does. Jerry is arrested. Everyone expects Susan to clear him.

The characters as usual, are very interesting and well developed. The mystery is problematic. All of a sudden they all want Susan to solve the crime. Other than Kathleen, everyone discouraged her before. The other thing that bothers me is that Jerry wanders off for hours at a time and no one questions him at all? I just didn't get it. Hopefully the next one will be back to usual.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars As a fan of the Susan Henshaw mysteries..., April 6, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Death in a Beach Chair (Mass Market Paperback)

....I found this one to be my least favorite. Mostly, it was just annoying. By the middle of the book I didn't really care what happened to any of the characters. The story was sort of muddled with odd useless stuff, like the cryptic messages from the person suspected of the murder, to the behavior of the suspected murderer's wife. Even Susan and Jed weren't particularly likeable. All in all, not Valerie Wolzien's best work.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun Read for Your Vacation, June 4, 2004

By 

Erika Sorocco (Southern California, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Death in a Beach Chair (Mass Market Paperback)

Amateur sleuth, Susan Henshaw, her loving husband Jed, and her closest friends, Kathleen and Jerry Gordon, couldn't be more excited about heading to Compass Bay, a tiny Caribbean Resort filled with luxury. Rum punch, quaint, yet beautiful cottages for all vacationers, blue water, white sand, and a gorgeous, single, blonde occupying the premises. However, the vacation isn't all that it was supposed to be. Kathleen and Jerry are having marital problems, putting a huge damper on the trip, and when the gorgeous blonde turns up dead, a huge secret comes out. The victim was actually the once overweight, frumpy sister of Jerry's previous wife. Years ago, Susan, Jed, and Jerry knew her well, which is why the island police don't believe that it's a mere coincidence for them to show up at Compass Bay at the same exact time as the blonde. Susan doesn't think it's a coincidence either, which sends her into overdrive, and ready to sniff out the caper.

Since I have been a huge fan of the Susan Henshaw Mystery series for years, I was ecstatic to find that DEATH IN A BEACH CHAIR had been released, and raced to the local Barnes & Noble to purchase it. I was not disappointed. The mystery is both enticing, and exciting at the same time, and keeps you turning the pages, dying to find out who the true killer is. Susan, as usual, is up to her old tricks (i.e. shopping and sleuthing), and is just as likeable than ever in this installation of her glamorous, and sometimes deadly life. While this is a great read for anytime of the year, I recommend taking it with you if your headed on vacation, as it's a great book to read while lounging by the pool, and relaxing.

Erika Sorocco