Customer Reviews

Deathday Party

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I've read both of Paula Carter's new mysteries, Leading an Elegant Death and Death Day Party, and I can't wait for the next episode of Hillary and Jane, the most unlikely crime solving duo yet. Ms. Carter has a deft and masterful touch in creating characters whose foibles could quickly make them unsympathetic to the reader. However, both hilarious Martha Stewart take-off, Hillary, and domestically challenged Jane immediately capture our imagination, as do many of the minor characters, such as Billy the burglar, and Jane's young daughter who is sometimes more level-headed than her mother. This is a quick, fun mystery romp in magnolia country. Loved it.

Deathday Party is a continuation of the humor and the contrast between Jane and Hillary. This book is especially good at off beat conversations between the two and mis-matched meanings. All the actions taken by the two main characters deepen their impression on the reader and give a better picture of where they both come from. No matter where you are when you pick up Deathday Party, you will be transplanted to an "Addams Family" surrounding and will enjoy the sorta-spooky stuff deftly woven in with the sharper elements of the story line. While that is going on, Paula gives us just a hint of what is to become of the relationship between Jane and the Sheriff. No matter if you are waiting for a city bus, for the opera to begin, or the dentist to start your root canal, this book will lift your spirits and transport you to a Southern small town where you can be part of the action as the characters entertain you.

Haunted house. Misty cemetery. Washed out bridge. Thunder and lightning. Dumb dialogue. A cast of characters you can't keep up with. I was really disappointed with this book, which seemed like it would never end. It had a lackluster, contrived, meandering plot, with confusing portrayals of character relationships and motivation. Ugh.

I almost never write reviews, but after reading this book I had to make a comment or two. The characters are ridiculous with no explanation really for their bizarre behavior. A California woman surrounded by Southern Stereotypes. Of course her exhusband is named Jim Ed, because Southern men have two names, and of course he's married to a former Miss Alabama who's incredibly shallow. The plot is silly. The one thing I'd really like to say is that if you are going to write a book that takes place in Talladega County learn to spell it. The first time an L was left out I thought it was an editing error, by the second time I realized she apparently has no familiarity with the area at all, picked the name at random, and probably wrongly assumed that no one in the county could read and therefor wouldn't read her book and catch this mistake.

On the surface, the book sounds interesting. The descriptions of the charcters are intriguing. Unfortunately, the plot is rather awkward and silly. The dialog is occasionally witty, but mostly awful. The dialect of the black characters is just plain offensive. Here is proof of how hard it is to write a good book, given an interesting premise.

I was extremely disappointed in this book. It was more like a gothic than a standard mystery. I found Hillary -- who, I assume, is supposed to be a sort of send-up of Martha Stewart -- bizarre with her decorating tips at the oddest moments. She wasn't the least bit realistic. And, as a native Southerner, I was expecting more development of that angle, which didn't happen (at least, not in any good way). But I think my unhappiness may be because I missed the character development earlier in the series. I imagine I should have started with the first book.

death day party BY Paula Carter/ paperback Mystery Series/
Jane Fergusan is and ex-law student with a falir for everything but cooking and designing, her employer is Hillary Scarborough who can cvook but her strong suit is giving ordes and expecting them to come out even through rose colored designer glasses Hillary manages her share of trouble and while she does have good intentions it's usually Jane who has to put what little use of the law she knows she skirt around all the danger that Hillary seems to stumble on.
Local psychic Cassandra Bean has hired Hillary and Jane to cater the banquet of hrer great Aunt too bad the Aunt is dead but money is money so they decide to do it. Upon their arrival there is a glitch Cassandra is dead for what seems to be a heart attack....
However the other members if the family inssit thsi is no botehr and to they'll hae the party anyway. Then when Uncle Bruce turns up dead the heat is on the find the murderer to cold stiff and when a flash flood leaves everyone stranded Hillary and jane decide to cook thier way through diaster and snoop their way to solving this all too well done crime.
DEAHTDAY PARTY is eccentric and wonerful you'll love these two women with your whole heart. They know how to solve crime if they know little else. This is a who dunnit that has heart, wit charm and grace. it woul be a crime not to read this series let alone this book
Pamela James-reviewer.