Dying To See You: A Charlie Plato Mystery (Charlie Plato Mysteries) [Hardcover]

Margaret Chittenden (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Fans of Chittenden's previous Charlie Plato mysteries (Dying to Sing; Dead Men Don't Dance, etc.) will find this fifth entry in the series just as sassy and full of fun. The vivacious California redhead is still trying to keep Chaps, her country-western nightclub, afloat and her innards from going whomp at the thought of partner Zack Hunter, a former TV star and a major hunk. Savanna Bristow, another partner, wants to throw a party at Chaps to celebrate both her 20th high school reunion and the 50th birthday of everyone's favorite teacher, Reina Diaz. Forty of Reina's old students, all purportedly devoted to her, attend the party, but when Reina is found strangled in a stall in the ladies' room, it's clear that at least one member of the class is no fan. Charlie and Zack investigate with nothing to help them but a crumpled piece of paper clutched in the corpse's hand. The sleuths soon learn that many of her students had reason to hate and fear Reina. Suspects abound, each with a better motive than the last, and mayhem reigns. Another murder, arson, guilty secrets and lying all around complicate Zack's and Charlie's efforts. Our heroes appear to be getting closer to each other as they get closer to a solution to the crimes, but will they ever be a couple? Please, Ms. Chittenden, don't keep us waiting too long for the next Charlie Plato mystery. (June)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Country-and-western bar co-owner Charlie Plato hosts her 20th annual class reunion, but someone murders the gathering's honoree--a supposedly much-loved teacher--in the ladies' room. Charlie soon discovers more than one suspect among her former classmates. Powerful entertainment for Chittenden fans.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 311 pages
• Publisher: Kensington; First Edition edition (June 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1575665611
• ISBN-13: 978-1575665610
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 5.5 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,452,904 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun with the gang at Chaps, May 31, 2000

By 

Dale Furutani (Tokyo, Japan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dying To See You: A Charlie Plato Mystery (Charlie Plato Mysteries) (Hardcover)

Dying to See You By Margaret Chittenden

Before I review this book, some disclosures are in order. I've met Margaret Chittenden ("Meg" to her many friends) at many mystery conferences and I consider her a good friend. In fact, I'm able to write this review because Meg was kind enough to send me an advanced copy of "Dying to See You." Having said that, I should also say that I've been a fan of the Charlie Plato series since the first book, and I enjoyed this latest book in the series immensely.

I enjoy this series on two levels. As a fan, I like the gang at Chaps, the country-western tavern located in an upscale community near San Francisco where the mysteries are set. They're a good lot, with problems, a past and individual personalities that make them come alive with a vibrancy that makes them seem like old friends. The narrator of the series, orange-haired Charlie Plato, is a woman with an attitude. You have to admire her spunky nature, although I'm frankly puzzled why she continues to resist heart-throb Zack Hunter (former TV star and, in this book, erstwhile male model). As Charlie admits, her "hormones" run riot when she's around Zack.

As a fellow writer, I also admire this series because it's so well put together. Meg has written over 34 books (some selling as many as 780,000 copies!), and she knows how to write. She's extremely skillful at handling a large cast of characters, making each character distinctive without resorting to outlandish quirks. Meg teaches writing and her abilities show through in this series.

In this particular book, the action starts with Charlie making a frantic call to Zack because of something going on at Chaps. Zack rushes down to the tavern, but his reaction to what's happening is unexpected (or, if you're familiar with Zack's character, maybe it's totally expected).

Because of this opening incident, Charlie is reluctant to rent Chaps out to private parties, but the partners of Chaps are convinced to let a High School reunion occur at the tavern. Big mistake. Charlie's penchant for finding bodies and getting into trouble are once again exhibited, and a corpse is found in an unusual -- and unusually embarrassing -- location (I predict this will become known as the "body in the potty" book). Events of the past cause a death in the present, and Charlie and Zack are left to unravel both the who and the why of this crime.

If you enjoy mysteries with a light touch and a deft hand, you'll enjoy this book and the rest of Charlie Plato series.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This mystery rocks, May 27, 2000

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dying To See You: A Charlie Plato Mystery (Charlie Plato Mysteries) (Hardcover)

Everything is quiet at Chaps, a country-western nightclub on the San Francisco peninsula. Former TV star and still sex god Zack Hunter, divorcee Charlie Plato, Angel Cervantes, and Savanna Bristow own the popular establishment. For a change there is no body in the flowerbed or Zack's car, leaving the four partners concentrating on ways to increase profits such as renting Chaps for a night to various groups.

Savanna persuades her former high school classmates to hold their reunion at Chaps. On the night of the party, Charlie and cohorts meet revered teacher Reina Diaz, who many students feel saved their lives. During a break, Charlie goes to the ladies room where she finds a dead Reina, whose neck has been broken. Charlie begins to investigate the murder. Her actions place the four partners and their establishment at risk from a killer who prefers to remain anonymous.

The Charlie Plato mysteries are progressing at a nice rate, especially the growing attraction between Charlie and a celibate Zack. DYING TO SEE YOU is a great mystery as well as an insightful relationship drama that will widen marvelous Margaret Chittenden,s fan base to the latter sub-genre. The who-done-it is cleverly constructed and difficult to solve because the villain acts like one of the heroes. Readers will die from impatience waiting for the next tale of featuring this fearsome foursome.

Harriet Klausner

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Charlie Plato Yet!, June 28, 2000

By 

Joanne Fluke - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dying To See You: A Charlie Plato Mystery (Charlie Plato Mysteries) (Hardcover)

"Dying To See You" is a must read for anyone who likes a fast-paced, suspenseful mystery with characters that come alive on the page. Margaret Chittenden uses her formidible talents to write the worst case scenerio high school reunion. There's danger, romance, and fun throughout and I dare you to guess the ending.

Charlie Plato fans will be delighted with this fifth book in the series. New fans of Ms. Chittenden will read "Dying To See You" and rush to buy the previous four Charlie Plato books.