Dying Well: A Lady Margaret Priam Mystery (Lady Margaret Priam Mysteries) [Mass Market Paperback]

Joyce Christmas (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 6, 2000 | Series: Lady Margaret Priam Mysteries

A CRIME DE LA CRÈME

Everybody who is anybody is bending an elbow at Dr. Dale Reeve's fiftieth-birthday bash. But Lady Margaret Priam is uneasy--the glittering crowd includes not only Dale's wife but also his mistress; not just his spoiled children but his wife's lover as well. Not to mention her beautiful new secretary, the instigator of this glamorous affair, a wild Texas filly with a penchant for kicking up trouble all over Manhattan.

Lady Margaret's fears are quickly justified. For even before the birthday cake is cut, someone will take a shortcut to death, off the terrace and down-down-down to fulfill a killer's devious wish. . . .

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The Lady Margaret series is one of the most consistently satisfying ones."
--Rave Reviews

From the Inside Flap

A CRIME DE LA CRÈME

Everybody who is anybody is bending an elbow at Dr. Dale Reeve's fiftieth-birthday bash. But Lady Margaret Priam is uneasy--the glittering crowd includes not only Dale's wife but also his mistress; not just his spoiled children but his wife's lover as well. Not to mention her beautiful new secretary, the instigator of this glamorous affair, a wild Texas filly with a penchant for kicking up trouble all over Manhattan.

Lady Margaret's fears are quickly justified. For even before the birthday cake is cut, someone will take a shortcut to death, off the terrace and down-down-down to fulfill a killer's devious wish. . . .

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Fawcett (June 6, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0449150119
• ISBN-13: 978-0449150115
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,454,509 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very good mystery, June 6, 2000

By 

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

This review is from: Dying Well: A Lady Margaret Priam Mystery (Lady Margaret Priam Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

Her parents were the Earl and Countess of Brayfield. Her brother David currently holds the tile and the family estate Priam's Priory. Lady Margaret Priam had a typical upper class British upbringing, but she has been state side for a decade and resides in an expensive place on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Her title and bloodlines make her acceptable by the city's elite, which allows her to comfortably live without a formal job.

One of society's most powerful mavens asks Margaret to look out for her friend's daughter who is coming to live in New York. Margaret provides temporary lodging and arranges for the lass to work as a society woman's assistant. Lucy Rose appears to be a sweet innocent, but she is actually a manipulative, calculating individual who has set her eyes on her employer's rich and famous husband. Despite warnings from Margaret and others, Lucy continues her pursuit regardless of who gets hurt in the process.

Anyone who has read a Regency romance will understand the essence behind the Lady Margaret Priam mysteries, which is placing the Regency mindset in the year 2000. Joyce Christmas makes her world seem believable as her descriptions bring life to it. DYING WELL is a fascinating mystery that has only one chapter involving death and related follow-up scenes. The brunt of the tale deals with the events that lead to the murder. Anyone who enjoys a cerebral, character-based mystery will want to try this charmingly original novel.

Harriet Klausner

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Joyce Come Back!!, June 1, 2003

By 

Kathe Romano "Kathe" (Las Vegas, NV United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dying Well: A Lady Margaret Priam Mystery (Lady Margaret Priam Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

This is a poor effort from one of my favorite mystery authors. The plot is trite and silly, and the previous reviewer is correct. There is no mystery here until the last few pages. The last Lady Margaret book as well as the last Betty Trenka book were also very disappointing. I hope that Joyce's newest release, featuring both Margaret and Betty, makes up for three mediocre books in a row.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Disappointment, July 20, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Dying Well: A Lady Margaret Priam Mystery (Lady Margaret Priam Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

I have read and enjoyed all of Joyce Christmas's books. I always looked forward to her latest. Until this one. I bought the book,and expected a good mystery. There was no mystery until the very last pages. I was not interested in seeing how manipulative her main character could be. I found this book to be a big disappointment. I will think twice about buying another of her books.