Have Your Cake and Kill Him Too (Blackbird Sisters Mysteries, No. 5) [Paperback]

Nancy Martin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 6, 2007

When the tycoon owner of a spectacularly tacky sports bar is killed, Nora Blackbird suspects a secretive politician, a shady former rock star doubling as a pastry chef, and a dangerous aristo-brat on the verge of stardom.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The three sisters Blackbird—Nora, Emma and Libby—return in Martin's charming and funny fifth novel (after 2005's Cross Your Heart and Hope to Die). Zell Orcutt, a dirty old man on the periphery of the Blackbirds' high-society Philadelphia circle, is found dead. If the arrow shot through his heart at first seems a tad improbable, well, all his disgruntled relatives are archery fans. From a state senator who may not be as dumb as he appears to an obnoxious, busty teenager who thinks she'll come into big bucks now that Zell is dead, the suspects are legion, and Nora, of course, can't resist detecting. But the real mystery is the paternity of the baby Nora's carrying, and whether she is really, truly, finally through with her hunky but oh-so-dangerous lover, Michael Abruzzo. (Mar.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

Martin, a master of one-liners and witty repartee...comes up with another winning mystery. (Library Journal, starred review)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Signet (March 6, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451218930
• ISBN-13: 978-0451218933
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #379,490 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I wrote romance novels for years, but I finally had enough sex--at least on paper!--and decided it was time to start killing people.

So now I write funny, sexy murder mysteries. Check out my website for more details: www.nancymartinmysteries.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kept me on the edge of my seat..., April 1, 2006

By 

DevJohn01 (Somerset, NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Have Your Cake and Kill Him Too (Blackbird Sisters Mysteries, No. 5) (Hardcover)

...and I don't mean the mystery! Let's face it, those of us who have been reading this series from book one do not keep coming back for the oh-so-enthralling mysteries. No, we come back to find out if the on again, off again Nora Blackbird and Michael "the Mick" Abruzzo will ever get it together and finally decide to make it "official". Well, I guess I will have to just keep reading to find out but I must admit there is no couple I am rooting harder for, Bo and Hope have nothing on these two!

In Maritn's newest Blackbird sisters mystery Nora finds herself entangled in yet another murder investigation, this time, however, one of her best friends is the prime suspect! Nora, with many other pressing issues on her mind such as her new pregnancy and her sisters constantly playing who's the daddy, is thankful for the distraction when asked once again to use her connections to look into the murder of one of the towns most hated men. Unfortunately the real distraction comes in the form of her ex-boyfriend Michael Abruzzo and whether or not he has really gone back into the "family business".

'HAVE YOUR CAKE AND KILL HIM TOO' is definitely the best book to come out of this delightful series thus far, and on the edge of my seat is where I am doomed to remain until the next installment...I can't wait!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars serio-comic who done it, March 8, 2006

By 

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

This review is from: Have Your Cake and Kill Him Too (Blackbird Sisters Mysteries, No. 5) (Hardcover)

Ex-heiress Nora Blackbird is not having an easy time of it as she is still trying to pay the taxes on the family estate while looking for money to do so. She broke up with Michael Abruzzo, the son of a mafia don because he went back into the family business but she is pregnant and dating Richard, a crime reporter for a respectable Philadelphia newspaper. Neither her sister nor her friends know she is pregnant and she doesn't intend to tell anyone who the father is.

Although she has to avoid stress because her pregnancy is high risk, she becomes involved in the murder investigation of Zell who married the widow Fitch; when she died he inherited the estate and the money. Nora goes to the Fitch estate to meet her friend Delilah Fairweather and sees Pierpont Fitch angrily leaving the premises and nearby is Boykin Fitch, a state legislator running for the senate. Zell refused to let them in the house. Delilah is the last person to see Zell alive and she fears because she is black, the police will zero in on her as a suspect. Knowing her friend isn't guilty; she agrees to help Delilah by finding the real killer.

Once again Nancy Martin writes a serio-comic who done it featuring a protagonist who always goes from the frying pan into the fire. Not only is she investigating the many suspects who hated Zell, but she has to force herself to keep away from Michael; who might be involved in the kidnapping of the son of his family's enemies. Nora slowly realizes that all is not what it seems with Michael's activities and the police investigation. The author has written a who done it that is sassy, exciting and impossible to put down. The heroine has a charm and a vulnerability that endears her to the audience.

Harriet Klausner

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Great Blackbird Sisters' Mystery!, March 22, 2006

By 

K. A. Stevenson "WIAPilot" (Tucson) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Have Your Cake and Kill Him Too (Blackbird Sisters Mysteries, No. 5) (Hardcover)

"Have Your Cake and Kill Him Too" is Nancy Martin's latest adventure in the lives of society columnist - Nora Blackbird and her rather eccentric siblings. As usual, this latest effort is right on target when readers learn that Nora's vintage couture (handed down from Grandmama) is fitting rather snuggly. Nora is pregnant!

Of course this comes at a rather inopportune time since she has not only split with Mick, but has been asked to model nude for Libby's calendar - designed for philanthropic purposes, of course!

This doesn't stop Nora from investigating when there is murder and mayhem surrounding the latest nightclub called "Cupcakes." (Think "Hooters") The end result is a great mystery that will leave you wanting more of the Blackbird Sisters.