How to Host a Killer Party: A Party-Planning Mystery [Mass Market Paperback]

Penny Warner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2, 2010 | Series: Party Planning Mystery (Book 1)

Don't let murder crash your party.

Presley Parker was just happy to get her party planning business off the ground. Now she's gotten the gig of the year, planning Mayor Davin Green's sumptuous "surprise" wedding for his socialite fiancée, to be held on Alcatraz.

But when the bride is found floating in the bay and the original party planner is found murdered, Presley becomes the prime suspect. If the attractive crime scene cleaner, Brad Matthews, doesn't help her tidy her reputation, she'll be exchanging her formal wear for prison stripes...

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Warner, who has penned both mysteries (the Connor Westphal series) and party and activity books, has a wealth of background to inform the career of her amateur sleuth, San Francisco teacher Presley Parker. Recently laid off, Presley opens her own event coordination business, Killer Parties, and is soon offered the chance to plan the mayor's wedding/fund-raiser on Alcatraz. It seems like a great opportunity until someone murders the original party planner and the mayor's bride-to-be. Presley makes good use of her background in psychology and party planning as she investigates, but her scattershot approach to interrogating suspects and what seems like deliberate avoidance of a significant lead will frustrate mystery aficionados. Tidbits of Bay Area history and classic mystery references are overwhelmed by the frantic pace and vast quantities of suspects and albeit interesting supporting characters. (Feb.)
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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Signet (February 2, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451229304
• ISBN-13: 978-0451229304
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #784,615 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fast and fun. Guaranteed to please!, March 2, 2010

By 

Carole J. Price - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How to Host a Killer Party: A Party-Planning Mystery (Mass Market Paperback)

A fun, intriguing, and satisfying cozy mystery. "How To Host A Killer Party" has all the elements: offbeat characters, humor, party tips and plenty of suspense. After thirty years living in the San Francisco Bay Area, Alcatraz Island and Treasure Island still fascinate me. After reading Penny's book, I'm heading back to both places for another visit. Maybe I'll run into Presley Parker and her love interest, Crime Scene Cleaner Brad Matthews.

Now settle back and enjoy. The second in the series is on its way.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars fun amateur sleuth, February 5, 2010

By 

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

This review is from: How to Host a Killer Party: A Party-Planning Mystery (Mass Market Paperback)

At San Francisco State University, all part-time instructors were riffed due to budget cuts. Presley Parker was one of the first downsized by the school, but she rebounded quickly by opening up Killer Parties, an event planning firm. She mostly sponsors children's galas, but her big break comes when Mayor Davin Green chooses her to host his surprise wedding for his fiancée on Alcatraz.

Before the nuptials, police detective Luke Melvin calls Presley asking her to come to the station so he can question her regarding the murder of the mayor's previous event planner Andi Sax. She offers no information of use to the cop. Presley gets back to work on the wedding plan but is concerned since Melvin tells her that Andi left a message on her Blackberry that she had an appointment with Parker; a meeting she denies ever arranging or agreeing to have. When the mayor's fiancé turns up dead of poisoning just like Andi, she becomes Detective Melvin's number one suspect. Fearing jail time, Presley who reluctantly accepts the help of crime scene cleaner Brad Matthews begin to investigate even as someone breaks into her home and sets her office on fire.

The second Party Planner mystery with tips (see Dead Body Language) is a delightful whodunit due to a strong lead and the eccentric cast who bring a flavor of San Francisco to life (and death) and a horde of suspects (in her mind that is) with viable motives. The heroine is a curious mix of vulnerability and daring do, which endears her to readers and Brad, but drives Melvin to want to lock her away in Alcatraz. Although a lawyer might be a better choice than Brad, fans will enjoy this fun amateur sleuth mystery starring a charming party planner who fears her business will go bankrupt if she wears stripes.

Harriet Klausner

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Eh., April 25, 2010

By 

sweetgreentea "sgt" (Cambridge, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Host a Killer Party: A Party-Planning Mystery (Mass Market Paperback)

I'm surprised at how many high marks this book has received. I didn't find the "party planning tips" to be either useful or funny. The character drove me crazy with her poor reasoning skills. I guessed the killer from the very beginning. The writing itself felt choppy and bland. Sigh. Maybe my expectations were too high, but there are much better cozies out there. Try the "Domestic Diva" series if you are into the party planning thing and actually like to read good books.