How to Succeed in Murder (Hardcover)

by Margaret Dumas (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
A charming setting, not-so-serious tension and a cozy clique of appealing characters lift Dumas's second mystery starring heiress Charley Fairfax, who heads a nonprofit San Francisco theater company. Charley's plans for the honeymoon with husband Jack that was interrupted in her first outing, Speak Now (2004), get put on hold when distraught CEO Morgan Stokes seeks Jack's computer security expertise to reveal a corporate saboteur. Stokes's fiancé's late-night death in a health club steam room, deemed accidental at first indicates foul play as well. Charley and Jack enlist her theater pals and his computer geek partner to infiltrate the high-tech company as fake consultants. Properly costumed and coiffed, Charley rehearses corporate nonspeak and laments having to rise early like her working-stiff cohorts. Meanwhile, the motley group rehashes their findings almost nightly, while consuming a variety of tempting comestibles and plenty of creative cocktails. This fun romp covers it all—car chases, shootings, eccentric-uncles-turned-amateur-playwrights and end-of-the-world computer viruses. (May)
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Review
"A charming setting, not-so-serious tension and a cozy clique of appealing characters lift Dumas's second mystery starring heiress Charley Fairfax, who heads a nonprofit San Francisco theater company. Charley's plans for the honeymoon with husband Jack that was interrupted in her first outing, Speak Now (2004), get put on hold when distraught CEO Morgan Stokes seeks Jack's computer security expertise to reveal a corporate saboteur. Stokes's fiancé's late-night death in a health club steam room, deemed accidental at first indicates foul play as well. Charley and Jack enlist her theater pals and his computer geek partner to infiltrate the high-tech company as fake consultants. Properly costumed and coiffed, Charley rehearses corporate nonspeak and laments having to rise early like her working-stiff cohorts. Meanwhile, the motley group rehashes their findings almost nightly, while consuming a variety of tempting comestibles and plenty of creative cocktails. This fun romp covers it all—car chases, shootings, eccentric-uncles-turned-amateur-playwrights and end-of-the-world computer viruses." (May)

--Publishers Weekly

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 230 pages
• Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press (May 30, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590582608
• ISBN-13: 978-1590582602
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #869,464 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Charley, an unlikely sleuth...., June 27, 2006

By	Arletta Dawdy "reader and writer" (Santa Rosa, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Margaret Dumas has given us an unlikely sleuth in Charley, the ultra-rich, ultra-bright and ultra-funny repertory theater madam whose adventures and line-up of delectable characters start with her sexy, if mysterious, husband, Jack. When murder strikes, then again and yet again, among the characters who comprise ZAKDAN, a high-tech company, Jack and his "firm" are hired to investigate. Enter Charley and her unlikely cohorts who must join in; they go undercover, bluffing their way into the organization as "experts." After all, some of them are actors or wanna-be's. Romping over the San Francisco landscape, drinking lots and eating California-style as SF demands, our heroine and her trusty team eventually find enlightenment in the midst of car crashes, death in the steam room and consults in the empty-except-for-the-bed mansion that Charley and Jack have bought. Roller blading throughout is a techie wizard of a 10 year old who helps to tie it all up.
The second in what is to be a long series, HOW TO SUCCEED IN MURDER amounts to a fun read of the nicest order.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Fun!, June 1, 2006

By	JohnLikesBooks "John" (Portsmouth, RI United States) - See all my reviews

This book continues the adventures of Charley and her friends on a fun mission that is a great addition to "Speak Now." Readers new to Charley need not worry, you can jump right in with this one; but it will be more fun if you have read the first book. Guys, don't be afraid of the mention of "chick-lit" - this is just a great read! I hear there are plans for more books in this series - I can't wait!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, Fun, Fast Read, June 14, 2006

By	Kalolu (Virginia) - See all my reviews

I stayed up late reading this book--I really enjoyed reading this mystery set in San Francisco, the second in the series. It's funny, especially the Flank character, and makes you wish you had such a cool and close-knit group of friends as Charley does. While you're reading it, you feel part of that fun group.