I'd Kill For That [Hardcover]

Marcia Talley (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2004

On the banks of the Truxton River lies Gryphon's Gate, a gated community built by Henry Drysdale where the rich and privileged live, work and play. Tempers flare when Henry's ex- decides to develop the adjoining land and environmentalists, developers, residents and the media clash. Then the violence turns ugly--a dead body is found on the golf course and Detective Diane Robards is called in to investigate. Diane's efforts are thwarted at every turn and as she uncovers the secrets behind the serene facade of Gryphon's Gate, she races against the clock to unmask a ruthless killer.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

In I'd Kill for That, a dead body is discovered on the sixth hole of the Gryphon's Gate golf course after three people are mysteriously called to the exclusive gated community course one spring evening. Vanessa, a ruthless real-estate developer, quickly figures out that she is a suspect, given her many enemies, one of whom is obviously trying to set her up. Jerry, a down-on-his-luck trader, chalks the crusty academic's death up to bad luck--or so he hopes. And Toni, well, she has so much to live for, what with being a single parent and all; how could she get mixed up in this? But someone has the goods on all three and is playing them like puppets. The 13 contributors to this playful mystery include such popular and talented female mystery writers as Linda Fairstein and Rita Mae Brown. A thoroughly enjoyable tale. Mary Frances Wilkens
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"Each chapter flows smoothly into the next so that it feels like one author wrote this tale. Marcia Talley and her dozen cohorts deserve kudos for this successful project." --Midwest Book Review

"A thoroughly enjoyable tale." --Booklist

"A diverting tale of murder among the social elite..." --Publishers Weekly

"Each contributor plants the seeds of skullduggery and suspicion so generously and harvests the earlier copr so conscientiously that the story miraculously avoids the besetting sin of such productions: contradiction and incoherence." --Kirkus

"A spicy, witty whodunit. --Baltimore Sun

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Minotaur Books; 1st edition (May 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 2702891004
• ISBN-13: 978-2702891001
• ASIN: 0312290578
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #283,313 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I laughed my head off!, July 4, 2004

By 

Katie Barton (Kansas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I'd Kill For That (Hardcover)

This is a really good book! I laughed from beginning to end. Even though it was written by 13 different women with 13 different writing styles, it flows smoothly, but you still get tantalizing hints of each author's individuality -- Kathy Reich's forensics expertise(of course!), Heather Graham's background writing romance novels, Julie Smith's knowledge of Santeria, Jennifer Crusie's trademark wit, Anne Perry's psychological insights, and so on. Gayle Lynds sets the plot in motion -- Gryphon Gate residents are receiving threatening faxes -- and the story gallops along from there. Katherine Neville, best known for her sprawling historical novels, wraps everything up in a most entertaining and satisfying way. I wasn't familiar with some of the authors, but will definitely be looking for their books in the future.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Something for everybody, July 4, 2004

By 

"lechatgris00" (Naples, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I'd Kill For That (Hardcover)

Okay, I admit it. I'm a guy and I only picked up this book because one of my favorite thriller writers, Gayle Lynds, wrote the first chapter. But after that, I was hooked. This zany send-up of modern suburban life will appeal to everyone, not just those of us who live in gated communities like (well, not exactly like, thank goodness!) Gryphon Gate, the setting for this novel. You won't be able to get some of the characters out of your mind -- Col. McClintock (self-appointed organizer of the managed deer hunt), the widow Toni and her daughter, Miranda (who want to save Bambi's mother), ruthless developer Vanessa, tortured Roman Gervase, the sex-starved Rev. Peter Armbruster and his pinch-faced wife, Laura ... And the book also features one of the most unusual murder methods I've ever heard of. Buy the book, fix yourself a tall glass of iced tea, settle down in that beach chair by the pool and ENJOY!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A round robin mystery, March 7, 2005

By 

Fred Camfield (Vicksburg, MS USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: I'd Kill For That (Hardcover)

This novel has 13 chapters, each written by a different author.
Gayle Lynds starts off with chapter one, and each subsequent author adds details and new directions to the plot. It finally reaches an explosive climax in the final chapter written by Katherine Neville.

I had started reading the mystery a chapter at a time, but when I got into the final chapters it was hard to put down. The chapter about the church service, by Julie Smith, was a real hoot. The final chapters get into intrigue and machinations by some of the nouveau riche. Some people seem obsessed with wealth and social trappings. What shallow lives some people lead.

Like collections of short stories, the novel gives some leads on authors to check out further. It is a good mystery to read on a rainy evening, and I finished it curled up on the sofa as cold rain poured down outside.