Mortal Friends: A Novel [Hardcover]

Jane Stanton Hitchcock (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 30, 2009

Reven Lynch is a keen observer of luxurious life in her chic Georgetown neighborhood. Perhaps that's why—in the wake of a murder that inconveniently occurred at her favorite jogging spot—the intriguingly smooth Detective Gunner asks her to feed him inside information from deep within the rarefied world of embassy dinners and symphony balls. But from her vantage point among the privileged, Reven finds herself witness to crimes of a very different nature—not the least being the myriad sins of Cynthia Rinehart, philanthropist, shameless social climber, and dedicated husband hunter (no matter if said husband is already married). In this ultra-exclusive world of power and wealth, nothing old or new, in high culture or low, is entirely what it appears. And before Reven is done, her social world will unravel, an old friendship will be put to a severe test, and more than one scandalous secret will be revealed.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In bestseller Hitchcock's whirling and suspenseful comedy of manners, gauche, aggressive Cynthia Rinehart, a self-made millionairess, explodes onto the philanthropy scene and the grand dames of old money Washington collectively clutch their husbands. Meanwhile, the Beltway Basher, suspected to be a member of the D.C. elite, continues to bump off young brunettes. Reven Lynch, an unmarried antique-shop owner, is tapped to play society informant, perhaps because her love interest, notorious playboy (and the D.C. version of Sex and the City's Mr. Big) Bob Poll, is also a person of interest in the case. Gossip, manipulation and infidelity all happen behind Washington's velvet curtain, and it's the stuff of high school, but with higher—nay, deadlier—stakes. And among the backbiting, Hitchcock (Social Crimes) manages to stew a convincing homicide plot, peppered with enough red herrings to keep the reader guessing, and guessing again, to the novel's neat finish. (Aug.)
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Review

“Riveting murder mystery” (Vogue )

“A dazzling, wicked murder mystery that unmasks most of Washington, which may never be the same.” (Bob Woodward )

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Harper; First Edition. 1 in number line edition (June 30, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061173703
• ISBN-13: 978-0061173707
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #608,378 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Deliciously Criminal, July 3, 2009

By 

Linda Fairstein (New York, New York USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mortal Friends: A Novel (Hardcover)

I've always loved the intrigue of Washington, DC - but never knew the initials stood for Deliciously Criminal. Jane Stanton Hitchcock is one of my most favorite authors (and yes, one of my most favorite people on the planet). Who else could conjure up a completely compelling crime story, and weave it into the treacherous social fabric of our capital city - so true to life that the rich, elegant, brilliant movers and shakers are indeed suspects in all nefarious doings? Only Hitchcock. She aims her pen at the hearts and souls of these guys - and gals - and nails it each time. If you've enjoyed Hitchcock before, you'll devour MORTAL FRIENDS. Buy a copy - then buy one for your best friend - and maybe one for a mortal enemy. Did you see Jane on the TODAY SHOW? great interview....find it on line. This book is a five-star felony.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Okay, Hitchock is not Tolstoy..., July 7, 2009

By 

Jill Meyer (United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Mortal Friends: A Novel (Hardcover)

...and Mortal Friends is NOT War and Peace. But, she is a good writer and Mortal Friends, like her four previous novels, is a very good read.

Hitchcock writes in the first person and the protagonist in her previous three books was a women "of a certain age", prominent in New York City society. Her adventures on the social scene in NYC were interestingly played out and Hitchcock is a master at defining the ins and outs of that segment of New York high society, ie. living on the UES and active on charity boards.

In her new book, Hitchcock has moved the scene to Washington DC. Her protagonist is a youngish, single woman, an owner of a Georgetown antiques store, who is active on the Washington DC social scene. Here, the merely wealthy businessmen and bankers are joined by politicians, lobbyists, and other characters unique to Washington DC. The story has a murder, several, actually, and Hitchcock gives the reader a great, and varied, supporting cast to Reven Lynch, her main character.

Hitchcock is a good writer - she really is - and Mortal Friends, like her four previous novels has an easy flow to it. You'll enjoy it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "A SAVVY SOCIAL SATIRE", August 19, 2009

By 

Gail Cooke (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Mortal Friends: A Novel (Hardcover)

Mysteries are all the more intriguing when mixed with power, seasoned with adultery, deception, the wealthy, and served from an exciting location. Jane Stanton Hitchcock has that formula down pat as we saw in Social Crimes and Trick of the Eye. She again followed this pattern with her latest, Mortal Friends.

The scene is Washington, D.C. and there's a serial killer dubbed the Beltway Baser on the loose. He seems to have a bent for female victims and left his latest in Georgetown, enclave of the rich and political. One of the many who devours news re the murders is Reven Lynch, owner of an upscale antique shop. Reven (so named because it's `never' spelled backward and her parents never expected to have a child) is very attractive, and knows who to hang out with. Her good friend, Violet, is wed to a wealthy banker.

While one might think never the twain would never meet Reven does meet George Gunner, a detective assigned to investigate the murders. He believes that the killings are tied to a very important person (VIPs aren't on his speed dial), so he enlists the help of Reven to help him navigate the corridors of push and plunder.

Ooops, the suspect that George comes up with is not at all who Reven would have thought, and she finds herself in a very sticky situation (that's an understatement).

Enjoy!

- Gail Cooke