Customer Reviews

Murder in the Hamptons (Zane Presents)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Donovan Smart, aka TuSmArt, a self-made millionaire rapper, wanted to fit in with the residents of Coco Beach, a snooty private enclave in the Hamptons. They, obviously, did not want him in their midst. He threw a party hoping for their acceptance. Unfortunately, his plans went awry when the body of a young woman from the party was found floating in the harbor.

Detective Theo Pratt soon realized she had her hands full. New to the area, she was not familiar with the main players or their pecking order. Detective Pratt was surprised how brilliant the rapper was, and that his decision to pursue music came after receiving multiple scholarship offers to attend Ivy League schools. He had wanted the party to be his acceptance into life in the Hamptons.

Murder in the Hamptons is the latest offering by Danita Carter who takes a look at people who come out of two very different worlds. On the one hand, there is an extended family from the Brooklyn projects that have now come into a totally different lifestyle of opulence and money, and the other that is born of old money from generations ago.

Carter takes a serious look at how the members of each respond to the unfortunate circumstances that brought them together. She also examines whether money can buy social status, or whether having old money automatically determines someone has class.

Murder in the Hamptons provides plenty of thrills and surprising twists as Detective Pratt faces her own challenges as she tracks down the killer. Danita Carter fans will enjoy this fast-paced police procedural.

Murder in the Hamptons (Zane Presents)

This was an okay read not what I expected but enjoyable. It was a little slow for my taste.

I like books that keep you going with mystery and drama. Right when you think you had it figured out it took your around another corner so you had to pay close attention. Good read.

Donovan Smart (aka TuSmArt) is a rapper that just purchased a mansion in a section of the Hamptons called Coca Beach. Donavan soon finds out that money and pedigree don't always go hand in hand when some of the old money black elite residents look down on him. To ease tensions, Donovan decides to have a yacht party to introduce himself and mingle with the other residents. The party is going off without a hitch until a dead body is discovered floating in the water. Dectective Theo Pratt intends to solve this murder as quick as possible. But when her prime suspect turns out to be one of the residents of Coca Beach, this case turns to be more complicated than she imagined.

Danita Carter flexed her creative muscle by bringing us a good suspense novel with Murder in the Hamptons. This story gives you a glimpse into how the other half lives. From the very beginning, you'll wonder who the victim was and who the murderer was. Carter did an excellent job with pacing the story and providing the reader with enough background on each of the characters. There are portions of this book that are done in flashbacks, but it doesn't interrupt the flow of the story. Readers will be shocked when the reason for the murder is revealed and who the victim was. Murder in the Hamptons is a satisfying page turner by Danita Carter.

Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert of Urban Reviews

What happens when someone isn't born with a silver spoon in their mouth, moves into an elite Black community? Drama!!

Manicured lawns, palatial mansions, and luxurious cars are the pleasures of the African-American elite of Coca Beach. A secluded haven in the Hamptons, its residents are born into money or acquires it from hard work and are the snobbiest of snobs. So when TuSmArt, a well-known rapper with millions, decides to move into the biggest mansion of Coca Beach, the residents become nervous.

TuSmArt and his family do not receive a favorable welcome from the residents. He knows because he is a rapper, they assume he will be nothing but trouble. To prove them wrong, he hosts a yacht party to bring the two worlds together. As the party is in full swing, a dead body is found floating next to the yacht. Quickly, an investigation begins and one of Coco Beach's rich and famous may be the murderer.

Drama, murder, and suspense are the main ingredients which makes MURDER IN THE HAMPTONS come to life. An interesting, exciting plot with realistic characters offering great potential; however, the book soars in the beginning, plummets in the middle and slowly gains momentum in the end.

Reviewed by Sharon Lewis
of The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers

Murder in the Hamptons had me intriguied the first time I picked it up! This story centers around the worlds of music, money, and murder which makes for a ugly scenario in upper class world of the Hamptons. When a up and coming rapper moves into an elite community with his unruly crew the already scared African-American bourgeoisie society residents of Coco Beach, a private enclave tucked away in the Hamptons, were already concerned that he would be trouble. The African-American Black society snobs with roots in Sag Harbor were not shocked when a murder victim was found floating face down at the rapper's coming out yacht party. The local police wasted no time trying to find the killer and hopefully solve the case. Although it was murder, the high siddity snobbish or pretentious natives enjoyed the news, as they hoped that this deadly incident would run the rapper and his entourage out of the neighborhood. Carter throws in a intriguing twist when the upper-class town finds out that one of their most prominent residents of the Coco Beach area was implicated in the murder. I truly enjoyed reading this epic novel and found it hard to put down! It was a page turner that kept me wondering what was gonna happen next! Carter does an excellent job in creating the story and draws her reader into the world she had created - 5 Stars

Detective Theodora Pratt knows the Hamptons have not seen a killing in quite awhile, but loathes all the spectators ruining the murder scene. The yacht near the floating corpse is owned by old money Liza Lord who explains to Pratt she provided a venue for newcomer Donovan Smart to throw his White and Platinum party introducing himself and his sister Reece and their friend Chyna to the neighbors of exclusive Coco Beach. Most of the snobs detest the nouveau riche rapper TuSmArt from the hood invading their turf; he just wanted them to know he and his sister are housetrained

Although the party was successful until the floater was found, most of the stuck-up locals are elated that the undesirables will be forced to leave in police custody. However, stereotyping the rapper is a mistake as Donovan is Einstein brilliant; he also unlike the notorious rappers prefers less dating because he wants a woman with the 3 Bs (beauty, body and brains). As Pratt hones in on the outsiders as suspects as well as flirty restaurant owner Troy, she also begins to revise her theory when the autopsy revealed in the body excessive Oxycontin, a prescription drug.

Murder in the Hamptons is a terrific police procedural that takes a deep look at whether money can buy class and social status; as Danita Carter makes a strong case that social status does not define class. Fast-paced with a nice twist, fans will relish Theo's homicide investigation into a rapper who just wanted to take his sister and their BFF out of Brooklyn.

Harriet Klausner

DANITA CARTER IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE AUTHORS!!! AND I HAVE ALL OF HER PREVIOUS BOOKS!!! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND READING ALL OF HER PREVIOUS BOOKS--REALLY GOOD!!! THIS BOOK IS A GOOD SUMMER READ--ONE FOR YOUR COLLECTION!!!

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In Danita Carter's novel Murder in the Hamptons we are thrust into a life of music and money along with the dangers that come with it. When Donovan Smart aka TuSMaRT moves to Coco Beach (Hamptons) everything quickly changes for this quaint little town. The hoity-toitty women and men are each involved in some sort of illicit affair from sexual to monetary schemes. The locals gawk as this rapper and his cronies seep into the neighborhood bringing with them sex, drugs, and money. Donovan is trying to clean up his hard core rap image this year this but it's difficult when his sister is determined to destroy it.

His songs were profound. He wrote of growing up in a crack infested neighborhood. Where the habit forming synthetic drug had grandmothers selling their bodies to get a ten-dollar hit. He wrote of teenage mothers struggling to work and finish school so they could move out of the `good to provide a better life for their children. He wrote of witnessing shootouts and seeing the bullet-riddled bodies of his peers; their young lives snuffed out like insignificant flickering flames right before his eyes. By the time Donovan had graduated from high school, he had a vast catalogue of work, and was ready to make some noise in the world of music.
In attempts to change his straight out of the projects look he throws a yacht party to design his image. Yet terrible events happen and Donovan's "sister" Chyna is found dead in the water. Once her death is deemed a murderer by local female detective Theo everything changes for this quaint little town. We follow Theo as she uncovers everyone's secrets in search of the murder. From Lars and Remi Braxton, a well to do couple who have multiple homes across the area. Lars an upper east side plastic surgeon with many secrets. Want a sneak peak? Two words: drugs and women. Remi a lonely homemaker who uses her husband solely for his wealth has her own affairs. Liza Lord who secretly lusts after Donovan Smart. Reece Smart, Donovan's sister, who is stuck living the gangster life and does not want to convert to the good girl she should be. We cannot forget Kalvin, Chyna's own sexual stalker. Each has their secrets and each can be implicated in Chyna's death, who did it?

Danita Carter's thriller Murder in the Hamptons is an interesting novel that provides a look into the lives of the wealthy upwardly mobile Hampton's elite. While reading this novel I found myself enthralled with the story. Yet at times its construction is confusing as it jumps from present to past without any notification to the reader. I found myself wondering about the progression in hopes that it should have been constructed differently. This was the main thing that detracted me from this novel. Be careful when you are swimming.