Night of the Living Deb (Debutante Dropout Mysteries, No. 4) [Mass Market Paperback]

Susan McBride (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 30, 2007

Renegade rich girl Andy Kendricks isn't the belle of any Dallas ball—and that's just the way the debutante dropout likes it! She's got a good life and a great man: her defense attorney boyfriend, Brian Malone. Brian's such a straight arrow that he had to be dragged kicking and screaming to a close friend's bachelor party at a sleazy local "gentleman's club."

So why is the groom-to-be saying that Brian left the bacchanal arm-in-arm with "the hottest body in the Lone Star State?" And what was that hot body doing stone-cold dead in the trunk of Brian's car? And where is Brian anyway? The cops are looking for Andy's allegedly unfaithful/possibly homicidal beau who hasn't been seen since the party. But Andy can't believe her upstanding lover is a murdering fool, and she's determined to prove it—though she might end up with a lot more broken than just her heart.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“[A]s alluring as an Escada evening dress and as tempting as a slice of death-by-chocolate cake (Publishers Weekly, praise for THE GOOD GIRL'S GUIDE TO MURDER )

“Wonderful and fascinating...[S]it back and let Andy take you on a fascinating trip through Chanel-land.” (Sally Fellows for The Mystery Bookstore (Omaha), praise for THE GOOD GIRL'S GUIDE TO MURDER )

“Chatty, colorful and très Texas, McBride’s latest cozy is a pleasure.” (Publishers Weekly, praise for THE LONE STAR LONELY HEART'S CLUB )

“BLUE BLOOD is a wry, dead-on social commentary masquerading as a can’t-put-it-down mystery. Highly recommended....” (John Westermann, praise for BLUE BLOOD )

“All mystery readers should applaud!” (Jerrilyn Farmer, praise for BLUE BLOOD )

“A very witty and clever mystery...I, for one, can’t wait for the next installment.” (Sauce Magazine (St. Louis), praise for BLUE BLOOD )

“A totally fun ride...McBride has created a fresh new voice that fans of the genre undoubtedly will enjoy.” (Romantic Times BOOKclub, praise for BLUE BLOOD )

“Light and frothy as a latte, THE GOOD GIRL’S GUIDE TO MURDER is one sweet mystery.” (Elaine Viets, praise for THE GOOD GIRL'S GUIDE TO MURDER )

“A fast-paced, humorous debut with a likeable heroine.” (Mystery Scene, praise for BLUE BLOOD )

“Funny, compelling like a good soap opera and boasts an extremely likeable heroine.” (Romantic Times, praise for THE GOOD GIRL'S GUIDE TO MURDER )

“McBride has created a delightfully wacky amateur detective in BLUE BLOOD. The writing is fresh, funny, and entertaining.” (Wichita Eagle, praise for BLUE BLOOD )

“Off to a smashing start...keeps the reader smiling.” (Monterey County Post, praise for BLUE BLOOD )

“[A] sharp, witty, totally enjoyable book. Thumbs up for a great read!” (Mary Neal, TheBestReviews.com, praise for THE GOOD GIRL'S GUIDE TO MURDER )

“Susan McBride’s Debutante Dropout Mysteries are as fun and fizzy as champagne.” (Nancy Martin, praise for BLUE BLOOD )

“Susan McBride kept me laughing all the way through this delicious romp of a mystery.” (Tess Gerritsen, praise for BLUE BLOOD )

“Susan McBride has an engaging new heroine in Andrea Kendricks.” (Thomas Perry, praise for BLUE BLOOD )

“BLUE BLOOD is delightful, witty and oh-so-proper (not!). Susan McBride has Dallas society on its designer-clad toes!” (Carolyn Tillery, Society Editor, Park Cities People, praise for BLUE BLOOD )

“[A] funny, eccentric bunch of characters.” (Dallas Morning News, praise for BLUE BLOOD )

“Eccentric characters with killer wits populate this mystery. Reluctant heiress Andy Kenrick is spunky and intrepid...” (Romantic Times BOOKclub )

“NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEB is McBride at her best: lively, endearing, funny, and with moments of genuine suspense.” (Charlaine Harris )

“[A] fast-paced and engrossing tale of murder and romance.” (Kathy Samuels, Romance Reviews Today, praise for THE GOOD GIRL'S GUIDE TO MURDER )

“BLUE BLOOD has it all--suspense, humor, friendship, snobbery and televangelists...BLUE BLOOD is positively gripping.” (Sarah Strohmeyer, praise for BLUE BLOOD )

“Andrea Kendricks...is a treasure.” (Charlaine Harris, praise for BLUE BLOOD )

“Absolutely wonderful! Highly recommended.” (K. Blair for HuntressReviews.com (5 stars), praise for THE GOOD GIRL'S GUIDE TO MURDER )

About the Author

Susan McBride is the author of The Cougar Club, as well as the award-winning Debutante Dropout mysteries. She lives in St. Louis, Missouri, with her husband, Ed, who makes every day a little magical.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Avon (January 30, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060845554
• ISBN-13: 978-0060845551
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #590,001 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Susan McBride is the author of LITTLE BLACK DRESS (August 23, 2011, William Morrow), a tale of two sisters, one daughter, and the magical black dress that changes all of their lives forever. She has also penned THE COUGAR CLUB (HarperCollins, 02/10) named a Bookmarked Breakout Title by Target stores, selected as a Midwest Connections Pick by the Midwest Booksellers Association, and on MORE Magazine's list of "February Books We're Buzzing About." In addition, Susan has written five award-winning Debutante Dropout Mysteries for HC/Avon, including TOO PRETTY TO DIE (2008), NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEB (2007), THE LONE STAR LONELY HEARTS CLUB (2006), THE GOOD GIRL'S GUIDE TO MURDER (2005), and BLUE BLOOD (2004), and three books in The Debs young adult series for Random House/Delacorte: THE DEBS (08/08); LOVE, LIES AND TEXAS DIPS (06/09); and GLOVES OFF (pub date in limbo!). Two Maggie Ryan novels by Susan are still in print, but she isn't the author of the Doodle Books. That's another Susan McBride entirely!

For more scoop, visit http://SusanMcBride.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it!, February 2, 2007

By 

Detra Fitch (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Night of the Living Deb (Debutante Dropout Mysteries, No. 4) (Mass Market Paperback)

Brian Malone is one of the best young defense attorneys in the city. Brian is at "The Men's Club" (a bordello) treating his soon-to-be-married friend to a final wild night out. Brian hates the place and can hardly wait to leave. His interest perks up, though, when he spies a lady he knows and tries to catch up with her in the back of the club. That is the last anyone knows about Brian's where-abouts.

At the same time, Andrea "Andy" Kendricks is too busy to think about her boyfriend, Brian. Seems Brian's colleague and ex-girlfriend, Allie Price, has dragged Andy to a Chippendales' show. Andy is busy imagining what her mother, Cissy Blevins Kendricks, the Dallas society maven extraordinaire, would think should she find out where her daughter was. Shortly thereafter Andy finds out that Brian is missing. His friend claims that Brian ditched him and ran out of the club with one of the dancers. Allie may believe that, but Andy did not!

Andy must put aside her mean spirited thoughts about Allie and team up with "the Blond Menace" to figure out what is going on.

***** Author Susan McBride has become one of my favorite mystery writers ever! Her characters are always so well developed and totally believable. How could I not adore Andy, the main character? She is perky, sassy, and often hilarious! This mystery will keep you on the edge of your seat AND laughing uproariously. Stellar! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Reviewed by Carianne Carleo-Evangelist, July 12, 2007

By 

Front Street Reviews www.frontstreetreviews.com - See all my reviews

This review is from: Night of the Living Deb (Debutante Dropout Mysteries, No. 4) (Mass Market Paperback)

Night of the Living Deb the latest offering from Susan McBride is a book that will have you chuckling from the opening pages. It's partially because there's a little bit of Andrea (Andy) Kendricks in all of us but also because it's an amusing read. From Andy's father's death to her search for her missing boyfriend Brian (who's also being searched for by a former girlfriend and the police), you can't help but be caught up in Andy's experiences. And for this reader, be grateful that they weren't my own experiences.

In this murder mystery, the fourth of a series featuring Andy Kendricks, she's left the debutante world behind, or has tried to, but realizes what a tangled world it is when she's mixed in trying to find her boyfriend Brian while still worrying about Allie, Stephen, Cissy and all of the others who make up part of her world. Brian disappeared after visiting a strip club, and soon becomes the suspect in a stripper's death. Going on clues, including one reference to her mother and cabbage, Andy goes under cover to try and find her boyfriend. The diverse characters allow each to serve as interesting complements to Andy, especially Brian. He's not the kind of boyfriend most readers would have imagined for Andy, yet you can feel her concern when he's missing. She does care about him.

If the book has one fault it's the amount of characters: something common to McBride's works. These characters, by necessity, have to share the time and as a result, it's not possible to learn as much about the characters as the reader might like. I found myself wishing there was more available about the characters and that wasn't always possible. That said, I look forward to reading the others in the debutante series to learn more about Andy and her escapades. This is a quick read and an excellent choice for summer reading.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun from first word to the last, February 1, 2007

By 

Armchair Interviews (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Night of the Living Deb (Debutante Dropout Mysteries, No. 4) (Mass Market Paperback)

(Fourth in the Debutante Dropout Mystery series)

Oh no! Andrea "Andy" Kendricks's favorite dude (a.k.a. boyfriend) is missing! Brian Malone was last seen at Dallas' popular strip joint, The Men's Club, trotting behind a hot blonde, supposedly to land a lap dance for his buddy Matty. That's the story anyhow. But truth be known, Andy's beau was seen sneaking out the club's back door with same said blonde, who was only wearing a flimsy, crotch-length robe, and he hasn't been seen or heard from since.

I don't want to give too much away, but Brian better have a good explanation because Andy and her posse (her socialite mother, Cissy; Brian's law colleague and ex-girlfriend, Allie Price; and Cissy's new man-friend, Stephen Howard) are gonna hunt him down like a dog to see what nonsense this straight-laced guy is up to.

Such is the basic plot line from Susan McBride's Night of the Living Deb, the fourth installment in the Debutante Dropout Mystery series. McBride is at her best in this midnight caper that's a cross between the elegance of a Cary Grant movie and silliness of an Abbott and Costello movie.

Andy drops fewer clothing-designer names but hones in on pop culture, which made it easier for the non-fashionista like me to relate to. Also, readers get to know Andy a little better since her passion for painting is revealed. Andy's internal and external voice is flawless, and McBride has sharpened that comedic timing that is so difficult to emulate, especially on paper.

Night of the Living Deb is fun, smart and sassy. It's a great way to break the mid-winter blues or the perfect paperback to pack for that spring vacation.

Armchair Interviews says: This book is a hoot!