An Opening for Murder (Maggie Kean Mysteries) [Hardcover]

Nageeba Davis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 2, 2002 | Series: Maggie Kean Mysteries

In this second Maggie Kean mystery, following A Dying Art, artist Maggie finds a renowned patron of the arts baking in her kiln-and she has a few hunches about whodunit.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Sculptor Maggie Kean returns for a second perky foray (after 2001's A Dying Art) into the murderous world of the fine arts. On the eve of her first big show at The Outlook, an upscale Colorado gallery, Maggie is undeniably nervous, eaten up by the insecurities that have plagued her since childhood. Her forebodings are fully realized on the night of the opening when she takes an eccentric and wealthy art collector, Henry "call me Hank" Duran, behind the scenes to show off work not on display. Instead Maggie discovers a dead body inside the kiln, and all thoughts of showing off her work are discarded in the shock of being involved in another murder. Though her handsome cop boyfriend, Sam Villari, is on hand to lend support, Maggie is not exactly the most tractable of witnesses. The victim is soon identified as one Jeff Riley, board member of The Outlook and a high-level IRS bureaucrat. Despite warnings from Villari, Maggie feels compelled to delve into the murder while also trying to sniff out the source of the romantic troubles between two good friends. Uneasily suspecting that there might be some kind of link between the murder and her friends' damaged relationship, Maggie enlists the aid of her best friend, Lisa, and the amusingly garrulous Duran and gets in ever deeper. Davis has expertly constructed a suitably puzzling plot, but Maggie's insecurities-her distant relationship with her father, her inability to admit that she loves Villari-sometimes threaten to overwhelm the action.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

A perky foray into the murderous world of the fine arts. (Publishers Weekly) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Berkley Hardcover; 1st edition (July 2, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425184935
• ISBN-13: 978-0425184936
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,958,173 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars At her opening, Maggie finds a man dead in a kiln, December 10, 2003

By 

Dawn Dowdle "Mystery Lovers Corner reviewer" (Lynchburg, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: An Opening for Murder (Paperback)

It's the night of Maggie Kean's first opening. Her sculptures will be on display for the public. She is very nervous. Mark, the manager and overseer of the Outlook, the upscale gallery for her show, introduces her to Henry Duran who is interested in her sculptures. But, he wants something with a little more edge to it. She takes him into the studio in back to show him one of her sculptures that didn't make it into the show. She feels it might be just what he is looking for. On their way back there, she smells something burning. Without thinking, she opens the peephole on the kiln in the firing room and finds a man curled up in the kiln, dead.

Maggie's boyfriend, Detective Sam Villari, is in charge of the investigation. While he is working, she is questioned by another detective.

Maggie and Villari have a very volatile relationship. He loves her and readily admits it. Maggie isn't sure what she feels and definitely can't voice it.

Mark and his wife Jamie seem to be having trouble. Mark says Jamie is distant and won't talk to him. Maggie has spoken to Jamie about it, and she says work is just busy. Maggie does not believe this to be what is causing their trouble, but she isn't certain what is. Then Maggie follows Jamie when she gets into a black car with another man. Unfortunately Maggie's car is not very good. She ends up losing them.

She, Duran and Maggie's friend Lisa begin investigating. They are looking into various leads to determine who killed Jeff Riley and why. They find themselves in some very interesting predicaments and often in danger.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Maggie Kean is the girl next door, but she has her own baggage as well. Her relationship with Villari is on again, off again. You never really know what's up. Her car really adds to the story as well. Her friend Lisa is terrific and sticks with her through thick and thin. Duran is a character in and of himself. He is so well written and described. I wonder if he'll be in future books.

I am not an art fan, but this was such an enjoyable read, that I never really thought about it. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magnificent Maggie, July 3, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: An Opening for Murder (Paperback)

She's at it again! Magnificent, and sometimes mysterious, Maggie Keane tries to live a normal life. All she wants to do is build a reputation as a respectable and talented artist, while cuddling up in her favorite sweatshirt with the love of her life. Never mind that the sweatshirt has seen better days and that she is completely blind to her feelings for Sam. She's just going about her business the best way she knows how and wham! A dead body appears in the middle of it.

Well, this is, unfortunately, normal for Maggie, as those of you who have read 'A Dying Art' already know. And as Sam tries to keep her out of danger, Maggie only manages to make matters worse for her man and herself, finding herself in situations that are alternately hilarious and terrifying. Ms. Davis has created a delightful central character who will amuse you and frustrate you, but definitely keep you turning the pages!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Maggie Kean: In Every Book She Grows Closer to Your Heart!!, July 24, 2002

By 

vicki cloppas (Monument, Colorado USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: An Opening for Murder (Maggie Kean Mysteries) (Hardcover)

From the very beginning I was drawn into Maggie's life with such a force that I felt I had just made a new friend!! Nageeba Davis is a master of description, creating characters who have ups and downs, real emotional baggage, and the "sometimes craziness" that we all experience in being human. This mystery has a truly clever plot that takes quick, intriguing turns combined with fascinating sub plots that are beautifully woven into the plot.
Maggie and her Italian boyfriend Sam Villari often vascillate between love/passion and anger/trust issues as the book develops into a "can't put it down" murder investigation that would just happen to occur during Maggie's first showing of sculpture. Maggie's friends Lisa, Mark and Jamie, brother Andy, and the old red jeep that is totally undependable, add to the excitement. When old Hank Duran enters the scene, the book becomes a perfect blend of amusement and charm all the while growing in intensity over who actually DID commit this murder.
Both "An Opening for Murder" and "A Dying Art" demonstrate what incredible talent Nageeba Davis has for depth of character development, unfolding of a complicated plot, and certainly for humor. This book is extremely entertaining, really "has it all" and should not be missed. I cannot wait for the next book in the series to come out, a feeling shared by all the other people I know who have read "An Opening For Murder."