Same Time, Same Murder: A Gil and Claire Hunt Mystery (Gil and Claire Hunt Mysteries) [Hardcover]

Robert J. Randisi (Author), Christine Matthews (Author)

Book Description

Series: Gil and Claire Hunt Mysteries | Publication Date: July 1, 2005

When Claire Hunt is sent to host her home shopping program on location in the Big Easy she and her husband, Gil, cannot resist having him come along. A book dealer back home in St. Louis, Gil is eager for the chance to poke around in the French Quarter's shops. The food, the history, the mystique--all of it delights the couple . . . until they're meeting with the Voodoo Queen, Auntie Laveau.

The strange woman presents the duo with a collection of miniature Mardi Gras masks, hoping Claire will sell them on the air during her show. However, when the real Auntie Laveau is found murdered the police begin an official investigation.

As the Hunts unwittingly become entangled with Louisiana's supernatural subculture Gil finds himself embroiled in the search for a missing girl who may or may not become the next victim. As he, himself, becomes endangered Claire and her son, Paul, frantically search the French Quarter for her husband before he can become a victim of the Voodoo Queen as well. But wait. Auntie Laveau is dead-or is she?

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Now married for seven years, bookseller Gil Hunt and his wife, Claire, relate the tale of how they met, investigated a murder, and fell in love. It all happened at a mystery writers' convention in Omaha, where, after a botched dinner date, the pair discovers the body of the convention's guest of honor, Robin Westerly, shot to death in his room. Detective Ed Donovan, aware that bookseller Gil knows the publishing world, asks for help with the case. Gil obliges, leaving Claire to cover his booth at the convention. The police are convinced that a scared hotel maid is the killer, but Gil and Claire aren't so sure. A pleasant cozy with likable characters, this third in a series contains a revenge twist and real-life mystery authors as secondary characters. Sue O'Brien
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

While working on successful careers separately Bob Randisi and Christine Matthews have also managed to forge a second career each as a writing duo. They have written short stories and edited anthologies together, as well as penning the first Gil & Claire novel Murder is the Deal of the Day. The Masks of Auntie Laveau is their second collaborative novel.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Minotaur Books; 1st edition (July 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 031231728X
• ISBN-13: 978-0312317287
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #849,486 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars fine Gil and Claire amateur sleuth tale, June 29, 2005

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Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Same Time, Same Murder: A Gil and Claire Hunt Mystery (Gil and Claire Hunt Mysteries) (Hardcover)

Celebrating their seventh anniversary together, St. Louis bookstore owner Gil Hunt and his wife, shopping channel seller Claire Dunlap, head to the Ozarks where their friend Tucker hosts them. Tucker asks the obviously in love couple how they met and both say over a homicide at a mystery convention in Omaha. Curious, Tucker asks for the full story.

The first time Gil and Claire met was through author Marlys Milhauser at the convention, but they were married to other spouses. They met again the next year, but nothing came of it as Gil was going through hard times with a divorce and a dying dad. The third time they came together proved the charm as the homicide served as matchmaker. Gil's friend convention organizer Dave Spenser sends Gil to find renowned writer and guest of honor Robin Westerly. Accompanied by Claire they find a dead body. Omaha Detective Ed Donovan leads the investigation, but Gil and Claire begin working together to uncover a clever plotter who designed a killing tale.

The latest Gil and Claire amateur sleuth provides the audience with insight as to how the pair met and the early days of their courtship. This brings fullness to each of the lead characters, but also delays the murder mystery investigation that served as their first dates. Fans of the series will welcome the look back at the beginning of a couple still in love while newcomers might find the cozy a bit slow getting started, but worth the wait once the duo describe their inquiries.

Harriet Klausner