Shiveree (Eclaire Mysteries) [Hardcover]

Sophie Dunbar (Author)

Book Description

Series: Eclaire Mysteries | Publication Date: May 1999

Fourth in the Eclaire mystery series, featuring sleuthing couple Claire and Dan Claiborne. Author Sophie Dunbar brings New Orleans society to life in this newest outing. Fans will be thrilled to see all their favorite characters again.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

New Orleans provides the setting for Dunbars opulent excursion into culinary and sartorial excesses. Amateur sleuth Claire Claiborne (Behind Eclaires Doors, etc.) deals with crisis after crisis during the 12 days of prenuptial events that precede the Christmas Eve wedding of her best friend, Charlotte Dalton, and her husbands law partner, Foley Callant. Both sides of Charlottes Southern family, which is bitterly divided into so-called Swamp Daltons and Society Daltons, descend on New Orleans for the event. Their long-standing feud provides for some volatile moments of friction, but the intrigue really begins when Foleys aggressive and beautiful ex-wife, Belinda, crashes the party with her forlorn lover, Native American artist Sam Stormshadow. Masterful art dealer Belindas crass comments and beautiful looks wreak havoc among the brides family, as do aspiring artist Fawn Goldfeathers attempts to get the powerful womans attention. Though the murder comes late in the book and suspense is lacking, Dunbars piquant characters and gossipy descriptions of extravagant mixers, lingerie showers and bridesmaids luncheons establish a colorful and broadly funny background for the plot.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"An energetic, sensuous romp that is particularly refreshing." -- L.A. Times

"Cleverly plotted with quirky characters and a good sense of New Orleans." -- Sun Sentinel, Ft. Lauderdale

"Makes the pulse pound--for several reasons. May there be many of these ribald, racy romps." -- Washington Times

"Mysteries don't get more fun than this." -- Los Angeles Times

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Intrigue Press; First Edition ~1st Printing edition (May 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1890768111
• ISBN-13: 978-1890768119
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,644,315 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fun read, May 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Shiveree (Eclaire Mysteries) (Hardcover)

Though the wedding was switched from Atlanta to the New Orleans newly opened Riverside Manor Hotel, Claire and Dan Clairborne are happy for the couple. With less than two weeks before the Christmas Eve nuptials, Claire's best friend Charlotte Dalton is marrying Dan's friend and legal partner Foley Callant.

However, Claire's thoughts of bliss change when the guests begin to arrive. The Dalton gang clearly divides into two seemingly armed camps, who loathe each other. The "Swamp" Daltons and the "Society" Daltons do not allow a happy event to interfere with their long standing feud. Though not an invitee, Foley's former wife arrives to cause even more desolation and destruction among Charlotte's side of the gathering group. All that wrangling seems like mere child's play when a murder occurs. Amateur sleuth Claire, who has helped in prior homicide investigations, cannot resist sleuthing.

SHIVAREE is a humorous amateur sleuth cozy that provides readers with interesting, spiteful, and badmouthing characters ready to orally assassinate someone else. The lead protagonists remain a warm couple (see BEHIND ECLAIRE'S DOOR) and their best friends deserve a nicer ceremony. Readers who enjoy a jocular look at a large wedding will relish the "Eclaire" mystery. However, those readers who prefer their novels filled with non-stop action and suspense need to stay away from red velvet cake and diet on some other fare.

Harriet Klausner

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Better than all the rest, July 11, 2000

By 

Brenda "MYSHELFDOTCOM" (United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Shiveree (Eclaire Mysteries) (Hardcover)

This the fourth title in Sophie Dunbar's Eclaire Mystery Series.

Ho, Ho, Ho, someone has been naughty and I don't mean in the way Claire and Dan perceive naughty. When Dan and Claire's friends Charlotte and Foley decided to marry on Christmas Eve everyone shows up the event, including the ex-wife. Poor Daltons meet up with rich Daltons, artists, who are also guests, put on a show all their own. The brides mother is wants a true-to-form baptist minister for the wedding, but Dan provides one with a little extra spirit in him. I had to laugh at Ms. Dunbar's characterization of Claire's maid, it is hysterical. Oh, did I mention the panty raid lead by Dan?

I found this one to have a strong plot with plenty of suspects and twists and turns - I think it's because of all the strange wedding guests. This has been the most impressive mystery I have read in the Eclaire Mystery Series. Readers can expect this one to be just as titillating, humorous and colorful as Ms. Dunbar's past mysteries.