Customer Reviews

Sweet and Deadly

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Charlaine Harris is my favorite author, so when I found out they were rereleasing the hard to find "Sweet and Deadly" I ordered it immediately.

Having been spoiled by fantastic characters such as Lily Bard, Aurora Teagarden, and Sookie Stackhouse, it was hard to really like Catherine Linton. Perhaps if this had been any other author, I would have been satisfied, but I expected more from Charlaine Harris. I do keep in mind that this was one of her first books, and her writing has grown in leaps and bounds since this was published. I think my biggest problem was that the ending seemed rushed to me, as if Catherine realized she only had a few more pages left to solve the mystery!

If you're new to Charlaine Harris, I'd skip this one. If you'd like to read some great novels by Charlaine Harris, (and I recommend you do!) try the Aurora Teagarden mysteries. (Real Murders: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery, Bk. 1, A Bone To Pick: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery, Book 2, Three Bedrooms, One Corpse: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery, The Julius House: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery, Bk. 4, Dead Over Heels: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery, Bk. 5, Fool And His Honey: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery, Bk. 6, Last Scene Alive (Aurora Teagarden Mysteries), and Poppy Done To Death: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery, Bk. 8.)

Or if you'd like to try a different series by Charlaine Harris, check out the Lily Bard mysteries.(Shakespeare's Landlord (The First Lily Bard Mystery), "Shakespeare's Champion", Shakespeare's Christmas", "Shakespeare's Trollop", and Shakespeare's Counselor")

Or her new supernatural Southern Vampire Mysteries featuring telepath Sookie Stackhouse (Dead Until Dark (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Bk. 1), "Living Dead in Dallas", "Club Dead", "Dead to the World", "Dead as a Doornail", "Definitely Dead", and "All Together Dead")

Catherine Linton set out early in the morning to go and shoot some cans for target practice. After deciding that the last can deserved to live (having missed it several times), Catherine spotted the hand. It was reaching out towards her from the doorway of an old, rickety shack of a house that hadn't been lived in for years. Catherine took one look at the woman's misshapen head and knew that there was nothing she could do for her. When Sheriff Galton came out to take a look, he thought it was pretty weird that Catherine didn't mention that the body belonged to Leona, her father's nurse for several years. Catherine tried to persuade the Sheriff that she just didn't look at the face, but she knew that she was still a suspect.

Catherine wasn't too happy that Leona had died, but she and Leona had never really liked each other so she wouldn't exactly miss her. She did miss her parents. She missed them a lot. They had been killed in a freak car accident 6 months previous and the whole town was still reeling from the shock of losing the beloved small-town doctor who had served the community so valiantly for so long. Ever since Catherine moved back to her hometown, she had felt isolated and alone from the people there. Now that she was suddenly involved in something again, Catherine started to live once more. She saw Randall, her editor at the Lowfield Gazette, for what felt like the first time and she had to say that she liked what she saw. To Catherine's surprise, Randall is not the only stranger who reaches out with offers of assistance - even the black community seemed to reach out to help her. Now, if only Catherine could put the clues together, she could solve the mystery of who killed her parents and Leona - and stop him before he killed again...

I enjoyed the book. I thought that the mystery was well developed and had a nice pacing to it. All of the characters were sketched out quickly, but it was easy for the reader to remember who was who. The setting was marvelous - you really could feel the heat coming off of the pavement in a small, still segregated town in the South. Harris' descriptions of the town and the people had to be my favorite part. However, my one complaint with the book is that I felt like a spectator looking in instead of identifying with any of the characters. I didn't have any emotional attachment to any of the characters and I really missed that because I immediately identified with Harris' characters in her Shakespeare, Southern Vampire and Teagarden series, but not here. If the book wasn't so hard to find and so dang expensive I would say that you should read it, but I have to say (since it is hard to find and it is extremely expensive) that you should read it if you find it, but don't kill yourself looking for it...

Catherine Linton drives out to shoot at tin cans one hot summer day. The peace and quiet is shattered by Catherine's discovery of a body, hideously fly coated. When Catherine reports her discovery to the sheriff she is offended that he suspects her because the woman was the late Dr. Linton's (Catherine's father's) nurse. This novel establishes a strong sense of place, a small southern town slowly experiencing transition after the Civil Rights movement. Each character, even minor ones, is briefly sketched but realistically developed: the town's first black librarian, the sheriff whose son is dealing pot, the black deputy, her employer's matchmaking mother etc. This is a gem of a mysery novel- one feels the heat, the beauty of the south, and the rising sense of danger that builds to one of the most suspenseful and exciting climaxes I have ever read. Sweet and deadly is one of the best mystery novels I have ever read. What I find a mystery is why it was never made into a film and why such a superb novel is out of print!

This is a difficult review to write. "Sweet and Deadly" is a re-release of a 20 year old Charlaine Harris'novel, I believe her debut. The book shows all of the promise of Harris' future works, but lacks some of the punch. "Sweet and Deadly" is also plagued with many of the problems of a debut novel.

The story's pretty simple--23 year old Catherine Scott Linton returns to her hometown of Lowfield, Miss after what was initially described as 'accidental death' of her parents--her father, being the town doctor for many years. Several months later, she comes across the beaten body of her father's old nurse. Catherine quickly learns that the nurse had some 'secrets' which could expose people of the town.

If you're looking for the action of The Southern Vampire Series with Sookie Stackhouse, you're going to be disappointed. "Sweet and Deadly" is an old-fashioned Southern Gothic mystery that is more slow-paced. The author has not yet developed the barbed 'hooks' that keep you turning pages of her future works.

Harris' writing is also not as clear and strong as it is now--there are points that you're not entirely sure what she's trying to say--but stick with it, the book's any interesting read and a good example of this genre and the times it was based upon.

This is one of Charlaine Harris' first books - and she's grown as an author since then. I would agree with the other reviewers that if you've never read Harris' books, don't start here. The Sookie Stackhouse books are by far my favorites. If you're a fan of Harris - then this one is worth reading while you're waiting for her next book to come out. I enjoyed the story - the main character is interesting but could have been developed further, I thought. The mystery is a bit rushed at the end - but it works. I'll be looking forward to Ms. Harris' future books.

I thought that Sweet and Deadly was a very nice, easy to read book in which the author keeps the plot going even though nothing much is happening. I would recommend it for q quick, easy read, but don't expect a lot of suspense or a genre-bending twist ending.

This book was a fantastic rainy day read, but a few warnings for readers who don't do their research before picking up a book by a known author. This book is not part of any series. It's a reprint of a stand alone novel originally published in 1981. It's a simple murder mystery and contains no supernatural aspects. It depicts a very small town in the south, and has more than a few politically incorrect moments in regard to race.

If you're not a horribly slow reader, you'll find this book a very quick read. If your pace is quite slow, you may find the story to drag a bit. The format of this book is nothing like that of the Sookie Stackhouse series. If you're willing to look at it for what it is, and avoid comparing it to the more popular series this author is done, you're much more likely to enjoy it. If you're new to Harris, recognize it's very different from her more current works before moving on to them for the same reason.

This book wasn't that great. It was a slow-paced, murder mystery set in a small town. The reader doesn't really get a chance to identify with any character.. and it seemed as though the book was 90% description, and only 10% dialogue/action. It took me a few days to get through this book because it just wasn't that interesting.
I love Charlaine Harris... and I'm glad I read this book. But if you want a much better read, try the Sookie Stackhouse series (which you probably have already), the Harper Connelly series (EXCELLENT series), or the Lily Bard series (also very good).
This was just Ok.

Sweet and Deadly by Charlaine Harris in her original novel, recently republished. Catherine Linton has returned to her tiny hometown in rural Mississippi to wait for the murderer of her parents to strike again. She is going to find the killer and bring that person to justice. She figures that she is on the right track when she finds the body of one of her father's employees who has also been murdered...but what if the killer finds her first? And what motivates the murderer? A bit dated (the newspaper where Catherine works still uses typewriters) but still a very engrossing story!

I believe that this is a stand alone mystery novel rather than part of a series.

This is a paperback reprint of the 1981 Sweet and Deadly, and was not part of a series. Charlaine Harris is the author of the Aurora Teagarden, Lily Bard, and Harper Connelly mystery series, and the new Sookie Stackhouse vampire series.

Sweet and Deadly begins with young Catherine Linton shooting cans out near a decaying shack on her family cotton fields that had been rented out for several generations because her father was the town doctor. There she discovers something else decaying--a body in the shack--reeking and attracting flies in the Mississippi heat.

Catherine has returned home to Lowfield after her parent's death in a suspicious car wreck. The body turns out to be her father's old nurse, Leona Gaites. Leona, it appears, had taken a career twist after Catherine's father's death--and began giving cheap abortions and blackmailing the residents of Lowfield.

Catherine is emotionally shaken by all these tragedies but finds an inner strength. Working as a reporter for the Lowfield Gazette, with reporter Tom Mascalco and editor and owner Randall Gerrard, she is forcing herself to appear normal and calm.

There are more deaths to come, unfortunately. Everyone seems really worried about Catherine living alone or else they seem nervous around her, as if they suspect she is the murderer. Randall suddenly is at her side, offering support and affection, and her feelings for him take Catherine by surprise.

Well written, with twists and turns, this book will keep you guessing. The setting is bucolic and contrasts nicely with the menacing undercurrent of a murderer desperate to keep a secret.

Armchair Interviews says: This prolific author never disappoints.