Tickled to Death (Claire Malloy Mysteries, No. 9) [Print] [Paperback]

Joan Hess (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1995

Called upon to assist her best friend, amateur sleuth Claire Malloy learns that Luanne's new boyfriend, whom Luanne wants to marry, is suspected of having killed his first two wives and Luanne wants Claire to clear his name. Reprint.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Hess's trademark humor shines in her ninth mystery (after Poisoned Pins ) to feature Claire Malloy, bookstore owner in Farberville, Ark. Claire's friend Luanne is having an affair with dentist Dick Cissel, a possible suspect in the recent death of his second wife. Luanne, who hopes Claire will investigate and turn up a more likely suspect, overcomes her friend's reluctance by finding a needed summer job for Claire's daughter Caron--at a bird sanctuary run by the Dunling Foundation. Claire's doubts about Dick's innocence increase when she learns that his first wife drowned during a midnight swim--in the same lake where the second wife was blown to smithereens while driving the damaged Dunling Foundation boat. Captain Gannett, the local sheriff, shares Claire's doubts but resents her meddling in his investigation. Claire continues her probe, spurred on by the murder of the handyman in charge of the Foundation's boat, and is thrown in jail by Gannett for withholding evidence. Rescued, to her chagrin, by her policeman lover Peter, she resolves to get to the bottom of the mysterious deaths by herself and ferrets out an unexpected scam and a follow-up conspiracy. Hess's low-key humor and bull's-eye dialogue are reason enough to read anything she writes; solid plotting and deft characterization make this latest doubly rewarding. Mystery Guild selection.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Bookseller and amateur sleuth Claire Malloy returns in this ninth mystery in Hess' popular series. Still contemplating bankruptcy because of the Book Depot's lack of business, and still contending with her teenage daughter from hell, Claire is less than amused by her friend Luanne's infatuation with a local dentist, Dick Cissel, whose last two wives met untimely demises under suspicious circumstances. When Dick is dragged in for questioning in the death of wife number two, Luanne begs Claire to help. Much against her inclination, Claire joins Luanne at Dick's weekend house on Turnstone Lake. The local sheriff can't produce any real evidence against Dick, but Claire, after talking with Dick and learning more about his life, feels that Luanne may have some reason to worry about her own future. Soon Claire is following the trail of the two dead wives to the local bird sanctuary, where all the strands of the case come together. Another enjoyable comedy/mystery from the entertaining and prolific Hess, who is also the author of the Maggody series. Stuart Miller --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Onyx; Reprint edition (May 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451405501
• ISBN-13: 978-0451405500
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,502,653 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Keeps you guessing until the end., August 21, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Tickled to Death (Claire Malloy Mysteries, No. 9) (Paperback)

This is the second book I have read by Joan Hess, now I want to read them all. I was constantly changing my mind as to who I thought committed the murders. It is light, fast, fun reading. Great book to take to the beach.