West Of Bliss (Hannah Garvey Mysteries #4) [Mass Market Paperback]

Suzann Ledbetter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2002

When thoughts of marriage turn to murder . . .

As resident manager for the exclusive retirement community of Valhalla Springs, Hannah Garvey is up to any challenge life throws her way -- which, lately, is usually a corpse. But a marriage proposal from sexy lawman David Hendrickson has her completely flummoxed. Doesn't he realize the odds against a successful Aries-Libra match?

Then, while attending a going-away party for Eulilly and Chet Thomlinson, even bigger questions erupt when the restaurant dishwasher suddenly opens fire. Chet, an ex-Secret Service agent, manages to shoot the gunman, and is hailed a hero. The tragedy is chalked up to a case of a disgruntled employee -- with poor Eulilly caught in the cross fire. But David, Hannah and the erstwhile senior sleuths of Kinderhook County think the whole incident is just a little too cut-and-dry.

In Sanity, Missouri, ignorance is not bliss.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Mira (July 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1551669250
• ISBN-13: 978-1551669250
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 4.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,113,842 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Suzann's mother taught her to read at age four, assuming a tomboy couldn't have her nose in a book and get into trouble, simultaneously. It didn't work, but somehow, Suzann's insatiable curiosity, smarty-pants mouth, tendency to make up stuff and love of Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden novels became the basis of a diverse writing career.

Suzann (www.SuzannLedbetter.com) is a Writers Hall of Fame of America inductee and received a Western Writers of America Spur Award for her biography, NELLIE CASHMAN, PROSPECTOR & TRAILBLAZER. Suzann was an editor-at-large for Family Circle magazine for over a decade and is a client of Greater Talent Network, an international talent agency.

In April 2006, Suzann's short story "How To Murder Your Mother-in-Law" will appear in Avon's DEADLY HOUSEWIVES anthology. May marks publication of her latest suspense/caper, ONCE A THIEF (Mira) and in August, SHADY LADIES, a biographical collection of 19th century nonconformists is due out from Tor/Forge.

Suzann and her husband share their Missouri Ozarks home with three retired racing greyhounds, two morbidly obese cats and way-more books than the children's library her mom hoped would tame the ornery streak Suzann allegedly inherited from her father's side of the gene pool.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I'd give it six stars if I could!, October 19, 2002

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: West Of Bliss (Hannah Garvey Mysteries #4) (Mass Market Paperback)

I love this series! If you like Susan Elizabeth Phillips and Jennifer Crusie, you'll love Suzann Ledbetter's books. Ledbetter may not write towards comedy as much as Crusie or Phillips, but there's a lot of laughs and the character of Hannah is wonderfully written. All of the books are good, there are no duds in this series, and you will put them directly on your keeper shelf when you are done reading them. Guaranteed.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another enjoyable book about Hannah Garvey, July 8, 2002

By 

latenight423 (Houston Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: West Of Bliss (Hannah Garvey Mysteries #4) (Mass Market Paperback)

If you've never read this Suzann Ledbetter series (North of Clever, South of Sanity, East of Peculiar, and now West of Bliss), you've missed at least three enjoyable evenings of reading.

In this 4th novel, Hannah Garvey is still the manager at Valhalla, an expensive/selective senior adult living community. David Hendrickson, the county sheriff, is now more serious than ever ("Will you marry me?"). Hannah is still concerned about their age difference but is beginning to consider the "how will we..." items that will occur.

At a farewell party for two Valhalla residents, the dishwasher shoots and kills two people, wounds two more (including Ida Clancy) and is then shot by the husband of one of the victims. Even though he doesn't gain by her death, the suspicions of the Valhalla investigators (if you've read the previous boooks, you'll know they are a hilarious group of residents who will go to any lengths to protect Hannah) are raised. Add in the additional fact that Jack Clancy, owner of Valhalla, is acting peculiarly and you are in for an enjoyable evening.

Now that Ms. Ledbetter has exhausted the four main directions, (N, E, S, and W), I can only hope that she does the NE, SW, etc. and doesn't stop the Hannah Garvey series.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars engaging amateur sleuth, July 7, 2002

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: West Of Bliss (Hannah Garvey Mysteries #4) (Mass Market Paperback)

When she first accepted Jack Clancy's job offer to manage an Ozarks retirement community, Harriet Garvey thought her biggest problem would be boredom. However, Valhalla Springs proves wilder than her former home Chicago. In a very short time Harriet has been on several murder investigations and a few other felonies. However, her toughest problem is her deep feelings for local Sheriff David Henderson even though the Gods must frown upon this couple mating as coitus interruptus is the norm of their relationship.

Though she loathes Eulliy Thomlinson, Jack convinces her to represent him at a going away party for the woman and her spouse Chet. Everything seems okay until D.K. Bogart starts shooting at people; Chet retaliates and kills him. Most of Kinderhook County think Chet is a hero, but Dave and Harriet wonder about the incident. Accompanied by her geriatric detectives, Harriet begins to make inquiries while Dave tries to entice her to marry him. He also attempts to coax his love and her band of amateurs to not investigate.

WEST OF BLISS is an engaging amateur sleuth tale starring a frustrated hero, a clever heroine, and an insane peculiar crowd of seniors who often steal the plot. The story line is well written, but though the mystery is delightfully disguised, the banter between Harriet and Dave feels stale perhaps because this is the fourth novel in two years without enough movement in their relationship. Still Suzann Ledbetter provides an amusing amateur sleuth police procedural combo that now needs to move to the center of the compass and fully explore the magnetism between the lead duo.

Harriet Klausner