Cozy Mystery Blog Tour: Author Guest Post, Review & Giveaway: Don't Go Home (Death on Demand #25) by Carolyn Hart

Annie Darling, owner of the Death on Demand mystery bookstore, is hosting a party to celebrate successful Southern literary icon—and former Broward’s Rock resident—Alex Griffith and his bestselling new novel, Don’t Go Home. But after the local paper announces that Griffith aims to reveal the real-life inspirations behind his characters, perhaps the author should take his own advice. Not everyone in town is ready to give him a glowing review.

As Annie attempts damage control, her friend Marian Kenyon gets in a heated argument with Griffith. It’s a fight Annie won’t soon forget—especially after the author turns up dead.

Despite an array of suspects to match Griffith’s cast of characters—and a promise to her husband, Max, to steer clear of sleuthing—Annie’s not about to let the police throw the book at her friend when the real killer remains at large. 

Funny Thing Happened by Carolyn Hart

    I penned a Farewell to Annie and Max this spring, but a funny thing happened on the way to Life without Annie and Max. A knock on my door. There stood Annie, a glint in her brown eyes, a determined tilt to her chin. “What are you thinking?” Max was right behind her, his usual easy going smile absent. “No more island sunshine? No alligators snoozing on a bank? No more laughter?” Annie and Max looked me in the eye and said, “Don’t even think about it.”

    Do I want to see the displays at Death on Demand, catch up on the new mysteries, talk about old favorites? Or drop into Confidential Commissions and have a slice of Barb’s lemon pie?

    Oh, yes. The scent of the ocean, the rattle of magnolia leaves, the grace and mystery of Spanish moss, hot heavy summer days, windy walks on a chilly winter beach, all await on the small sea island of Broward’s Rock. I’ll see everyone again, ebullient Annie, charming Max, curmudgeonly author Emma Clyde, mystery maven Henny Brawley, ditzy mother-in-law Laurel Darling Roethke, intense reporter Marian Kenyon, stalwart police chief Billy Cameron, observant officer Hyla Harrison . . .

    I realized I’d miss them too much. So I changed my mind and hope to write their 26th adventure as soon as Bailey Ruth persuades a lovelorn  ghost to climb the shining stairs to Heaven.

    And now for Annie and Max’s 25th (and continuing) adventure:

     DON’T GO HOME – Annie is hosting a party to celebrate a successful Southern literary icon and island native and his best selling novel, Don’t Go Home. The local newspaper announces that the author intends to reveal the real life island inspirations behind his characters and the dark secrets in their lives. Reporter Marian Kenyon, Annie and Max’s good friend, quarrels bitterly with the author. When his body is found, Annie knows her friend will be a suspect. Despite an array of people who feared the author’s revelations and Annie’s promise to Max that she will steer clear of sleuthing, Annie is drawn into the hunt because the police may close the book on Marian unless Annie finds the truth.

Carolyn Hart is a fantastic author.  And this series is a testament to her superb writing abilities. She has taken a well loved series and continued to expand on it without it feeling mundane or losing it's momentum.  It's another shining example of why she has a successful novel time and time again. 

Don't Go Home is a traditional mystery that sinks it's claws in to you and leaves you staying up late at night, frantically turning the pages because you just HAVE to know what happens next.  It ends in true form and takes Annie and Max on quite the adventure.

With characters we've grown to love and an addictive plot, Ms. Hart has out done herself yet again.  And with the promise of even more from these two characters?  As a reader, I couldn't be happier.

Rating: 5 stars

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  All conclusions reached are my own.

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