Reviewer: Connie Payne
Title: For Better Or Hearse - 2nd in the Annabelle Archer mystery series
Author: Laura Durham
Publisher: Avon
ISBN: 0-0607-3904-5
Release Date: February 2006
Genre/Sub-genre: Mystery (some may say w/Chick Lit overtones to it)
Year/Setting: Present Day - Washington D.C.
Overall rating: 4.75
Sexual content rating: None
Violent content rating: Neglible/Minimal
Language (Profanity) content rating: None
Laura's Website:
www.lauradurham.com
It’s becoming evident that murder and trouble have no problems finding Annabelle Archer, Washington D.C. wedding planner. She and her cohorts/friends (Kate and Richard) are developing a knack for being dead body magnets.
This time, in For Better Or Hearse, it’s Chef Henri who turns up dead just as a wedding reception at the Fairmont Hotel is about to begin. The much-hated chef is found by Annabelle with her cohorts not far behind, impaled on an ice sculpture.
Soon, Georgia, event planner/head caterer for the hotel and friend to Annabelle, is arrested. Convinced of Georgia’s innocence, Annabelle promises to help clear her name.
But that proves to be more difficult than she’d thought. Witnesses are piling up making Georgia look guilty. Evidence goes missing. Strange things happen. More bodies turn up, and while Annabelle and her cohorts think it’s murder the police are labeling them accidents.
While all this is happening she’s meeting with clients, flower arrangers (you’ve got to read that one for yourself), and dealing with Fern, the hairdresser, who is at his helpful best. Leatrice, her elderly neighbor, who by the way is annoying yet endearing, wants in on the action. Ian, a member of the band that was supposed to play at the reception, seems to be around when things go wrong.
Annabelle’s got the pieces, or so she thinks, but things aren’t adding up. And the police (Detective Reese) pretty much think of the case as closed. Is she going to have to do the police’s job for them? Again? It got her into trouble in Better Off Wed, what makes her think it will be any different this time? I don’t know, but she does.
Sleuthing lands Annabelle into trouble (what did I tell you?) and her friends right along with her. The results are often humorous, but don’t let yourself get too caught up in the humor, you just might miss a clue.
It wasn’t too difficult for me to figure out who the killer was. But as for the why and how, well, I had to read every page to gather the clues right along with Annabelle and the gang. And I didn’t mind a bit. Tagging along with all of them was great fun.
And with as many characters appearing in the book you’d think it would be nothing short of confusing. But that’s not the case. The characters chemistry (Annabelle, Kate, Richard, Fern, and Leatrice) is exceptional and they never miss a beat with the addition of new characters (Buster, Mack, and Ian – I hope they’re back in the next book!) and interaction with bit players.
Ms. Durham weaves a finely crafted series. The action and clues, the descriptions and details, the character interaction and verbal sparring all blend together with superb results and with no unnecessary filler. Bravo!!
I see a long future for the Annabelle Archer series. (Yea!) If she can continue to stay out of trouble and one step ahead of the killer that is!
Connie
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