Another Review at MyShelf.Com

Better Off Wed
An Annabelle Archer Mystery

By Laura Durham

     Annabelle Archer is a wedding planner, and has her hands full organizing society weddings in DC. At one particularly grand affair, the mother of the bride from hell is found dead from poison, and fingers point at Annabelle’s caterer friend Richard. First they have to clear his name, but then it becomes vital to find out whodunit before any more bodies pile up. Finding out who wanted to kill Clara Pierce is going to be murder itself though, as almost everybody in the city hated her.

    This is the first in a new series, and fans of cozy modern crime are sure to find much to enjoy. To start with, you can’t go wrong with background when the author is a real-life wedding planner, and at times I wished that there was more about this fascinating business. Of course there is a crime to solve and a good dose of comedy, with a slant on general zaniness and the pitfalls of trying to get into (or trying to stay in) Society. As usual I found that having the protagonist tell the story was a good idea, as it instantly involves the reader in the action although only one viewpoint can be used.

    There is nothing unusual in here, but that isn’t what makes a good cozy (or a good book of any kind, in my opinion) and the modest length means there is plenty of room for plot, characters, humor and all without any time to be bored. I’d read another.

The Book

Avon Books (HarperCollins Inc)
25 January 2005
Paperback
0060738316
Crime/Cozy [Contemporary, Washington]
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Excerpt

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The Reviewer

Rachel A Hyde
Reviewed 2005
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© 2005 MyShelf.com