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The Lone Star Lonely Hearts Club
A Debutante Dropout Mystery, No. 3

by Susan McBride



      Alert the Galleria in Houston: Cissy Blevins Kendricks is going undercover. In a leopard-print jumpsuit, no less -like Monk shying away from bowling shoes, Cissy's transformation offers a 24-karat gold mine. Conspiracy-minded, always-classy Cissy suspects foul play when her friend Bebe Kent dies at the posh retirement community Belle Meade; and when, at the funeral, another friend, Sarah Lee Sewell, checks out of Belle Meade early, what's a Dallas society queen to do?

If you're a fan of the fun Debutante Dropout Mystery series, you know that Cissy's actions will cause much consternation for her loving and infuriated daughter, Web-designing rebel Andrea Blevins Kendricks, who's chosen a life that (gasp) doesn't even involve wearing a proper slip. When Andy's much-bullied camp comrade Annabelle Meade, owner of Belle Meade, needs the Texas Rangers to deal with Cissy's crying homicide, Andy goes from ex-debutante to deputy.

Amid the mystery shenanigans and clever dialogue, Andy worries that Cissy may be losing her mind, and struggles with Cissy's mortality (not just because a murderer has targeted wealthy widows). But fear not; Cissy isn't too frail to verbally smack Andy after a hint that the two dead women, who signed up for an exclusive dating service, are too old for love.

Mother-daughter relationships play a key role in this series, and while other readers may prefer more CSI-like police work, the best mystery plots have an emotional stake for the hero. As they bicker and bond, Andy and Cissy shine, whether they're wearing Cartier or cubic zirconias.

Reviews of other titles in this series

Blue Blood #1 [review 1] [review 2]
The Good Girl's Guide to Murder #2
The Lone Star Lonely Hearts Club #3
Night of the Living Deb #4
Too Pretty to Die #5
Say Yes to the Death #6

The Book

Avon Books / HarperCollins
January 31, 2006
Paperback
0-06-056408-3
Cozy Mystery
Amazon.com

The Reviewer

Kristin Johnson
Reviewed 2006
NOTE: Reviewer and award-winning writer Kristin Johnson's books are Butterfly Wings: A Love Story, Christmas Cookies are for Giving, co-written with Mimi Cummins and Ordinary Miracles: My Incredible Spiritual, Artistic and Scientific Journey, co-written with Sir Rupert A.L. Perrin, M.D.
© 2006 MyShelf.com