Dead by Midnight

Annie Darling, proprietor of the Death on Demand bookstore is sure that the death of her new assistant, Pat Merridew, is not a suicide, but Billy Cameron, the local police chief, disagrees. Pat had recently lost her job at a prominent lawyer’s office and the cause of death was an overdose of a drug she had been prescribed. However, when more deaths that are unquestionably murder ensue, Pat’s death looks increasingly like murder as well. But the link is anything but clear. With an entire family of suspects and motives that range from blackmail and teenage angst to sexual attraction and, of course, a great deal of money, Annie is engaged in a chase through the rich and varied world of a southern resort island to unravel the mystery and unmask the killer before she finds herself as the killer’s next victim. "Death by Midnight", which is one of a series that centers on the Death on Demand bookstore and the adventures of Annie and her husband, Max, provides an enjoyable read. However, I found the beginning, where the author introduces most of the main characters individually before the reader has gotten into the story, a bit slow. I also found myself somewhat overwhelmed by the emphasis on the colors of just about everything described on the island. Nevertheless, these problems are not major. The novel is gripping and I was thoroughly involved right up to the end.