Monday, February 9, 2009

Some Valentine's Day Mysteries

A Catered Valentine's Day: A Mystery with Recipes / by Isis Crawford
With orders piling up for Valentine's Day, catering sisters--and part-time sleuths--Bernie and Libby Simmons have teamed up with the 'Just Chocolate Sweet Shop' and its owner, recently widowed Marnie Gorman, to manage all the preparations. The girls are aware that with all the hustle and bustle it's easy for minor mishaps to happen, orders getting reversed and so on. But no one's calling it an accident when Marnie's dead husband Ted turns up in the wrong coffin in the wrong grave at the wrong funeral. Soon, as strange secrets about the deceased Ted start to emerge, Bernie and Libby can't help but become embroiled in another mystery, one which threatens to sour their oh-so-sweet plans for the perfect Valentine's Day. (MYS CRAWFORD)

Deadly Valentine / by Carolyn G. Hart
When bookstore owner/amateur sleuth Annie Darling and her husband Max were moving into their new home, she could never have imagined their new neighbors would be so friendly. Even a bit too friendly in the case of their next door neighbor, the voluptuous Sidney Cahill, who not only makes a pass at Max upon first acquaintance but seems to be on 'friendly' terms with every man on the block from what Annie gathers. It's an issue having a guarded Annie reconsidering whether to go to the neighborhood Valentine's Day bash. Reluctantly attending only to please her mother-in-law, Annie and fellow partygoers are shocked when Sidney is found dead--murdered--during the festivities. The ensuing investigation is chock full of motives and suspects as Sidney's flamboyant mannerisms have stirred the ire of more than a few jealous housewives. But Annie knows that to find out the truth, she must filter out all the preconceived notions and finger-pointing in order to pin down the real culprit in this, another spellbinding "Annie Darling (nee Laurance)" mystery. (MYS HART)

The Valentine's Day Murder / by Lee Harris
What better way to cap off the perfect Valentine's Day party than by taking a walk on a frozen lake? Or so Val and his two friends--Matt and Clark--thought when they set out. But when the dead bodies of a murdered Matt and Clark are discovered, an absent--and presumed fugitive--Val is pegged as the culprit. Before long, a rigorous manhunt ensues with police eager to capture Val and prove him guilty. Meanwhile, convinced of his innocence, Val's wife Carlotta pleads with investigating authorities concerning her husband's case only to be castigated and ignored. With time running out, a desperate Carlotta turns to the only person who will listen--ex-nun turned private investigator Christine Bennett, who may be the only person capable of discovering Val's whereabouts and proving his innocence. (MYS HARRIS)

Plum Lovin' / by Janet Evanovich
Despite a personal history loaded with mysterious men, Stephanie Plum still can't believe it when Diesel, a rogue character from her past and rival bounty hunter, shows up at her front door just days prior Valentine's. Even though Diesel only wants to comprimise on matters dealing with current target and personal friend Annie Hart, Stephanie still can't help mixing business with pleasure as both she and her sexy counterpart try and locate Annie. But someone else is on the trail too, someone whose intentions may not be so honorable. As the chase ensues, Stephanie Plum knows one thing is for sure, she's in for a little more than she bargained for on this particular Valentine's Day. (MYS EVANOVICH)

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