"Amusing Maggie mystery tale"
Popular historical mystery writer Maggie Kelly and an
entourage to include Alex Blakely better known to readers
as Viscount Saint Just and his able assistant Sterling
Balder travel to England to observe the filming of her
first novel. Maggie still struggles with Alex and Sterling
being alive since they are creatures of her imagination
having starred in her mystery books until they somehow
stepped out of novels and just showed up at her home (see
MAGGIE NEEDS AN ALIBI). When a torrential storm strikes, all power is lost
including telephone lines and flooding which leaves
everyone stranded inside the gothic-like Medwine Manor.
Adding to the discomfit of the marooned is that someone
stole everyone's cell phone. Soon uneasiness turns to
fright when a visitor is found hanging from a scaffold
followed by another homicide. Alex believes he must uncover
the identity of the killer as that is what he
is "programmed" to do; besides he feels he must keep Maggie
safe. HIGH HEELS AND HOMICIDE, the latest amusing Maggie mystery
tale uses hyperbolic characterizations to lampoon several
Hollywood stereotypes. The satirical spoof is very humorous
as Alex and Sean struggle with the pompous I am the
greatest attitudes that somewhat reminds them of the
aristocracy from the settings of the novels that they come
from. The lighthearted tale contains a fun who-done-it, but
that ironically takes a back seat to the jocular interplay
of the cast. Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted November 15, 2005
Reviewed by PNR Group Member
Posted January 18, 2007
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When mystery author Maggie Kelly heads across the pond for a movie shoot—accompanied by her once-fictional, now all-too-real hero, Alexandre, Viscount Saint Just—she can only hope for a jolly good time... Don't get me wrong—there was plenty to laugh about when we first arrived in Merry Olde England to watch one of my novels being shot as a major motion picture. Alex was delighted with the location (a seventeeth-century manor house), but horrified with the surfer-dude mimbo playing him. I, personally, found the situation hilarious... then the leading lady started rubbing up against "my" hero, leaving me no choice but to start a little flirtation of my own with the lord of the manor's nephew. It was all very Regency House Party until the scriptwriter showed up... dead. Things are suddenly getting hot and heavy between Alex and me—and their timing is atrocious as usual, what with the murder and mayhem. Suspects? Don't get me started. There's Mr. Contemptuous Director, Ms. Man-Crazy Production Assistant, Mr. Fancy Pants English Actor, Ms. Diva Leading Lady, and... your truly. Yep, I was seen arguing with the victim right before his unfortunate demise, so I am, as the Brits would say, in a bit of a pickle.
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