The problem I have with the “cozy mystery” subgenre is a sanitized state, instead of the base category’s atmosphere of suspense. “Standard mystery” may elicit humour but tackles serious scenarios. Some “cozy mystery” authors ham up their environments to the point of caricature. It works masterfully for some but I mostly find myself wishing that authors would focus on the mysteries and make them feel like they were written for grown-ups. This is the second time in a row that Carolyn Hart jammed o...

Annie and Max’s wedding turned out beautifully, despite Max’s mother’s attempts to hijack the ceremony. Their plans to leave the next morning on their honeymoon are sidetracked, however, when they get a panicked midnight call from Ingrid, Annie’s employee, friend, and matron of honor. Ingrid is cut off before they can get much out of her, so they race over to Ingrid’s cottage, where they find a dead body in the middle of her living room but no sign of the woman herself. The victim is Jesse Penri...

It's been awhile since I read a Death on Demand mystery and now I remember why: the INCESSANT referral to this or that other mystery, in the form of a simile, as in "As Father Brown would say.." There is nothing wrong with this a few times a book. A few times a chapter however, and it can drive one batty. Sometimes I think these books exist solely to show off the author's admittedly encyclopedic knowledge of classic mysteries. But especially in Book on CD form, this really set my teeth on edge!A...

Fourth in the Death on Demand mystery series revolving around Annie Laurance, the owner of the Death on Demand bookstore located on Broward's Rock.In 1990, Honeymoon with Murder won the Anthony Award for Best Paperback Original.My TakeIt's loyalty to a friend and a search for the truth. Crane certainly takes us on a winding path to solve this murder. And as irritating as I find Annie, I thank god for her as well because, lord knows, the legal authorities certainly are hopeless!While I appreciate...

Years ago I started reading this Death on Demand series. I had to skip this one because I never came across it anywhere. My library didn't have it until recently. I wasn't going to pay a high price for it, however. Then I saw it on sale for just a couple of dollars for my Kindle and I grabbed it. It is a very good story ... worth the wait. I've always liked Carolyn Hart's stories.

12/25/17 $1.99 for Kindle.

3.5 Stars rounded up to 4 Stars. This series is well written in the style of the 1930's-1940's detective mystery noir books with the two amateur sleuths (Annie & Henny) taking on characteristics of famous detectives written for that genre to aid them in solving their mystery. Overall Ms. Hart has done a good job of character development and setting description. I really enjoyed the over the top quirky characters which added great comedic relief.

A decent cozy filled with eccentric characters and a good story. Three and a half stars. The author inserted a lot of references to other mysteries and mystery authors which at first was humorous but it wore on me as the book progressed - thus the half a star rating.

A much more interesting book, than the last. I may continue with the series....

This is the fourth book in the Death on Demand series by Carolyn G. Hart. I picked out this audiobook pretty much at random, not knowing where it fell in the series, and although I've skipped a few of the books, I did not feel as though I was missing out on much.The narrative is engaging and the mystery was complex, but not overly so. I liked the story and I enjoyed Kate Reading's narration, although I'm not enamored with the series. I may look for more of these stories, but I will not go out of...

Annie Laurence, mystery bookstore owner and her detective husband Max Darling receives a call shortly after saying “I Do” about a murder at Annie’s assistant, Ingrid Jones, home where Tom, another islander, lies dead on Ingrid’s floor. Ingrid goes missing. While some believe Ingrid murdered Tom others believe she is innocent and was abducted.With the help of Max’s mother Laurel and townspeople they work in concert to find Ingrid to learn who murdered Tom. Honeymoon with Murder was a fun read tha...

Clever, clever, clever. That's the key word for this delightful cozy mystery by Carolyn Hart. Her characters are silly sometimes, the action slapstick but when Death on Demand bookstore owner Annie Laurence sets her sights on solving a mystery that threatens her friend and employee, nothing stops her.But she is a bit distracted by the murder occurring the same day as her marriage to Max Darling. While its been a busy week of activities, Annie and Max are looking forward to a special honeymoon ni...

I like to have a book to read in the bathtub. Since I take mostly showers, the bathtub book doesn't get read quickly. I've been reading Honeymoon With Murder for almost a year. I've been a fan of Annie & Max Darling and the Death on Demand series for a long time. This book took me back in time to when Max & Annie first got married. It's the 4th book in a series of 24 books. I don't remember Carolyn Hart making so many references to authors and characters in her more recent books as she did in

For once, Max and Annie aren't considered suspects in this murder mystery! Instead, Ingrid Jones, Annie's employee at Death on Demand (who I'd completely forgotten since it's been years since I read the last book in the series), goes missing and one of her neighbors, Jesse Penrick, is found murdered in her cabin. All of this happens on Annie and Max's wedding night. So their "honeymoon" is finding Ingrid and if they find Ingrid, they will find Jesse's murderer. (view spoiler)[Henny Brawley is ba...

Finally Annie and Max got married! Oh and there’s a kidnapping. Oh and murder. What a busy day. Mom and I loved how fast this book get started. It does a good job portraying the marriage and than it wickly, but easily slide into the murder and abduction. Again a close nit murder and Mom loved how they added in another abduction. This one did it for mom and got her beyond interested in how all the pieces connected together. The characters were amazing and how they played off each other. It was am...

2.5 StarsI wish I could read the other books in the series but each book becomes more monotonous then the one before it. When I reach a point where I feel like I am being dragged through a book, it is time to stop. As I have stated in past reviews, the author spends TOO much time discussing other books. I just can't. And finally, what's thing the author has about killing cats? In the last book the cat was shot. In this one, four kittens get their necks snapped and a cat gets poisoned. In her nex...

This series is for people very well versed in the mystery genre. The stories revolve around the owner of a mystery bookstore and her patrons and friends using their collective knowledge of fictional sleuths to solve crimes that the authorities, of varying competence, failed to recognize or resolve.Accordingly, this book is sprinkled with literary references--as were the earlier books in the series, which I failed to rate or review. While I have read a fair number of mysteries, it has been for li...

A cute mystery novel. Nothing that stands out about the novel in terms of the story. The things that I remember most about this novel are:-Men and women must be separated until they're married (gasp! They might touch!)-A character was fired from being a flight attendant because they gained weight -A man was domestically abusing his wife and no one would help her because it was her word against his.As mentioned, the mystery is fine. Nothing out of the ordinary.

For a cozy, this truly was a well-written book. The plot was well-conceived and the main character as well as the more minor ones really do come alive. Ms. Hart has been compared favorably to Agatha Christie and I can see why. If you like a good cozy, look into this series.

Meh. Eh. When on the night of the protagonist’s (Annie) wedding, one of her friends goes missing and a dead body is found in her house, she is thought to either been kidnapped by the killer or is the killer and is running away. Annie believes the former and is desperate to find out what happened before her friend is killed as well. D+

Fun mystery but the references to mystery books and authors, both well known and obscure, does wear thin after awhile.

Great Starter Book This is a great starter book for the Death on Demand series & Carolyn Hart. You too will become addicted to Max & Annie Darling

I gave up. As much as I like cozies, this one fell flat. I didn't even want to know whodunit either.

I usually love her books...but this one had too many references and characters. Couldn't wait to finish (not in a good way :) )!

Not really a mystery reader, but this one is great!

A sprightly murder mystery (in the cozy category), if a teensy bit dated. (I couldn't help wondering throughout how different the story might be if everyone had cellphones, for example).

Annie is now Mrs. Darling!I don't think I'd ever heard a flashlight called just a "flash."The editors should know the difference between robbed and burgled.

Annie just comes off as a real jerk in this one. I love Laurel and Max telling her to do less all the time 😂. The mystery does keep you guessing, but I wish Mac and Annie were together more

The style of these books bores me, but I wanted to see how the wedding turned out.Since I don't normally write reviews unless I have something specific to say, here's the break down of how I rate my books...1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more...

The story, at times, was somewhat light; was it possible for all these folks to be at once, determined and naive? Perhaps it was my mood at the time of reading. I did enjoy the reading.