Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
At loose ends after her adventures in A Bone to Pick , former librarian Aurora Teagarden pitches in to help her mother Aida, a busy real estate agent in Lawrenceton, Ga. On her first unofficial showing of a house, Aurora discovers the naked corpse of a rival realtor in the master bedroom. Somewhat daunted, Aurora and her no-nonsense mom determine that the culprit must be another real estate agent--someone who could have gotten the key from Aida's office without raising suspicion. Then the body of another broker is discovered in another house for sale. Adding to Aurora's distress is her growing attraction to mysterious Martin Bartell, whose company has transferred him to Lawrenceton to reorganize its plant. Plucky, charming Aurora must choose between the dependable, uncomplicated Episcopalian minister whom she has been chastely dating and Martin, whose responsibility for laying off workers makes him dangerous to know. Meanwhile she and her mother question Aida's staff, other brokers and friends to determine who killed the realtors. With the disbanding of the Real Murders Club (which informally rehashed true crime cases), Aurora has time to sleuth to her heart's content in this high-spirited Southern cozy. Mystery Guild alternate. (Apr.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review
This author's delightful addition to the ``Aurora Teagarden'' series enmeshes the ex-librarian in numerous murders that occur in empty houses for sale. Since the receipt of an inheritance, Aurora has considered joining her mother's real estate firm; instead, she discovers corpses and begins investigating almost without realizing it. Her love life, meanwhile, explodes when she meets an older man new to the area. Clearly focused plot, animated description of character and real estate, and sparkling prose commend this breath of fresh air to all collections (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Aurora Teagarden (Roe for short), petite heroine of this amiable series (A Secret Rage, etc.) set in Atlanta exurb Lawrenceton, has left her library job after inheriting a house and other assets from her childless older friend, Jane Engle. Now testing the possibility of part-time work in her mother's real- estate agency, Roe's first assignment is to show the empty Anderton mansion to town newcomer, exec Martin Bartell. There, in the master bedroom, they discover the shackled body of promiscuous realtor Tonia Lee Greenhouse. They also discover a ferocious mutual attraction that proves distracting to Roe as she tries to figure out the who and why of Tonia Lee's murder. A second killing complicates matters, as does the ongoing series of thefts from unoccupied houses on the market. There's no shortage of suspects- -Tonia Lee's wronged husband for one; hardware-store owner Jimmy Hunter, whose hobby is looking at houses for sale, for another. But Roe spots a tell-tale clue and, in time-honored ninny style, puts herself at risk to prove her case. Despite too much girl chatter (clothes, hair, etc.), labored plotting, and some dangling loose ends, there's compensation in the nicely done Southern, small-town ambience, the torrid affair sensitively handled, and the breezy, unpretentious style.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
