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I was hooked right from page 1. Each character had there own unique voice and mannerisms that they could easily be pictured.

This book is about ten people coming together on a little island owned by U.N. Owen (Unknown). Each person came there for a separate reason, but they are unaware that the original reason is for them to pay for past crimes they committed.

I've mentioned it before, but I have a bad tendency to look at the last page before actually reading to the last page, so I caught a glimpse of who the killer was. However, towards the end of the book, I started doubting myself thanks to the clever writing of Agatha Cristie. What a well written book, I'm glad I've finally read one of her books, I'll definitely be reading more.

Beginning - Started out well enough, quickly went sour. First off, the book is about a woman (Maggie) who loses her job and within that same day gains a new one from a woman (Felicity) she has never meant. And there starts the most irritating character I have ever read. Without spoiling too much, the new boss Felicity is a suspect in her sisters murder and since Maggie has only known her for oh maybe twenty four hours at that point, decides that Felicity is the most innocent person on the planet, and she is hell bent on proving it. I am reminded of a lap dog. I just cannot imagine a person doing everything Maggie does in this book for someone they've known for such a short time.

Middle - A few times I threw this book down in disgust. I would wander over to my husband and share my opinions of the book with him. The book continues along in the same thread of how Maggie must stop the entire town of thinking bad things about her new boss. She must prove to everyone that her new boss is the greatest person in the world. All the while, snubbing family, and hiding out in her apartment when she gets a date out of fear.

End - The end was not all half bad. It, like the middle, is about proof of greatness on her bosses behalf. The ending tied everything up nice and neatly, and shows that Maggie might become a better character in the next book.

Overall - I tortured myself to make it through this one, all the while thinking to other books that I would like to start. Others that still hold promise of being a good book. So people, if you are looking for a very light book, this is it. If you are looking for a character that you will love, who knows, maybe this is it, but it certainly was not for me. I will say though that there may still be a chance that I will pick up the next book in line, as the main character (Maggie) shows promise, and there were other character in the book that I fell in love with, i.e., Steph and Annie.

Favorite page - "Margo extended a regally limp hand, looking half as though she expected me to kiss it. "Maggie O'Neill. 'Maggie O'Neill..." She paused thoughtfully. "Did we go to school together?"

With anyone else, such a memory lapse was forgivable. With Margo, the smirk glittering in her hard eyes made it clear that she remembered me all too well. She just meant to be insulting.

Well, two could play at that game. "Did we? Sorry, I guess I don't remember. It has a been a loooong time. Were you a few years ahead of me?""

Madelyn Alt

Amazon

Book Description:

Cemetery tour guide Pepper Martin never imagined she'd get to meet rock legend Damon Curtis, the bad boy poet who made millions of teenage girls scream. After all, he kicked the bucket years before she was born. But thanks to her newfound ability to chat up the dead, Pepper's got a front row seat perfect for swooning over the still-sexy Damon's latest lyrics. He's convinced that his former bandmate Vinnie Pallucci murdered him back in ‘71, and he's promised Pepper she won't get any rest or peace until she helps him prove it.

But when Pepper goes behind the music, she finds Vinnie with a knife in his heart and the rest of the band members running for their lives. And if Pepper doesn't snare the killer soon, Damon's next hit from the great beyond might be her swan song.

My take:

Pepper Martin is a smart, attractive girl with an extra skill up her sleeve. She can see and speak with the dead. Nothing that she ever wants to admit to, and certainly not a gift that she wants to have.

In this third installment I thought the book got along pretty quickly, but by the end it started to drag. I raced through the last 50 pages or so to get the book finished. The book ended nicely enough, but with Pepper having a pity party every other page or so at the end I was beginning to wonder why I should keep reading? I will say though that when the next one comes out, I will be picking it up.

Casey Daniels

Book Description from Amazon
Mystery shopper Josie Marcus's report about Danessa Celedine's exclusive store is less than stellar, and it may cost the fashion diva fifty million dollars. But Danessa's financial future becomes moot when she's found murdered, strangled with one of her own thousand-dollar snakeskin belts-and Josie is accused of the crime.

My Review
A pretty decent mystery, that I'll probably continue with, providing she comes out with another one in this series.