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Available
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Publication
MIDNIGHT INK (2009), Paperback, 307 pages
Description
Wildly successful chick lit mystery writer Kimberlee Kalder is the guest of honor at an exclusive writers' conference at Dalmorton Castle in Scotland. But the fun ends when Kimberlee is found dead at the bottom of the castle's bottle dungeon. Who didn't want to see prima donna Kimberlee brutally extinguished like one of her ill-fated characters? It's up to Detective Chief Inspector St. Just to track down the true killer in a castle full of cagey mystery connoisseurs who live and breathe malicious murder and artful alibis...
Media reviews
Malliet's satirical take on the mystery scene is spot-on.
A step down from Malliet’s bright debut, but still an entertaining diversion.
User reviews
LibraryThing member pinkozcat
I enjoyed most of this book and really thought that I was onto a winner; I was a classic locked room crime. However, when I neared the end of the book I realised that there were far too many suspects and really no clues.
In fact, the author gave the reader no hints and it was, unless I missed
The plot was revealed in the last chapter with a 'cosy murder' gathering of all the suspects which left me feeling angry that I hadn't been given a sporting chance to solve the mystery before the end of the book.
In a word - disappointing.
In fact, the author gave the reader no hints and it was, unless I missed
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something, impossible to work out who did the murder.The plot was revealed in the last chapter with a 'cosy murder' gathering of all the suspects which left me feeling angry that I hadn't been given a sporting chance to solve the mystery before the end of the book.
In a word - disappointing.
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LibraryThing member Jim53
Second in Malliet's series featuring DCI Arthur St. Just, a British detective. In this one he has joined a group of mystery writers and agents at an event set up by a publisher at a Scottish castle. One of the writers is murdered, and St. Just helps the local authorities identify the murderer. It's
Not too surprisingly, St. Just and the local officials turn up some interesting dirt on most of the attenders, including reasons for several to have wanted to do away with the victim. Unfortunately much of the information is revealed only at the end, wen St. Just confronts the guilty parties at a gathering of all the suspects. So the reader has virtually no chance of solving the mystery successfully.
St. Just is a moderately interesting character. A widower, he finds himself strongly attracted to one of the writers. Malliet gives us brief but adequate descriptions of the other characters, including snarky references by some characters to others. After an introductory section in which we see many of the attenders preparing and traveling to the castle, we spend most of the book in St. Just's point of view, with a few side trips to others' minds. The book is well constructed and a fun read, with the proviso that mystery fans who like to solve the mystery as they read will find it frustrating.
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like a closed-room or desert-island scenario, in that the murderer must have been present at the conference. The drawbridge over the castle's moat is the only form of egress, and it makes too much noise to be used surreptitiously.Not too surprisingly, St. Just and the local officials turn up some interesting dirt on most of the attenders, including reasons for several to have wanted to do away with the victim. Unfortunately much of the information is revealed only at the end, wen St. Just confronts the guilty parties at a gathering of all the suspects. So the reader has virtually no chance of solving the mystery successfully.
St. Just is a moderately interesting character. A widower, he finds himself strongly attracted to one of the writers. Malliet gives us brief but adequate descriptions of the other characters, including snarky references by some characters to others. After an introductory section in which we see many of the attenders preparing and traveling to the castle, we spend most of the book in St. Just's point of view, with a few side trips to others' minds. The book is well constructed and a fun read, with the proviso that mystery fans who like to solve the mystery as they read will find it frustrating.
Show Less
LibraryThing member KateBaxter
Another well-crafted cozy DCI St. Just mystery by G.M. Malliet. Loved the premise, enjoyed the humor and was kept in suspense until the end. This was the second in the Malliet's DCI St. Just mysteries Now on to number #3 - "Death at the Alma Mater"!
Synopsis:
Everyone has gathered at Dalmorton
Then Kimberlee turns up dead at the bottom of the castle's bottle dungeon. With the help of his lovely sidekick, Portia, Detective Chief Inspector St. Just is hot on the trail of the true killer in a castle full of cagey mystery connoisseurs who live and breathe malicious murder and artful alibis .
Synopsis:
Everyone has gathered at Dalmorton
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Castle in Scotland for a crime writers' conference, including Kimberlee Kalder, the publishing industry's "It" girl. Totally hot and couture-clad, this bestselling chick-lit mystery writer has captured the envious — and resentful — attentions of all. Rumor has it that prima donna Kimberlee is shopping around for a new agent (and the best deal for her latest book), and there are some who would stop at nothing to steal her as a client. Then Kimberlee turns up dead at the bottom of the castle's bottle dungeon. With the help of his lovely sidekick, Portia, Detective Chief Inspector St. Just is hot on the trail of the true killer in a castle full of cagey mystery connoisseurs who live and breathe malicious murder and artful alibis .
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Awards
Audie Award (Finalist — Mystery — 2014)
Anthony Award (Nominee — 2010)
Language
Original publication date
2009-04-01
ISBN
141041776X / 9781410417763
Local notes
Everyone has gathered at Dalmorton Castle in Scotland for a crime writers' conference, including Kimberlee Kalder, the publishing industry's "It" girl. Totally hot and couture-clad, this bestselling chick-lit mystery writer has captured the envious - and resentful - attentions of all. Rumor has it that prima donna Kimberlee is shopping around for a new agent (and the best deal for her latest book), and there are some who would stop at nothing to steal her as a client. Then Kimberlee turns up dead at the bottom of the castle's bottle dungeon. With the help of his lovely sidekick, Portia, Detective Chief Inspector St. Just is hot on the trail of the true killer in a castle full of cagey mystery connoisseurs who live and breathe malicious murder and artful alibis.
Entertaining. St Just is a fun character.
Entertaining. St Just is a fun character.