Sunday, September 1, 2013

Review - Too Rich and Too Dead


Title: Too Rich and Too Dead
Author: Cynthia Baxter
Publisher: Bantam (March 24, 2009)
Format: Paperback; Pgs 336
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Source: Library
Series: Murder Packs a Mystery #2

For me, Cynthia Baxter’s Murder Packs a Suitcase series is more about location than murder mystery. The “who-did-it” is secondary to the travel brochure feel that lead character Mallory Marlowe imparts on her readers.

Mallory Marlowe, a recent widow, is a travel writer for The Good Life magazine, wanting to introduce her readers to Aspen, Colorado, she takes a different approach - Aspen for the non-skier. A curious angle made even more temping when an old high school acquaintance lives in the area and is famous for a new health drink called Rejuva-Juice. All is not well in this swanky town when Carly Cassidy Berman is found murdered.

Like her previous book, Murder Packs a Suitcase – taking place in Orlando, Florida, Cynthia Baxter takes the reader on a guided tour of Aspen in the guise of finding Carly’s killer. The book does show its age a bit with references to now deceased celebrities, but that is okay, the atmosphere makes up for that.

As you read the book, any number of people could have killed Carly, she was not liked and the rich and famous – and those who tag along – are only after one thing. Who had the most to gain from this fountain of youth in a bottle, and who was willing to kill for it?

Unfortunately, this series ended after just two book, but Cynthia Baxter can be found through her other series, Reigning Cats and Dogs.

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