Category: Mystery
Publisher: Penguin Group
ISBN-13:9780451225498
Series: Annie Seymour, #4
Pub. Date: November 2008
Date Read: November 2008
"He looked better dead than alive. Can't say that about many people."
A bachelortte party is not exactly Annie Seymour's idea of a good time but she was talked into going by one of her co-workers so Annie finds herself at the swanky Rogue Bar, watching a stripper one minute and the next she's outside standing next to the body of the club's manager. The man is dead, and he just happens to be Annie's ex-husband, Ralph Seymour.
To complicate matters, the police find Annie to be a prime suspect what with the weapon in question of the crime being found in her car. Lucky for Annie, her mom, the attorney, gets her out of police custody and Annie can go back to her job. Unfortunately, the newspaper where she works, The New Haven Hearld, reassigns her to the social services beat until the investigation into Ralph's murder is completed.
Annie doesn't like that beat one bit but she's a good reporter and she goes out to meet with the Reverend Shaw, a prominent figure in the community who's been working with high school students from the projects. Annie doesn't trust the good reverend and when she finds out that Jack Hammer, the stripper, and the reverend know each other, Annie knows something is going on and she's going to find out exactly what it is.
Meanwhile, Annie's past is also coming back to her via her some of her college friends who also knew Ralph and want to hold a memorial for her ex-husband. Annie really doesn't want to be a part of that and while the reader at first may think she's being too callous, details of her past are revealed which will give Annie's character more depth and understanding.
The excellent cast of characters that the author has built throught the series are all back for this thrill-ride. I think what makes this book stand out from the others is that for the first time we see Annie holding back evidence not only to the police detective, her former boyfriend, but also to the reader. I actually loved how all the bits are slowly revealed.
While the book can certainly be read out of order as the author gives us enough backstory, I would recommend starting from the beginning because this is one series that really builds on solid character development. Either way you'll be in for a fun time with Annie and the rest of the crew.