"Amusing Maggie mystery tale"
Popular historical mystery writer Maggie Kelly and an
entourage to include Alex Blakely better known to readers
as Viscount Saint Just and his able assistant Sterling
Balder travel to England to observe the filming of her
first novel. Maggie still struggles with Alex and
Sterling being alive since they are creatures of her
imagination having starred in her mystery books until they
somehow stepped out of novels and just showed up at her
home (see MAGGIE NEEDS AN ALIBI). When a torrential storm strikes, all power is lost
including telephone lines and flooding which leaves
everyone stranded inside the gothic-like Medwine Manor.
Adding to the discomfit of the marooned is that someone
stole everyone's cell phone. Soon uneasiness turns to
fright when a visitor is found hanging from a scaffold
followed by another homicide. Alex believes he must
uncover the identity of the killer as that is what he
is "programmed" to do; besides he feels he must keep
Maggie safe. HIGH HEELS AND HOMICIDE, the latest amusing Maggie mystery
tale uses hyperbolic characterizations to lampoon several
Hollywood stereotypes. The satirical spoof is very
humorous as Alex and Sean struggle with the pompous I am
the greatest attitudes that somewhat reminds them of the
aristocracy from the settings of the novels that they come
from. The lighthearted tale contains a fun who-done-it,
but that ironically takes a back seat to the jocular
interplay of the cast. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted November 15, 2005
SummaryWhen mystery author Maggie Kelly heads across the pond
for a movie shoot—accompanied by her once-fictional, now
all-too-real hero, Alexandre, Viscount Saint Just—she can
only hope for a jolly good time...
Don't get me wrong—there was plenty to laugh about when we
first arrived in Merry Olde England to watch one of my
novels being shot as a major motion picture. Alex was
delighted with the location (a seventeeth-century manor
house), but horrified with the surfer-dude mimbo playing
him. I, personally, found the situation hilarious... then
the leading lady started rubbing up against "my" hero,
leaving me no choice but to start a little flirtation of my
own with the lord of the manor's nephew. It was all very
Regency House Party until the scriptwriter showed up...
dead.
Things are suddenly getting hot and heavy between Alex and
me—and their timing is atrocious as usual, what with the
murder and mayhem. Suspects? Don't get me started. There's
Mr. Contemptuous Director, Ms. Man-Crazy Production
Assistant, Mr. Fancy Pants English Actor, Ms. Diva Leading
Lady, and... your truly. Yep, I was seen arguing with the
victim right before his unfortunate demise, so I am, as the
Brits would say, in a bit of a pickle.
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