Reviewed By Liz

ISBN 978-0-451-22041-7

A Crazy Little Thing Called Death is a Blackbird Sisters Mystery. The Blackbird sisters, Nora, Libby, and Emma, are from an old Philadelphia family but have been in financial difficulty since their parents ran off to South America with all the family money (and money from a few other families, besides). The sisters also share the family curse – they are all young widows. Nora has accepted and is finally wearing a massive engagement ring from Nick Abruzzo, who assures her that he will be fine. But the fact that he keeps having accidents and near misses is starting to worry her.

Nora becomes involved with another unusual Philadelphia family when she attends the memorial service/polo match for neighbor Penny Devine. Although her family has declared Penny dead in absentia (she has been missing for some time) Nora finds a severed human hand at the memorial. Which, of course, leads everyone to wonder what really happened to Penny.

I love the setup that Martin has created for the Blackbird sisters. She has three women with very different temperaments and experiences to draw from. She has built-in issues of financial hardship, single parenthood, and substance abuse problems that the women are all coping with. And she has great conficts between the Blackbirds’ old moneyed family and Abruzzo’s mob background. But she has also incorporated some very fun elements like the parties that Nora covers for her society column and watching her sister’s unusual children.

Martin also weaves an interesting plot for these main and the many supporting characters to appear in. There are always lots of mini mysteries and intrigues going on around Nora and they resolve satisfactorily in the end when all is revealed.

Favorite character? This is always a hard question with these books because I like them all. Did I guess it? Yes. Will I read another? Definitely. I have read and enjoyed all the Blackbird sisters books.

Mystery Book Reviews by Liz at http://reviewedbyliz.com ©2007

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I like the Blackbird sisters. They are cursed with widowhood at an early age and their parents have done a bunk and left the country one step ahead of the taxman, but the sisters are coping. Libby, the eldest is pregnant again and looking for a birth coach and Emma is trying to get back into training horses after two injuries and her husband’s recent death, but is drinking more than is good for her. And main character Nora is trying to keep both the family and the family home intact and hold down her first job as a society columnist.

The three sisters have very different personalities and outlooks on life, but are devoted to each other and work through widowhood, new romances, murder, jewel theft, stalking, and a little breaking and entering together. Add a dark and dangerous man into the mix for Nora and you have a fun read.

This book is set in Philadelphia and the reader gets a glimpse into high society there through Nora’s work as a newspaper society columnist. Her new poverty forces her to become creative with her wardrobe and she constantly raids her grandmother’s vintage couture collection. I thought at first that the quantity of wardrobe information would turn me off, but you quickly adapt to it because it is integral to the character.

Did I guess it? Yeah, it is kind of predictable. But read it anyway for the flavor.

Favorite character? Who can resist Tempeste Juarez’s up-front manner and zest for life?

Mystery Book Reviews by Reviewed By Liz.com ©2006