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Book Review By Harriet Klausner
May The Best Man Die by Deborah Donnelly



Dell, Oct 2003, 5.99, 421 pp.
ISBN 0553586272

Wedding planner Carnegie Kincaid may create other events from time to time but she draws the line at bachelor parties. She is understandably perturbed to get a call from her bride ordering her to go to the Hot Spot to straighten something up for the groom. When she arrives at the famous club, the best man asks her to make a liquor run. She walks out in a huff and when she returns to her office, she looks out her window and sees the best man and her best friend's brother fighting.

The next day a policeman comes to her office asking her to identify a body at the morgue because Carnegie's business card was found in his pants pocket. A reluctant Carnegie identifies the body as Jason Kraye, the best man. She then goes on to tell the police officer about the fight she witnessed and the police arrest Darren. Lily is furious at Carnegie for ratting out her brother and a remorseful Carnegie swears to her friend she will find out who the killer is. Her promise almost costs Carnegie her life.

Each book in this funny and fascinating amateur sleuth series is better than the one before. The author, a talented writer with a wicked knack for creating crisp dialogue and sharp characters, allows her heroine to grow and change so that readers feel she is believable. Despite the fact that two murders take place in MAY THE BEST MAN DIE, there is no violence in the novel so fans of cosies will want to obtain this weeding bell blues novel.

Harriet Klausner


Plot & Themes
Tone of story - very upbeat
How difficult to spot villain? - Very difficult--no foreshadowing/clues
Time/era of story:
What % of story relates directly to the mystery, not the subplot? - 70%
Misc. Murder Plotlets - Proving innocence of very obvious suspect
Kind of investigator
Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Any non-mystery subplot?
descript. of violence and chases - 10 %
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40 %
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30 %
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 20 %
Crime Thriller Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown) Yes

Main Character
Gender - Female
Profession/status:
Age: - 20's-30's
Ethnicity/Race

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 60's-90's
Profession/status:
Motive of antagonist - revenge
How sensitive is this character?
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters

Setting
United States Yes
The US: - Pacific NW

Writing Style
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
Amount of dialog - significantly more dialog than descript
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