Beauty Dies

by Melodie Johnson Howe

Book Overview

Sophisticated private eye Claire Conrad and her down-to-earth assistant Maggie Hill return in a mystery set in New York's seedy side, where they investigate a murder involving topless dancers, peep... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0670854492
• ISBN13: 9780670854493
• Release Date: October 1994
• Publisher: Viking Books
• Length: 257 Pages
• Weight: 0.97 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Hilarious and provoking

I'm writing this review in case the author ever takes a look. I love this mystery, and its predecessor, THE MOTHER SHADOW. Claire, Maggie, and Boulton are lively, intriguing characters, and the sarcastic asides about gender roles are delightful. MJH, please, please write more!

Sex and the City meets Jane Austen

The contemporary wit of this novel and of THE MOTHER SHADOW is appealing and refreshing. The mystery female protaganist genre is well represented by Ms. Howe and is in ways surpassed by her unique and engaging characterizations. Grafton, Paretsky, Barnes and Pickard write amusing, sometimes riveting tales, but Howe kicks it up a notch creating her Everywoman Maggie Hill. Another novel by Howe would find a wide, appreciative audience.

One of the best new series to come along

The two books in this series are very well written, with intriguing plots, and well crafted narrative. The characters are interesting, likeable, and well developed. We need more of these!

The best mystery ever

I have both books of the outstanding trio Claire Conrad, Maggie Hill and Boulton and I can't wait to read more from them. So, Melodie Johnson Howe, keep writing.

This is a series with great potential - Nero Wolfe-like!

We need more Melodie Howes! The characters are clever and eccentric but still quite believable. The plots are interesting without seeming contrived. The two books in the series are fun and never insult the reader's intelligence. Howe handles the 90's well without resorting to cliche, shock, or political correctness - pretty rare. My favorite mystery authors are Rex Stout, Jan Willem van Wettering, and Sjowall and Wahloo - and Howe has the potential to be right in there. Please, Melodie, write some more!