This was a gut wrencher; again, Martin touches on edgy subjects but this time in a more seductive way. Nora’s best friend’s business partner is found dead on the sidewalk minutes after his exposure for serious financial crimes has been made public.

Nora’s efforts to clear her friend of any suspicion are clouded by a number of factors involving her own family and the cloudiness of the victim’s family life, both of which reveal some rather startling revelations for everybody.

I remember reading this the first time and the feelings of dread and shock I felt as answers to the myriad questions were discovered; there were no happy endings for anyone in this book, although there were some hilarious moments along the way.

Having read the entire series, I think I’d say this is the best entry of the 10. ( )

Actually a MINUS One!

This rating is low because I absolutely HATED the selfishness of Nora's Entire family Period! It is a shame too, because I normally like Nora, but she was so fraking dysfunctional, weak, & mealy-mouthed... and I like Michael & Lexi & Crew.....

But I Absolutely Hated This Book! ( )

Easy and fun mysteries. In this one Nora is trying to make it through a heat wave, keep her job, find out that her parents are back and trying to solve a murder that Lexie is a suspect in. As usual the Blackbird family is crazy and strange things seem to happen. ( )

Copy/paste reivew. I did enjoy this book:

Down-to-earth debutante Nora Blackbird is having a meltdown-and it isn't because of Philadelphia's heat wave, or an overdose at the city's Chocolate Festival. A noted Philly philanthropist has taken a swan dive from an office balcony-and Nora's friend Lexie stands accused of the murder. Then Nora's scheming parents reappear, sending all three Blackbird sisters into a panic. Now Nora must uncover the scandalous hijinks her parents are plotting-before she winds up taking all the heat and strangling her father with his own ascot. ( )

Love it, love it, love it. This is as good as it gets. I was a little worried about this series going off the rails, but Nancy Martin keeps all the balls in the air with grace and style. ( )