Laura Durham For Better or Hearse

For Better or Hearse

Laura Durham

Avon, March 2006, $6.99, 272 pp.

ISBN 0060739045

Washington DC wedding planner Annabelle Archer is hosting a wedding at the Fairmont Hotel, but she is having a problem with one of the chefs. Chef Henri came after her with a knife when she went into his kitchen to talk about changing the serving of an appetizer. Working around the problem, Annabelle awaits for the newly married couple to arrive from the church at the reception from the church, when she sees Chef Henri impaled on the ice tiger.

Georgia Rhodes, the catering executive at the Fairmont for years is afraid the general manager, who hates her, will use the murder as an attempt to fire her. Nobody is more surprised than Annabelle when Georgia is arrested because the police have evidence, a motive (they argued just before he was killed) and plenty of opportunity. She asks Annabelle to help clear her name. In the course of the investigation, evidence Annabelle collects and gives to the police mysteriously disappears; two more employees of the Fairmont are killed, and her car disappears in the valet parking lot.

FOR BETTER OR HEARSE is an awesome Annabelle Archer mystery because everyone who knew the victim hated him, so there are a lot of suspects for the heroine to eliminate. The plot is filled with humor, especially during scenes when the newlyweds decide on wedding details. Annabelle's loyalty to Georgia is strong because her friend helped her when she first started her company, even if it means putting her own life in danger. Laura Durham has a hit series on her hands.