Melissa Senate, Love You to Death

Love You to Death

Melissa Senate

Red Dress, January 2007, $13.95

ISBN: 0373895461

As her half-sister Opal points out, being an expert on men since she is engaged, Maine Life columnist Abby always picks losers. One of them, Ted Puck and Mary-Kate Darling have made the wedding announcement section of the paper; Abbey catches the pair in her bed on her birthday. Her siblings and "Abby Too" wish hell for Puck.

The next day Portland Police Department Detectives Benjamin Orr and Frank Fargo question Abby, as someone has poisoned Ted. Her family, friends and Maine Life peers assume Abby killed the cheating jerk, and is capable of murdering others. Though she knows Ben from when she had a crush on him in high school, Abby fears she will be railroaded, so she begins her own inquiries that lead to her tripping over Big Ben, as she begins to agree Opal is right that you know everything that matters about a man fifteen minutes into the first date.

Readers will know everything they need to know about charming neurotic Abby Foote in the first fifteen pages, while appreciating her escapades as she tries to prove her innocence. The amusing amateur sleuth displays a wild support cast who suddenly fears this mild mannered reporter has become a lethal poison Ivy, with each of them pondering if they did anything to Abby that will make them the next target. The game's a Foote with Abby on the case, as the audience obtains a delightful romantic mystery.