‘Death of a Diva’ by Jean Goodhind

Published by Accent Press (UK),
23 Oct. 2014.
ISBN: 978-1909520332

  

This is the latest in the very entertaining, Honey Driver led series, a cosy-crime with a difference. The romance in this series, between Honey Driver and Steve Doherty, local detective and hunk, and  the side-kick Honey works alongside with, to solve all the murders, is one I have followed with great interest through all the books. The series is set in Bath, that in itself is enough to make you want to read. To be drawn into a city as full of history and interest as the tourism figures annually prove, in itself is a treat, but Honey Driver is such fun and the stories so full of fun as well as the who-dunnit-factor which will keep you guessing.

Honey owns and runs a beautiful hotel in the city. However, as this story starts, she is thinking of selling up and moving outside the city and buying another older hotel which she will renovate. Honey receives an invitation to a cocktail party with all the rich and famous of the area. A local estate agent is out to sell some exceptional property and Honey is invited to view a mansion in the country which could make for the right place to relocate her hotel. However as she peruses the building, she discovers a body stuck in the chimney. It is the famous TV diva Arabella Neville, who Honey met and overheard arguing at the cocktail party. And Arabella has now been murdered. And with the help of Doherty, Honey sets out to get to the bottom of it.

Goodhind is a master at creating colourful, and likeable, characters. She knows how to write humour and she knows how to write suspense.  She keeps us guessing and she keeps us laughing. The only thing that doesn’t come as a surprise to me is the fact that this series has lasted over so many books, or that its popularity just keeps on growing. I can’t wait for the next. So, highly recommended.

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Reviewer: Linda Regan.

www.lindareganonline.co.uk

Jean G. Goodhind is a popular writer of women’s fiction, crime, romance and comedy. For many years she owned and ran a haunted guest house on the outskirts of Bath and was one of the founding members of the Bath Hotel and Restaurant Association. Her experiences inspired the international bestselling Honey Driver series. She has won a BBC Radio award for scriptwriting. She also writes women’s fiction as Lizzie Lane and writes a regular column for the Western Daily Press.

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Linda Regan is the author of six police procedural crime novels. She is also an actress. She holds a Masters degree in critical writing and journalism, and writes a regular column, including book reviews, for three magazines. She also presents the book-club spot on BBC Radio Kent. She is an avid reader, and welcomes the chance to read new writers

www.lindareganonline.co.uk