He who laughs last, laughs longest. Unless he's dead. When romance author Hazel Rose is dropped by her publisher, she sees herself heading down a path strewn with has-been authors. While disappointed, Hazel won't give up without a fight-she signs up for a mystery-writing class, thinking that crime fiction will jumpstart her career. But what's a mystery-writing class without a mystery? So when Randy Zimmerman, an obnoxious classmate given to laughing at others' expense, is murdered, Hazel tackles the case. ...
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He who laughs last, laughs longest. Unless he's dead. When romance author Hazel Rose is dropped by her publisher, she sees herself heading down a path strewn with has-been authors. While disappointed, Hazel won't give up without a fight-she signs up for a mystery-writing class, thinking that crime fiction will jumpstart her career. But what's a mystery-writing class without a mystery? So when Randy Zimmerman, an obnoxious classmate given to laughing at others' expense, is murdered, Hazel tackles the case. Solving a real-life murder will surely lend authenticity to her creative writing. She recruits her book group pals to help with the investigation. Trouble is, there are more suspects than they bargained for-even Hazel herself, who endured Randy's thumbs-way-down review of her writing, had a motive. A second body drives the stakes higher, and Hazel doubles her efforts to find who's behind the murders, unearthing secrets that a killer would go to any lengths to keep hidden. Will Hazel succeed? Or will this be "The End" for her?
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Add this copy of Laughing Can Kill You to cart. $9.89, new condition, Sold by Ingram Customer Returns Center rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from NV, USA, published 2021 by Olive Lane Press.
Add this copy of Laughing Can Kill You to cart. $12.28, like new condition, Sold by GreatBookPrices rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Columbia, MD, UNITED STATES, published 2021 by Olive Lane Press.
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Fine. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 320 p. In Stock. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Brand New, Perfect Condition, allow 4-14 business days for standard shipping. To Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. protectorate, P.O. box, and APO/FPO addresses allow 4-28 business days for Standard shipping. No expedited shipping. All orders placed with expedited shipping will be cancelled. Over 3, 000, 000 happy customers.
Add this copy of Laughing Can Kill You to cart. $12.40, new condition, Sold by GreatBookPrices rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Columbia, MD, UNITED STATES, published 2021 by Olive Lane Press.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
New. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 320 p. In Stock. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Brand New, Perfect Condition, allow 4-14 business days for standard shipping. To Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. protectorate, P.O. box, and APO/FPO addresses allow 4-28 business days for Standard shipping. No expedited shipping. All orders placed with expedited shipping will be cancelled. Over 3, 000, 000 happy customers.
Hazel Rose is back and her writing career is in peril. Dropped by her publisher she decides combining mystery with her usual romance themes may just save her from being a has-been. She signs up for a class being taught by successful best-selling mystery author Claudia Marlowe. Prior to the class, the authors meet at a book signing where future classmate and author hopeful Randy Zimmerman brags his book will rival the works of John Grisham. He also seems to find humor in everything and spews some hurtful words. Shortly thereafter the man is found dead, by Hazel no less, and she and her book club have another murder to solve. One where she and other authors find themselves prominent on the suspect list.
Can Hazel find the killer or has she written her last word?
While part of a series this book easily stands on its own. The author provides plenty of background information so readers new to the series will not feel lost at all.
Hazel Rose is an excellent protagonist. She is a genuinely nice person. Her natural curiosity suits her well both in her storytelling and sleuthing. I love that she is an author dealing with all the hurdles in the publishing world and gives readers a look behind the scenes. She is surrounded by the required set of quirky characters that are unique and each intriguing in their own ways. Randy Zimmerman was a real piece of work who left a lot of enemies in his wake. The suspect pool is large but manageable.
The story is very well-written with Hazel meeting with the suspects one by one trying to determine who could have done Randy in. There is plenty of humor layered throughout and the dialogues are top-notch. The story moves along at a very comfortable pace. I was very entertained by Hazel's process and the final confrontation was very exciting when things almost went horribly wrong.
I did enjoy the way Ms. King sets a scene. I can tell how much she loves where she lives. Her descriptions gave a great vision of the time and place.
Laughing Can Kill You has an interesting amateur sleuth, a nice cast of supporting characters, a wonderful setting, and a captivating mystery. I hope to visit Hazel Rose again soon, I want to know how her writing career is faring. I am sure a dead body or two will give her plenty of ideas.
