Killer Listing

February 7, 2011
Doudera's diverting second Darby Farr mystery (after 2010's A House to Die For) takes the intrepid realtor to Florida, to see her late aunt's business partner, Helen Near, who lives on a key outside Sarasota. Helen is expecting a visit from her new high-powered business partner, Kyle Cameron, who recently left Barnaby's International Realty, but Kyle fails to show, having been stabbed to death at an open house. Darby once again turns sleuth, aiding the investigation of Det. Jonas Bridges, who suspects Kyle was the victim of a serial killer known as the Kondo Killer. Meanwhile, as Darby assists Helen with the sale of St. Andrew's Isle, a $45 million property, to shipping tycoon Hideki Kobayashi, she learns more about her Japanese mother's past. While the pace drags at times, cozy fans with an interest in high-end real estate will be satisfied.

January 15, 2011

A beautiful, driven real-estate agent is stabbed to death at an open house. Is she the victim of a serial killer, or is there more to the puzzle?

Darby Farr has flown to Florida from her Southern California home to help her deceased mother's partner, Helen Near. Darby wants to sell her mother's share in the business, and Helen has found the perfect partner in Kyle Cameron—at least until Kyle is murdered. Darby, who has some sleuthing experience (A House to Die For, 2010), is soon drawn into the case. Kyle's ex-husband, scion of a wealthy family, is still crazy about her and his drinking has led to unstable behavior. The firm Kyle worked for was not happy she was leaving, and Kyle's soon-to-be-ex-lover's wife is extremely jealous. The powers that be are happy to write off the murder as one of a series of killings at open houses, but Detective Jonas Briggs has his doubts. The police have kept the fact that the killer cuts off a finger from each victim a secret. Although Kyle is missing a finger, it is the wrong one. Busy making enemies by closing a $40 million deal on the estate of a famous golfer, Darby still manages to come up with some clues that could be the death of her.

A touch of romance, a hint of danger and a mystery that keeps you guessing spice Darby's second case.

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