Book Review: Dying to be Murdered

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Dying to be Murdered     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Judy Fitzwater
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Amateur Sleuth
Series: Jennifer Marsh # 5
Fawcett, May 2001, $6.50, 240 pp.

In Macon, her writing group partner Monique Dupree obtains a job for unpublished mystery author Jennifer Marsh. Wealthy senior citizen Mary Bedford Ashton is offering a thousand dollars for Jennifer to keep a journal of her last week of life. Though in good health, Mary believes her sister-in-law plans to kill her and wants her murderer apprehended. Reluctantly, Jennifer agrees to serve as a scribe spending an entire week including nights at the Ashton mansion and vows to catch her host's killer.

Jennifer expects nothing to happen because she believes the elderly woman is paranoid or senile. However, that first night, Jennifer hears screams that sound like someone is assaulting Mary. Jennifer tries to run to the woman, but is locked inside her bedroom. When she manages to become free, Jennifer sees a ton of blood in Mary's bed, but no body. The police arrive and question Jennifer as if she is the culprit. Unable to sit idly on the sidelines due to guilt for failing to take Mary seriously and because of her vow to catch a killer, Jennifer begins her own investigation, not yet aware of the danger from an unknown source.

DYING TO BE MURDERED, the fifth Marsh amateur sleuth tale, retains the warmth of the key cast members and the enjoyment of a clever puzzle. The who-done-it is entertaining, as several twists will keep the audience and Jennifer the bulldog fooled (I realize this is Macon not Athens). Fans will take pleasure in this story while newcomers will be dying to obtain Judy Fitzwater's previous works.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner