Some Like It Lethal: A Blackbird Sisters Mystery (Blackbird Sisters Mysteries) [Mass Market Paperback]

In this novel, Nora Blackbird continues her first real job as assistant to the Society Editor of the local newspaper. She attends various society functions, many of which she was routinely invited to previously in her "former life" - before she had to go to work. The only difference now is that she has to write a review and email it to the editor.

When she is not working, Nora is usually either saving the world from "killer dog" Spike (love him!) or taking care of her sister's family. Libby is recovering from recent childbirth and is busy embracing the goddess within. (The goddess, by the way, is Placida - deity of tranquility, adventure, and weight loss!)

While Nora is covering the annual "fox hunt" breakfast event for the newspaper, Rush Strawcutter, the husband of a dog food heiress, is found murdered in a horse stall. Nora's job of rescuing her siblings only escalates when she discovers that her sister, Emma, is drunk and unconscious in the stall as well.

Fortunately for Nora and her siblings, Michael is nearby to help lend a "streets smart" hand as Nora deals with blackmail, mystery, and romance.

An excellent and fun novel! Nancy Martin is quickly turning into one of my favorite writers.

When Nora attends the hunt club breakfast, her sister Emma is nowhere to be found even though she was supposed to be riding. After covering the story she looks for Emma but other guests find her in a barn stall, unconscious from too much drink and the murdered body of Rush Strawcutter next to her. Her whip is covered in blood and the police believe she is the perpetrator but Nora knows better and once again goes into sleuth mode to flush the guilty party out of hiding.

SOME LIKE IT LETHAL is a fabulous amateur sleuth mystery. The heroine is fearful about becoming involved with Michael because he was born and raised in a Mafia family and she is afraid to trust that he is totally innocent of any crimes, allowing her to seem vulnerable to readers beneath her tough exterior. Nancy Martin has written a real puzzler because the victim was so laid back and gentle that nobody, including Nora, believes he had an enemy in the world. Take a walk on the wild side with this rowdy and witty who-done-it.

Harriet Klausner

Nora's little sister Libby has just had another baby. Her husband has died - all the Blackbird women are widows, it appears to be a curse. Nora is staying with Libby to help out with the children. Michael, Nora's boyfriend who is the son of a mob boss, is out of the country on a fishing trip. The police are looking into possible money laundering and keep asking her about it. To complicate matters, she has a small, ugly puppy Spike who she takes almost everywhere with her in her purse.

Nora is from high society but since her parents left the country to avoid a $2 million tax bill, she has had to take a job as a society writer for a Philadelphia newspaper to keep her head above water and hold onto the family farm.

As Nora begins to investigate, her friend Hadley Pinkham comes to her aide many times. They know a lot of the same people and end up following one of them into a park. It appears he is paying the blackmailer. Nora knows if she can get to the bottom of the blackmailing, she'll probably get to the bottom of the murder as well. Somehow they are tied together.

This is a terrific series and this is a great addition to it. I like all the characters and all the parties she attends. Yet she seems to be a normal person most of the time. Her boyfriend Michael and Detective Bloom both add a lot of color to the story as well.

I always look forward to reading the next book in the series. I find it hard to put it down once I start! I highly recommend this one!