MY VERY OWN MURDER

Author: Josephine Carr ISBN: 0451216466 9/2005 CONTEMPORARY Publisher: NAL

A murder will occur in thirty days. It's up to Anne Johnson to prevent it . . . . Free-spirited and freshly divorced, fifty-year-old Anne Johnson is living the good life. With plenty of money to keep her comfortable, she spends her nights in her luxurious, elegant apartment in Washington, D.C., cuddled up beside the fireplace with a good book in one hand and a perfect martini in the other. Then, out of nowhere, Anne hears a voice in her head warning that there will be a murder in her building in thirty days -- and that only she can stop it. Without a clue about what to do, she confides in Mary, the building's large-and-in-charge cleaning woman -- and together they plan a party to ferret out the would-be-killer before time runs out. As they make preparations, Anne writes up a list of potential suspects, which unfortunately includes the gorgeous Russian neighbor she can't stop lusting after. But as much fun as Anne and Mary are having, the clock keeps ticking -- and if they don't act quickly, the swanky soiree might end up as a good-bye party -- for them . . . .

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Josephine Carr turns the stereotype of a middle-aged, wealthy divorcee on its heel with her sophomore effort. MY VERY OWN MURDER refuses to categorize itself. While I'm positive it isn't romance, it's not quite chick-lit or a mystery, either. But in any case, I enjoyed reading it!

Anne Johnson is a self-satisfied fifty-year old divorcee who has little to do with her time. She doesn't have any friends, and has just moved into the kind of apartment building in Washington, D.C. that is populated by retired U.S. senators, society ladies and very successful criminals.

Just as Anne is trying to decide if she's bored, happy or just sexually frustrated, she hears a voice in her head telling her that a murder will occur in thirty days in her apartment building. With nothing better to do, she embarks on a madcap murder investigation. Little would she expect that a threatened murder could lead her to a new best friend, a hot affair, and even help out her ex-husband.

The characters are a lot of fun, if a bit morally bankrupt and sex-obsessed, and the story is as entertaining as it is twisted. MY VERY OWN MURDER is a great quick-moving read for a lazy day.

Heather Hiestand