Act Two for Murder: Magnolia Steele Mystery #2

Denise Grover Swank

Sept 2016 · Magnolia Steele Mystery Book 2 · DGS

About this eBook

The second book in the four book USA Today bestselling Magnolia Steele Mystery series.

Magnolia may have escaped arrest for murder, but her troubles are far from behind her. She’s still haunted by two things from her past—her father’s disappearance when she was a teen, and the other...well, her memories of a serial killer have returned, but it’s best left where it belongs—in the past.

Needing closure, Magnolia decides to look into her father’s cold case. Though the town gossips are convinced he ran away with his client’s wife and money, she has always suspected foul play. Talking to a few of his old acquaintances seems harmless enough—until the man she’s arranged to meet turns up dead. There’s evidence someone murdered him to keep him quiet, and she realizes that whatever conspiracy her father was mixed up in is far from over; it’s entering its second act.

If Magnolia keeps digging, she’s not sure she can trust her own mother to help her, let alone her new friends and the police detective who’s eager to woo her, but after years of running, she’s ready to stand her ground.

Ratings and reviews

Some things are better left in the past. How many times can you be told this phrase and let the past go? For Magnolia, infinity! There are still questions unanswered about her fathers disappearance that Maggie needs resolved so she can have closure to that part of her life. Before she can dig too deep, she stumbles across a dead body. That makes two now, but who's counting. Things just aren't adding up with the details of her father's disappearance. She has to contend with a lot of predicaments to progress with the case, and one thing is for sure - she can't trust anyone! Sometimes when you are reading book two in a series, you get lost or loose momentum with the story, not so with this book. It was fast paced and had me glued from the start. There was so much to take in, and I so wanted Magnolia to find out the truth, especially before her momma passes. Just when you think it is all tied up, another clue is dropped to add to the mystery. The last one being gasp worthy. DGS knows how to keep us intrigued and its not only the mystery but the relationships with these great characters she creates for us. This book ends with a cliff hanger, and the next book, Call Back, is due in February 2017. I for one will be itching to get my hands on Brady....I mean the book to find out what else is installed for Maggie and the gang.

I loved this book. There was a surprise around every corner. Maggie finds herself getting into a mess once again. I really like Brady and hope she can work everything out with him. I like Colt and could put him in the boyfriend spot but don't trust him fully. We get introduced to some new people in this book that adds a nice twist to the story. I can't wait to see were this is going. I was hanging off my chair through most of this book. You really won't be disappointed.

The show must go on!! Denise Grover Swank has come back and did it again, and it may have been even better than Center Stage! We learn so much more about Magnolia’s past and now know there are all kinds of issues there but I like how there are present issues as well. I’ve tried figuring out what is going on before the book but it’s not predictable, which I love, and I just have no idea where this story will lead but I know I am obsessed with finding it out.

About the author

New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author Denise Grover Swank has released over thirty novels and novellas and has sold over two million books. She writes mysteries with romance, humorous romance, light-hearted young adult romance, and urban fantasy. She lives in Blue Springs, Missouri with her three naughty dogs and six imaginative children. You can find out more about Denise at www.denisegroverswank.com.