Center Stage for Murder: Magnolia Steele Mystery #1

Denise Grover Swank

Mar 2016 · Magnolia Steele Mystery Book 1 · DGS

About this ebook

First book in the four book USA Today bestselling Magnolia Steele Mystery series by the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author, Denise Grover Swank.

Ten years ago, Magnolia Steele fled Franklin, Tennessee after an incident that left her with hazy memories and a horror of the place where she had been born and bred. Though her abrupt departure destroyed most of her relationships, she vowed never to return . . . until she has no choice. When Magnolia’s breakout acting role in a Broadway musical ends in disgrace, there’s only one place she can go.

Magnolia reluctantly agrees to help her mother’s catering company at a party for a country music star, only to find herself face-to-face with a sleazy music agent from her past. After a very public spat, Magnolia not only finds him dead but herself center stage in the police’s investigation. Now she must scramble to prove her innocence, relying on the help of acquaintances old and new.

But the longer Magnolia stays in Franklin, the more she remembers about the incident that chased her away. The past might not be finished with her yet, and what she doesn’t remember could be her biggest danger.

 

 

 

Ratings and reviews

This is a very well written Prologue to another "book". I'm guessing the next installment is a book, as i haven't read it yet I can't really say. The story was good. No immediate falling in love in that sappy corny way that a lot of writers want us to buy into. However well written this was I believe a book should have some sort of conclusion. Leaving one wanting more is one thing but this gives an entirely new meaning to that. You couldn't pay me to read another book in this series.

Don't waste your time with this "story". It cannot be considered a book as it has no conclusion. It is a prequel at best, but a cheat would be more accurate if what you expected to get was a complete book. This did not have a cliffhanger. The author didn't give you enough of a story for that. Instead, this is a very blatant attempt to blackmail you into buying her next book to read what should have been the conclusion of this book. Even a series or saga should have closure for each book within the series. Authors like these are only interested in seeing how much money they can get you to spend on the remaining books before you ever get the ending to the first ones. Authors like this one do not care about their readers or about providing quality literature to them. If you don't like paying for books by the chapter instead of by the book, don't buy books from this author.

The characters are fun, but I didn't feel that urgency of wanting to find out more. Then when the book finally starts picking up, it ends with too many loose ends so people will buy the next book. I resent being manipulated.

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.