Laughed 'Til He Died: A Death on Demand Mystery

Written by Carolyn Hart

Narrated by Kate Reading

Intrigue and foul play are no strangers to the idyllic South Carolina sea island of Broward's Rock. Mystery bookstore owner Annie Darling and her husband, Max, who specialize in solving problems, plunge into a startling web of danger and deceit when a trio of deaths is linked to the island's youth recreation center.

With the evidence mounting against her, the center's director seeks out Max to clear her name. When it comes to intrigue, where Max goes, Annie isn't far behind. To save an innocent woman, the pair scrambles to unravel three complex interlinked puzzles: the mystery of three guns, the pulled-out pant pockets of one victim, and the disappearance of a teenager whose stepfather always had the last laugh-until he died.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Penguin Random House Audio
• Release date: Apr 12, 2011
• ISBN: 9780307879097

Carolyn Hart

An accomplished master of mystery, Carolyn Hart is the author of twenty previous Death on Demand novels. Her books have won multiple Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity Awards. She is also the creator of the Henrie O series, featuring a retired reporter, and the Bailey Ruth series, starring an impetuous, redheaded ghost. One of the founders of Sisters in Crime, Hart lives in Oklahoma City.

Reviews for Laughed 'Til He Died

[Faith Houck · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A very fine story. It kept me on the edge of my chair.
On to the next.

[kp9949 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Good. Typical. You know what you're getting with Carolyn Hart. An easy, interesting read. Better than some; not as good as others.

[drled_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Story of a nasty man who is murdered. The prime suspect is an ineffectual but nice woman. Typical story for Ms. Hart and well told.

[kahlan67 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Always enjoy reading Carolyn Hart.

[romonko · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a lively book with old friends in it like Annie and Max Darling, Max's spinny mother, and a few others that have become familiar over time. Ms. Hart writes a good cozy mystery story and this book is no exception. I noticed there wasn't as many references to other mystery writers and mystery books and that is actually a positive thing because it allowed me to focus more on this story. This book focuses around the local youth shelter and a mysterious death as well as two murders. It is apparent that things have not settled down in the supposedly idyllic little town of Broward's Rock. I really enjoy these stories and this book was a nice retreat for me. I look at Ms. Hart's books as retreats from the reality of life. They're fun, cozy and the puzzles are always good ones that keep me guessing. And Annie and Max are just so likeable that it makes reading about their lives a pleasure. Thanks Ms. Hart for pure escapism.

[newsieq · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Heroine Annie Darling's husband Max takes on a new client at his not-a-detective agency "Confidential Commissions." Her name is Jean Hughes, and she's the director of the Haven, a place where youngsters can come after school and during the summer. She was hired by the board at the insistence of the wealthy Booth Wagner, board member, big donor and total creep. Now the odious Wagner wants her fired and Jean wants Max to help her keep her job.Things become more complicated when one, two, then three people associated with the Haven are murdered and Jean is the top suspect. Annie and Max are convinced that Jean is innocent and set out to prove it. They may be her only friends. Carolyn Hart has this mystery-writing thing down to a science. And, although there's a formula, it's a winning one that the author keeps fresh. I've been a fan of Annie's since she blew into Broward's Rock as a young, single heir to her bookstore, Death on Demand. That was more than two decades ago ... and through the magic of fiction, Annie -- unlike the rest of us -- has aged only a tad. Long may she live!04/25/2010

[marthacheves_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Laughed ‘Til He Died – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, RepeatJean’s harsh sobs brought Max’s secretary, whose heart was as big as her beehive hairdo, to his office door. Summer-bright in a yellow tunic and white caprice, Barb looked at him questioningly. As awkward as most men in the face of feminine meltdown, Max cleared his throat. “How about some iced tea, Jean? Hey, Barb, bring us some of your special fruit tea and good lemon pie.” Jean using a handkerchief provided by Max, wiped her face, leaving purplish smudges atop puffy redness. She looked shyly at Barb when she returned. Barb placed a try with two big tumblers and two plates on the desk. “Goji berries and guava, my own private blend. Guaranteed to refresh. And lemon pie made this morning.”Jean Hughes had just stepped into Max Darling’s office at the Confidential Commissions. Jean, who is the director of a youth recreation center called the Haven, came to seek Max’s help. One of the directors was in the process of acquiring enough votes to have her dismissed and she didn’t want to go down without a fight. Since Max’s specialty is in solving problems, he takes her on as a client.Annie Darling, Max’s wife, owns a mystery bookstore called Death on Demand. At first, she’s not comfortable with Max taking Jean as a client. But that changed with the death of a young member from the Haven and the death of one of the Haven’s directors with Jean being the police’s number one suspect.I’ve read both of Carolyn Hart’s Bailey Ruth books and loved them. I’m patiently waiting for her to write a 3rd. This is the first of her Death on Demand books that I’ve had a chance to read and I have to say I love it too. Carolyn Hart holds you in suspense until the end. She gives no clues throughout the book allowing you to guess at who the killer really is. In fact, she actually had me believing that the killer just might be Jean Hughes. Did Carolyn Hart lead me on a wild goose chase throughout the whole book? I’ll never tell. Read Laughed ‘Til He Died and find out for yourself.Harper Collins PublishersApril, 2010ISBN 978-0-06-145309-0282 Pages