Something Wicked

Annie Darling, owner of the Death on Demand mystery bookstore on Broward's Rock Island, becomes entangled in a local murder investigation. The case centers around a theater production at the Civic Center, where tensions among the cast and crew escalate into violence. As Annie works to uncover the truth, she must navigate through a web of small-town relationships and long-held secrets. Her husband Max and a circle of amateur sleuths known as the "Wednesday Night Irregulars" assist her investigation while more suspicious events occur at the theater. The novel explores themes of community, ambition, and the destructive power of buried grudges in a close-knit island society. Hart's combination of classic mystery elements with a book-centered setting creates a compelling examination of how fiction and reality intersect in crime-solving.

Readers found this Annie Darling mystery entertaining but less compelling than other books in the series. Many noted the book provides comfort reading with familiar characters and a cozy mystery setup. Liked: - Quick, light read for series fans - Island bookstore setting - Good pacing and plot twists - Annie and Max's relationship - Halloween atmosphere Disliked: - Predictable culprit - Too many side characters to track - Less suspense than previous books - Some dialogue feels forced - Annie's decisions called "unrealistic" by multiple readers Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (1,247 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (89 ratings) Barnes & Noble: 3.9/5 (42 ratings) A common sentiment in reviews: "Fun but forgettable." Several readers mentioned skimming through parts, though most finished the book. One reviewer on Goodreads called it "a reliable comfort read, even if not Hart's strongest mystery."

Murder Is Binding by Lorna Barrett A bookstore owner in New Hampshire investigates a murder that connects to rare cookbooks, combining bibliophile elements with small-town mystery.

The Cat Who Could Read Backwards by Lilian Jackson Braun A journalist teams up with a Siamese cat to solve crimes in a small town where the art community harbors deadly secrets.

The Bookshop Murder by Merryn Allingham The owner of a seaside bookshop becomes involved in solving a murder that reveals hidden connections within her coastal community.

Still Life by Louise Penny A police inspector investigates a murder in a Quebec village, uncovering the complex relationships and secrets of small-town life.

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley An eleven-year-old chemistry enthusiast investigates a murder at her family estate, combining elements of theater, small-town dynamics, and historical secrets.

🎭 The Death on Demand series, which includes "Something Wicked," spans 26 books, making it one of the longest-running cozy mystery series in publication. 📚 Carolyn Hart has won multiple Agatha Awards and was named a Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America in 2014, joining the ranks of Agatha Christie and Alfred Hitchcock. 🏝️ Broward's Rock, though fictional, is based on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, where Hart spent many vacations and gathered inspiration for her settings. 🎪 The title "Something Wicked" is a reference to Shakespeare's "Macbeth" ("Something wicked this way comes"), reflecting the book's themes of theater and tragedy. 📖 The Death on Demand bookstore featured in the series was one of the first fictional mystery bookstores in literature, inspiring similar settings in other mystery novels.