[.ca] Stabbing Stephanie (ISBN 1575667290)

cozy kitch:
After reading this book, I read someone else describing another book by Evan Marshall as a "paint by numbers" attempt to imitate Sue Grafton. This book falls into the same category.

Stabbing Stephanie:
Probably most famous for his helpful book, The Marshall Plan for Novel Writing, Mr. Marshall has also created a very enjoyable series featuring Jane Stuart and her cat, Winky. These characters were first introduced in Missing Marlene, which was followed by Hanging Hannah. As this is the third in the series with a forth novel, Icing Ivy due in November, it isn't possible to review this novel without giving away some background detail. In you have not read the series, I would encourage you to skip this review and instead read the books in order, as you won't be disappointed. As this novel opens, Jane Stuart is exhausted. Her literary agency is still struggling but seems to have turned the corner financially speaking. Because of the events in the two previous novels as well as the simple strain of being a widow with a small child as well as running a business she needs a vacation. The problem is that Thanksgiving is just a few days away and she plans to be gone by then and still has not decided what sun drenched island she is going to. Not only is the cold weather of winter blowing into New Jersey, but so too is cousin by marriage, Stephanie. Stephanie was related to Kenneth, (Jane's deceased husband) so she feels a tremendous obligation when Stephanie calls her. Stephanie is moving to the same village as Jane Stuart, Shady Hills. She is moving from Boston after she lost her job there to join a publishing company that also happens to be moving to Shady Hills at the same time. Carson and Hart happens to be run by a quite famous now college roommate of Stephanie's who has helped her out by hiring her. But she needs a place to stay temporarily while she looks for a place of her own and with much reluctance; Jane finally agrees that she can move in with her. Stephanie arrives and soon has the house in an uproar. Apparently racist, she dislikes Jane's assistant, Daniel as well as Jane's nanny, Florence. While she seems to be able to tolerate, Nick, Jane's ten year old son, she certainly does not like Winky the cat, her accommodations or just about anything else in Jane's world. But, reminding herself frequently that Kenneth would have wanted her to help her, Jane tries to tolerate Stephanie's problems and appalling attitude. After all, it won't be long before she has her place of her own and Jane is going to go on vacation, if she can just pick the spot. But her plans keep getting derailed as strange things begin to happen in her small little town with Stephanie's arrival. Break-ins, a rather rare event in the past seem to surge in numbers and then people start dying. At the same time, Stephanie seems to be having more and more problems at work and desperately begs Jane to go undercover at the publishing company and snoop to see if things are really running right. Jane eventually agrees and discovers that strange things are indeed going on with one heck of a twist. This series is very enjoyable. Clearly Mr. Marshall is drawing on his own experience as head of his own literary agency as well as his own advice to writers. He cleverly weaves some of that advice again in each one of his novels without coming across as heavy-handed or preaching. At the same time, each novel reveals a little more about the main characters while having plenty of action with numerous twists and false clues. Clearly, no major character is totally safe in this series, which also adds to the enjoyment factor. This is a series that should be definitely started with the first book, Missing Marlene. This series is well worth the read, for writers and mystery fans, alike.

Sad book, poor mystery:
I was very disappointed with this novel. Mr. Marshall is a well respected agent, with a popular book on writing novels, which he should have used while writing this book. The dialogue is poor and unrealistic, he blatantly uses the Kennedy assasination and Jackie Kennedy's actions without even trying to disguise it. Jane was boring, annoying and it was hard to believe that she and Stan were really a couple. The paranormal aspects came out of nowhere. It was an interesting premise but not carried through in the execution. By the way, the back cover copy description of the book wasn't even accurate. I'm glad I didn't waste my money but took it out of the library instead.

Just what the world needs...:
...another cozy clone of the amateur lady sleuth genre that is as contrived as the titles in the series - Stabbing Stephanie, Icining Ivy etc.

Great Light Mystery!:
I picked up this book at my local library on the "new" shelf. Looked interesting with a cat involved. I could not put the book down! It was very easy to read, kept me entertained and made me want to read more by Evan Marshall. I then read the "Hanging Hannah" and "Missing Marlene". Now, Mr. Marshall just needs to write another one. The novels are about a literary agent widowed mom with a child, in a small town in New York. Her husband has recently tragically died and she is running the agency with her assistant and trying to get on with her life. She has an uncanny knack for solving mysteries and gets involved with her nanny, neighbors and eventually figures out the mystery. Her son's cat, Winky, always unsuspecting, helps solve the mystery. A great entertaining book.