Dead Man Dancing

November 3, 2008
At the start of Talley's lively seventh Hannah Ives mystery (after 2006's Through the Darkness), doughty cancer survivor Hannah suggests that her sister Ruth, newly svelte and bronze-haired spiked, prep for her coming wedding to bright young attorney Hutch, a former ballroom dance enthusiast, with lessons at the J & K Dance Studios in Annapolis, Md. Hannah reflects wryly on the exorbitant costs of dance competitions, a culture addicted to glitzy shows like American Idol, and the nasty potential for child exploitation. With Ruth sidelined by a leg-busting sabotage attack, Hutch and a new partner, Melanie, audition for a TV dance talent hunt, but their instructor falls victim to an exotic poison and Melanie drowns in the South River, jolting Hannah's spunky Nancy Drew nose for clues into classy action. Full of tangy Annapolis local color, this airy concoction won't satisfy all whodunit hungers, but never-say-die Hannah makes it a tasty dessert.

October 1, 2008
Talleys latest Hannah Ives mystery is sprightly and engaging and, unusual for a mystery, focuses on the world of competitive ballroom dancing. Hannahs sister, Ruth, is getting married to Hutch, an accomplished amateur ballroom dancer. Ruth is determined to become as good a dancer as Hutch so she can dance him proud at their wedding, but she desperately needs lessons to do so and begs Hannah to sign up, too. The first fewsessions go well, and the dance instructors are so impressed with Hutchs (and Ruths) skillthat they convince them to audition for the TV show Shall We Dance? Then Ruth isviolently attacked. Desperate for Hutch to go ahead with the competition, the dance studio finds a new partner for him, butwhen a brutal murder takes place on the eve of the competition, Hannah must use her amateur-sleuthing skills to find the killer. Snappy dialogue, a level-headed heroine, and just enough dry humor enliven thenewest entry in this entertaining series.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)