Last Scene Alive: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery (#7)

by Charlaine Harris | Mystery & Thrillers |
ISBN: 0373264763 Global Overview for this book
Registered by CheriePie of Campbell, California USA on 5/7/2006
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3 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by CheriePie from Campbell, California USA on Sunday, May 7, 2006
Requested this book through PaperBackSwap.com on behalf of NeedSun who's collecting the series (but can't participate in PBS since she's in Canada). :(

Book Description
Murder: Take Two
The Atlanta suburb of Lawrenceton is the set of a TV movie about a serial killer who terrorized the town ten years earlier. Interestingly, it happened to be Aurora Teagarden's first mystery to solve. Moreover, Aurora's ex, true crime writer Robin Crusoe, who helped Roe solve the crime, has written the screenplay. Adding drama to the whole circus, Aurora's unfriendly stepson Barrett is starring in the film.

But the show must go on—or so Roe believes until she meets Celia Shaw, the catty actress portraying Roe. Worse, she's also Robin's latest squeeze. Soon the real-life script takes a deadly turn: Celia is murdered and Barrett is accused of the crime. Now, as threatening letters, deranged fans and renewed feelings for Robin comptete for Roe's attention, she discovers that a killer is halfway through a script with a bloody ending, and she's got a starring role.

Journal Entry 2 by CheriePie from Campbell, California USA on Thursday, January 29, 2009
This is the 7th book in the Aurora Teagarden cozy mystery series.

Several months have passed since the events of the previous book, A Fool and His Honey, and Aurora "Roe" is beginning to feel the weight of the world slowly being lifted from her shoulders. She's starting to accept her new life as a widow, albeit with the occasional emotional outbreak now and then.

But there's no time left for healing or contemplation as the little town of Lawrenceton, and Aurora herself, are pushed into the spotlight as by the movie crew that's moving into town for the on-location shoot of Whimsical Murders, the TV movie based on the grisly serial killings which took place in Lawrenceton ten years earlier. The book and screenplay were written by none other than Aurora's ex-love interest Robin Crusoe, who along with Aurora, was a major participant in the events that took place back then. Though Roe has already refused to allow her name to be used in the movie, Lawrenceton is a small town where everybody knows everyone else's business, and no one has forgotten the events which took place those so many years ago right here under their very noses.

So Robin comes pulling into town along with the movie crew and his supposed new flame, Celia Shaw, as reported by the tabloids. The seriously overdone Ms. Shaw is playing none other than the lead role in the movie, the part of Aurora herself. As if that weren't enough, Barrett, the cool and aloof son of her recently deceased husband, has a starring role as well! Aurora finds herself wondering if things can get any worse... just as she thought she was beginning to heal. *sigh*

The ensuing story has the usual elements longtime readers of the Aurora Teagarden series have come to know and love. Aurora is wonderfully quirky, and the small town folk are nosy but nice. But we are also starting to see a side of Roe that has only been briefly peeked at in past books. She's becoming older, wiser, and more introspective. And as I noted this subtle character shift, I picked up on it even further in the next book, Poppy Done to Death, the eighth and final book in the series, which I will also be reviewing in the next few days.

In terms of Roe's personality and emotional standpoint, this book is truly the Six of Cups of the Tarot. Roe is picking up the pieces after a major, heart wrenching upheaval, rebuilding, looking inward, and moving on. I realize not all my readers read the Tarot, but the imagery of the Six of Cups was so strong for me personally while I was reading that I just had to bring it up. I found myself really reaching out and relating to Roe on an emotional level that I haven't necessarily reached in past books, or if so, only briefly. But Tarot reader or no, this book definitely marks a major turning point in Roe's life which is probably all you need to realize.

But look at me! I've gone on and on about the emotional and interpersonal side of things and not said a thing about whatever murder or mystery is happening within these pages! LOL Well, with all the movie folk in town, you can bet there's gonna be trouble down at the OK Corral. ;) And it's none other than Ms. Celia Shaw who turns up dead. Going out with a bang! To the head that is... her recent Emmy all bloodied and lying next to her on the couch! But as it turns out, Celia and Robin haven't been an item for awhile now. And while Robin's been putting the moves on Aurora much to her delight, her stepson Barrett has been slipping it to the late star. Even though there are plenty of people who wouldn't have minded seeing Celia dead, Barrett is not one of them! But he's moved to the top of the suspect's list anyway. And no matter whether he likes her or not, Roe is going to do her damnedest to protect Martin's son and prove his innocence!

NOTE: Fans of Charlaine Harris who haven't yet read the Aurora Teagarden series will be happy to know that they are being re-released by Berkley. So they should no longer be so hard to find. Look for them at Amazon or wherever you buy or trade books.


This book is reserved for NeedSun, who's the one who got me reading this series in the first place... then insisted I read them first. :P

Journal Entry 3 by CheriePie at Aurora, Ontario Canada on Sunday, February 8, 2009

Released 15 yrs ago (2/9/2009 UTC) at Aurora, Ontario Canada

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Package of 5 books mailed to a Joanne (NeedSun) on 09-Feb-2009 via USPS First Class International Mail.

Journal Entry 4 by NeedSun from Perth Road, Ontario Canada on Thursday, February 19, 2009
Thank you, Cherie!

Journal Entry 5 by NeedSun from Perth Road, Ontario Canada on Sunday, June 14, 2009
Another good story with more emphasis on Aurora's personal life than on the mystery. Saving for the book spiral.

Journal Entry 6 by NeedSun from Perth Road, Ontario Canada on Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Here are all the books in this series that are going to be sent out in a book spiral.

1. Real Murders
2. A Bone to Pick
3. Three Bedrooms, One Corpse
4. The Julius House
5. Dead Over Heels
6. A Fool and His Honey
7. Last Scene Alive
8. Poppy Done to Death


Here are the participants and mailing order:


Wyvernfriend--->Ireland/Europe
sunlightbub--->UK/Int

Rianonne--->Austria/Europe
Not 1.Real Murders or 2.Bone to Pick)

CandyDarling--->Finland/int
Morgaine77--->Germany/int
shaunesay-->USA/US,Can
(Not 3.Three Bedrooms; 7.Last Scene Alive)

lizziwhizz-->USA/USA
(Only needs #6 A fool and his Honey)


Return to Cheriepie

Sent by surface mail today.


Journal Entry 7 by wyvernfriend from Lucan, Co. Dublin Ireland on Sunday, December 20, 2009
received in post during the week

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