Read A Review:

The Haven is a recreation center for teens on the Island of Broward’s Rock, the Pollyanna Home of Max and Annie Darling. The Haven’s Director, a former lounge singer named Jean, comes to Max for help in keeping her job.

It seems that everyone’s favorite villain, rich and powerful Booth Wagner, is determined to end Jean’s tenure with the Haven. At the Haven’s Friday night summer program, Booth is unexpectedly murdered. The Chief of Police’s attention is immediately riveted on Jean. He conveniently ignores all other possible suspects and focuses all of his energies into railroading Jean for the murder. Although Hart frequently tells us what a solid, upstanding man our police chief is, the character fails to live up to the descriptions.

This reader is left wondering why he inexplicably works so hard to prove Jean guilty, conveniently ignoring other citizens with means, opportunity, and motive. Hart keeps us wondering until the last page or two.

In spite of Hart’s great reputation and the popularity of the Death on Demand books, (Laugh Til He Died is the twentieth in the series), this mystery is disappointing.

Sherry Benic