Overview

Murder Is the Ultimate Power Move When a beautiful Atlanta woman is widowed twice under suspicious circumstances, Ann Audrey Pickering finds herself drawn-once again-into someone else's trouble. A former lawyer who once helped the FBI convict her own husband for fraud, Ann Audrey has settled into a reclusive life, until her longtime friend Flynn Reynolds asks for help. His elderly aunts are convinced that another nephew was murdered by his wife, Kathryn, whose second husband is now also dead. Ann Audrey is skeptical. Still, she owes Flynn, and there are some odd questions. Complicating matters is Kathryn's latest mother-in-law, a woman who rose from an impoverished background into Atlanta's upper circles and recognizes a kindred spirit in her dead son's ambitious widow. She doesn't believe Kathryn is a murderer-but she has heard rumors, and she wants them stopped. Set in Atlanta in January 2000, as the city buzzes with anticipation for the upcoming Super Bowl, Ann Audrey searches for the black widow through the city's frenetic bar scene, private clubs, high-rise offices, and beloved local institutions like Mary Mac's Tea Room and The Varsity. With help from Flynn and her friend Theo, along with the return of sexy detective Mike Bristol, she pieces together a twisting story of social climbing, carefully managed appearances, marriage, and murder. As the Super Bowl kickoff draws near, the case reaches a climax when an ice storm shuts down Atlanta's roads and power, leaving secrets and murderers with nowhere to hide.

Full Product Details

9781968761301

Table of Contents

Reviews

""Death and the Social Climber is a can't-put-it-down mystery set in Atlanta. It's full of the color, real-life places, and manners only a true Southerner could write. The plot twists and turns and will keep you guessing until the very end. The characters are an eccentric bunch, but they're true to life and jump off the page. It's a great read!"" -Charles Cutter, author of the Burr Lafayette Series ""Loaded with interesting characters, action, and a compelling plot, this is page-turning entertainment with a mastery of the Southern setting. Simpson's Death and the Social Climber is her second mystery with the sympathetic heroine, Ann Audrey, in a twisty, absorbing case. It's filled with shocking revelations that will keep you guessing up to the very end."" -Suzanne Bartha, public school librarian ""Ann Audrey is back and none too soon. Her investigatory skills are in demand because murder is in the air. Tagging along as she tracks the killer is half the fun. Winnie Simpson's colorful Atlanta, at the dawn of the twenty-first century, comes alive with its cast of witty, urbane, often dangerous characters. Ann Audrey's journey has a couple of surprises along the way, but it's no surprise that Ann Audrey belongs in that corner office alongside Philip Marlowe, Kinsey Millhone, and V.I. Warshawski. Simpson's clever plotting, smart dialog, and enticing hooks invite appropriate comparisons to the best crime writers, Raymond Chandler, Sue Grafton, and Robert B. Parker."" -Peter Marabell, PH.D. in history and politics, author of the Michael Russo mystery series ""Death and the Social Climber is as sweet as a glass of Georgia tea. Full of cunning women, fun facts about Atlanta, and Southern charm, this Ann Audrey Mystery left me with a smile on my face. Winnie's cozy writing style reads with a touch of noir, full of rich description and astute observations. If you're looking for a cozy mystery with good, Southern manners, you won't want to miss this one!"" -Eloise Corvo, author of the best-selling Stone's Throw Mysteries ""Simpson demonstrates particular skill in depicting the complex and nuanced dynamics of old-money Southern society, in which appearance matters as much as truth and where discretion and propriety often trump justice. ... Authentic and compelling ..."" -Kirkus Reviews From first book in the series: ""An adroit whodunit ... An inviting beginning to a new Atlanta-based mystery series."" -Kirkus Reviews

Author Information

Following her mother's lead, Mississippi native Winnie Simpson was an avid murder mystery reader beginning in the third grade, starting with Nancy Drew and moving through the classics of British, American, and international crime. Winnie studied music at Duke University, later receiving an MFA in Music at SUNY Buffalo, where she worked as an arts administrator before throwing it all over in order to make a decent living. After finishing law school at Emory University, she became a partner in a large firm in Atlanta where her practice focused mainly on securities litigation. Retiring early, Winnie relocated to Northern Michigan where she lives in a renovated nineteenth-century building that served as a former Michigan state asylum. For more than a decade, she has taken writing classes and participated in writing groups. She is fond of opera, hiking, cycling, and Duke basketball, most seasons.

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