Bailey Weggins, the heroine of Cosmo editor-in-chief White's bestselling debut, If Looks Could Kill (2002), proves that her sleuthing ability was no fluke in this solid follow-up. Depressed by her nonexistent love life, Bailey, a freelance true-crime writer for Gloss magazine, leaves Manhattan for some R&R at the Cedar Inn and Spa in Warren, Mass., owned and run by an old friend of her mother's. Her first night there, however, she stumbles on the corpse of one of the inn's female therapists-wrapped in silver Mylar paper. Anna Cole's murder, on top of the accidental death of a male client months earlier, could spell doom for the inn, unless Bailey can get to the bottom of things. Meanwhile, Jack Herlihy, the smooth shrink from her prior outing, surfaces with a plausible excuse for his earlier disappearing act, while "dashing" Jeffrey Beck, the local detective who's looking into Anna's murder, also attracts, despite his cool professional demeanor. Bailey bravely deals with threats (a dead mouse wrapped in Mylar in the mail), deftly pumps people for information (a scene with a local waitress is a gem) and comes to a startling conclusion after the murder of a second therapist just before the heart-stopping, heroine-in-peril climax. Though the glamorous New York magazine world has only a small role here, fans will find Bailey's sassy wit as engaging as ever and are sure to admire the skill with which White pulls together all the threads.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From AudioFile

In this follow up to White's debut, IF LOOKS COULD KILL, narrator Kate Walsh gives a convincing performance as Bailey Weggins, a likable and level-headed freelance true crime journalist. While on a much needed vacation at a bed and breakfast owned by a close friend, Weggins is drawn into an investigation when a popular massage therapist is murdered. A powerful attraction to the local police detective complicates Weggins's participation in the pursuit of the killer. It also confuses her feelings regarding a current love interest back in the city. Humor, sex, romance, well-conceived characters, and a cleverly structured plot make this a satisfying read. Walsh's fine narration brings it all together nicely. E.S. © AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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30 Reviews

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3.5 out of 5 stars (30 customer reviews)

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5.0 out of 5 stars Fast-Paced Sequel to 'If Looks Could Kill', May 14 2004

By	Erika Sorocco (Southern California, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: A Body to Die For (Mass Market Paperback)

Thirty-three-year-old amateur sleuth and crime journalist, Bailey Weggins, is back, and she's up to her old tricks. When Bailey is invited to stay at her friend, Danny's spa, the Cedar Inn and Spa, in Warren, Massachusetts, she jumps at the chance to leave her fast-paced Manhattan lifestyle behind, along with the drama with her on again, off again lover Jack Herlihy, a thirty-five-year-old professor of Psychology. So she packs up her things and heads for the rural Inn, where she plans on getting a little R&R, and a few good massages. However, when she arrives at Cedar Inn, she is shocked to find a mummy-wrapped corpse in one of the many treatment rooms at the spa. Before she knows it, Bailey's vacation/weekend of rest is out the window, and she is fully immersed in solving the case. Soon she is uncovering all types of secrets about Cedar Inn, such as a shady ring of employees, a spurned lover, and a sleazy husband. However, with a totally good-looking cop, Jeffrey Beck, by her side, she knows that everything will work out for the best. Unless the killer comes after her next...

As I was a HUGE fan of Kate White's IF LOOKS COULD KILL, I eagerly awaited the paperback release of A BODY TO DIE FOR. While the wait was long, it was well worth it. Bailey's quirky personality, is one of the most pleasurable things about White's writing, and is a gift to be able to read again. White is magnificent at describing the fast-paced world of journalism, seeing as how she's the Editor-in-Chief of COSMOPOLITAN magazine, and she is amazing at weaving together an amazing story filled with the strangest twists and turns at every corner. Her ideas are remarkable, and will have even the savviest mystery reader stumped by who the murderer is. A must have book, do not miss it.

Erika Sorocco

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1.0 out of 5 stars totally unengaging, May 2 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: A Body to Die For (Mass Market Paperback)

I read half way through and then gave up, not even enough interested to look at the end to find out whodunit. What turned me off were the non-existent sexual morals of the protagonist.

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4.0 out of 5 stars Much better than the first, May 2 2004

By	cmp (Merrimack, NH USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Body to Die For (Hardcover)

While I enjoyed "If Looks Could Kill", I also had some problems with it - it definitely felt like a first novel. This book was much better, in my opinion. I cared much more about Bailey this time out, the fashion descriptions were not as evident (therefore making the book more readable in future without getting distracted by clothes descriptions), the twists were not as obvious.

There are still a few problems - if you, like me, are from a small town, you could be offended by the seeming characterization of all "locals" outside of NYC as being hicks and/or stupid. While the twists weren't as obvious, a dedicated mystery reader won't be all that surprised by them.

Still, the story was fast-paced and easy to read. Like the first, it's not great literature, but it's fun - and, to me, was a better effort all-around. If you haven't read the first, and don't mind skipping a book in a semi-series, skip it and read this one. There aren't any spoilers and you don't need the first to understand this one. If you (like me, I admit) prefer to read books in order, don't give up after the first, and read this one, too. It's really much better.

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Most recent customer reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Big, scary countryside
Poor Bailey Weggins. Every time she leaves safe, cozy New York city for the big, scary countryside, someone threatens or tries to kill her. Read more

Published on Jun 5 2004

4.0 out of 5 stars Yep, great for the Beach
I agree with previous reviews : this is a good book to take to the beach. It is not great litterature but it's entertaining. It's fast-paced and you get hooked early on. Read more

Published on Feb 24 2004

4.0 out of 5 stars A worthy follow-up
A Body to Die For is, quite simply, great fun. I had been reading some heavier books, and put them aside to read this. Read more

Published on Oct 6 2003 by Edward Aycock

4.0 out of 5 stars Crisp and well written
This is a book written by a truly professional writer. She wastes no time introducing her sleuth, Bailey Weggins, and her plot, murder at an elegant spa in rural Massachusetts... Read more

Published on Sep 13 2003 by Valerie Adolph