[ISN]≡ Read Gratis A Real Basket Case A Claire Hanover Mystery Beth Groundwater 9780738727011 Books

A Real Basket Case A Claire Hanover Mystery Beth Groundwater 9780738727011 Books

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A Real Basket Case A Claire Hanover Mystery Beth Groundwater 9780738727011 Books

I really enjoyed reading A Real Basket Case by Beth Groundwater. It was a light, quick read that was laced with humor. I also enjoyed the fact that I could identify with where Claire finds herself in her middle-age - with an empty nest and often at loose ends.
I especially liked the twists and turns the story took. Unlike many other reviewers, I hadn't guessed "whodunit" early in the story. I truly appreciated the fact that a couple of the characters that I had truly disliked were making sincere efforts to redeem themselves by the book's end. I look forward to reading To Hell in a Handbasket to see what happens next for Claire, a character worth caring about - a murder close by that will need solving, no doubt, but also the good life changes that Claire deserves!


Tags : A Real Basket Case (A Claire Hanover Mystery) [Beth Groundwater] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. <strong>The First Book in the Claire Hanover Mystery Series</strong> <strong>An Agatha Award Finalist for Best First Novel</strong> Feeling neglected by her workaholic husband,Beth Groundwater,A Real Basket Case (A Claire Hanover Mystery),Midnight Ink,0738727016,Colorado Springs (Colo.),Colorado Springs (Colo.);Fiction.,Housewives,Housewives;Fiction.,Murder - Investigation,Murder;Investigation;Fiction.,Mystery fiction,American Mystery & Suspense Fiction,Crime & mystery,Crime & mystery: women sleuths,FICTION Mystery & Detective Women Sleuths,Fiction,Fiction - Mystery Detective,FictionLiterary,FictionMystery & Detective - General,Investigation,Literary,Murder,Mystery & Detective - General,Mystery & Detective - Women Sleuths,Mystery And Suspense Fiction,MysterySuspense,cozy; mystery; fiction

A Real Basket Case A Claire Hanover Mystery Beth Groundwater 9780738727011 Books Reviews

The description of the book wasn't strong enough for me to be interested, but I decided to read it because it was an Agatha Award Finalist and gave it the benefit of the doubt.

I had difficulty reading the first half because I didn't care about any of the characters. It is hard to like a woman who complains that her husband bought her an expensive sporty car when she would have been happier with a basic model sedan... He is the typical workaholic, ignores her, makes a car purchase for her without discussion, tells her to head off on a ski trip with her friends and keep herself busy because he can't be around. She's should accept it, fix it, or get out of the marriage, but instead she weakly agrees to allow a virtual stranger to give her a massage because she wants to be touched and feel good about herself again? Please.

The second half of the book was better for me because it dealt with investigation and the characters trying to figure out who committed the murder. There was still some unbelievable actions, but it was faster paced. By the end, there were maybe two characters that I sort of liked, the cop and the PI.

I haven't decided if I will read the sequel yet. I need more time away from the first half of the book.

Format Borrowed ebook
Claire Hanover's nest is empty, her kids are off on their own, and her husband is a workaholic. She has started her own part-time business creating gift baskets but it doesn't fill her time as much as she would like. She feels neglected by her husband because she comes number two after his rise up the corporate ladder.

She follows the advice of her best friend Ellen to join an aerobics class to get back into shape and meet people. All the women in the class agree their instructor is dreamy and most flirt with him openly through each class. There are rumors that he has had affairs with most of his students but Claire puts up a wall right away letting him know she is married. That doesn't make her immune from his charms and she still agrees to let Enrique to be her personal trainer and she lets him come to her house to give her a massage after a stressful workout.

The massage barely gets started when someone sneaks into her house and shoots Enrique dead right there in her master bedroom. The police arrest Claire's husband for the murder very quickly. Claire is determined to clear her husband of the crime and save her marriage and she will do anything necessary to do just that.

Dollycas's Thoughts
When I finished this book I sat up straight and said WOW!!! This is definitely not your traditional cozy mystery. This is a hold on to the edge of your seat wild ride mystery!!! I got about halfway through and I couldn't put it down. It was a late night as I stayed up to finish it and then couldn't get to sleep.

I do not want to reveal much because you will enjoy it much more just reading it yourself but the lengths this woman, Claire, goes to are astounding. All to save the man she loves. The places she goes, the danger she puts herself in, the people she deals with left me dazed. You want to reach into the pages and shake her and say "Are you crazy?" She starts the book as a woman lost and emerges as such a strong heroine.

This is another book I to shout about from the rooftops, YOU HAVE TO READ THIS BOOK!!!! The book is off my rating scale it is so good! Like mystery and suspense, strong women characters, along with the charm and a little humor found in a wonderful cozy, this book is perfect for you. It is like a cozy mystery on steroids!!!

Disclosure of Material Connection I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
Beth Groundwater's A Real Basket Case combines a good mystery with a stong relationship story. Claire Hanover must solve the murder when her husband is accused of the crime, while trying to patch up her marriage. The novel contains strong characters with a mystery that keeps you guessing.
Moves a little slow. Not my cup of tea. But a good book.
Love Beth Groundwater's books. I have read all three books in both series and can'y wait for her new books to be released.
Glad I finally got to read this one. Good story line. Great twists. Really enjoyed watching Claire take risks that she would never take normally in order to save her husband and her marriage. Not sure how it is going to make sense for her to be involved in other investigations in the follow-ups, but looking forward to reading To Hell in a Handbasket and the new one due out in November. Brava! Would definitely recommend to anyone who likes cozy mysteries.
I opened the book just before I went to bed thinking I'd read just a few pages. I didn't close it until mid-morning and I hated reaching the end. I longed for another book to keep up with Claire's adventures.

Claire Hanover could be the woman next door. Middle aged, recently empty nested and in the process of having her marriage grow distant so it can hopefully grow closer. Then her husband is caught with the gun in his hand. She knows he didn't do it, but who did? Claire's world is upside down. She is so believable you want to invite her in for coffee and comfort. The story is all hers, her vulnerability is so touching, it's almost heartrending. Through the story she grows, toughens up, changes in ways she never thought possible and manages to keep her core values. The ending is a shocker, one I never saw coming despite the well placed clues. Can't wait for more from this writer.
I really enjoyed reading A Real Basket Case by Beth Groundwater. It was a light, quick read that was laced with humor. I also enjoyed the fact that I could identify with where Claire finds herself in her middle-age - with an empty nest and often at loose ends.
I especially liked the twists and turns the story took. Unlike many other reviewers, I hadn't guessed "whodunit" early in the story. I truly appreciated the fact that a couple of the characters that I had truly disliked were making sincere efforts to redeem themselves by the book's end. I look forward to reading To Hell in a Handbasket to see what happens next for Claire, a character worth caring about - a murder close by that will need solving, no doubt, but also the good life changes that Claire deserves!