You May Now Kill the Bride

With her characteristic wit and charm, Donnelly spins another sprightly cozy mystery featuring hapless Seattle wedding planner Carnegie Kincaid, who's a magnet for mischief. Carnegie doesn't solve mysteries as much as stumble across dead bodies and convenient clues, but her wry humor and colorful companions ensure that each escapade is as enjoyable as the last. Murder hits close to home when the sexy caretaker employed by Owen Winter, Carnegie's soon-to-be father-in-law, is knifed in the back. The suspects include Owen's snotty daughters; the victim's flirty former lover; the bickering Norwegian couple hosting the wedding of Carnegie's best friend, Lily; and even the cops investigating the crime. While poking around for clues and planning Lily's nuptials, Carnegie tries to sort out her relationship with her on-again, off-again boyfriend Aaron Gold, who was severely injured in Donnelly's last book, Death Takes a Honeymoon . Though this installment doesn't feature such lovable recurring characters as Boris the Mad Russian Florist, it's as invigorating as a shot of espresso and just as swiftly consumed. (Jan.)