Cissy has a way of talking Andrea into things she’d rather not be involved in. Soon Andrea finds herself webmaster for lifestyle hostess Marilee Mabry, a Martha Stewart-like media sensation who has based her success on her rags to riches story after her husband left her and her daughter Kendall to fend for themselves. Andrea also agrees to attend a soiree at Marilee’s new studio which will have a live web cast. At the event, Marilee has an argument with her ex-husband’s trophy wife that results in a fire breaking out.

While evacuating the building Andrea stumbles across an unconscious Kendall who appears to have ingested something that has made her very ill. Because Andrea “rescued” Kendall, the young woman begins to confide in Andrea and Andrea learns that Kendall was seeing the same young gigolo that her mother was seeing, Justin, who has been plying the pair with healing herbs.

At a taping of an anti-diet club meeting at Cissy’s house, Marilee eats a bite of Death by Chocolate cake and does just that. All signs point to Justin putting the same herb in the cake that was in the champagne at the party.

Andrea promises Kendall to help find out what happened. The deeper she finds herself involved the more secrets Andrea turns up, and the more suspects she finds herself adding to a growing list.

The Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is hip, fast-talking mystery. It is almost two-thirds of the way through the book before Marilee’s murder occurs and then the investigation and plot complications are rushed through until the anti-climactic conclusion. There are several opportunities for alternate suspects, including a new neighbor in town who has a hidden connection to Marilee, but not much is made of any of these.

Justin is focused in on as the main suspect and despite evidence to the contrary, remains the prime suspect. While Andrea’s rebellion against her mother’s social ways is not uncommon, Andrea goes overboard with her eschewing of the lifestyle, furnishing her apartment with “refinished oakchairs I’d picked up at the Junior League rummage sale” and eats toast on “a chipped Pier One plate.” She is constantly reminding everyone she works for non-profits, though forgets it is her trust fund that allows this luxury.

While Andrea is full of spunk and kindness, especially toward her mother and Kendall, who comes across more pathetic than sympathetic, the other characters fade into Marilee’s wallpaper background. Fans of airy chick-lit will enjoy the designer references, but those looking for a mystery to sink their teeth into will be disappointed.

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry