Last Scene Alive (Aurora Teagarden Mysteries - No. 7)

Last Scene Alive is the seventh novel in the Aurora Teagarden series by American author, Charlaine Harris. Almost a year after Martin's death, Roe is going through the motions of life when Hollywood comes to town to shoot scenes for a two-part TV movie of Whimsical Death, Robin Crusoe's novel about a serial killer in Lawrenceton (see Real Murders, the first Aurora Teagarden mystery). Roe has mixed feelings about Robin's arrival, and is not at all happy about the movie, even though it is bound to benefit the town. Soon enough, she finds herself on the movie set, and much to her horror, present when the body of the murdered starlet who is playing Roe herself is discovered by her stepson, Barrett Bartell, also starring in the movie. Detective Arthur Smith, still holding a candle for Roe, gives her plenty of unwelcome advice. This installment has Roe receiving nasty mail, being attacked, buying and selling a house, rediscovering sex, getting stabbed, trying to accurately judge the reactions of actors and unmasking a terrorist. There is stalking, drugging, suffocation, assault with an Emmy, a mystery father and a disguise. As always, Harris's plot is original and her main character is highly likeable. Harris also introduces some of the characters for the next and final instalment, Poppy Done To Death. Another excellent read.

Last Scene Alive (2002) is the seventh mystery novel in the Aurora Teagrarden series, following A Fool and His Honey. In the previous volume, Martin was shot at and missed and then had a heart attack and died. The perp was charged with three counts of kidnapping, two counts of murder, and one count of assault with a deadly weapon.

In this novel, Aurora Teagarden was born and raised in the small town of Lawrenceton, Georgia, in the suburbs of Atlanta. Roe is now widowed, but still works in the local library. But she in deeply depressed in her grief.

Barrett Bartell is Roe's stepson. He is an actor, surviving off funds from his father when paychecks are few and far between. Now that his father is dead, Roe provides the necessary funds.

Robin Crusoe is a writer of mysteries. He had dated Roe in the past. Then he went to Hollywood to get his first book turned into a movie.

Celia Shaw is an actress. She has won an Emmy for one of her roles and is now the star of a made-for-TV film.

In this story, Roe discovers that she is to be the subject of a movie based on her first case. Barrett has a role in the movie and Robin is back in town to watch the filming of his book. Roe doesn't like the concept at all and particularly hates the pain that it will give the families of the victims.

Yet it seems everybody in town knows about the film. Wannabe actors and actresses gather around the film crew and try to get the attention of the Hollywood insiders. Roe is invited out by Celia and marvels at the close service provided to the star.

Celia is cast as Aurora Teagarden in the film. Roe notices that Celia is studying her intensely at the restaurant and imitating her habitual actions. She is very upset by Celia's study and allows Robin to talk her into leaving early. She vows to never again visit the filming.

The next day, Roe finds herself driving her friend Angel to the set. Angel's car won't start and she has a job as a stuntperson in the film. Besides, she wants to introduce Roe to a friend.

As Roe and Angel are talking to Carolina, Roe observes Celia's trailer. Several people go in and out of the trailer. The latest is Barrett, who comes out looking unwell and then pukes alongside the trailer.

Roe immediately goes to Barrett and is with him as he mumbles that Celia is dead. Barrett recovers somewhat and again says Celia is dead. Carolina immediately notifies the director and then calls 911. Soon cellphones are showing up everywhere.

This tale brings Robin back into Roe's life. At first, she feels unfaithful to Martin, but her mother suggests that Martin is beyond any concern about this world. Several things converge to prod Roe into moving back into town.

This is the last in the series so far, but maybe another is lurking in the busy mind of the author. Meanwhile, you might try the Lily Bard series. Read and enjoy!

Highly recommended for Harris fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of first degree murder, amateur detectives, and a spunky librarian. For anyone unfamiliar with this series, the initial volume is Real Murders.

-Bill Jordin

Plot Summary: Roe Teagarden is a middle-aged, widowed librarian, who maintains an enormous, immaculate house in the midst of her grief over losing her husband. After going through the motions for months on end, excitement returns when a movie crew comes to town to shoot a movie based, in part, on Roe's life. Many years ago, she and a former beau, Robin, helped solve a serial killer mystery, and Robin wrote a book about their adventure. Everyone's excited to have Hollywood visit their sleepy corner of the South, except for Roe, and she has run-ins with obnoxious movie people that only confirm her worst fears. The mystery begins when the star turns up dead in her trailer. In the meantime, Roe gets a second shot at love with Robin.

Since I'm a jumping-up-and-down fan of the Southern Vampire Mysteries and the Harper Connelly Mysteries, I figured I should sample a bit of Aurora Teagarden too. This story felt more like an Agatha Christie plot, since Roe is just a normal lady without an ounce of psychic powers, or any kind of voodoo to help her solve the crime. Compared to Sookie's telepathy, and Harper's corpse radar, Roe feels like the lady next door instead of a heroine. However, there is charm in just being normal too, and Roe is an educated, savvy, bright-eyed woman who feels like a good friend.

The reason this book works is because it feels real. Everything is plausible and believable, and I have no trouble suspending disbelief when reading Harris's work. The reason I'm not giving it a higher rating is because it was a bit too sedate for my tastes. Aurora lives the life of a typical, middle-aged lady, and aside from the murder and the climax, there's not a whole lot of excitement. I enjoyed every chapter, but it was like taking a nice quiet stroll through the woods, rather than screaming down a hillside on a mountain bike.

The romance between Roe and Robin made me happy, the same way I'd feel if someone close to me found a good man. Although, I have always wondered whether romances with exes are doomed to failure. If they broke up once, what's to stop it from happening again? Once a rope has been broken, I figure that any repairs are going to be weaker than the original bond. Hopefully I'm wrong.

It's been more than a year since horrible events have left Roe without a husband, and she is still in mourning. Her huge home is like a tomb and all she wants is to be alone in it. A movie production company comes to town to film a movie based on books about murders that happened in Lawrenceton written by (her ex-sometimes lover) Robin Crusoe. The locals are thrilled to have the movie being shot in Lawrenceton, but Roe knows it will bring much unwanted attention. When the lead actress, the one portraying Roe, gets killed, Roe and Robin team up to find out who the killer is. Unknowing that Roe is next on the murderers list.

I loved the return of Robin Crusoe. He was always a favorite from the earlier books. Him and Roe always had a connection, but he was always looking for more in life. It's good to see him out of Hollywood and back in Lawrenceton where he belongs. He is also a much needed distraction and catalyst for pulling Roe out of her mourning. This probably wasn't my favorite of the books, I didn't enjoy the Hollywood people that much and missed the town's people.

Diminutive librarian Aurora Teagarden learns that Robin Crusoe, a true crime writer, she worked with many years ago to solve a string of murders is returning to Lawrenceton, GA. He is coming to film a movie based on his book about the murders. Of course, when the crew arrives, additional murders are in the future.

This is a mystery; in reality they're a number of mysteries in the book. In terms of the protagonist's extended description of her emotions and social interactions, there might be a temptation to classify this as a cozy mystery, except for the tasteful and non-gratuitous descriptions of a number of sexual encounters.

The author has no dearth of characters. In the first chapter alone she identifies, by name, between one and two-dozen characters, and in the next two chapters she probably doubles that number. New named characters are added in subsequent chapters. This has the effect of making the story seem real. It also means that unless you have a very good memory, you will need to make some notes about the characters when they first appear, as there is no indication as to which will prove important later on.

Unusually for a mystery, here the protagonist's personality was as interesting as the main plot. Ms. Harris' has the unique ability to make you feel that Aurora is a real, rather than fictional, person and talking to you as a close friend. She presents Aurora so that she's easy to like, and wish you had her as a next-door neighbor.

Considering the high quality of the writing, there were some unexpected, albeit minor, editing flaws, e.g., "of" instead of "for", "a on a" instead of just "on a", "that" instead of "than", etc. These proved to be only minor reading distractions.

This is not a "thrill-a-minute" mystery with heart stopping action, although there is a fair amount of action. Rather it is an exceptionally well-written story with outstanding in-depth character development and a satisfying mystery.

This is a novel I can recommend without hesitation. It is one I found find hard to put down; fortunately, it can be easily read in one sitting.

It has been over a year since Aurora "Roe" Teagarden's husband has been murdered but the Lawrenceton, Georgia librarian is still in deep mourning. She is not at all happy that a Hollywood crew is coming to town to shoot the scenes from "Whimsical Death" based on the first homicide Roe ever solved. Also coming to town is Robin Crusoe, Roe's ex-boyfriend, and the person who helped her solve the case but subsequently went on to write the book on their investigation that has led to the movie.

Roe is also unhappy that her stepson Barrett is starring in the movie because they despise each other. When Robin hits town, old sparks ignite and Roe begins to realize that the movie filming might be a blessing in disguise. What Roe doesn't know is that there is a murderer amongst the Hollywood set. This person plans to kill the movie's star and target Roe as his next victim.

Fans of the Aurora Teagarden series will like the way the heroine displays her grief while moving on with her life. Readers will delight with the appearance of a new man in Roe's life, one that is different than her deceased husband. It is very easy to see why Robin and Roe click. The story line is fast-paced, well plotted, and exciting with enough twists and turns to keep readers on full alert.

Harriet Klausner

Unlike Tamar Myers, Charlaine Harris appears to give more thought to her chief protagonist Aurora Teagarden. She is given personality with an intropective side that adds believability to her decision-making and actions. While reflecting on the death of her husband Martin, Roe is able to function as a librarian, re-ignite a former romance, list her house and move into the city, and find time to have her life threatened and be instrumental in solving a murder. In other words the mystery of an actress' death does not interfere with the daily routine of living and being Aurora(Roe)Teagarden. The naturalness of situations and events are what makes this work so plausible.

I think I shall visit Ms. Teagarden's world again. it was fun being with her if only but a few brief hours.

Aurora is now widowed for almost a year. She is sad but ready to move on with her life. Suddenly, her long-gone love interest Robin Crusoe shows up in Lawrenceton for the filming of TV series based on his book about the murders narrated in the first Aurora Teagarden mystery "Real Murders." Martin's son Barrett appears in Roe's life too as he has a small role in the series. Filming goes on as scheduled; our heroine gets a taste of Hollywood; everything is exciting. That is until an actress who plays Aurora is found dead in her movie set trailer. Needless to say, Roe is destined to solve this mystery.

I liked this book as much as (or maybe more than) the previous Aurora Teagarden mystery. I felt a new life was poured into our heroine. I enjoyed seeing her come back to her funny and cheerful self and fall in love again. It was quite a pleasure to read.

Aurora Teagarden is back, it's been a year since the death of her husband and now to stir things up her onetime boyfriend Robin Crusoe's book about a series of murders that both of them shared the investigation into is being made into a movie and they are shooting it in Lawrenceton. This not a good thing as far as Roe Teagarden is concerned she would just like to forget the whole thing. But that is not to be and when the actress that is playing her is murdered that just puts the icing on the cake for Roe. The worst part is now she has someone trying to kill her also and she has no idea why. Once again Robin and her team up to find the killer or killers. I love these short and sassy mystery's and Ms Harris is the one of the best around. Two thumbs up from this reader.

I liked this one better than the last one, glad Roe wasn't whining about a baby the whole time. It was nice to return to Lawrenceton too. I didn't realize how much all the quirky townspeople got swept aside while Roe was busy with Martin. I would have liked a little more of the townspeople and a little less of the movie people, but oh well.

The revelations at the end were a little odd and out of left field, but I've come to expect that. The various culprits were completely obvious though, being telegraphed from dozens of pages away. Roe has some startling lapses in judgment. She fails to see clues right in front of her face and is very forgetful. Not to mention her curious idea to show the one black woman at the library pictures of bad afros she finds in a book. Roe thinks that would be a good bonding moment for the two of them...

It was nice to see the series get back on track, but I would have appreciated more of everything. I know I said there was too much of the movie people, but that plot somehow still managed to seem underdeveloped. I would have liked to have learned more about Robin's book and the movie adaptation. Oh well, Roe is generally too self-absorbed to figure out anything more complicated than what glasses to wear for the day.

In the end, the book is slim and moved at a fast pace. That was what I was expecting and what I got, nothing more.

Roe can’t seem to stay out of trouble. Finally trying to move on after Martin’s death, she once again gets caught in the crosshairs of a jealous woman when Robin returns to film the movie of his book.

This is my least favorite of the series thus far. This one just didn't have the same feel as the others have had. It's like the author was trying to write about characters that she hadn't visited for many years. That being said, it was a fun read, it just didn't feel right.

My main complaint about this one is the editing. Oh, the inconsistencies! Characters from previous books that should be older are now years younger than when we last heard of them. Time spans have changed completely. Did absolutely no one check the time line of previous books? Maybe you'll skip right over them without noticing, but it drove me nuts!

I don't read this genre often but like to lighten up once in a while. Have always enjoyed Charlaine Harris but particularly liked Aurora Teagarden character. Yes this was a little fluff but also had lots of feathers. Believable (at least for me) plot and rather nice surprise in the murderer. Aurora fines a new love interest in this one but I'm not so sure he'll stick. Allow yourself to be carried away to Aurora's little town--Hollywood and murder included--it will be absolute fun!

This book is the best by far to me. I really liked the layering of the plot, which is something that Roe stories rarely did. This book is about life for Roe as a widow, and a re-emergence of an old flame, Author Robin, who was there in the first book and sold the Real Murders story into a novel that made it to film. The movie is being partially shot in Roe's town, and suddenly, people start dying. Of course, Roe is in the middle of it and solves the mystery once again. It ends with a happy note (minus the dead body count), and open to future books, which Harris said she might do one day if she ever got time.

This was a fun addition, even if the beginning was a bit glum I was never particularly taken with Martin, but had finally accepted him as a part of Roe's life when he died, so I was kind of bummed. However, the new characters give a breath of fresh air that's needed after a seventh part in a series.
I liked the mystery and thought this was one of the best books of the series.

Charlaine Harris is an interesting mystery writer, in part because she is willing to take chances in her books. In Roe's last outing, A Fool and His Honey, an abrupt death near the end of the book brings the reader up short. We are not used to having sympathetic, continuing characters die in mystery fiction.
But, of course, life is like that.
In this outing, the mystery situation is pretty farfetched, but Harris makes it enjoyable, by bringing us along as Roe Teagarden re-enters her life following the death of her beloved husband.
A fast, fun read, but not the best of the series. Still--worth your time.

This is a great addition to the aurora teagarden series!
After the somewhat depressing A Fool and his Honey, Aurora
is back and better than ever!
Roe has spent the last year in a daze after being widowed.
But now she finds out a company is making a movie based on the
first set of murders she was involved with so long ago.(Real
Murders, 1990)Along with the production company, her old almost-
flame, Robin Crusoe returns. He is the author of the book their
movie is based on.
The chemistry between Roe and Robin is fabulously written. I
found myself easily adapting to the idea of Robin, and Harris does a great job of showing Roe's turmoil about this new relationship and her feelings for her deceased husband.
The plot is enjoyable, blending many of the previous secondary
characters readers have been fond of. The Murder itself is not
as all inclusive as some of the others in the series, but Harris does a great job of drawing the readers back into the series after the depressing A Fool and his Honey.
I strongly recommend reading this book, but I suggest that if you are new to the series you begin back at Real Murders and work your way into this book. Either way is enjoyable, but you will really appreciate the characters more if you have followed them in the series.

After the tear-fest I endured at the end of Fool and His Honey, I have to admit, I was a little worried about reading this one. Silly me. Charlaine Harris is in top form here, in her southern mysteries that hold a prized area on my bookshelf.
This time, Roe is stunned to find that a movie based on her first mystery (if you haven't read Real Murders, you're doing yourself a big disservice) is being filmed in her hometown. Written by Robin Crusoe, her old friend and one time love interest, it shocks her out of her sadness. Roe is ready to make big changes, and the murder, house searching and romance keeps her quite busy.
Long before Charlaine's famous vampire series, she was one of my favorite writers for the Roe Teagarden series. If you haven't read them, start at the beginning, and work your way through. You'll be thrilled you did. And don't forget the number 8 book, Poppy Done to Death, which is just as wonderful!

This had none of the usual dark stuff you usually get from Charlaine Harris, but lots of the down south logic. A very enjoyable read, one I could put down and come back to for 15 minutes at a time and not lose my place!

I liked this book. As a southerner Ms Harris is right on target! I feel as if I stepped back into my hometown amid the y'alls and we're fixin's. This is the only book in the Aurora Teagarden series that I have read and I enjoyed the story. I did not feel as if I had somehow stumbled into a series and storyline that I didn't understand (having not read the previous 6 books). The mystery was lively and I didn't have it solved until Ms Harris told me who did it on the last page. It was well worth my money and it has me coming back for more.

ATM-Last Scene Alive is an entertaining easy read. The ATM books are a good for when you need to come down from more complicated story line (Thrones) you have just finished. I have them all on my read list. Thanks Ms. Harris I have enjoyed many of your series.

I love Charlaine Harris, and want to read everthing she has written, but I WILL NOT buy this book, published seven years ago at the exorbitant price you are asking. What happened to your promise? Shame on you, Kindle!

Renee S. N.Y.C.

I agree completely with the statements made by the 2 previous commentators. This price is ludicrous and frankly makes me acknowledge my heretofore unadmitted unhappiness with $6++ paperback pricing. I love my Kindle but I'm starting to feel decidedly unloved in return.

I guess I should pay better attention from now on. Usually a book this old is much cheaper on Kindle but this one cost more than a brand new addition. I'll pay better attention next time and maybe I should start downloading a little less