A Hard Bargain    by Jane Tesh Order:  USA  Can Poisoned Pen, 2007 (2007) Hardcover     Reviewed by Mary Ann Smyth Ex-beauty queen Madeline Maclin is trying to make a name for herself as a private investigator (attaining a crown was never her own personal goal, but that of her pushy mother). Madeline opens her office in Celosia, North Carolina where she hopes she can make a mark in her new profession and get away from the echoes of a runway. She shares an old house with Jerry Fairweather, a longtime friend and, she hopes, future husband. Jerry has problems – in addition to running scams to part his clients from their money. And a movie company wants to use the old house for exterior shots for a horror movie. The plot gets a bit complicated at this point but author Jane Tesh never loses sight of the clues she scatters along the way. The action moves slowly but surely with a wealth of characters to carry the plot. Some of the players are a bit whacky – or maybe intense is a better word for the conviction each carries for their own cause. An easy, light mystery, A Hard Bargain is a fun book cleverly written. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Mystery books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews