Sensible Philadelphia debutante Nora Blackbird turns sleuth when her friend Lexie becomes the prime suspect in the killing of a prominent Philadelphia philanthropist, but her investigation is complicated by the return of her scheming parents. - (Baker & Taylor)

Sensible Philadelphia debutante Nora Blackbird turns sleuth when her friend Lexie becomes the prime suspect in the killing of a prominent Philadelphia philanthropist, who has fallen to his death from an office tower balcony, but her investigation is complicated by the return of her scheming parents, whose scandalous hijinks unnerve all three of the Blackbird sisters. - (Baker & Taylor)

Down-to-earth debutante Nora Blackbird is having a meltdown - and it isn't because of Philadelphia's heat wave or an overdose at the city's Chocolate Festival. Her sister Libby got herself run over by a Rolls-Royce and is recuperating at the Ritz, leaving her five kids in Nora's charge. And Emma Blackbird is on the brink of another bender, thanks to a shocking secret that could shake up the entire family.
Fortunately Nora is free to deal with these mishaps, because her husband-to-be has suggested some time apart. But things really take a turn for the worse when noted Philly philanthropist Hayt Cavendish takes a swan dive from an office balcony, and it's Nora's friend Lexie who stands accused of the murder.
Turns out Hayt was financing his charitable giving by pilfering from his clients, which means there's a long list of aristocrats with a motive for murder. Did aging cosmetics queen Elena Zanzibar bump off her boyfriend when he cost her millions in an investment scheme? Or maybe her moneygrubbing grandson lost his cool when his chance to produce Hollywood blockbusters went down the tubes? What about Hayt's handsome son, the chocolatier with ties to South American crime lords?
But it's the sudden reappearance of their scheming parents that sends all three Blackbird sisters into a panic. Now that Daddy and Mama have weaseled their way back into high society, Nora must uncover the scandalous high links she's certain her parents are plotting ... before she winds up taking all the heat and strangling her father with his own ascot. - (Blackwell North Amer)

The new Blackbird Sisters mystery from the bestselling author of A Crazy Little Thing Called Death.

Down-to-earth debutante Nora Blackbird is having a meltdown-and it isn't because of Philadelphia's heat wave, or an overdose at the city's Chocolate Festival. A noted Philly philanthropist has taken a swan dive from an office balcony-and Nora's friend Lexie stands accused of the murder. Then Nora's scheming parents reappear, sending all three Blackbird sisters into a panic. Now Nora must uncover the scandalous hijinks her parents are plotting-before she winds up taking all the heat and strangling her father with his own ascot. - (Penguin Putnam)

Like her heroines the Blackbird sisters, Nancy Martin comes from a distinguished Pennsylvania family whose ancestors include Betsy Ross, a hanging judge, and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. - (Penguin Putnam)

Booklist Reviews

In her seventh adventure, Nora Blackbird has myriad problems in her life. One sister has been hit by a Rolls-Royce and is recovering at the Ritz, leaving Nora to care for her five children; her unmarried sister is pregnant; and Nora is on probation at her job at the Intelligencer newspaper. She has also recently broken up with her boyfriend, Michael Abruzzo, son of a New Jersey crime boss, and her parents, who had left town just ahead of the law, have returned. Complicating matters even more, philanthropist Hoyt Cavendish has fallen to his death from a balcony, and her good friend Lexie is the chief suspect in his murder. However, there are numerous other suspects as Hoyt's clients have just found out that he has swindled them to obtain the money he has been freely donating around town. Nora solves the murder, but the charm of this humorous series is the rather conventional heroine dealing with her numerous quirky relatives. The series is reminiscent of Donna Andrews' Meg Langslow series. Copyright 2008 Booklist Reviews.