Her current assignment is to travel to Aspen and highlight all the great things there are to do for non-skiers, such as the historical sights, dining on sumptuous fare, and pampering at the many spas. This includes Tavaci Spa, owned by Mallory’s high school classmate, the now wildly successful business woman Carly Cassidy Berman, inventor of Rejuva-Juice, said to turn back the hands of time for women.  Carly welcomes Mallory with much more enthusiasm than their casual high school acquaintance requires, making Mallory suspect Carly is a bit of a phony. 

Mallory is invited to have supper with Carly and her husband Brett, and then to a talk Carly is giving that evening.  Going backstage to wish Carly luck, Mallory hears Carly and Brett arguing very heatedly, making her wonder if the lovey-dovey scenes at dinner were all an act.  The next morning, Carly is found dead in a mud tub at the spa. 

Naturally, Brett is the first suspect, but Mallory thinks that is too easy and begins to poke around in Carly’s present, recent past and business ventures.  She quickly learns that Carly made many enemies on her way to the top and now one of them is mad enough to kill.  

Too Rich and Too Dead is a pleasant mystery with a lot of local color and a very detailed setting.  The descriptions of each place Mallory visits are very thorough without being fussy, as if they are truly being observed from a journalist’s point of view.  The characters are fun, if not especially well-developed, which actually adds, sometimes, to the vapid atmosphere one might expect from some of the people in an elite setting such as Aspen. 

Mallory is inquisitive, making her both a natural journalist and amateur sleuth.  She is recovering well from her husband’s death, especially when her boss Trevor appears on the scene, doing a little more than just checking on how the assignment is going. 

With its breezy style, this mystery is perfect for anyone looking for a quick getaway without ever leaving the comforts of a favorite armchair.                                        

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry