Annie owns her own mystery bookstore, Death on Demand, on Broward Rock, an island community in the south. Max has family money, doesn’t really think he needs to work but owns his own business called Confidential Commissions -- not a law office although he was a lawyer and not a private investigator’s office, just a friendly little business that would “look into things.”

This time, one of Annie’s best customers, Henny Brawley, has been found beaten and unconscious. Unfortunately, also discovered is a body of a woman who seems to have been blackmailing a few families in Broward Rock. Henny is the prime suspect of the new “boy” police chief. Annie and Max are compelled to discover the real murderer.

The whole story takes place over about three days -- while the Woman’s Club of Broward Rock is organizing and presenting their White Elephant Sale, indeed a BIG event in the community. When Annie discovers who is being blackmailed, she must determine who would kill. Was it the widowed town newspaper editor, a mogol couple famous for lavish parties, the assistant pastor and his wife, or the hot-headed couple who quit the community theatre rather abruptly?

Annie and Max, similar in many ways to a more modern Nick and Nora Charles or the Norths, sleuth their way through another hilarious story. Max’s mother, Laurel, adds a touch of whimsy to the story. Her new addiction is assigning a flower to every problem and letting that help the situation. She runs around with sayings like: “. . . periwinkle for friendship, morning glory for affection, and dogwood for durability. And, of course, local mystery writer Emma Clyde is running the show in a very officious manner that is very off-putting for Annie.

What is amazing in these Death on Demand mystery yarns are all the references to mystery sleuths and their writers. This reviewer feels really good when some of the names are familiar. White Elephant Dead is another sure winner!

--Kay Black