The Julius House (Aurora Teagarden Series #4)

by Charlaine Harris

Overview

Author of the books that inspired True Blood on HBO and Midnight, Texas on NBC

Aurora Teagarden is happily preparing for her wedding to dashing business executive Martin Bartell. As a wedding gift, Martin buys her the house of her dreams: the “Julius house,” infamously named after the family who vanished from the house without a trace six years ago. As Roe sets about renovating and decorating her new home, she’s never felt happier.

Then Martin suddenly rents the small apartment on their new property to an old army buddy and his wife, who seem to be more bodyguard than tenant, and Roe is sure her husband-to-be is keeping secrets. To take her mind off her suspicions, she opens her own unofficial investigation into the Julius family cold case. But when an axe-wielding stranger attacks her, Roe must determine whether it’s her husband’s secrets, the mystery of the Julius family’s fates, or both, that have put her own life on the chopping block.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Charlaine Harris has once again brought Southern charm and an engaging mystery in this latest Aurora Teagarden installment. Real Murders, A Bone To Pick, Three Bedrooms, One Corpse, and the rest of the Aurora Teagarden series has been adapted into film for Hallmark Movies & Mysteries.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781625672124
Publisher:	JABberwocky Literary Agency, Inc.
Publication date:	08/01/2016
Series:	Aurora Teagarden Series , #4
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	240
Sales rank:	185,171
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Charlaine Harris is a #1 New York Times bestselling author. Born and raised in the Mississippi River Delta area, Harris has been published in thirty-five languages, sold over 37 million copies of her work, and been selected as a 2021 Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America, in addition to Lifetime Achievement honors from both Malice Domestic and RT Booklovers. Three of her series have been adapted for television, as HBO’s True Blood, NBC’s Midnight, Texas, and the ongoing Aurora Teagarden movies on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. Her latest novel, The Russian Cage, continues her national bestselling Gunnie Rose series.

Hometown:

Southern Arkansas

Date of Birth:

November 25, 1951

Place of Birth:

Tunica, Mississippi

Education:

B.A. in English and Communication Arts, Rhodes, 1973

Website:

http://www.charlaineharris.com

Editorial Reviews

In her seventh cozy outing, librarian Aurora "Roe" Teagarden is back to form after the downbeat A Fool and His Honey (1999). Roe and her once-significant other, true-crime writer Robin Crusoe, team up to untangle the results of their first foray into detection, Real Murders (1990), in which they caught the killer who'd been terrorizing the sleepy town of Lawrenceton, Ga. Now Robin has capitalized on the experience to write a bestselling novel, which is being made into a TV movie. Of course, it will be shot in Lawrenceton, and the whole town is delighted and eager to be involved, except for Roe. Oh, she's glad to see Robin again after his years in Hollywood, but she's not pleased that the star of the film is Emmy winner Celia Shaw, her successor in Robin's affection, now also cast off. When Roe's unfriendly stepson, Barrett, turns up with a part in the film, she hardens her heart until the second morning of the shoot, when Barrett knocks on Celia's trailer door (after having spent the night there) to find Celia dead, her bloody Emmy beside her. Now Roe feels sorry for Barrett. The first investigator on the scene is another old flame, Detective Arthur Smith. Then Roe herself is threatened first by a venomous letter, later by a Robin Crusoe fan who tries to kill her. Harris's style is well suited to the material, frothy and fast-paced with a wealth of witty descriptions: "Her voice was as crisp as if it'd been in the vegetable drawer overnight." Take a well-earned rest, Roe, don't lose Robin and return soon. (Aug. 12) FYI: Harris is also the author of Shakespeare's Counselor (Forecasts, Sept. 10, 2001) and other titles in her Lily Bard mystery series. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

In this best of the series to date, Aurora (Roe) Teagarden, the former librarian returned to her roots in Lawrenceton, Ga., marries Martin Bartell, the rich, secretive and charismatic businessman she met in Three Bedrooms, One Corpse (1994). For their home, Martin buys the house once occupied by T.C. Julius, his terminally ill wife Hope and their teenage daughter. Six years earlier, the Julius family had disappeared without a trace, leaving only Hope's mother in the garage apartment. Martin lets the apartment to an old Vietnam buddy, Shelby Youngblood, and his wife Angel, who seem suspiciously like bodyguards to Roe. As questions about Martin's past and present disturb her newfound happiness, Roe determines to solve the Julius family mystery, enlisting Angel's help. A vicious attack and a stunning discovery lead the two women to New Orleans and a dramatic set of answers to puzzles old and new. The author's brisk, upbeat style keeps tension simmering under the everyday surface, while Roe's inclination to girlish chatter (a trial in earlier works) is restrained. (Feb.)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Aurora Teagarden, who gave up librarianship when she inherited money, marries the handsome businessman she met in Three Bedrooms, One Corpse (LJ 3/1/94). They settle down in his wedding gift to her: the so-called Julius house, named for the family who disappeared from it six years earlier. Aurora eventually discovers what really happened; unfortunately, she also uncovers a few unsavory things about her husband. Suspense sprouts from tiny seeds planted early on, and the tensions of a new marriage and an old mystery provide much fertilizer. Good reading, augmented by solid characterization and occasional humor.

Library Journal

Roe is so charming, you will want to go back and read the first three.”—Mostly Murder
 
“Harris gives the reader quite a taste of small-town life in the South. Don’t miss it.”—The Knoxville News-Sentinel
 
“In the best of the series to date…the author’s brisk, upbeat style keeps tension simmering.”—Publishers Weekly
 
“A witches’ brew of decorous old bones, whiffs of international intrigue, and helpful wedding tips, interspersed with nightly bouts of tasteful, enthusiastic offscreen coupling. Hands down Roe’s most bizarre adventure to date.”—Kirkus Reviews
 
“Good reading, augmented by solid characterization and occasional humor.”—Library Journal

From the Publisher