Dead Girls Don't Wear Diamonds by Nancy Martin

The Blackbird sisters, Nora, Emma and Libby are so much fun. Their family at one time was one of the "old rich" families living in the best part of Philadelphia, the Main Line. Sadly, the tax men caused problems for the family. The parents are gone roaming. The estate has seen better days. The sisters are always thinking of a new and creative way to keep their home and still remain stylish and party with the right type of people.

Nora is the sleuth. This time the crime involves her old flame, Flan Cooper. Flan is married to Laura Cooper. Laura is from Charleston, South Carolina where the values are very different from the expectations of the Northerners she has joined through marriage. Sadly, Laura never becomes at peace with her "real" self. Whatever she does, she feels as though life is happening all around her. She feels as though she's on the outside looking in. To prove she is a part of these Old, sturdily, rich families Laura soothes herself by being a kleptomaniac. Yes, stealing becomes a sort of pacifier. Oh my!

I thought a lot about Laura Cooper. It does feel horrible not  to fit in whether a child or an adult. Perhaps, it is worse for an adult because to make people enjoy our company we might try serious and criminal ways to become liked by who we think are the best people. I'm sure Laura Cooper did not expect to become one of the family's enemy. However, there is one person who is very willing to save the family's name name especially since old dad is trying to be a bigger fish in the pool of politics.

Thank goodness, Libby, Emma, Michael and Nora save the day. I now believe happily ever afters can happen to any of us, anywhere whether we just have a bottle of pennies or have the vintage dresses belonging to our grandmother along with a huge sapphire ring from the golden past.  After all, the Blackbird girls care about appearances too. Rich had been for decades their middle name. It is impossible to accept total poverty overnight. It just can not happen.

A person like Nora's fling or flirt, Michael Abruzzon, lightens the heavy burdens of  pretending to be rich when you are a bit poor in the pocket. His family makes their living in a cold, mysterious, different type of field. A person might call their work illegal and dangerous. Still, Michael knows how to make a woman feel good in all the right places. I say there is not a story without Michael and Nora together. Because of the ending I believe Nancy Martin feels the same way. Yes, no matter the title, "Dead Girls Don't Wear Diamonds,"  Nancy Martin know how to put the fun in dysfunctional. The book is great. This is my second book by Nancy Martin. I definitely will keep reading about the Blackbird Sisters and the newcomers to the family as long as Nancy Martin continues to write.Nancy Martin Mysteries