Book Review: Naked Came the Phoenix edited by Marcia Talley

Naked Came the Phoenix
Edited by Marcia Talley
Publication: Minotaur Books (April 1, 2010)

Description: "An all-star lineup of 13 women mystery authors has produced one madcap, murderous tale" in this serial novel by Nevada Barr, JD Robb, and others (Publishers Weekly).

The promise of discretion and pampering—and a long-overdue reconciliation with her mother—draws Caroline Blessing, the young wife of a newly-elected Congressman, to the fancy Phoenix Spa. But after her first night in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, Caroline wakes to find the rich and famous guests in turmoil and under suspicion: the spa's flamboyant and ambitious owner has been murdered. As the secrets come out, and the body count rises, can Caroline keep herself from becoming the next victim?

This serial novel features chapters by Nevada Barr, J.D. Robb, Nancy Pickard, Lisa Scottoline, Perri O'Shaughnessy, J.A. Jance, Faye Kellerman, Mary Jane Clark, Marcia Talley, Anne Perry, Diana Gabaldon, Val McDermid, and Laure R. King.

My Thoughts: This was an interesting project. This serial novel written by thirteen women mystery authors tells the story of Caroline Blessing's visit to the Phoenix Spa in the Blue Ridge mountains. Caroline is hoping for reconciliation with her distant mother after her father's death. She also has some questions about her own life since she is recently married to a freshman congressman and has given up her career as a cellist with a symphony orchestra to support his dreams. 

Caroline is fascinated by the variety of celebrities at the spa including an aging rock star, a noted film actress, and the latest model taking the high fashion world by storm. There is also a has-been and probably alcoholic film producer and a popular and also aging psychic. 

When Caroline sneaks out the raid the kitchen after a less-than-filling dinner, she overhears an argument between the spa's owner Claudia de Vries and someone she can't identify. It isn't long after that the Caroline discovers Claudia's body in one of the spa's famous mud baths. 

The detective assigned to the case is a transplant from Philly who is having some issues getting the spa's guests and staff to agree to talk to him without their lawyers. And the politics get twisted rather quickly when it is learned that Caroline's mother Hilda who has been the secret majority stockholder has inherited the spa. This comes as quite a surprise to Claudia's husband who is the spa's medical doctor. 

As each chapter switches authors and adds on to the plot. We have a couple of babies given up for adoption, shady managers with drug habits, and a variety of other characters dropping in and complicating the story. 

Laurie R. King is the author who comes last and has the none-too-easy task of tying up the loose threads and solving the murders which have added up to four people before all is said and done. I did notice that characterizations shifted as different authors added on to the story. It was, overall, an interesting mystery and an interesting literary project. 

I bought this one April 15, 2025. You can buy your copy here.