First book in the four book USA Today bestselling Magnolia Steele Mystery series by the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Denise Grover Swank.Ten years ago, Magnolia Steele fled Franklin, Tennessee after an incident that left her with hazy memories and a horror of the place where she had been born and bred. Though her abrupt departure destroyed most of her treasured relationships, … relationships, she vowed never to return . . . until she has no choice. When Magnolia’s breakout acting role in a Broadway musical ends in disgrace, there’s only one place she can go. She finds herself on her momma’s porch, suitcase in hand.
Drama follows Magnolia around like a long lost friend. She reluctantly agrees to help her momma’s catering company at a party for a country music star, only to find herself face-to-face with a sleazy music agent from her past. After a very public spat, Magnolia not only finds him dead but herself center stage in the police’s investigation. Now she must scramble to prove her innocence, relying on the help of acquaintances old and new.
But the longer Magnolia stays in Franklin, the more she remembers about the big bad incident that chased her away. The past might not be finished with her yet, and what she doesn’t remember could be her biggest danger.
Four book series:
Center Stage
Act Two
Call Back
Curtain Call
more
I recently read the first two books in the Magnolia Steele series by Denise Grover Swank and quite enjoyed them. It’s a pretty stock premise: Failed Broadway star returns to small town with a secret and the bodies start piling up, but the author does a good job of unfolding multiple threads and developing characters and their relationships that you actually care about. One downside: The next book’s not out until the spring.
I’ve also read a couple of books in the Rose Gardner series (starts with Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes) and I like those as well, but not quite as much as these.
This was such a great cozy mystery (though cozy isn’t quite the right word – Center Stage had a definite edge compared to the cozies I’m used to!). I was kept on my toes the entire time, and the clues of Magnolia’s mysterious, forgotten past trauma, the undercurrent of her family drama, and the hint of romance made this a fun and totally engaging read. I’m looking forward to reading more of the series!
This is my nomination for a great rainy day read…or beach read. Magnolia Steele is a fun and vibrant heroine, returning home in some disgrace and surrounded by interesting characters, a dysfunctional family palooza, new and suspicious friends, a potential love interest, anddddd a couple of murders thrown in for good measure! Fast and fun read that keeps you guessing, and it is the first of a 3 part series where each book stands on its own but also strings together. Can’t wait for the 3rd book due out the end of Feb 2017.
Beginning of the book there are just small teasers on what happened at night of graduation that even Magnolia doesn’t remember but gets small tips herself as time goes on. I had to pay attention to make sure I wasn’t missing details.
Like a puzzle you start to piece it together and wonder if you will figure it out before She does.
This went darker and more suspenseful than I expected and I loved every minute of it. Every sleep deprived minute.
The book does end with continued story into the next but…. it doesn’t leave you mad with a huge cliffhanger either.
Going into this book I figured it would be a mystery romance but there was lots of suspense, drama, humor and friendship. Loved every minute of it and can’t wait to pick up Act Two!
Shortly after Magnolia Steele, a flawed but likable protagonist, returns to her home town, a murder occurs and Magnolia is the top suspect.
Denise Swank has penned a compelling murder mystery with a fascinating undercurrent of family drama.
A smart, sassy heroine. Three-dimensional secondary characters. Intriguing plot. Delightful writing.
First the reader should know this book is one fourth of the story. To find out what happens one must read four books. Nice way to encourage purchases of books, but should really be disclosed in the beginning.
I was first introduced to Swank with the Rose Gardner Series (5-star series!!)
This book didn’t quite do it for me.
I get series reads – I love them – for me, this story left me feeling like I was just left dangling with nothing to grasp on to.
We know she has returned home, we get clues to why she left but I had more questions than answers
A crime occurs – again I felt like I was left hanging with a basket of questions and not enough answers
I am going to move on to book two –
I like the story in book one maybe the answers I am searching for are in book two?
RATING 4.5 STARS
Center Stage is book one in the Magnolia Steele Mystery series by Denise Grover Swank. This is a mystery with just a hint of a possible romance. While I usually avoid books that don’t have any romance, there was enough going on to keep me occupied and needing to turn the pages.
Magnolia (Maggie) Steele left Franklin, Tennessee, the home she grew up in, her family, and her friends, ten years ago with no explanation. While her mother has come to see her in New York, Maggie has not returned to Franklin or had any contact with anyone else, until now.
Maggie had finally gotten a lead part in a Broadway play, her dream come true. But now she is homeless and broke, with nowhere else to go and standing on her mother’s door step, embarrassed and humiliated. Her mother owns a catering business and forces Maggie to help her with an event that same evening. Maggie’s bad luck has followed her to Franklin and after a very public argument with someone from her past, that person is soon found dead. Of course, Maggie is the number one suspect!
There is a reason Maggie ran away all those years ago, but she can’t remember what it was. Something horrible happened to her on her last night at home. Something so bad that her mind has blocked it out. But the longer she is home, the more her mind is letting in bits and pieces.
“I realized I was ready to come face to face with my past, ready to face the demons I’d left behind. Even if it would put me at center stage.”
First, I have to say how parts of this broke my heart. No one knows why Maggie left. And she is not welcomed home with open arms. She is treated horribly, by everyone. She does make a couple of tentative new friends. But what she had to endure was awful. She held her head high, though. She used her Broadway training and didn’t let anyone know they were getting to her. All the while, the detective seems to presume her guilty from the start so it looks like she will have to prove her innocence herself.
This is a great start into this series. While the murder mystery is solved, the underlying plot as to why Maggie left Franklin in the first place will continue. I wasn’t sure if I would go right on to the next book or wait a while. But I’m not going to be able to wait. I need to see what this author has in store for Maggie next. The next book in the series is Act Two. I can’t wait to get started.
So entertaining! This is my first book by this author and it won’t be my last. Love the first book in this series and plan to read the remaining three. Can’t wait. Magnolia Steele is one gutsy woman. Life kicks her but she won’t stay down. A lesser woman could not handle all that life has dealt her in this first book. So looking forward to seeing how she handles her conniving brother and Brady the handsome detective.
I wish I could give it a higher rating. I liked the mystery of the story line but the language ruined it for me. I doubt that I will read any other books of hers.
Yet another amazing read by Denise Grover Swank! Seriously, HOW DOES SHE DO IT?
Magnolia Steele left Tennessee for New York ten years ago, but after some unfortunate circumstances she finds herself back knocking on her momma’s front door. She’s expecting things to be awkward, but what she isn’t expecting is to end up the prime suspect in a murder investigation!
It always amazes me how Denise Grover Swank can weave such an intricate story and not leave a single stone unturned. As readers, we see the complete ins and outs of Magnolia’s life in Tennessee, as well as the thought processes she goes through as she tries to prove her innocence while trying to avoid falling for these southern boys.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone, but especially if you’re a fan of DGS Rose Gardner/Neely Kate series or her Darling Investigations series (Also, she just released content for a crossover?! Can’t wait to finish this series so I can read it!!)
Get into Magnolia’s world.
I just love it!
Read it, you won’t regret it!
Magnolia is a complicated character. She returns home after 10 years with her tail between her legs. She sees people she knows and meets all kinds of new people. Her father disappeared when she was 14 and now things are happening when she is looking into what happened. This is the 1st book in the series! This is a great book!! Her story is going to be a roller coaster!
I started reading Denise Grover Swank with her Rose Gardner mysteries, it was my first mystery! So I wanted to pick up this mystery next! For one, I’ve always loved the name Magnolia. And two, mysteries have become my new favorite because of Center Stage and Rose Gardner. This book kept me on my toes – it did take me awhile to read because of other obligations. But I am eager to figure out what she doesn’t remember! I’m anxious for more!
I discovered Denise Grover Swank’s books though a free kindle book titled Twenty Eight and a Half Wishes. I never dreamed I would enjoy another series just as much, until I began the Magnolia Steele mystery series. This book takes place in Franklin, Tennessee, where Magnolia lived until after her high school graduation ten years ago. There is an ongoing mystery of what occurred that fateful night in the woods, which lead Magnolia to the Broadway stage in New York City. After things go terribly wrong, Magnolia turns up at the place she vowed never to return to. Magnolia finds herself in the middle of a murder scene and police investigation. Not only trying to clear her innocent name, she is also struggling to remember what happened the night of her graduation. Will being back home jog her memory of the details from that hazy night? I highly recommend starting this new series! Center Stage will keep you on the edge of your seat and questioning everything and everyone.
Wish I had known it left you hanging and you’d have to spend $$ for the next installment.
A good mystery, but I just couldn’t relate to the main character.
This book is such a page turner! As with all of Denise’s books you find yourself loving each character. With this book being a mystery I found myself skeptical of most of the characters not knowing who to trust. I had to read book 2 immediately! I couldn’t put it down! Great first book to an amazing series!
Best story, phenomenal writer. Highly recommend.
Just when you think Denise Grover Swank’s books can’t get any better, she goes and proves you wrong. I am a huge fan of her Rose Gardner series books but this one just may be better. I loved Magnolia in the book – her wit is great and she is pretty funny! I look forward to the rest of the series and can’t wait to see where the characters go in the book! I really look forward to see what happens with Magnolia and Brady.