Much Ado about Nauticaling (A Whit and Whiskers Mystery) by Gabby Allan
About Much Ado about Nauticaling
Much Ado about Nauticaling (A Whit and Whiskers Mystery)
Cozy Mystery 1st in Series
Publisher: Kensington (July 27, 2021)
Paperback: 256 pages
ISBN-10: 1496731069 ISBN-13: 978-1496731067
Digital ASIN: B08TB5M4K8
Whitney Dagner is your tour guide to a Pacific paradise that’s to die for—only to find it’s a place people are also willing to kill for—in Gabby Allan’s Much Ado About Nauticaling, first in the Whit and Whiskers Mystery series.
After far too many years in the Los Angeles corporate world, Whitney Dagner has come home to Santa Catalina Island off the California coast to help her brother Nick run Nautically Yours, the family tourism business. Between gift shop shifts selling all manner of T-shirts and tchotchkes and keeping her feline Whiskers in fine fettle, she pilots the Sea Bounder, a glass bottom boat showing tourists the underwater sights of aquatic plants, marine life—and a murder victim?
The self-proclaimed “Master of the Island,” Jules Tisdale was a wealthy man with business interests throughout Catalina who was about to be honored as Person of the Year before someone strangled him with his own tie and tossed his body into the water. That someone appears to be Nick, who had a raw deal from Jules and no alibi the night of his murder. To clear her brother’s name, Whit will have to investigate Jules’ shady associates and not exactly grief-stricken family members—with the unwelcome help of Felix Ramirez, police diver and Whit’s ex-boyfriend who’s looking to rekindle their relationship.
My Review
Whitney Dagner returns to her home on the island of Santa Catalina, the perfect paradise in the Pacific. Along with her brother, she runs a tourism business which includes leading tours on a glass bottom boat and running a souvenir shop.
Everything is going well until the body of a wealthy business man is found in the water, strangled to death. The number one suspect is Nick, Whitney’s brother. Whitney vows to clear her brother’s name and her family’s reputation. She quickly learns the dead man had many other possible enemies much more angrier than her brother.
This is a solid start to a new series. Whitney even has a feline sidekick, Whiskers. Whitney is a strong character. She never waivers in her belief in her brother, even when he gives her reason to wonder. I thought Nick was a bit weak and seemed to leave Whitney to deal with his mess for most of the book. The characters are well-developed. Whitney’s grandmother is funny, witty and lively. She’s right there to lend her support any way that she can.
Whitney has a great support cast. Besides her brother and grandmother, she has her grandfather, her best friend Maribel, her ex-boyfriend Felix and, of course her beloved Whiskers. They are a fun group. I already feel as if they are old friends.
The storyline is intricately woven with many motives and suspects. Each one as much a potential suspect as Nick. If only he had a provable alibi. That doesn’t get Whitney down, though. She enlists the help of Maribel and Felix. Together with Whiskers, they search for a killer.
I didn’t guess whodunit until more than halfway through the book. The book kept me guessing. Even after I guessed, I wasn’t sure I chose the right person.
I can already see this is going to be a fun series and I’m looking forward to reading more.
For reading challenges:
What An Animal Reading Challenge 2021
Craving for Cozies Reading Challenge 2021
NetGalley and Edelweiss Reading Challenge 2021
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
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About Gabby Allan
After writing plays for her friends to act out as a kid, bad poetry in high school, and her high school Alma Mater song, GABBY ALLAN finally found her true passion—cozy mysteries. Being able to share her world with readers, one laugh at a time, and touch people’s hearts with her down-to-earth characters makes for the best job ever. This California girl now lives with her husband, daughter, and two insane dogs in Central Pennsylvania where she is hard at work on her next novel.
Thank you so much! I love the things you said about feeling like they're already old friends!
ReplyDelete-Gabby Allan (aka Misty Simon)
That sounds good. I love feline sidekicks. :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like a wonderful sunny day read! Thanks for the purrfect review!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for coming to my birthday pawty at Ann and June's Blog! We are so furry blessed to have such wonderful blogging furrends! We are expecting to be back to our regularly scheduled blogging unless the wind changes and the internet burns up again!
This looks fun! I'm so glad you enjoyed this one! It definitely looks like the beginning of a promising series.
ReplyDeleteThanks, everyone! And if anyone is interested in a doorhanger, you can email me at gabbyallanwrites@gmail.com with a mailing address!
ReplyDelete