About the Book
Cozy Mystery
Format
E-ARC
Publisher
Kensington Cozies
Release Date
July 23, 2024
Synopsis from Goodreads:
New motel owner Dee Stern has checked out of the familiar comforts in the San Fernando Valley and checked in to the quaint village of Foundgold. Running a rustic getaway in the woods sure beats LA traffic—until murder ruins the peace and quiet . . .
Down-on-her-luck sitcom writer Dee Stern is flipping the script. Twice divorced and wasting her talents on an obnoxious kids’ show, the lifelong Angeleno embraces the urge to jump in her car and keep driving. It's a road trip with no destination—until she pulls into a mid-century motel filled with cobwebs and retro charm. Nestled in the shadow of a national park, it’s a time capsule of a place that, like her, could use some work. So, in the most impulsive move of her life, Dee teams up with best friend, Jeff Cornetta—who happens to be her first ex-husband—to transform the aging ranch into the Golden Motel-of-the-Mountains, a hiker’s oasis on the edge of the wilderness.
But Dee and Jeff soon realize there couldn’t be two people more unprepared for the hospitality business. There’s also the panic-inducing reality of prowling bears and a general store as the only shopping spot for miles. Living and working in the middle of nowhere takes some getting used to—especially when a disrespectful guest ends up murdered! Now, with the motel duo topping the suspect list, Dee must steer clear of a meddling park ranger, face her past in show biz, and determine if the killer is a local or tourist. Because as she quickly finds out, there are many things worse than a one-star review.
Review
Former TV sitcom writer, Dee Stern, is done with TV life and is ready to do something else. She goes to the small town of Foundgold and decides to buy an old, rundown motel. She enlists the help of her best friend Jeff. They used to be married, but are much better as best friends. Together, they plan to turn the old motel into something modern and fabulous.
Things don’t quite go the way they were expecting. Neither one has experience in the hospitality business. It’s taking much more money then they thought it would for repairs. To make matters even worse, their first guest is found dead and they are the main suspects in the apparent murder. The townspeople quickly turn on them. It’s up to them to prove their innocence and find a killer.
This is the first book in a brand-new series. It’s off to a great start. I liked the two main characters right from the start. They are fun and I found myself caring about them.
The townspeople were a bit quirky. Some nicer than others, just like other small towns. All the characters add to the ambience of the town.
The plot was interesting and moved at a fast pace. There were many potential suspects, and I was surprised at who turned out to be the guilty party. I love being surprised.
This author writes other cozy mystery series. I’ve enjoyed other books by her and I’m looking forward to more exciting stories.
For reading challenges:
NetGalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge 2024
Cloak & Dagger Reading Challenge 2024
Cruisin’ thru the Cozies Reading Challenge 2024
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from Edelweiss and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Cool cover. That looks good.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like quite an adventure for them.
ReplyDeleteI really like this author and am looking forward to reading this one. I'm glad to see you enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed this one. So did I.
ReplyDelete