[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Hallmark Publishing in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]
Summary
Darby Piper and Samantha Porter were detectives in Herrington. Their agency, the Two Girls Detective Agency, had been in business for ten years. But it was all about to end.
Samantha wanted out. As majority owner, with 60% of the business, she got to make the decision. She’d been offered a job as head of security for Lake Waters Retreat. She said she was ready for something more simple and stable.
Then, right before Samantha could sign the paperwork to dissolve the business, she’s killed.
Everyone seems to know the business was closing. Darby would have lost not only her job but also her home in the building where their offices were if that happened. So she is the number one suspect. She was unhappy about Samantha’s plans. She had the most to lose – and the most to gain, at least until Samantha’s nephew, Tate, shows up and learns he has inherited everything, including Samantha’s portion of the business. Now Darby and Tate are circling each other warily, suspicious of each other’s motives, while also trying to work the case together and determine who killed Samantha.
Review
This was so fun! I loved Darby and Tate together! Tate is a fun character with a fascinating back story. I enjoyed all the things he brought to the book. The author does a great job of teasing out information. There are still some unanswered questions about his background that could be explored in future books. I wasn’t super excited about the hints at a possible love triangle. That’s a matter of personal preference. I don’t care for them. I have my clear favorite for Darby’s love interest, and I have my fingers crossed for that fella.
The mystery in this was front and center. There are a few introductions to the town at large, but most of the action was focused on the case. This made the mystery highly satisfying for me, but I am eager to read more about the town, and the townspeople, in future books.
I was able to figure out the killer about halfway through the book, but I needed Darby’s investigation to understand all the reasons why. This made for a fun reading experience for me. I got to feel triumphant about my armchair sleuthing while enjoying the reveals that the book still held for me.
I could absolutely see this playing out on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries. If you are a fan of their cozy shows, you don’t want to miss this one. Amanda Flower fans as well as cozy fans who maybe haven’t tried her work yet should be sure to pick this one up. It’s a fun read with an engaging cast. I am already looking forward to the next Piper and Porter mystery!
Rating: ♥♥♥♥*
*♥♥♥♥ = Great, might re-read