500 Book Reviews 80% Reviews Published Professional Reader

Thursday, June 15, 2023

Murder at a Cape Bookstore (Cozy Capers Book Group Mystery, #5), by Maddie Day

 

Publication August 22, 2023

It's never a good start to an investigation when one of your employees is a suspect in a murder. Who killed Wagner Lavoie, the Chamber of Commerce's new director? That's what Mackenzie "Mac" Almeida and her book group are determined to find out. Her worries and concerns aren't lessened by the erratic behavior of Sandy, an employee at Mac's bike shop, who suddenly has a habit of not showing up or simply leaving unexpectedly. 

Of course, there are ample other suspects, some of them from the Lavorie family and others who had aspired to his job or simply had run-ins with him. Let's just say, him almost ordering local business owners to give out free samples connected to their business wasn't going over well with them. Heck, Wagner's own sister, Flora, isn't actually doing anything to sound innocent, either, not to mention she's irritating many by dropping her still lit cigarettes as she goes about making demands. Or, how about the ex-wife? Or one of those seen arguing with him before the bike parade? Mac already has her hands full dealing with her busy bike shop, but feels compelled to investigate. Secrets? Oh, boy, are there secrets. But, I had to chuckle at Mac seeming oblivious to the fact that those she'd questioned or been asking others about knew she was looking into things. Well, her police friends were telling her not to keep pushing. Did she listen? What do you think?

And, oh, you'll get a kick out of Belle, Mac's African parrot. Belle's ability to mimic Tim, her husband, is amazing. No wonder she feels compelled to cage and cover Belle's cage at times. Lots of bicycle talk, too, with an emphasis on safety, I might note. The cast of characters seems diverse, such as the elderly Helene Fadinan, in a wheelchair after having had polio as a child. I'm hoping to find out more of her past as a film-maker, not to mention where the frequent mentions of the Wampanoag tribal connections seemingly shared by many in future books. Thanks #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks - #KensingtonCozies for inviting me to spend some time hanging out with Mac in Cape Cod, even if it did snow. Living in Alaska, I could relate to that twist in the weather.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Death Among the Stitches, by Betty Hechtman

 Publication Jan. 7, 2025 Annie Sara Hart's background may be touched by Hollywood glamour from her father's job as an agent to the ...