Publication July 23, 2024
Excellent start to a new series. It did take me a bit to warm-up to Dee Stern but I came to like her spunk, for lack of a better word. She's been floundering in her role as a TV script writer and wants a change. True, she needs to work on her self-control and rein in her impulses, especially her mouth. It does seem to operate faster than her brain at times but that's half the fun and I did notice that she was making progress as the story went along. Of course, it was that impulsive decision to buy a run down, rustic motel that ultimately put her and ex-husband, now BFF Jeff, on a murder suspect list. Let's face it. Having their first guest murdered was not in their plans.
Who killed annoying, deceitful script writer Michael Adam Baker who, as it turns out, isn't only rather a celebrated celebrity "son" in Foundgold but someone Dee once worked with. Unhappily, I might add. I'll leave that story for readers to discover, however. Who knew so many Hollywood types hung out in rural, rustic towns? It's a fun story, full of twists and turns and, oh, my, what a cast of quirky characters. Dee also inherits, so to speak, an ol' dog named Nugget who belonged to the late past owner and even a bear named Stoney. I think the bear by the cabin on the cover is what drew me initially to the book as I live in Alaska where bears in your yard aren't necessarily a oddity. The story takes place in the foothills of the Sierras, however. There's a neighboring town seemingly trapped in the gold rush era, with residents dressing appropriately to help sell the image. Even the local law officers. Wyatt Earp, anyone?
Watching Dee fumble her way through her first efforts at investigating is both hilarious and painful. As noted earlier, she doesn't always know when to rein in her impulsive mouth. With most of the residents already suspicious of Dee and Jeff as newbies, her efforts do little to appease their concerns. The cast, as noted, is definitely quirky but each stands out as an individual and most are quite likable, even the ones that initially frighten city-girl Dee. The setting sounds lovely and I could easily envision the views and, yes, the abundance of wildlife, even the artwork described. The humor and jokes flowed, too, both good and not, and, of course, given the setting, the Donner Party gets a mention....or two. Everything seems to make Dee think of a potential series pitch given her background, so it will be interesting to see if she's really done with that or finds time between cleaning guest rooms and changing sheets to get involved again. Maybe she can make Stoney a star? The rather sketchy look at her relationship with her voice actor father intrigues me, too, allowing us another glimpse into the behind-the-scenes goings on in the entertainment industry.
And...and so much more. Seriously, as much fun as getting a glimpse of Hollywood writers and the business, it's a fun story primarily character driven. Despite being a bit taken aback by Dee's personality initially, I gradually warmed to her, if not all her jokes. Grin. Thanks #NetGalley and #KensingtonPublishing - #KensingtonCozies for introducing me to Foundgold and it's intriguing residents. I'm looking forward to finding out what's in store for Dee and Jeff, wondering where Dee's drive and imagination will take them. Hopefully not onto another suspect list.
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