Review: Margaritas, Mayhem & Murder by Mary Cunningham

☆☆➹⁀☆ 4 stars ☆➹⁀☆☆

 

What It’s About:

Andi’s step-mother is a real piece of work! But is Ruby a murderer?

Andi Anna Jones, so-so travel agent/amateur sleuth, puts aside her resentment of her father’s widow and books a 60th birthday cruise to Cancun for Ruby and three friends. Never does Andi imagine the cruise will lead to the murder of a has-been lounge singer—or that Ruby will be the main suspect.

Flirting with more than danger after arriving in Mexico, Andi connects with the charming local sheriff, Manuel Rodriquez. After an embarrassing night involving the sheriff, too many margaritas, and a Mariachi band, a chance to check out an eyewitness to the murder leads her to Las Vegas.

In Vegas, a mysterious meeting in the Bodies Exhibition, a body preserving in the prep-room, and an evasive owner of a dance studio, give Andi clues to help Ruby. But when Andi is mercilessly drugged and locked in a storage room, she realizes dear old step-mom isn’t the only one in jeopardy.

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My Thoughts:

Mary Cunningham has a great cozy mystery with Margaritas, Mayhem & Murder. I appreciated Ms. Cunningham’s attention to not only the “cozy” but also the “mystery”.  Some cozy mysteries focus so much on the character development and charming settings, that the mystery is merely a backdrop.

While some of Margaritas, Mayhem & Murder requires a suspension of disbelief, overall it is an amateur sleuth’s delight.  I loved the reference to Murder She Wrote—the penultimate cozy mystery.  Main character and narrator, Andi Anna is a good egg. She seems like the rock of the family—such as it is.  Her chatty ex-stepmother is a hoot!  She is whatever young woman doesn’t want her father marrying!  I can’t wait to learn more about the secondary characters and Andi’s new love interest in future books.

Margaritas, Mayhem & Murder is well paced, fun and funny.  There is of course, a murder, and some serious scenes, but the author’s sense of humor was ever present.  A delightful read for cozy mystery fans.  I’m looking forward to more adventures for Andi Anna Jones in upcoming series installments.

 

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