Genre: Mystery
Mass Market Paperback; Digital Book
ISBN #: 9781496708595
Kensington Publishing
300 Pages
$7.59; $1.99 Amazon
June 26, 2018
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Sophie "Phee" Kimball wants to get some work done at her private investigation company in Arizona - and she's distracted already by her old crush, who's arriving from Minnesota to join the staff. The last thing she needs is constant updates from her mom on the local production of Agatha Christie's "The Mousetrap." Practically everyone from Mom's book club and retirement community, with the possible exception of her chiweenie, Streetman, wants to join the cast and crew. But someone's playing the role of the killer for real.
After a much-despised cast member is found dead on a catwalk in the theater, Phee has no choice but to be drawn into all the backstabbing and backstage gossip. Especially if her drama-queen mother is right about the vaguely threatening note left on her windshield, which could mean curtains for another victim...
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Sophie "Phee" Kimball works for a private investigator in Arizona. Her mother lives in a retirement community, and is the bane of Phee's existence. Harriet is a drama queen, and is always dragging Phee into things she'd rather be left out of altogether.
Harriet is excited that she and her friends are going to try out for a play in the local community center. It's Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap, and they all want to be a part of it, whether it's in front of an audience or behind the production. Luckily, her mother gets a role, but no one can stand the diva who landed the main part - Miranda Lee. Still, everyone's surprised when Miranda is murdered, and they're wondering if there's a serial killer on the loose.
Phee, though, is having problems of her own. There's a new investigator in her office - Marshall Gregory, and it's got her in a tizzy. She had a crush on him back when they both worked for the police department in Mankato, Minnesota, and now he's going to be working in their office as a private investigator. Hopefully, she'll be able to keep her head on straight and able to deal with her mother as well.
When a series of accidents befall the theater and two of the ladies believe they've seen the ghost of Miranda, things start heating up. They decide to hire the PI firm to investigate, and that puts Phee in the middle of it, alongside Marshall, who's been assigned the case by their boss, Nate Williams (another Mankato transplant). But after a near-collision with a car, and the scent of Miranda's perfume following them around, both Marshall and Phee become suspicious that someone's out to kill again. The trouble is, with so many suspects, which one hated the woman enough to permanently remove her from the playbill?...
This is the third book in the series and I really enjoyed it. I like the character of Phee, mainly because she's human. She loves her mother even though Harriet makes her crazy, and is willing to do whatever it takes to keep her happy. She's got a good relationship with Nate, and is treading lightly with Marshall, afraid he might actually find out how she feels about him. You can feel her frustration with Harriet, but their relationship is actually slightly endearing.
Phee is never intrusive; she doesn't go around accusing people of murder or asking them personal questions that will upset them; she's out for information and because of the way she questions them, she gets what she wants. Harriet's friends are an interesting bunch, and it was humorous that the women preferred one restaurant while the men preferred another. I'm beginning to appreciate the sense of humor that the men have.
The plot was done well, the writing flowed and the budding romance didn't get in the way of the mystery, just as it should be (which doesn't mean I'm not enjoying it, because I am). It's a fun series that has rousing characters who have a tendency to grow on you the more time you spend with them.
When the ending comes and the killer is revealed, the clues were there earlier if you noticed them; while it's fun to watch Phee figure it out. She's no shrinking violet and can think on her feet. I like the fact that she's intelligent and doesn't fluster easily. It makes for a very good book. I look forward to the next in the series. Highly recommended.
https://www.amazon.com/Staged-Murder-Sophie-Kimball-Mystery/dp/1496708598/ref
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2935946186
More on J.C. Eaton's Books: https://www.fantasticfiction.com/e/j-c-eaton/
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