MURDER AND MAI TAIS by Sibel Hodge & Elizabeth Ashby

Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Danger Cove Mystery Series

4****

Blurb: Murder is on the menu, and someone’s about to get served. Hope Foster’s motto is to let fate lead you—which it did in her case right to the quiet town of Danger Cove. But when the owner of the Smugglers’ Tavern, where Hope tends bar, is murdered, suddenly fate puts Hope squarely in the role of “prime suspect” in her employer’s murder. Not only is she the last one to see him alive, but a new will also reveals that her employer left his whole estate to Hope instead of his ungrateful daughter Elise and nephew Carter. With the local police convinced Hope is a manipulative “Black Widow” killer, Hope’s peaceful life in Danger Cove is about to turn into a white water ride. Along with a sexy underwater archaeologist from England, in town searching for a lost shipwreck, an international yoga guru, and a reformed alcoholic patron, Hope sets out to prove her innocence. But can Team Hope catch the real killer before she trades in her bartending apron for an orange prison jumpsuit?

Review: This was a really good story. Hope is an unusual character in that she’s never had a stable place to live until now, and then she gets accused of murdering her boss! She and her friends band together to prove that she’s innocent. Meanwhile there’s a hot British underwater archaeologist who captures her eye—and heart. He’s looking for an ancient shipwreck in the area but has only a limited time to do so. 

Favorite parts of the story: the description of Zen the cat (looks like John Lennon only shorter and hairier); the non-relationship between Vernon and Ruby (Hope’s friends); and the ending. Nicely done. 

Things I didn’t care for so much – too many strings left dangling for me. I assume a series is coming and they’ll be tied up there, but it really bothered me that some things were just left hanging. 

Other than that, a really good story.
Recommended. 

All opinions are my own and are not influenced by anyone or anything. I was not required to leave a review.