Title: Penthouse, Pools, & Poison (Port Sunset Mysteries Book 1)
Author: Louise Stevens
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Book Blurb:
I’m Millie Wentworth, Assistant General Manager of the swanky Gulf Palms Resort and Spa, and sleuthing is not part of my job description. But when the obnoxious guest in the penthouse is poisoned beside his private pool, my daily planner is turned upside down.
Solving the murder shouldn’t be my job, but the only food found near the body is a charcuterie board sent to the victim by yours truly. The Port Sunset Police are looking my way until a shocking revelation shifts their attention to a friend. Suddenly, cracking the case moves to the top of my to-do list.
It’s up to me to find the real killer and clear my friend’s name. Uncovering the truth should be a breeze with me, my pink-haired grandmother, her rescue corgi, and her crew of fun-loving septuagenarian beach bunnies on the case. What could possibly go wrong?
My Review:
Millie’s the number one suspect when a penthouse guest is poisoned so she teams up with her grandmother Lulu and her crew of friends plus an adorable corgi to sniff out the murderer. Being the assistant manager of the exclusive Gulf Palms Resort and Spa, Millie Wentworth loves her job, even the occasional disgruntled guest. But when the current penthouse guest is found dead beside his private pool and it turns out to be poison, Millie’s life spirals out of control. First, the police suspect her because it appears he died right after she sent up a lovely tray of meats and cheeses. Talk about awkward. Millie’s no murderer and neither is her friend who gets arrested for the murder. Teaming up with her hip grandmother and her grandmother’s friends, Millie investigates the murder. There are a lot of suspects and alibis to sort through, all with reasons to want the victim dead, but who did the deed? Just as Millie narrows the search, someone tries to run her down in the street. Can she nab the killer before she’s the next victim?
Penthouse, Pools, & Poison is a delightful cozy mystery I couldn’t put down. It has all the qualities of a great cozy: a plucky heroine, a room full of suspects, an exotic setting, an adorable dog, keystone cops, and a mystery to solve. I connected with Millie, and it was so much fun to be a part of the ins and outs of a resort in sunny Florida. The mystery itself was well-written with plenty of twists I didn’t expect. I tried solving the crime before Millie did and trust me, you’ll be hard-pressed to identify the killer. Millie’s grandmother and her crew make this cozy mystery an absolute joy to read. The plot moves at a great pace with a slew of quirky characters to interact with. The ending made me smile and I look forward to reading more in this series. Louise Stevens is a talented writer who weaves words like an artist. From the descriptive narration to the plot progression, from the character development to the humorous dialogue to the antics of the corgi, all blend to make Penthouse, Pools, & Poison one of the best cozy mysteries I’ve ever read. If you’re a cozy reader, you need to read this book. If you’re looking for a fun read to escape the cool weather, dive into Penthouse, Pools, & Poison. I can’t wait for the next book in the series. Highly recommend!
Full disclosure: I edited this book, but it never influenced my honest thoughts of the story. My thoughts are completely my own.
My Rating: 5+ stars
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Author Biography:
Louise Stevens is the pen name of contemporary romance author Donna Simonetta. A lover of mysteries since her discovery of Nancy Drew many years ago, she is thrilled to be writing cozy mysteries now. Being the author of the Port Sunset Mysteries series is the fulfillment of a childhood dream.
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Reviewed by: Mrs. N