Margaritas, Mayhem, and Murder
by Mary
Cunningham
GENRE: Mystery
BLURB:
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, Manual 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.
Excerpt:
“Tell me what’s going on. Slowly,
and about fifty decibels lower. Why are you in jail?”
“Well, honey, I’m not sure. Oh, I
know what they’re saying, but I didn’t do anything. I swear. Well, at least
nothin’ I can remember. You see, it all started on the cruise ship dance floor,
quite innocently, mind you.”
“What started?” I located my
slippers and shuffled to the bathroom.
“As I was saying before you
interrupted, it all started on the dance floor. You know, they play such
romantic music on these cruises like, Shadow of Your Smile and Mandy. Oh, don’t
you just love Manilow? Well, anyway, Lenny and I were having a lovely time, and
he was obviously enamored, if you catch my drift.”
I knew this was a mistake. Still, I
asked, “Lenny who?”
“Why, Lenny La Mour, of course!”
I drew a blank.
“Lenny La Mour,” Ruby huffed, “The
famous Las Vegas performer? He’s the reason I picked this cruise. He had his
own humongous nightclub and everything. Oh, Andi Anna, don’t tell me you’ve
never heard of him. Why, women my age swoon at the sound of his voice. But, I
suppose your generation only has eyes for that Bon Ami person.”
“Uh, are you, by any chance, talking
about Bon Jovi?”
“Well, you know who I mean.”
My Review:
Andi gets a call during the middle of the night from Ruby her
step-mother or ex-step-mother as Andi calls her. Ruby is in Cancun and has been
arrested for murder and has called Andi for help. Ruby meets one of her
favorite entertainers on the ship and the two of them spend some time together
and have a few drinks and then decide to go on a little adventure. Ruby awakens
the next morning to find her new friend has been murder and she is the number
one suspect.
Andi wants nothing more than to just go back to bed and let
Ruby fend for herself but then she remembers the promise she made her dad
before he passed away. So she finds herself in Cancun and investigating a
murder. Her investigation leads her to Las Vegas where her own life is in
danger. Her trip to Las Vegas turns up a world of trouble that could cost her
more than she signed up.
In Cancun she meets Sheriff Manuel Rodriquez whom she finds
herself being drawn to him from the first minute she lays eyes on him. Andi and
the good sheriff spend a night on the town drinking plenty of margaritas and
having a good time.
Margaritas, Mayhem & Murder is a very short read but is
filled with lots of action that will hold your interest right up until the end.
The characters are all amazing people especially Ruby who is a doozy.
Margaritas, Mayhem & Murder is a great little introduction
to the Andi Anna Jones murder mysteries a world that I would like to explore
more of.
I would recommend Margaritas, Mayhem & Murder to anyone
who likes murder mysteries. Margaritas, Mayhem & Murder is a great little
read for all ages.
AUTHOR Bio
and Links:
Author,
Mary Cunningham, grew on the northern side of the Ohio River in Corydon,
Indiana. Her first memories are of her dad’s original bedtime stories that no
doubt inspired her imagination and love of a well-spun “yarn”.
Childhood
experiences, and a recurring dream about a mysterious attic, inspired
characters, Cynthia and Augusta Lee, for her award-winning middle-grade series,
Cynthia's Attic. The setting is in her childhood home in Southern Indiana.
Family stories and ancestors comprise the storylines. There are currently five
books in the series: The Missing Locket, The Magic Medallion, Curse of the
Bayou, The Magician’s Castle, and Legend of Lupin Woods.
Through
a horrifying stint as a travel agent, the character, Andi Anna Jones, travel
agent/amateur sleuth, inspired her latest adult mystery series. Book # 1,
Margaritas, Mayhem & Murder was released Nov. 30, 2017. The author is
currently writing Book # 2 of the series, along with another middle-grade
series, The Adventures of Max and Maddie, a historical time-travel, and the
biography of a former Army brat/University of Connecticut women’s basketball
player who started a non-profit foundation to create scholarships for children
of deployed veterans.
Cunningham
is a member of The Georgia Reading Association, and the Carrollton Writers
Guild.
When
she gives her fingers a break from the keyboard, she enjoys golf, swimming and
exploring the mountains of West Georgia where she makes her home with her
husband and adopted, four-legged, furry daughter, Lucy.
Review
Blurbs for Margaritas, Mayhem & Murder!
“If
Evanovich's Stephanie Plum were a travel agent, she'd fit right in working this
case alongside Andi, a wanna-be detective readers are sure to love.” —Regan
Black, USA Today bestselling author of the Escape Club Heroes and Knight
Traveler novels.
Margaritas,
Mayhem & Murder...WOW. Snappy dialog, quirky characters, opens with a
curious bang and yanked me through the pages. A fun, fantastic read. —Jean
Rabe, USA Today Bestselling author, Piper Blackwell Mysteries.
“Grab
a margarita and hold on tight; you're in for a wild ride.”
—Karen
MacInerney, Agatha Award nominee and author of the Dewberry Farms Mysteries
“Charming,
lively, and unpredictable, Margaritas, Mayhem & Murder excels in a vivid
story mystery fans will relish.”—Diane Donovan, Senior Editor Midwest Book
Review
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Mary on Social Media:
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2 comments:
The publisher has a special promo going on Smashwords. Through July MM&M is half price.
Thanks for the post and the review!
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