Title: Murky Mystery
Author: Hazel Smith
Date: 2023
Publisher: Hazel Smith
Quote: "A date with Sir Maximillian Hardy Humphrey. I never thought I'd see the day."
Fair disclosure: I read an advance review copy of this forthcoming book. If you don't see it on Amazon yet, wait a day or two. It's scheduled for publication this week.
Ivy, the young lady from Twisted Wedding who felt a real calling to be a hotel maid, is going far. Already promoted to head of the hotel's housekeeping staff at the posh hotel in London, now she's going out with the owner. But their first date doesn't go well; a man charges toward them with a knife. Is he the same one who murdered one of the hotel guests? Ivy and Max have more serious business to take care of before they even start canoodling.
I saw part of the ending coming several pages before Ivy and her staff did. Why and how he dunit are not obvious, but Ivy must be kicking herself for not guessing whodunit when he walks up and speaks to her. The grumpy guard who scolds the women for meddling with his job has no excuse.
But this is only an episode in the multi-volume story of Ivy's adventures as a hotel maid. Ivy's fans will want to watch her clean, bond with her subordinates, and appreciate her billionaire boss's charm enough to forgive her for not solving the mystery faster. And they'll love the way one of the maids eliminates two threats to everyone's well-being with one splendid smash.
This is a fun read, has Monty in it, and ends with a tempting recipe for gluten-free macarons. Macarons are traditionally not super-sweet or gooey--relatively light on the calories, for cookies. Smith tells you how to fix that, if you want to fix it.
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