Book Review: Sleuths at the Spa

Title: Sleuths at the Spa

Author: Vikki Walton

Date: 2023

Quote: "I couldn't help over-hearing and while the drink may have been incorrect there's no reason to have pushed the tray..."

Let me guess: The writer known as Vikki Walton works at a spa, or her granddaughter does. In her idea of a proper spa, when an employee brings a customer the wrong drink, nobody considers how the customer felt--startled? disgusted? nervous because she was up to something she knew she shouldn't have been doing? Our heroine, Viviane, never considers that it's not her business, nor does anyone try to smooth things over. Everyone agrees that Mrs. Wilson, the customer who pushed the drink away, is a horrible, terrible, awful person and the employee deserves a promotion. 

While waiting for Viviane to confess her lesbian feelings for the employee, Callie (she doesn't, but it's all right, Viviane, that kind of thing is legal now), I forgot to notice any clues that anyone else had means, motive, and opportunity to murder Mrs. Wilson. But I will say this to students doing student labor jobs. People who tell you to feel entitled to better working conditions, more ego pampering, pay raises, etc., are not your friends. Callie did have means, motive, and opportunity but we're told up front that she didn't do it. One of the people who rush to soothe Callie's little ego is doing so in order to distract attention from the fact that she's also setting up things to make Callie look guilty. Now that part I can believe.