Kayla Michelle

Chloe Cook lives in the small tourist town of Cape Cod. No, really, that's the name of the town. We are given no clue as to where this town is, and I suspect the author attended a school system which did not use "here's some paper; draw me a map of X" as a standard form of busywork when a structural malfunction made it necessary to move kids out of their regular classrooms into a larger shared space. (Really. There was a time when I could produce on demand a map of the then-current countries of Africa. Not a perfect work of cartography, but recognizable.)

Be that as it may, Chloe is a makeup salesperson and amateur sleuth in her little town. Her initially rocky relationship with the local police detective, Todd Thicke, has gone from antagonistic to friendly and even cooperative. But not this time. The detective has arrested Chloe's good friend, Jennifer, for murder of her boyfriend, after finding her standing over the body. The evidence is hard to argue with, but Chloe is sure her friend is innocent.

She's determined to prove it, and after pumping her friend for a list of people who might have wanted to kill Richard, she sets out to look for evidence. Imagine her surprise and concern when, going for a look at the area around Richard's house (since she can't go in), she finds Darlene, one of her suspects, also checking out the place. Darlene is the woman Jennifer says Richard was cheating on her with. Darlene claims that, like Chloe, she's determined to find the killer, and isn't willing to trust the police to do it. She suggests they work together. Suspicious, but seeing advantages in keeping a close eye on one of her best suspects.

This turns out to be a useful but dangerous tactic.

It's interesting and fun, and I liked the fact that Thicke, even being sure that this time Chloe is wrong, is more concerned about her running into danger if she's right, rather than lecturing her about not interfering in his investigation.

Recommended for a short, light read or listen.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from the publisher, and am reviewing it voluntarily.… (mere)

One evening, Chloe Cook is at her parents' home, celebrating their fortieth wedding anniversary. She, they, and her boyfriend all hope that the recent spate of murders in their little Cape Code town is finally at an end.

The next morning, in her capacity as a makeup salesperson, she has an appointment with her friend, Emily Hightower, to show her the latest additions to the makeup line she represents. When she arrives, she's very surprised to find Emily's door slightly ajar, and Emily not responding the her knock, the bell, or even to Chloe pulling out her phone and calling. So she steps through that open door--and finds Emily lying dead on her living room floor, apparently stabbed to death.

This is not the peaceful new trend she was hoping for.

Police Detective Thicke and the medical examiner are soon on the scene. Thicke, at least, even if not the higher powers of the universe, decides that a new trend is needed, and he decides to work with, rather than against, Chloe and her amateur investigating. And working together, they find they're a pretty good team, and moreover that it's good to have another person to rely on and bounce ideas off of.

This isn't a story with a lot of depth, but it's fun and enjoyable. Recommended for light entertainment.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from the author, and I am reviewing it voluntarily.… (mere)