Book Review: Murder at the PTA (Maya and Sandra Mystery, #1) by Lee Hollis

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Murder at the PTA (Maya and Sandra Mystery, #1) by Lee Hollis is the first installment in the Maya and Sandra Mystery series, a cozy mystery series centered on private investigators. The story follows Sandra Wallage , the wife of a U.S. senator and the newly elected president of Portland High School’s PTA, who becomes the latest target of a vicious gossip website called Dirty Laundry . After a heated PTA meeting, Sandra crosses paths with Maya Kendrick , a private investigator who has uncovered the identity of the person behind the gossip site. When the two women attempt to confront the culprit, they instead discover a dead body. Was it really a suicide, or did someone have a motive for murder? I’m a longtime fan of books by Lee Hollis , which is actually the pen name for sibling writing duo Rick Copp and Holly Simason . They’ve written several cozy mystery series, and what I appreciate most about their books is that they aren’t overly kitschy, unlike some other cozy mysteries I’ve ...
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Book Review: The Switch by Joseph Finder

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The Switch A Novel by Joseph Finder
Joseph Finder did it again with his political thriller The Switch. It was action packed from the very start to the very end. Set in Boston, Massachusetts and Washington, D.C., The Switch alternates between the two main characters . . . Michael Tanner and Will Abbott. 

I loved the fact that you go to see both sides of the story instead of just one side. Characters were well developed with complex relationships. There were characters that I absolutely loved (Michael Tanner and his wife Sara), ones that I detested (Will Abbott), and ones that I didn't like at first but then grew on me (Earl).

Another thing I loved about The Switch is some of the little details about Boston . . . the orange and green lines of the train were mentioned. Different locations within Boston were mentioned as well . . . the South End and North End, Back Bay, and more. It made me want to go on vacation yet again to Boston.

With the exception of not returning the laptop to Senator Susan Robbins once Tanner realized whose it was, I found the events of The Switch to be very plausible in the post 9/11 world of the United States. A definite must read book. (And, I hope there are plans to make it into a movie.)

Synopsis:  After going through airport security at LAX, Michael Tanner picks up his computer out of the bin only to find out that he picked up the wrong one when he arrives home in Boston, Massachusetts. Wondering whose laptop he has, Tanner finds a sticky note stuck to the computer with the password, and he logins into it. Much to his surprise, he finds top secret documents and inadvertently puts himself into jeopardy with the NSA (National Security Agency) and the owner of the computer, Senator Susan Robbins. Tanner goes on the run for the fight of his life.

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