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: Trapper Road (Stillhouse Lake, #6) by Rachel Caine and Carrie Ryan

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book review trapper road stillhouse lake 6 rachel caine carrie ryan

Gwen Proctor and Same Cade are back with the rest of the crew in Trapper Road (Stillhouse Lake, #6) by Rachel Caine and Carrie Ryan.  A school shooting happens at the local high school, and Connor's best friend is behind it.  When a teenage girl goes missing in Gardenia, South Carolina, and Gwen is sent to investigate, it's perfect timing for her family to get away from all the publicity from the shooting.

This latest edition in the Stillhouse Lake book series is a bittersweet one.  I am so thankful that Rachel Caine started outlining and writing Trapper Road before her passing and that Carrie Ryan finished it for her.  Rachel would have been proud of the way Carrie finished the manuscript for her.  Based on the acknowledgements at the end of the story, I halfway think that Carrie Ryan may be continuing the series.  One can dream, right?

For those who have yet to read Trapper Road, this book does deal with very real situation of school shootings.  I am thankful that I haven't experienced such a thing and no one I know has either, but the way the shooting and the aftermath was written seemed very realistic.  My heart was pounding throughout the chapters dealing with it, and I don't know how I'd deal with something like this if I were in that situation.  

The other very realistic situation that was written throughout the book was that of a teenage girl that goes missing when she accepts a ride with someone she met online.  I won't reveal what happens, but this whole situation is another that I couldn't imagine and wouldn't wish on anyone.

I tried to savor this novel as long as I could, but once I got halfway through, I couldn't help myself . . . I couldn't wait to find out what would happen and read it as quickly as I could.  There isn't anything I would change about Trapper Road.  It's such a fantastic read. Five out of five stars.

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