Let’s start with where you can buy Lee Hollis’ latest cozy mystery, Murder at the Bake Sale. It’s exclusive to Barnes & Noble through November 30, 2021. Is B&N trying to compete with Amazon’s Thomas & Mercer? Hard to say, but I don’t know that an exclusive contract benefits the author. I guess I just don’t get it.
Murder at the Book Sale is the sequel to Murder at the PTA. At times, it feels as if there are some characters straight from recent newspaper events, particularly a state senator. South Portland High School moms and PIs Maya Kendrick and Sandra Wallage discover that high school is a hotbed of lust and criminal activity. When the hot Spanish teacher, Diego Sanchez, asks Maya to contribute to a bake sale to raise money for a class trip to Spain, her attempt at baking goes wrong, and she asks Sandra for help. Her date with Diego ends in disaster. He doesn’t show, and she finds him dead in his house, poisoned by a bake sale cookie.
Sanchez’s Spanish class hires Maya and Sandra to investigate their teacher’s death. Maya calls in a few favors from her years as a cop, even as the women’s personal lives heat up. Meanwhile, back at the school, a teacher is fired for a relationship with a student, the new athletic director seems to have a great deal of money, and Maine’s senior senator is pressuring her hapless daughter, a student at the school.
Hollis’ inspiration for the latest mystery seems to be newspaper accounts of recent events. There’s a political angle, and a surprising turn in the personal lives of both sleuths. With a diverse set of characters, including Sandra’s gay son, and the unusual political/school angles, Murder at the Bake Sale sets itself apart from most cozy mysteries.
Lee Hollis’ website is https://www.leehollismysteries.com
Murder at the Bake Sale by Lee Hollis. Kensington, 2020. ISBN 9781496730916 (paperback), 319p.
FTC Full Disclosure – I read a .PDF for a journal.
I hope the writers get paid more for one of these exclusive contracts.
I hope so, too, Glen, because they’re not getting sales from any other venue.
You’re back at last. Yay!
Yes! Tomorrow’s blog is only going to say that, Jeff. I have one more conversation with the web expert tomorrow, and then I’ll be back for good. And, I think we’re going to do “What Are You Reading” on Wednesday and Thursday this week so people can pick whichever day works for them.
I found it very annoying that after I finished Murder at the PTA that the second book would only be available at B & N until next year.
I would find that annoying as well, Jeannette. I want to be able to buy books at my store of preference.