A toast to Tracy Kiely for her wonderful, entertaining homage to The Thin Man. From the opening  scene when Nicole (Nic) watches her husband, Nigel Martini, dragged into the bar by an enormous Bullmastiff named Skippy, the reader knows Murder with a Twist is going to be delightful.

It always starts with a blonde, doesn’t it? Nic Martini left the New York City police force after she was shot in the leg. The former detective now lives in L.A. with her well-to-do husband who owns his own company that does film restoration. But, they’ve returned to Manhattan for Christmas just in time to deal with a Martini family crisis. One of the family heiresses, Audrey, is about to turn twenty-five, celebrating with a gala party. But, Leo, her louse of a husband, has disappeared. So, Nigel’s Aunt Olive asks Nic to find the man, although no one but Audrey really wants him back.

In the course of her investigation, Nic discovers Leo has gambling debts, and is known to disappear with other women. With Nigel and Skippy faithfully at her side, she reacquaints herself with the sleazier side of the city. And, it isn’t long before the the case of the disappearing husband becomes a full-blown case of murder.

Kiely’s first Nic & Nigel Martini mystery has all of the humorous elements that made The Thin Man so engaging, beginning with the captivating detecting duo and their dog. At the same time, she turns the characters upside down, making Nic the one with detective experience, married to the partner with money. There’s that enormous dog instead of Asta. Nigel has the repartee down pat. And, there’s plenty of alcohol consumed, enough for any Dashiell Hammett novel.

If you’re a fan of witty mysteries, mix yourself a drink and settle in for an enjoyable evening with Murder with a Twist.

Tracy Kiely’s website is www.tracykielymysteries.com

Murder with a Twist by Tracy Kiely. Midnight Ink. 2015. ISBN 9780738743721 (paperback), 249p.

*****
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