Killer Cocktail
by Tracy Kiely
Killer Cocktail
(A Nic & Nigel Mystery)
2nd in Series
Cozy Mystery
Setting – California
Publisher: Midnight Ink (May 8, 2016)
Paperback: 240 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0738745237
E-Book ASIN: B01A5OGVRG
Synopsis
Walking the red carpet at the Academy Awards with a bow-tied Bullmastiff draws Nic and Nigel Martini plenty of attention from the press. But that’s nothing compared to the attention they receive at the A-list after party, when Hollywood royalty learn that Nic and Nigel have discovered behind the scenes footage from A Winter’s Night, an acclaimed film known for backstage love triangles and the tragic death of its original star, Melanie Summers.
Returning home after the party, Nic and Nigel find their house in shambles and their employee DeDee Evans beaten within an inch of her life. And when the weapon used to pummel DeDee implicates beloved actress Christina Franklin, Nic and Nigel drink and banter their way into a modern-day version of a golden-era crime caper.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Another extraordinary story from Tracy Kiely!
Nic, Nigel, and Skippy go to the Oscars and we get to tag along. (Skippy has to go home after the red carpet.) At the after party Nic and Nigel are pretty popular because the celebs learn they found some behind the scenes footage from a movie filmed in the 90’s. Melanie Summers died while it was filming and there was a lot of gossip and innuendo at the time. Someone overheard the conversations and knew those clips couldn’t see the light of day. They broke into the Martini’s home, attacked the employee taking care of Skippy and left her for dead, trashed the house and stole the footage. Nigel and Nic have a new case to solve and they may have to look into the past to solve it.
These characters are just so cool and fresh. They are in love, and are witty and charming. I love their conversations. Their sarcasm is priceless. They are also very smart sleuths. I enjoy their process and innocent probing questions that move their investigations forward much to the distress of the LAPD.
The setting was grand as well from the red carpet, to the Oscars, to the after party. Who knew cheeseburgers were the go to food for these events?
As far as the plot, we go back and forth to the set of the movie, A Winter’s Night, and present day. When the footage is watched we see what happened on that set and gain insight into the death of the lead actress and other interesting tidbits. We then follow along as Nic and Nigel as the string the clues from the film together with the break in at their home. So many secrets come out and suspects are eliminated or zeroed in on . It was so much fun to read.
As with the first book in this series, Murder With A Twist
This will be one of my favorite reads this year.
About The Author –
Tracy Kiely is a self-proclaimed Anglophile (a fact which distresses certain members of her Irish Catholic family). She grew up reading Jane Austen, Agatha Christie, and watching Hitchcock movies. She fell in love with Austen’s wit, Christie’s clever plots, and Hitchcock’s recurrent theme of “the average man caught in extraordinary circumstances.”
After spending years of trying to find a proper job that would enable her to use her skills garnered as an English major, she decided to write a book. It would, of course, have to be a mystery; it would have to be funny; and it would have to feature an average person caught up in extraordinary circumstances. She began to wonder how the characters in Pride and Prejudice might fit into a mystery. What, if after years of living with unbearably rude and condescending behavior, old Mrs. Jenkins up and strangled Lady Catherine? What if Charlotte snapped one day and poisoned Mr. Collins’ toast and jam? Skip ahead several years, and several different plot ideas, and you have her first mystery Murder at Longbourn.
While she does not claim to be Jane Austen, Agatha Christie, or Hitchcock (one big reason being that they’re all dead), she has tried to combine the elements of all three in her books.
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Tour Participants
May 9 – deal sharing aunt – INTERVIEW
May 10 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
May 11 – Moonlight Rendezvous – REVIEW
May 12 – Musings and Ramblings – GUEST POST
May 13 – Back Porchervations – REVIEW, INTERVIEW
May 14 – LibriAmoriMiei – REVIEW
May 15 – The Girl with Book Lungs – SPOTLIGHT
May 16 – Omnimystery News – INTERVIEW
May 17 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
May 18 – Thoughts in Progress – SPOTLIGHT
May 19 – Lori’s Reading Corner – GUEST POST
May 20 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
May 20 – Mystery Playground – GUEST POST
May 21 – Community Bookstop – INTERVIEW
May 22- Author Annette Drake’s blog – GUEST POST
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Thank you for the giveaway! I didn’t know about this series before but I am definitely going to check it out now!
Sounds like a great book. Thanks for a chance to win a copy.
I love your blog because you are always sharing authors I am not familiar with and their books. It’s also great to be able to have the opportunity to enter your giveaways for a chance to win a book I may want to read but haven’t been able to buy. robeader53@yahoo.com
Sounds like a great read.
I love finding new reads on your blog, and you host so many wonderful giveaways. Thanks! I have been exploring this book and author following in all areas and adding it to all my ‘must read’ lists. Fingers crossed!
This sounds like a fun read. Can’t wait to read. Thanks for the great giveaway.
I have the first book in this series and loved it. I am looking forward to reading the next one in the series.
This sounds so good i have it down to get it on my list but would love to win it . Thank you for the giveaway!
Thanks for the great review and the opportunity to win..
I love her books.
Thank you Lori for the intro & review for a new-to-me author & series!
Sounds really fun and interesting. Thanks for this opportunity.
Congrats on your new release! It sounds like a very interesting book. Thanks for the giveaway.