39 Winks (A Maggie O’Malley Mystery)Medical Mystery/Thriller
2nd in Series 
Setting – Midwest, United States
Henery Press (May 22, 2018)
Print Length 298 Pages
Digital ASIN: B07B9M3VZ7

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Maggie O’Malley is back and she is selling ladies lingerie?? Well, she is when the story begins. She lost her pharmaceutical job after all the drama she was involved in and she has bills to pay. She stands up to her boss and ends up unemployed again, but that is fine with her. Now she can go help her boyfriend, Constantine with his aunt and a murder she may have committed.  She has a little sleepwalking problem and she happened to find her husband dead at the table with his throat slit. She has no idea what happened but she is covered in blood and the police’s prime suspect. There are many other people that may have killed the cosmetic surgeon.  To prove Aunt Polly’s innocence Maggie and Constantine work to find the real killer. They find the deceased doc had a huge secret that could have led to his demise. Now they just have to make the police believe it.

In this follow up to Protocol, Kathleen Valenti again wraps pharmaceuticals into the story. Constantine’s Aunt Polly is battling Parkinson’s and Maggie thinks one of her medications is bringing on her sleepwalking. So while not only trying to find a murderer, Maggie is striving to help Polly find answers about her health. Her knowledge of drugs and medical procedures comes in handy in solving this mystery.  I really enjoy the way the relationship between Maggie and Constantine has moved forward. They are learning to trust each other. Maggie still is unsure about being in a relationship. A little jealousy pops up when Constantine learns that Maggie and Detective Austin dated in the past. They do work well together and taking things slow is a good thing.

The author has created characters that are true to life and she has put them in stunning situations. The dialogue flows well and the imagery created takes readers right into the story.

This plot is very complex. Many threads need to be woven together. Greed, revenge, and vanity played major parts. A detective trying to settle a score, a patient unhappy with her surgery outcome, a doctor on the take, and the corruption goes deeper than could be imagined.  Twists and turns kept me guessing and I was surprised by the amazing ending. This book would make a wonderful television movie.

The story ends with Maggie accepting a new job! I am excited to read book #3. Hope we do not have to wait too long.