The Scent of Waikiki (Trouble in Paradise)
by Terry Ambrose
About the Book
The Scent of Waikiki (Trouble in Paradise)
Cozy Mystery
9th in Series
Satori (July 19, 2018)
Print Length: 330 pages
ASIN: B07CZ3B389
Honolulu landlord Wilson McKenna can smell a scam from across the room. So when one of his tenants loses everything in a work-at-home scam involving a new perfume, he’s shocked. With his wedding just weeks away, McKenna has to make a tough decision. Does he evict a woman who’s down on her luck? Or take time out from wedding planning to help his tenant?
Turning the case over to his PI-in-training friend Chance Logan seems like the perfect solution—until Chance tells McKenna he needs a wingman for a visit to fragrance entrepreneur Skye Pilkington-Winchester. McKenna’s sure he can keep everyone happy by helping Chance this one time. But nothing is ever as easy as it seems, and soon McKenna’s up to his board shorts in hot water. His tenant’s simple fragrance scam might involve industrial espionage, Skye’s assistant is murdered, and McKenna’s bride-to-be accuses him of having cold feet.
As McKenna and Chance dig deeper, it seems so much of what they’re being told doesn’t pass the sniff test. And the only way to get his life back is to find the dead girl’s missing boyfriend, unmask a killer, and finish up in time for the wedding. Other than that, it’s just another day in paradise.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Wilson McKenna and his friend Chance, a Private Investigator in Training are on the case to find out who scammed one of his tenants out of all her cash. The case turns out to be much bigger than McKenna imagined and that doesn’t make his bride to be very happy. He just wants to solve the case and survive to walk down the aisle.
Mr. Ambrose has written a mystery that goes from simple to complex in the blink of an eye. Each twist and each turn brings more people into this convoluted story of lies, half-truths, and deception.
I loved the way McKenna and Chance work together. They know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. They trust each other implicitly and they always have each other’s back. They banter back and forth is priceless.
My one downfall in this story was McKenna’s girlfriend Benni. She just came off very wishy-washy to me. First, she gets McKenna to give up a profession he clearly loves. Then when a tenant is scammed Benni encourages him to help. When the investigation gets a little dangerous he keeps the details to himself because he knows her fear of becoming a widow. When she finds out he “lied” to her she packs her bags and threatens to leave. Then literally, just minutes later she says she’ll stay but he must include her in the investigation and tell her everything, no matter how dangerous. She also wants to take an active part in the investigation. I have entered this series late by starting with this book so I may be missing some character dynamics between these two, but I don’t think he will ever be able to make this woman completely happy and still remain true to himself.
A trip to Hawaii has always been on my bucket list so a mystery set there always delights me. I love the descriptions this author gives about McKenna’s little piece of the place. I love the language snippets too. Every time I read the word Slippah (flip-flops), it made me smile. It really is a beautiful language and McKenna slipping words in here and there adds a natural feel to the story and shows the author’s love for the island.
About the Author
Terry Ambrose is a former skip tracer who tracked down deadbeats for a living. He’s long since turned his talents to writing mysteries and thrillers. Several of his books have been award finalists and in 2014 his thriller, “Con Game
Author Links:
Website: http://terryambrose.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/suspense.writer
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6447968.Terry_Ambrose
Purchase Link
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Looks like an amazing read, Thanks for this generous giveaway.
Thanks for stopping by Linda, and good luck in the contest!
Concentrate on getting better! You sure don’t want a relapse. <3
I'd love the opportunity to read this book.
2clowns at arkansas dot net
Hi Kay! Welcome again! Let’s hope Lori gets well soon!
Congrats on the new release! It sounds like an interesting addition to your Trouble in Paradise series. I have added the book to my tbr list and look forward to reading it. Thanks for the great giveaway.
I am looking forward to reading your newest book. Thanks for the chance to win this contest!