Beauty Expos Are Murder (A Poppy McAllister Mystery) by Libby Klein #Review

Beauty Expos Are Murder (A Poppy McAllister Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
6th in Series
Setting – New Jersey
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kensington (June 29, 2021)
Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 464 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1496733134
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1496733139
Kindle ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08KKW5HS3

Gluten-free baker Poppy McAllister is about to see the ugly side of beauty expos . . .

Easter weekend on the Jersey Shore is hopping. Poppy’s Bed and Breakfast is busier than ever, but she needs to leave things in the hopefully capable hands of Aunt Ginny—and paws of Figaro the black smoke Persian. She’s selling her paleo muffins and keto cookies at the Health and Beauty Expo in Cape May’s Convention Hall. Normally sharing a booth with the love of her life would be a treat, but she’s recently discovered secrets that throw her new romance into chaos.

But more secrets are about to be exposed at the expo. In his keynote address, prominent cosmetic surgeon Dr. Lance Rubin reveals his breakthrough anti-aging technology. Unfortunately, someone has one-upped him with a truly foolproof anti-aging formula: murder. With the plastic surgeon dead under his own UV mask, and bedlam reigning in the hall and back at the B&B, Poppy needs to follow a twisted trail marked by glowing footprints to unmask a killer . . .

Includes Seven Recipes from Poppy’s Kitchen!

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Poppy McAllister is juggling several plates in the air as a Health and Beauty Expo comes to town. Dr. Lance Rubin and his Rubinesque Cosmetic Surgery are the big draws but Gia and Poppy will have a booth featuring her gluten-free desserts. Her Bed & Breakfast is also fully booked and she wants to host a tea on Easter Sunday, plus Aunt Ginny’s birthday is coming up and Poppy hopes to surprise her with a party. She is also going to need to bake goodies to keep the shelves filled at La Dolce Vita which will still be open during the expo. Normally she could handle this all but with her love life in flux, it is hard to work side-by-side with Gia. A recently revealed secret and the arrival of someone from his past has turned her world upside down.

All of Poppy’s concerns fly out the window when Dr. Rubin is murdered at the expo. His death opens up a large group of suspects. Who had the most to gain with the good doctor 6 feet under? Who had the most to lose? Poppy just needs to unmask the real killer without dropping any of those other plates she is juggling.

Beauty Expos are Murder picks up right where Wine Tastings are Murder left off and my heart was breaking for Poppy. She has immerged as a much stronger woman over the course of this series but Gia’s secret sets her back greatly. This story is packed with so many tense moments, I really was amazed how Poppy soldiered on and through them all. Aunt Ginny does play a huge part and that woman is such a hoot. Thanks to her and the new maid at the B&B humor is infused in all the right places. Ms. Klein’s core characters continue to evolve. The new characters she introduces in this story are excellent as well.

The murder mystery is expertly plotted. Poppy gets help from an unlikely source and those escapades never seem to go as planned and delivered a few laughs along the way. The author blends the many subplots in nicely. Sawyer is dealing with something but just won’t open up to her BFF Poppy. There is an unexpected love match at the B&B that was both cute and funny. And Aunt Ginny has hired a new employee at the B&B knowing Poppy would never approve but that just scratches the surface of the antics of Ginny and her friends in this story. One subplot was definitely not funny and I am holding back comments to avoid spoilers but I was very happy with the way that part of the story concluded.

I just love the way Libby Klein writes a story. I know when I open each book there will be a great mystery and captivating drama but that I am going to be laughing out loud more times than I will be able to count. Her sense of comedy is top-notch and she delivers it in spades.

To truly enjoy this series the books should be read from the beginning, in order, because they truly do build from each other. Each story is wonderful in its own right. I do declare every one of them special and a must-read! Beauty Expos Are Murder is a Perfect Escape. It was fun and entertaining and I enjoyed every minute of it.

Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent

You can read my review of Midnight Snacks Are Murder here. 

You can read my review of Restaurant Weeks Are Murder here. 

You can read my review of Theater Nights Are Murder here.

You can read my review of Wine Tastings Are Murder here.

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.”