Tag: mystery

Welcome to Cozy Wednesday!

It is my pleasure to feature My Father Always Finds Corpses by Lee Hollis today!

My Father Always Finds Corpses
Cozy Mystery
Setting – California
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kensington Cozies
Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 27, 2025
Print length ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1496738926
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1496738929
Kindle ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1496738943
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DFS3WP6N
Audiobook ASIN B0DV16V957

With a wryly witty and assured voice and a vastly entertaining cast of characters, Lee Hollis puts a modern slant on the classic murder mystery as a father-daughter sleuthing duo are drawn into a case close to home . . .

You never forget your first corpse. For former child star Jarrod Jarvis, that discovery was twenty-plus years ago, and a lot has happened since he solved a string of real-life Hollywood murders. Now Jarrod lives in Palm Springs where he writes and directs local theatre, while quietly grieving the loss of his partner, police detective Charlie.

Jarrod hasn’t disclosed much about his sleuthing past to his daughter, Liv, who just earned a degree in criminal justice. There’s been distance between them since Charlie’s death, and Jarrod’s unsure how to bridge the gap. Liv, meanwhile, has put her career on hold in order to help her filmmaker boyfriend, Zel. His new documentary idea is to track down the surrogate who gave birth to Liv. Skeptical and annoyed by Zel’s pressure tactics, Liv goes to confront him at his apartment. But there’s no need to break things off—because someone has bludgeoned Zel to death.

Jarrod rushes to Liv’s aid, surprising his daughter with his ease around a crime scene, firing off questions like a modern-day Columbo with better hair and wardrobe. Another shock is quite how many people had motive to finish Zel off—including a Russian film professor, a former First Lady, and a sexy Secret Service agent. Together, Liv and Jarrod comb for clues across the sun-drenched Coachella valley, growing close again. But while there’s nothing like murder to bring a family together, this father-daughter reunion may be short-lived as long as a killer is on the loose . . .

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Jarrod Jarvis is a former child star who found his first corpse 20+ years ago. He was then able to crack the case on a group of real-life Hollywood murders. He now lives in Palm Springs, where he is still grieving the loss of his husband Charlie, who was a police detective.  Jarrod fills his time writing and directing plays for the local theater group. Their daughter, Liv, does not know a lot about her father’s interesting past, but she recently graduated with a degree in criminal justice. She was closer to Charlie than Jarrod, and Jarrod wishes they could be closer now.

Liv hasn’t launched her own career; instead, she is trying to help Zel, her filmmaker boyfriend, launch his own. He has pitched her an idea for a documentary about finding the surrogate her fathers used to facilitate her birth. She doesn’t think she is ready to go there, but he is heavily pressuring her to at least take the first step. Before Liv has any time to think, he blindsides her with a meeting face-to-face with the woman who gave birth to her. Later, when she goes back to call it quits with the project and their relationship, she finds Zel lying on the floor in a pool of blood, his head bashed in. Freaking out she calls her father.

Now, together they will combine his experience with her recently acquired skills to track down the killer. It isn’t long before Liv realizes how little she knew about her boyfriend and that so many people are happy that he’s dead. While this investigation may bring Jerrod and Liv closer, they need to be aware that there is a killer out there who could take great pleasure in getting rid of both of them.

Lee Hollis has introduced a great father-daughter duo with layers who develop strongly throughout the story. It’s been almost 10 years since Jarrod lost Charlie, and his friends are pushing him to put himself out there romantically, and you can feel his struggle. Liv lost Charlie when she was just thirteen, and her dads never talked much about her birth and the woman who helped them. Now, it is forced upon her, and it is much more complicated than she thought. Jarrod’s good friend, a former first lady, has always been there for him. He also has two best friends in George and Leo. They are a huge hit, the favorite gay couple of the older ladies at the local gym’s Forever Fit exercise class. Charlie’s brother Brody, a former WWE wrestler, comes to town, a kind, lost soul down on his luck, as usual, but Jarrod will never turn him away. Liv has been friends with Maude since she and Jarrod moved to Palm Springs after Charlie died. Maude tries to get Liv out to have a good time and willingly volunteers to help Liv with a little sleuthing. All of these characters are unique and cleverly crafted.

The author has penned a very intriguing mystery entwined with unexpected family drama and an abundance of suspects. The victim pushed my buttons from the start, pushy and narcissistic, he was after dirt that could get him noticed and make him famous, and freely stole the ideas of others without a care. Politicians, Hollywood elite, and his girlfriend were fair game for the many projects he was pushing on a daily basis. Well, he pushed someone too far. Jarrod and Liv’s investigation had them questioning a lot of people, even some they were close to, and I was thrilled to tag along. After many twists, turns, and hurt feelings, the culprit is finally revealed, putting Jarrod in desperate circumstances, followed by an exciting chase.

This story is much more than a mystery. It’s a study of family dynamics. Some totally dysfunctional. Some are in flux. Others are finding their way back and moving ahead. Grieving when you lose a loved one is hard, and I appreciated how the author realistically handled this topic. I didn’t expect to get so invested in these characters in what appears to be a standalone novel.

My Father Always Finds Corpses is a complicated and compelling mystery, lighthearted and funny, but it tugs on your emotions. Strong, diverse, eccentric characters pull you into the story, and they don’t let go after the story ends. I hope this book is a huge success and the author and publisher spin it into a series. I have not had enough of Jarrod, Liv, and their friends.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Kensington Cozies and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent

About the Author 

Lee Hollis is the pen name for Rick Copp, a veteran Hollywood screenwriter who has written for numerous television series, including The Golden Girls, Wings, Scooby‑Doo, Teen Titans, and Barbershop. He is the co‑writer of The Brady Bunch Movie and also produced, wrote, and starred in the hit web series Where the Bears Are, which has over 60 million views on YouTube. He has also authored a number of novels under his own name. As Lee Hollis, he has written over 30 novels and 9 novellas to date, including the Hayley Powell Food & Cocktails Mysteries (with his sister Holly Simason), the Desert Flowers Mysteries and the Maya & Sandra mysteries. He lives in Palm Springs, California.

Website    Facebook  X   Instagram  

Find all of Lee’s Books HERE.

Thanks to the publisher, I have 1 HARDCOVER copy
of My Father Always Finds Corpses to give away!

The contest is open to anyone over 18 years old
with a US or Canadian mailing address.

Duplicate entries will be deleted. Void where prohibited.

You do not have to be a follower to enter, but I hope you will find
something you like here and become a follower.

Followers Will Receive 2 Bonus Entries For Each Way They Follow.
Plus 2 Bonus Entries For Following My Facebook Fan Page.

Add this book to your WANT TO READ shelf on GoodReads
for 3 Bonus Entries.

Follow Kensington Books on Threads for 2 Bonus Entries!

Follow Kensington Publishing on Facebook for 2 Bonus Entries!

 Pin this giveaway to Pinterest for 3 Bonus Entries.

If you share the giveaway on Threads, Facebook, or anywhere, you will receive 5 Bonus Entries For Each Link.

The  Contest Will End on July 2, 2025, at 11:59 PM CST
The Winner Will Be Chosen Using Random.org
The Winner will be notified by email and posted here in the sidebar.

Click Here For Entry Form

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.” “As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.” I am also an affiliate of Bookshop.org and I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.” These funds are often used for gift cards and other giveaways.