Shake Down by Kendel Lynn is the fifth book in the “Elliott Lisbon” humorous mystery series. Publisher: Henery Press, coming March 17, 2020.
Ballantyne Foundation Director and PI-in-training, Elliott Lisbon, is enjoying her idyllically slow life on Sea Pine Island, South Carolina. It’s the week before the annual Beach Ball and she’s sipping Bellinis on the sidelines. Her committee involvement is limited to securing the centerpieces: scrumptious two-tiered masterpieces from the Cake & Shake. But when the head baker (and owner’s maid of honor) goes missing, Elli’s calm life gets a major shakeup.
She takes the case and soon learns that missing is a relative term. These two bffs were once rivals on a local dating show. Perhaps the free spirit had reason to wander off on her own. Or perhaps she wasn’t the only woman scorned. As Elli walks the delicate line between a woman finding herself and a woman needing to be found, the days speed up and she knows something’s about to go down.
From drug runners to whistleblowers to sea turtle sabotage, Elli stirs up secrets and inadvertently whips a desperate killer into a frenzy. If she doesn’t find a way out of the heat, she’s going to get burned.
Kendel has done it again. She delivered a bonafide and enriching tale of intrigue that had me completely consumed with the story being told. A missing bridesmaid sends Elli on the hunt as she dug into the characteristics of the players involved and discovered some startling secrets that brought out the worst in people and it is that push and determination to solve this case that sets this drama on a frenetic pace that didn’t let up until all was said and done.
I like how this well-written mystery was stage with an upcoming wedding, a reality show persona and a missing case all tied into one another and it’s the bits and pieces that pulled it all together in an atmosphere of deceit, lies, untruths and nefarious doings. Does it lead to murder? The longer the missing is missing, perhaps. As the story moved forward, some surprising and explosive actions ratcheted this drama up a notch and wow, I did not see that coming. This is one of the best book in the series.
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FTC Full Disclosure – I received a digital ARC of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss.
Cute cover.