Nearly Departed by Lesley A. Diehl is the seventh book in the “Eve Appel” cozy mystery series. Publisher: Camel Press, released February 11, 2020.
Tired of sitting surveillance on insurance fraud, apprentice PI Eve Appel Egret gets her first big case, one where the outcome is important and personal. Eve’s best friend Madeleine has few relatives, so her Uncle Shamus is special, but someone is determined to kill him and has tried several times. Eve is certain she can identify who is after him, but this time she may have taken on more than even our self-confident Eve can handle. Coping with a growing toddler and a teenager, devoting time to the consignment shop and finding someone who can go undercover in a sexual harassment case all vie for Eve’s attention. Eve knows she cannot fail Madeleine. This is more than her favorite uncle’s life. His death would mean devastating loss for Madeleine and call into question Eve’s commitment as a friend and her ability as a PI.
A fast-paced light drama with a comfortable tone that sets the stage for this enjoyable tale. The premise was done quite nicely with multiple subplots that kept me enthralled with key characters having pivotal roles that enhanced the telling of this tale. Eve has spunk and determination and it shows in how she handles the various incidents that crossed her path. The narrative was visually descriptive with engaging dialogue and a quirky cast of characters that amused me. With so much going on, it was fun watching it all play out with a few red herrings sprinkled in that kept me immersed in all the details. When I thought I had a handle on the person responsible, the author changed direction which added to my reading pleasure. It was fun spending time with Eve and her friends.
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FTC Full Disclosure – I received a copy from the author.