A glimpse of a quickly melting corpse at the foot of a volcano has amateur sleuth and food enthusiast Valerie Corbin shocked. But how can she investigate a murder, when there’s no evidence the victim ever existed? The first Orchid Isle cozy mystery, set in tropical Hilo, Hawai’i, introduces a fun and feisty LGBTQ+ couple who swap surfing lessons for sleuthing sessions!

Dru’s Short Musing:
Ah, Hawaii, land of lava and what…a body part smothered in lava. Was it a crime or was it an accident? You’ll have to pick up this book to find out more.

The author knows Hawaii well encapsulating all that we know of the island in presenting this well-written, well-researched, and well-executed drama, where the beauty of the island is the backdrop. This book immediately grabbed my attention from the discovery of the body part in the lava, and I couldn’t put the book down until all was said and done. Valerie was determined to uncover the truth, especially when no one believed what she saw. Her persistence pays off in other ways which kept me engaged in all that was happening with the residents and potential suspects. The mystery was nicely done with a few red herrings that kept me in the game. The pacing was on par with how well this story was being told. Leslie delivered an enticing whodunit with panache, a good start to the series, and I look forward to more exploits with Valerie, Kristen, and their friends. Bonus, delectable recipes.

Series Name: Orchid Isle Mystery Book #1
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release: April 2, 2024
Format: Print, Digital
Purchase Link

FTC Full Disclosure – I received a digital ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.