Murder on Location by Shawn Reilly Simmons is the second book in the “Red Carpet Catering” mystery series. Publisher: Lit Girl Publishing, March 2015
Filming a movie on a sunny Florida beach may seem like working in paradise, but dealing with the brutal heat, a difficult director and a leading lady with a serious aversion to seafood makes for a challenging task for Penelope Sutherland and her Red Carpet Catering crew. After two girls go missing during a raucous beach party thrown by the movie’s director, the cast and crew of The Yellow Wallpaper fall out of favor with the Andrea Island locals. When a flashy celebrity chef is accused of the crime, Penelope Sutherland steps in to help her former culinary school instructor find the truth. Surrounded by suspicious locals with a history all their own, Penelope uncovers clues from the past that reveal an undercurrent of evil amid the magnificent sandy beaches.
When an old friend becomes a primary suspect, believing in his innocence, Penny makes a few observations that lead to the capture of a murderer. This nicely woven drama once again gave us an insight into catering (what a hard job) while keeping me intrigued in a mystery with some twisty currents that was hard to put down. I love how the story flowed and the ease in which every chapter pulled me into the next with engaging dialogue and the captivating scenery of the Florida island where this story takes place. I also liked that we got to see Joey. With a nice island flavor, a nice puzzling mystery and a great cast of characters, this was a very enjoyable read and I look forward to more adventures with Penny and her friends.