The following exchange between Summer Smythe, 26 (name and age unconfirmed) and Dorothy Westin, 78, takes place between 2 and 2:30 pm. Hibiscus Pointe Senior Living Community, Milano, FL.
S: Whoa, Dorothy, don’t drink that iced tea! The stuff tastes like gasoline, I swear.
D: Oh my. You’re right. It’s strong enough to make you fight your great-grandma, and there are plenty of them here at the pool. Now, what were you saying about our book club plan?
S: Well… it seemed like a good idea at first, I guess. You know, us going undercover at the meetings to investigate Lorella’s murder and all. But do you really think her killer is going to show up?
D: It’s certainly worth a shot. Remember, reviving the Hibiscus Pointe Book Club was Lorella’s pet project. She was so eager to promote her little library here at the complex and provide us seniors with more literary activities. After all, we need to keep our lives interesting. Bocce ball and wine at Paint-by-Numbers Nights are hardly sufficient, in my view.
S: Speaking of wine, I talked to Jennifer in Resident Services about upping the budget. If we want to do piña coladas too, we have to charge people. But they’ll give us blenders and extra brownie trays from the kitchen.
D: I wouldn’t worry about the beverages, dear. I doubt we’ll have many residents drinking alcohol, especially before Cocktail Hour.
S: Isn’t that the whole point of book club? I mean, I’ve never actually been to one, but that’s what everyone always talks about.
D: Well, I suppose refreshments are something of a draw. But with a best-selling mystery author like GH Hamel speaking at our inaugural meeting, we should get quite an audience.
S: I can’t believe my friend Dash’s mom is so famous. He’s already wishing she’d go back home to New York, though. She’s driving him crazy. And then there’s that new author, Carrie Dunbar, who made us invite her, too. She’d drive anyone nuts, with her nonstop blabbing about her book. She never shuts up.
D: I’m with you there. But the important thing is that we lure Lorella’s murderer. We both know her library assistant Trixie Quattrochi and that awful male friend of hers aren’t really camping in Montana. And then there’s that professor over at Santa Teresa. Lorella always seemed desperate to avoid him. Quite an odd duck.
S: Plus, we can’t forget The Snake, whoever that is. Or what. But hey, with all the promo events Carrie’s publicist has lined up for us—a reception at Milano Book & Bar, dinner at the Algonquin, the big beach party at Surfside, the book cruise—we’ll have plenty of suspects to watch.
D: I completely agree, dear. In the meantime, though, we need to firm up our first club reading list. Most of the prospective members I’ve spoken to seem interested in mysteries. Have you taken a look at those books I gave you?
S: Um, not yet. But I will soon, I promise. You know what would make a really good detective series? One about us. They could call it The Ladies Smythe & Westin. What do you think?
D: Hmm. It does have a rather nice ring.
You are cordially invited to join Summer Smythe and Dorothy Westin on the case in Permanently Booked, the second title in Lisa Q. Mathews’s new mystery series “The Ladies Smythe & Westin,” from Carina Press/Harlequin.
The first rule of book club is: Don’t talk about the murder.
Semi-reformed party girl Summer Smythe is finally feeling at home at the Hibiscus Pointe Retirement Community. All that’s left to do is replace her late grandma’s massive book collection with a giant-screen TV. Donating them to the community library seems like the perfect solution—until she finds the librarian buried in books. Literally.
Summer and her sleuthing partner, longtime resident Dorothy Westin, can’t imagine who would want to kill poor, dedicated Lorella. Soon they’re on the case. . .and the Hibiscus Pointe Book Club is the perfect cover for their investigation.
A murdered librarian is headline news in South Florida, and even outsiders, including an oddball professor and a pair of dueling authors, are eager to join the once-dull group. But one menacing member has Dorothy and Summer bookmarked for the morgue. If the Ladies Smythe & Westin don’t nab the killer fast, the Hibiscus Pointe Book Club may be reading their obituaries next.
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Don’t miss Cardiac Arrest, “The Ladies Smythe & Westin’s” first case, and Book #3, Fashionably Late (September 2016 – now available for pre-order).
Praise from CLEO COYLE, New York Times bestselling author of The Coffeehouse Mysteries:
“Sweet, sassy, and smart. Senior sleuth Dorothy Westin and impetuous young Summer Smythe make an endearing team in this sparkling debut. Lisa Q. Mathews is a terrific new voice in cozy mysteries.”
About the author
Lisa Q. Mathews was a lifeguard, a figure skater, and a Nancy Drew editor before she started writing her own cozy mysteries. She also authored kids’ series such as Mary-Kate and Ashley and The Lizzie McGuire Mysteries and she was Creative Director at Random House Children’s Books. Mom to three grown kids, Lisa lives in New Hampshire with her husband, her own mom, and a brand-new Golden Retriever pup named Farley. Like her odd-couple co-sleuths in The Ladies Smythe & Westin series from Carina Press, she loves swimming, rich desserts, romantic comedies, and above all a good mystery. Please visit Lisa at www.lisaqmathews.com and join her on Twitter, group blog Chicks on the Case, Facebook, and Goodreads.
Giveaway: Leave comment below for your chance to win a digital edition of Permanently Booked. The giveaway will end April 8, 2016 at 12 AM EST. Good luck everyone!
All comments are welcomed.
Oh this one is going to be a wonderful addition to reading lists everywhere. Would love to win…
Sounds like another great series and author to add to my TBR list. Thanks for sharing this great review.
Can’t wait!!
Thank you for introducing me to another fun series!
This looks cool! Thanks for the chance to enter.
Sounds so interesting! Thanks for the giveaway.
It does have a good ring to it! And what a background Lisa has. Thanks for the chance to win!
Sounds like a good series. Thanks for the chance to win.
Sounds like a fun read. Count me in for the giveaway!
Sounds perfect for me.
I’d really love to own this one!
I love the friendship despite the little age differences between the two main characters. A nice series with some fresh twists! Can’t wait to read Permanently Booked. 🙂 Thanks Dru and Lisa Q for the chance to win a copy! [Is the “Q” for questions?] 😛
I’m so excited to see people’s comments, thank you! (And thank you, of course, Dru, for having us.) Barbara, the “Q” is for Quinn. I like “questions,” though.
Wonderful sounding book. I am fascinated.
Love the storyline here since I’m retired, but not yet in a senior living facility. I need some pointers for when I am one of them! Just kidding. This book sounds like a lot of fun.
Mary Jane, you might not want to live at Hibiscus Pointe, ha. Beautiful, but possibly dangerous.
This sounds like great fun, an interesting mystery, funny and lovable characters – sassy. Love the titles and artwork for the series. Book 3: Cardiac Arrest – amusing title for a book about seniors in a senior facility! Looking forward to getting involved in these mysteries.
This book sounds like a great “whodunit!” Thanks for the giveaway!
The Ladies Smythe and Westin sound like a lively pair. I’m not familiar with this series but will definitely be looking it up. Thanks for the giveaway. robeader53@yahoo.com
“Isn’t that the whole point of book club? I mean, I’ve never actually been to one” = ha ha! Can’t wait to read your book, Lisa! Congratulations!
Cheltgirl60, ha, very true! Book 1: Cardiac Arrest has a very unlovable cardiologist as the murderee.
I’m not entering the giveaway because I’ve already preordered, but just wanted to stop by and say hooray for more Summer & Dorothy!
I would LOVE to win a copy of this. Very clever, the way you wrote this post, Lisa! Well done.
This sounds so interesting! Thank you for this chance.
A book club that serves alcohol? I want to go!! Thanks for the contest.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Sounds like fun. I”ll join!
A twenty something & senior sleuthing, a book clubs and a murder; I’m definitely intrigued. Permanently Booked is definitely a book I would like to read; thanks for the opportunity to win it.
Oh wow! Love it! Can’t wait to read! Thanks for the chance!
This book is right up my alley! I hope I win!
Digicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net
would love this book because…oh wait,cant talk about it..lol
Sounds like a fun read. Definitely adding to my TBR list.
I definitely need to get and read the first book. I hadn’t heard of these books before and will be going to the author’s site. Thanks for the opportunity to win book two .
Sounds like a great new to me series!
I love the play on words–sounds like a fun read.
Oh, this book sounds fantastic. Loved reading this exchange.
Thank you for a chance to win 💟💟👍👍 Have never read one of your books , would Love to 💟
Sounds interesting – thanks for the giveaway.
This book – and series – sounds fascinating! Thank you for the opportunity to win! The library and book club make it extra exciting!