Murder at the PTA by Lee Hollis

 

Book Summary

Murder at the PTA by Lee Hollis has Sandra Wallage giving her opening address as the new PTA president of the South Portland High School.  She is almost finished when cell phones begin ringing around the auditorium.  It seems that the gossip site Dirty Laundry has targeted Sandra and her senator husband with their latest salacious headline.  Maya Kendrick, private investigator, is hired by her daughter to find out who is behind the site that is causing discord at the high school.  Maya goes to confront the site’s owner and finds her dead in her office along with a confession.  The police rule the death a suicide, but Maya has her doubts.  Maya obtains a client who wishes to learn the truth.  With her partner eight months pregnant, Maya has been handling the business on her own.  Sandra has information she believes can help the case, but no one wants to take her seriously.  She decides to do a little investigating on her own.  It turns out that Sandra has a nose for sniffing out lies and being the wife of a senator, she gets access to people who Maya cannot.  Maya and Sandra end up working together to solve the crime.  Unfortunately, the killer has plans to put the kibosh on their collaboration.  

PTA Meetings

My Thoughts

Murder at the PTA by Lee Hollis is the debut of A Maya and Sandra Mystery series.  This book takes the time to establish the main characters and their families.  We get to know Sandra Wallage, the wife of United States Senator Stephen Wallage.  She has two teenage sons, Jack and Ryan.  Sandra was just elected the PTA president at South Portland High School in Maine.  She is used to being in the spotlight, but it is not something that she enjoys.  Maya Kendrick is a former police officer turned private investigator after her husband was convicted in a corruption scandal.  Maya has a sixteen year old daughter, Vanessa who still believes her father is innocent.  Maya has a PI business with friend, Frances Turner who is currently eight months pregnant.  This leaves Maya carrying the load at the office.  It turns out that Maya and Sandra went to high school together.  The story deals with scandals, teenage drama, money problems, a boy with a drug problem, and a death.  The mystery is not complex.  There are a couple of suspects and good clues.  I found it a cinch to solve this whodunit.  I would have liked a more challenging mystery.  I found the story easy to read, but I wish the pacing had been peppier.  I liked seeing the changes in the two women as the story progressed.  The ending was humorous.  I am curious to see what happens next. Murder at the PTA is a cute cozy with thrilling tittle-tattle, a sexy senator, a pregnant partner, chatting at cooking class, private eye practice, and forming friendships.

Female Private Investigator

Murder at the PTA is available from Amazon* along with other major booksellers.  You can find Lee Hollis' other novels here.  Thank you for reading my review today.  I am off to take my mother for her annual physical.  Wish me luck in getting her to leave the house on time.  She likes to stall in the hopes we can cancel.  No way is that happening.  I will return tomorrow with Amish Christmas Twins by Shelley Shepard Gray, Loree Lough, and Rachel Good. I hope you have a calming day.  Take care, be kind, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

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