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Trouble in Paradise! #1
It Takes Two to Mango
It's all fun in the sun until someone turns up dead
After Plum Lockhart's job as a travel magazine editor is eliminated in corporate cuts, she decides she's sick of cold winters in NYC and fruitless swiping on dating apps—what she needs is a dramatic change of scenery. On a whim, she accepts a job as a villa broker and moves to a beautiful Caribbean island.
However, paradise isn't as perfect as it seems: the slow pace of island life, the language barrier, and a cutthroat office rival make Plum question leaving her old life behind. But when a client is found dead in the jacuzzi of Casa Mango—a property Plum manages—she knows she's really in a jam. With a killer loose on the island Plum will have to deal with a stonewalling police chief, a string of baffling clues, and a handsome Director of Security to solve this deadly case!
After Plum Lockhart's job as a travel magazine editor is eliminated in corporate cuts, she decides she's sick of cold winters in NYC and fruitless swiping on dating apps—what she needs is a dramatic change of scenery. On a whim, she accepts a job as a villa broker and moves to a beautiful Caribbean island.
However, paradise isn't as perfect as it seems: the slow pace of island life, the language barrier, and a cutthroat office rival make Plum question leaving her old life behind. But when a client is found dead in the jacuzzi of Casa Mango—a property Plum manages—she knows she's really in a jam. With a killer loose on the island Plum will have to deal with a stonewalling police chief, a string of baffling clues, and a handsome Director of Security to solve this deadly case!
280 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 29, 2021
125 people are currently reading
1,063 people want to read
About the author
Carrie Doyle
15books355followersCarrie Doyle is a bestselling author who has written fourteen books. (She also has written under the name Carrie Karasyov.)
THE MURDER GAME was nominated as one of the best YA books of 2021 by Suspense Magazine.
IT TAKES TWO TO MANGO was named one of the best books of 2021 by KING'S RIVER LIFE MAGAZINE.
Her new book, THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGONFRUIT TATTOO, was out January 2023.
THE MURDER GAME was nominated as one of the best YA books of 2021 by Suspense Magazine.
IT TAKES TWO TO MANGO was named one of the best books of 2021 by KING'S RIVER LIFE MAGAZINE.
Her new book, THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGONFRUIT TATTOO, was out January 2023.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 193 reviews
August 2, 2021
Sometimes us readers can be foolish! Years ago, I won a ŷ Giveaway for the 2nd book in Carrie Doyle's Hampton Murder Mystery series... immediately I purchased the first novel and read both in order; it's a necessity on my part, I cannot skip around. I enjoyed them immensely but got caught up in other series and only returned to finish the third and fourth last year. When I saw Doyle's new series, Trouble in Paradise!, I held off... not because I don't love her writing and storytelling talent but because I already had so many series in my queue. Then I saw it on NetGalley and wished for the first one, never thinking it would happen. But it did! And I read it this week, and so... I'm foolish for waiting. It's a fantastic start to what I think will be an exciting collection.
Readers are not meant to like Plum Luckhart. She's whiny, rude, arrogant, and selfish. Some of the comments she says (while humorous) are the exact things that make me dislike people so often. Blunt can be helpful on occasion, but Plum thinks nothing of meeting someone for the first time and telling them what's wrong with them or their appearance. She wants to be waited on hand-and-foot, and with each chapter, I grew more infuriated with her style and tone. But around 20% in, she's sidelined by a colleague, which begins a path to salvation -- okay, not completely, but enough that I want her to catch a break and beat this guy at his own game. From there, it only continues to soar, and at the end of the book -- despite her still having some serious personality flaws -- I like her a lot and want to spend more time together.
As I've come to count on in a Doyle mystery, the plot is clever and has tons of witty characters. I read the book all in one sitting and couldn't help but think... this is a really strong start for a new series. There's minimal backstory, but what's included is valuable. I wondered how the author could pull off switching settings in a book from NYC to the Caribbean after getting to know a bunch of characters who'd likely disappear. But they don't. Some of the NYers end up in Paradise! and the others are just a phone call away. I found myself intrigued by this series and give it 4.5 stars... very high for a first in a new collection. Number two is scheduled to be released in the next 6 months and I will definitely be reading it.
Readers are not meant to like Plum Luckhart. She's whiny, rude, arrogant, and selfish. Some of the comments she says (while humorous) are the exact things that make me dislike people so often. Blunt can be helpful on occasion, but Plum thinks nothing of meeting someone for the first time and telling them what's wrong with them or their appearance. She wants to be waited on hand-and-foot, and with each chapter, I grew more infuriated with her style and tone. But around 20% in, she's sidelined by a colleague, which begins a path to salvation -- okay, not completely, but enough that I want her to catch a break and beat this guy at his own game. From there, it only continues to soar, and at the end of the book -- despite her still having some serious personality flaws -- I like her a lot and want to spend more time together.
As I've come to count on in a Doyle mystery, the plot is clever and has tons of witty characters. I read the book all in one sitting and couldn't help but think... this is a really strong start for a new series. There's minimal backstory, but what's included is valuable. I wondered how the author could pull off switching settings in a book from NYC to the Caribbean after getting to know a bunch of characters who'd likely disappear. But they don't. Some of the NYers end up in Paradise! and the others are just a phone call away. I found myself intrigued by this series and give it 4.5 stars... very high for a first in a new collection. Number two is scheduled to be released in the next 6 months and I will definitely be reading it.
June 21, 2022
I’ll admit that when I first started reading this one, I didn’t think I would like it. The main character (Plum) comes off as uptight and snooty which is a big turnoff for me. However, as the story progresses, we see her start to change subtly. Perhaps it’s the beautiful paradise that she now calls home or the illustrious Juan Kevin who has caught her eye. No matter what, the change in her demeanor is noticeable and I slowly came to enjoy not only her but the story as well.
It Takes Two to Mango is the first book in the Trouble in Paradise series and features a villa broker who is on the case when one of her residents is killed. Plum believes that the police in Paraiso are too “tranquillo� (aka relaxed and slow) so she and a security guard of the villa in which she works decides to do a little sleuthing on their own. And if you have ever read a cozy mystery then you know that whenever a sleuth is investigating there will be a lot of laughs and mayhem in their wake!
All in all, I really enjoyed this one despite it’s slow start and my inability to connect with Plum in the beginning. I urge those who feel the same way about her character to keep going because she may just end up surprising you as well! The mystery is solid, there’s a lot of breadcrumbs thrown in to keep us on our toes, and the reveal is one I didn’t see coming! This is a solid start to this series, and I look forward to continuing it with Somethings Guava Give!
𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗙𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝗢𝗙:
� Cozy Mysteries
� Mysteries set in Paradise (aka Caribbean islands)
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
It Takes Two to Mango is the first book in the Trouble in Paradise series and features a villa broker who is on the case when one of her residents is killed. Plum believes that the police in Paraiso are too “tranquillo� (aka relaxed and slow) so she and a security guard of the villa in which she works decides to do a little sleuthing on their own. And if you have ever read a cozy mystery then you know that whenever a sleuth is investigating there will be a lot of laughs and mayhem in their wake!
All in all, I really enjoyed this one despite it’s slow start and my inability to connect with Plum in the beginning. I urge those who feel the same way about her character to keep going because she may just end up surprising you as well! The mystery is solid, there’s a lot of breadcrumbs thrown in to keep us on our toes, and the reveal is one I didn’t see coming! This is a solid start to this series, and I look forward to continuing it with Somethings Guava Give!
𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗙𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝗢𝗙:
� Cozy Mysteries
� Mysteries set in Paradise (aka Caribbean islands)
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
December 22, 2022
Nenoliegšu, ka liels grāmatas vilinājums bija mango vārds nosaukumā.
Jauks cosy mystery Karību jūras salā ar gardiem augļiem, saulainu laiku un, protams, slepkavību.
Jauks cosy mystery Karību jūras salā ar gardiem augļiem, saulainu laiku un, protams, slepkavību.
May 9, 2022
I really enjoyed this mystery. Plum Lockhart is a really selfish, self absorbed girl who is definitely looking out for number one. She’s knocked off her high pedestal however, when she’s fired from her travel magazine job in New York. She has to take a job at a resort in the Caribbean- a job that really doesn’t sound too bad to me. Unfortunately her first rental results in a murder. Plum really has to push the police to investigate and feels she needs to find the murderer to save her job and also because she simply believes she’s smarter than everyone else. Her attitude makes her unlikable, yet she did grow on me as the story went on. The mystery is good and kept me guessing and I really enjoyed the location. I’ll definitely be reading the next one in the series.
June 1, 2021
I really enjoy Carrie Doyle’s Hampton Murder Mysteries, so when Poisoned Pen Press let me know she had a new series coming out I was very excited to read it. And It Takes Two to Mango is a fantastic start to a new cozy mystery series!
I was a bit concerned with Plum Lockhart since she is very controlling and can be off putting. I was actually dreading having to write this review while I was still reading the book because I was afraid I would have to rate the book lower because of not liking Plum. But by the end she has softened a bit and her character is developing into a more positive direction.
But please don’t let this put you off of reading the book, I am mentioning it more so because I want readers to be aware going in and to know that the payoff of finishing the book will greatly outway any dislike you may have for Plum. Then again, you may love Plum from the beginning and wish she was your best friend. ;)
As always, Doyle does an excellent job with her location and food descriptions. You feel like you are actually in the Caribbean enjoying the local fare. If I was rich I would totally own a villa on the island.
I’m really enjoying the possible relationship between Juan Kevin and Plum. He is the Yin to her Yang, and that he actually listens to her is a wonderful thing to read since in so many other amateur sleuth mysteries, the man just tells the woman to stop investigating.
As for the mystery itself, there were so many well written characters that I think a lot of readers will be guessing through the entire book as to whodunnit. I thought I knew who the killer was, but I was not correct, and that is always a nice surprise.
I highly recommend It Takes Two to Mango, and if you haven’t already you should check out Doyle’s Hampton Murder Mysteries too.
I was a bit concerned with Plum Lockhart since she is very controlling and can be off putting. I was actually dreading having to write this review while I was still reading the book because I was afraid I would have to rate the book lower because of not liking Plum. But by the end she has softened a bit and her character is developing into a more positive direction.
But please don’t let this put you off of reading the book, I am mentioning it more so because I want readers to be aware going in and to know that the payoff of finishing the book will greatly outway any dislike you may have for Plum. Then again, you may love Plum from the beginning and wish she was your best friend. ;)
As always, Doyle does an excellent job with her location and food descriptions. You feel like you are actually in the Caribbean enjoying the local fare. If I was rich I would totally own a villa on the island.
I’m really enjoying the possible relationship between Juan Kevin and Plum. He is the Yin to her Yang, and that he actually listens to her is a wonderful thing to read since in so many other amateur sleuth mysteries, the man just tells the woman to stop investigating.
As for the mystery itself, there were so many well written characters that I think a lot of readers will be guessing through the entire book as to whodunnit. I thought I knew who the killer was, but I was not correct, and that is always a nice surprise.
I highly recommend It Takes Two to Mango, and if you haven’t already you should check out Doyle’s Hampton Murder Mysteries too.
July 3, 2021
Dollycas’s Thoughts
The bottom drops out of Plum Lockhart’s life when the travel magazine she works for goes belly up. After she fails to land a job at any other New York magazine she decides to leave the cold weather behind and take a job on the Caribbean Island of Paraiso as a village broker. Thinking it would a vacation in paradise until she could find a new position back in the states she arrives to find she may have made a grave mistake. She is used to the pressures and fast pace of New York and island life is all about relaxation. The fact that she doesn’t speak the language doesn’t help either.
Her first task is to rent out Casa Mango for the holiday weekend. She assumes the place hasn’t rented due to the state of the place so she authorizes some updates and cleaning and rents the place out. Sadly, one of her clients is found dead soon after his arrival and she finds herself in hot water. Murder is not a popular thing in paradise so Plum finds herself pitted against the police chief. The resort’s Director of Security is very helpful and he’s pretty easy on the eyes too. Now she just needs to catch a killer before she is forced off the island by her very unhappy employer.
Plum Lockhart would be labeled a high-maintenance woman by many. She is very confident and has a high opinion of her abilities. She is totally unlikeable and very selfish. She is definitely not made for island life. She meets a similar co-worker who is just as arrogant and high maintenance and I disliked him more than I disliked Plum. After meeting him I was cheering for her. She does receive some good advice that doesn’t really take hold until late in the story. She is still far from perfect but I have hope she continues to improve as the series continues.
The author introduces several island residents and guests and almost all are shady in some way. I really liked Security Director Juan Kevin Munoz. His interactions with Plum are totally entertaining. The man had tons of patience but that could come from the laid-back lifestyle he has lived his whole life. He is smart and fun to be around and I am excited to see what develops between him and Plum.
The mystery laid out by Ms. Doyle was very well plotted and written and there were a ton of suspects. Plum works hard to pin the suspects down but really needs Juan Kevin’s help because he knew the lay of the land and many of the people involved. Several had secrets that made them look guilty and it took a lot of digging to get to the big ah-ha moment when things come into focus.
Let’s face it, an island paradise is the perfect setting for a cozy mystery series. New characters can be introduced in each new story while the core characters continue to develop and grow stronger. Plum makes a great decision at the end that has me anxiously awaiting to see what Ms. Dolye has in store for her protagonist and the residents of Paraiso and all the visitors that come to the island. You can only have so many dead bodies before tourism takes a hit but I see many more exciting adventures in Plum’s future. Trouble in Paradise can be very entertaining for mystery lovers. This book has set this series off to a great start.
The bottom drops out of Plum Lockhart’s life when the travel magazine she works for goes belly up. After she fails to land a job at any other New York magazine she decides to leave the cold weather behind and take a job on the Caribbean Island of Paraiso as a village broker. Thinking it would a vacation in paradise until she could find a new position back in the states she arrives to find she may have made a grave mistake. She is used to the pressures and fast pace of New York and island life is all about relaxation. The fact that she doesn’t speak the language doesn’t help either.
Her first task is to rent out Casa Mango for the holiday weekend. She assumes the place hasn’t rented due to the state of the place so she authorizes some updates and cleaning and rents the place out. Sadly, one of her clients is found dead soon after his arrival and she finds herself in hot water. Murder is not a popular thing in paradise so Plum finds herself pitted against the police chief. The resort’s Director of Security is very helpful and he’s pretty easy on the eyes too. Now she just needs to catch a killer before she is forced off the island by her very unhappy employer.
Plum Lockhart would be labeled a high-maintenance woman by many. She is very confident and has a high opinion of her abilities. She is totally unlikeable and very selfish. She is definitely not made for island life. She meets a similar co-worker who is just as arrogant and high maintenance and I disliked him more than I disliked Plum. After meeting him I was cheering for her. She does receive some good advice that doesn’t really take hold until late in the story. She is still far from perfect but I have hope she continues to improve as the series continues.
The author introduces several island residents and guests and almost all are shady in some way. I really liked Security Director Juan Kevin Munoz. His interactions with Plum are totally entertaining. The man had tons of patience but that could come from the laid-back lifestyle he has lived his whole life. He is smart and fun to be around and I am excited to see what develops between him and Plum.
The mystery laid out by Ms. Doyle was very well plotted and written and there were a ton of suspects. Plum works hard to pin the suspects down but really needs Juan Kevin’s help because he knew the lay of the land and many of the people involved. Several had secrets that made them look guilty and it took a lot of digging to get to the big ah-ha moment when things come into focus.
Let’s face it, an island paradise is the perfect setting for a cozy mystery series. New characters can be introduced in each new story while the core characters continue to develop and grow stronger. Plum makes a great decision at the end that has me anxiously awaiting to see what Ms. Dolye has in store for her protagonist and the residents of Paraiso and all the visitors that come to the island. You can only have so many dead bodies before tourism takes a hit but I see many more exciting adventures in Plum’s future. Trouble in Paradise can be very entertaining for mystery lovers. This book has set this series off to a great start.
June 29, 2021
There’s trouble in paradise! Plum Lockhart’s pampered New York lifestyle is completely upended when she finds herself out of work and unable to find another job in publishing. With zero returned prospects and just as many job offers, Plum is forced to take on a job at a resort in a Caribbean island. All is going as well as to be expected, which is to say not well at all, and things get decidedly worse when a dead body is found in one of the properties Plum oversees. What follows is a crafty, cozy whodunnit with plenty of humor thrown in for good measure.
The first installment in a brand-new series, readers will simultaneously love and hate Plum Lockhart. Abrasive, no-nonsense, a little on the stick-up side, Plum is a smart woman who made her own successes in life. She isn’t exactly a likable character at first since she does have a bad habit of holding herself in quite a high regard, but she eventually thaws a little and gets a taste of her own medicine.
This book is loads of fun with a colorful cast of characters you can’t get enough of and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. Doyle also does a fantastic job of hiding the murderer and diverting you away anytime you get too close. This is definitely a series I’ll be following along with, and I’ll be checking out Doyle’s other books in the meantime. 4 stars.
*Many thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for the arc.
The first installment in a brand-new series, readers will simultaneously love and hate Plum Lockhart. Abrasive, no-nonsense, a little on the stick-up side, Plum is a smart woman who made her own successes in life. She isn’t exactly a likable character at first since she does have a bad habit of holding herself in quite a high regard, but she eventually thaws a little and gets a taste of her own medicine.
This book is loads of fun with a colorful cast of characters you can’t get enough of and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. Doyle also does a fantastic job of hiding the murderer and diverting you away anytime you get too close. This is definitely a series I’ll be following along with, and I’ll be checking out Doyle’s other books in the meantime. 4 stars.
*Many thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for the arc.
June 23, 2021
This is the first book In Doyle's new cozy mystery series "Trouble in Paradise"! It takes ace on a Caribbean island and I love how the author really brought it to life. I mean who doesn't want to feel like their on a little tropical vacation while reading? Sign me up!
After um Lockheart loses her job as a travel magazine editor due to cuts, she decides to take a job in the Caribbean. When she gets there you will read about all the reasons she's not even sure she likes it there. She is not a very likeable character, and I don't think many people actually do like her. By the end though she grows on you. When a client is found dead in the hot tub of one of the properties she manages, and a killer on the loose, she must get to the bottom of this mystery.
I really enjoyed this quick, fun and witty mystery. I enjoyed the secondary characters and the banter between them and Plum. I did not guess the outcome, but don't feel the end was a tad rushed. All in all though, it was a great cozy read and I am looking forward to continuing on with the series.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own!
After um Lockheart loses her job as a travel magazine editor due to cuts, she decides to take a job in the Caribbean. When she gets there you will read about all the reasons she's not even sure she likes it there. She is not a very likeable character, and I don't think many people actually do like her. By the end though she grows on you. When a client is found dead in the hot tub of one of the properties she manages, and a killer on the loose, she must get to the bottom of this mystery.
I really enjoyed this quick, fun and witty mystery. I enjoyed the secondary characters and the banter between them and Plum. I did not guess the outcome, but don't feel the end was a tad rushed. All in all though, it was a great cozy read and I am looking forward to continuing on with the series.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own!
May 18, 2021
Plum Lockhart is a magazine editor and like many print publications, the magazine was shuttered and she lost her job. With no new options in sight, she takes an offer from a contact in the Caribbean to rent villas in a resort. At least that is her interim plan as she looks for another job in publishing. When her first renter ends up being murdered, Plum joins forces with the head of security at the resort to find out whodunit.
As Plum comes to terms with the slower pace of life in Paraiso, she also comes to terms with herself and who she was and who she wants to be. With a less than friendly welcome from her coworker and main competition, Plum discovers she has to stand up for herself and only she can decided what’s next for her after losing this job as well. But before she leaves paradise, she’s going to find the killer and leave on a positive note…or not.
I really liked this author’s series set in the Hamptons so I decided to give this new series a try. At first I couldn’t stand the protagonist, but if you want to talk about character building, the author did a slam dunk job with this one and I changed, along with the character. A refreshing change and a solid start to a new series.
As Plum comes to terms with the slower pace of life in Paraiso, she also comes to terms with herself and who she was and who she wants to be. With a less than friendly welcome from her coworker and main competition, Plum discovers she has to stand up for herself and only she can decided what’s next for her after losing this job as well. But before she leaves paradise, she’s going to find the killer and leave on a positive note…or not.
I really liked this author’s series set in the Hamptons so I decided to give this new series a try. At first I couldn’t stand the protagonist, but if you want to talk about character building, the author did a slam dunk job with this one and I changed, along with the character. A refreshing change and a solid start to a new series.
June 21, 2021
It Takes Two to Mango is a cozy, island murder mystery. This is the first in a new series! It takes place in the Caribbean and Carrie Doyle does a splendid job at really making the reader feel like they’re there, on the island, with amazing descriptions of the atmosphere. I felt like I was there, getting sunburnt and enjoying scrumptious foods. The main character, Plum, is extremely unlikeable and I was a bit concerned at first, but she makes herself redeemable by the end. Her attitude, while off putting, is essential to the plot, though. I did find her constant “boy crazy� outlook a little annoying, but I am curious to see what kind of relationships she’ll build throughout the rest of the series. I really enjoyed the different characters and how they all interacted with each other. I had absolutely no clue as to whodunnit, either! I did feel like the confession was a bit rushed, there wasn’t much of a fight there. Overall, it was a fun, quick read. I can’t wait for Carrie Doyle to take me back to the Caribbean in her next installment!
May 30, 2021
It takes two to tango and one to panic
Posted on May 30, 2021 by michellelovatosbookreviews, world's first book color commentator, book reviews with a twist
“Anything you can do I can do better
I can do anything better than you
No, you can’t
Yes, I can
No, you can’t
Yes, I can
No, you can’t
Yes, I can! Yes, I can!�
I’m singing right now, and I can’t remember the musical these lyrics belong to. Mary Poppins? Oklahoma?
The title of this book says it all. It Takes Two to Tango. Oops. I mean It Takes Two To MANGO.
Here is another cozy mystery dance, where fighting frenemies hold one’s adversaries close and gesticulate across the ballroom floor. Oh yeah. And they must also face the fact that they are on an island with a murderer.
It Takes Two to Mango is book 1 of 2 in the Tropical Island Cozy Mystery (Trouble in Paradise!) series by Carrie Doyle.
This bright, sunny, Caribbean island story features the lovely, somewhat full of herself Plum Lockhart, who loses her New York City travel magazine editor’s job rather unceremoniously during a company-wide corporate publishing cut.
Boy, can I relate to that! Especially the unceremonious part. At least it’s comforting to know I’m not the only one. But I’m off track.
First, in a two-volume series, our main character, Plum, quickly realizes she is not nearly as “wanted� by her hiring industry partners as she previously thought. It doesn’t take long for Plum, who is embarrassed by the fact that her peers are working, to become extremely aware of her dire financial situation, her depressing love life, and her incredible need for a new beginning.
After first refusing to go to the tropical island resort, Casa Mango, Plum is ultimately forced to reassess her viable options and flee New York City for the land of sand and sun.
Well, at least she gets to be a “villa broker� on a resort island, right?
Not so fast.
When Plum arrives on her perceived prince charming paradise employment solution, she finds herself smack dab in the middle of a big sandy dump with an exaggerating new boss, a secretary, and a handsome, cocky salesman who pits Plum’s ego against the resorts worst piece of Casa Mango property. Too bad this white-teethed wonder is so attractive. We could all shower him with melodramatic “Boo!”s.
Can Plum rent the 1970s four-bedroom dump in time to win her bet? Or will she find a dead body instead?
I am sure you can guess which things happen to Plum. Enter the police chief, a murderer unable to leave paradise, and a shell-shocked Plum who must resolve the entire situation.
If you like spicy banter and challenging relationships between two people who are a self-important match, this title is the series for you.
It Takes Two to Mango is a great beach read, considering its set on the beach, and offers readers a fun, snappy story that might encourage a sunburn.
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Happy are those who respect the Lord and obey him. You will enjoy what you work for, and you will be blessed with good things. Psalm 128: 1-2
Posted on May 30, 2021 by michellelovatosbookreviews, world's first book color commentator, book reviews with a twist
“Anything you can do I can do better
I can do anything better than you
No, you can’t
Yes, I can
No, you can’t
Yes, I can
No, you can’t
Yes, I can! Yes, I can!�
I’m singing right now, and I can’t remember the musical these lyrics belong to. Mary Poppins? Oklahoma?
The title of this book says it all. It Takes Two to Tango. Oops. I mean It Takes Two To MANGO.
Here is another cozy mystery dance, where fighting frenemies hold one’s adversaries close and gesticulate across the ballroom floor. Oh yeah. And they must also face the fact that they are on an island with a murderer.
It Takes Two to Mango is book 1 of 2 in the Tropical Island Cozy Mystery (Trouble in Paradise!) series by Carrie Doyle.
This bright, sunny, Caribbean island story features the lovely, somewhat full of herself Plum Lockhart, who loses her New York City travel magazine editor’s job rather unceremoniously during a company-wide corporate publishing cut.
Boy, can I relate to that! Especially the unceremonious part. At least it’s comforting to know I’m not the only one. But I’m off track.
First, in a two-volume series, our main character, Plum, quickly realizes she is not nearly as “wanted� by her hiring industry partners as she previously thought. It doesn’t take long for Plum, who is embarrassed by the fact that her peers are working, to become extremely aware of her dire financial situation, her depressing love life, and her incredible need for a new beginning.
After first refusing to go to the tropical island resort, Casa Mango, Plum is ultimately forced to reassess her viable options and flee New York City for the land of sand and sun.
Well, at least she gets to be a “villa broker� on a resort island, right?
Not so fast.
When Plum arrives on her perceived prince charming paradise employment solution, she finds herself smack dab in the middle of a big sandy dump with an exaggerating new boss, a secretary, and a handsome, cocky salesman who pits Plum’s ego against the resorts worst piece of Casa Mango property. Too bad this white-teethed wonder is so attractive. We could all shower him with melodramatic “Boo!”s.
Can Plum rent the 1970s four-bedroom dump in time to win her bet? Or will she find a dead body instead?
I am sure you can guess which things happen to Plum. Enter the police chief, a murderer unable to leave paradise, and a shell-shocked Plum who must resolve the entire situation.
If you like spicy banter and challenging relationships between two people who are a self-important match, this title is the series for you.
It Takes Two to Mango is a great beach read, considering its set on the beach, and offers readers a fun, snappy story that might encourage a sunburn.
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Happy are those who respect the Lord and obey him. You will enjoy what you work for, and you will be blessed with good things. Psalm 128: 1-2
June 21, 2021
How can the offer of a job and place to live on a Caribbean island be a bad thing? Plum, our main character, will tell you all the ways in which the move grates on her.
It Takes Two to Mango is a quick read, and the first in a new cozy mystery series.
I didn’t like Plum at all, though that seems to be the point of her character. No one likes her. I’m not even sure she likes herself. This gradually changes for the better, sort of. While she redeems herself in the end, I still didn’t like her.
As with almost all cozies, the police are useless in the murder investigation, leaving it up to Plum and her new partner in crime to solve the case. Unfortunately, characters are the central aspect of a cozy mystery, and since I didn’t like them, I was never all that invested in the story.
While I have no doubt many readers will enjoy this story, it wasn’t for me.
*I received an ARC from Poisoned Pen Press.*
It Takes Two to Mango is a quick read, and the first in a new cozy mystery series.
I didn’t like Plum at all, though that seems to be the point of her character. No one likes her. I’m not even sure she likes herself. This gradually changes for the better, sort of. While she redeems herself in the end, I still didn’t like her.
As with almost all cozies, the police are useless in the murder investigation, leaving it up to Plum and her new partner in crime to solve the case. Unfortunately, characters are the central aspect of a cozy mystery, and since I didn’t like them, I was never all that invested in the story.
While I have no doubt many readers will enjoy this story, it wasn’t for me.
*I received an ARC from Poisoned Pen Press.*
July 15, 2021
This is my first book by this author and I really enjoyed it. Sure, Plum is not the most likeable character but she's driven and that's something I admire. She also gets better as the book goes on, learning how to slow down and appreciate her surroundings. The mystery was front and center, not bogged down with superfluous details but the setting was still well described. Looking forward to the next one.
I received a copy from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 30, 2021
I really enjoyed this cozy mystery series starter. It read like a television pilot, which was great, and brought major summer vibes, with a unique main character that isn't exactly likable but is certainly entertaining. The mystery kept me guessing, but wasn't so off-the-wall it was implausible, too.
When Plum, a hot-shot magazine editor, loses her big time job in New York, she reluctantly takes a job as a villa rental broker on a beautiful Caribbean island. Plum has difficultly adjusting to her new life and job, particularly when a client ends up dead in his rental villa! But Plum is on the case to save her job and reputation, along with the resort's attractive head of security.
I could easily see this book (series) being made into a television show. It gives me major Death in Paradise vibes (from the BBC) or really any USA Network show (Burn Notice, Royal Pains, etc.). I actually think it would make an even better television series than book series. I hope it gets picked up either by the USA Network or BBC (and make the heroine a Londoner, instead of a New Yorker).
Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for my ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
5 stars - 9/10
When Plum, a hot-shot magazine editor, loses her big time job in New York, she reluctantly takes a job as a villa rental broker on a beautiful Caribbean island. Plum has difficultly adjusting to her new life and job, particularly when a client ends up dead in his rental villa! But Plum is on the case to save her job and reputation, along with the resort's attractive head of security.
I could easily see this book (series) being made into a television show. It gives me major Death in Paradise vibes (from the BBC) or really any USA Network show (Burn Notice, Royal Pains, etc.). I actually think it would make an even better television series than book series. I hope it gets picked up either by the USA Network or BBC (and make the heroine a Londoner, instead of a New Yorker).
Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for my ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
5 stars - 9/10
June 22, 2021
Atmospheric, witty, and highly entertaining!
It Takes Two to Mango is a cosy murder mystery set on a beautiful island in the Caribbean that features Plum Lockhart, a magazine editor who, after losing her coveted job in NYC, heads to Paraiso to work as a villa broker at a luxurious resort. But things don’t go as smoothly as she would have liked, and after one of her first renters dies under mysterious circumstances, she will have to join together with the patient, hunky Director of Security, Juan Kevin Muñoz, to try and solve the case as quickly as possible.
The writing style is light and whimsical. The characters are sharp, quirky, and impulsive. And the plot is a pacey whodunit full of amateur sleuthing, red herrings, deduction, attraction, suspects, island living, and new beginnings.
It Takes Two to Mango is the first book in the Trouble in Paradise! series, and if you enjoy a charming mystery with idyllic settings, unique characters, and a touch of romance, then this novel is definitely the perfect choice. It’s a fun, quick, enjoyable read, and I am definitely looking forward to reading whatever Doyle decides to cook up for these characters next.
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
It Takes Two to Mango is a cosy murder mystery set on a beautiful island in the Caribbean that features Plum Lockhart, a magazine editor who, after losing her coveted job in NYC, heads to Paraiso to work as a villa broker at a luxurious resort. But things don’t go as smoothly as she would have liked, and after one of her first renters dies under mysterious circumstances, she will have to join together with the patient, hunky Director of Security, Juan Kevin Muñoz, to try and solve the case as quickly as possible.
The writing style is light and whimsical. The characters are sharp, quirky, and impulsive. And the plot is a pacey whodunit full of amateur sleuthing, red herrings, deduction, attraction, suspects, island living, and new beginnings.
It Takes Two to Mango is the first book in the Trouble in Paradise! series, and if you enjoy a charming mystery with idyllic settings, unique characters, and a touch of romance, then this novel is definitely the perfect choice. It’s a fun, quick, enjoyable read, and I am definitely looking forward to reading whatever Doyle decides to cook up for these characters next.
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 11, 2021
IT TAKES TWO TO MANGO is the first book in the brand new Tropical Island Cozy Mystery series by Carrie Doyle. I’ll start out by saying this new book gets a solid 5 out 5 stars from me, however, up until midway through the book, I wasn’t sure� the protagonist, Plum Lockhart, starts out harsh and quite unlikeable (at least by me). But, if you stick it out, by the end Ms. Doyle performs magic and creates a worthy character that I couldn’t help but cheer on! I can’t wait to find out what further mischief she gets involved with in future books. That said, whatever your feelings are about the protagonist, the author has crafted a mystery that is topnotch with a heavenly tropical island setting which makes it all worthwhile!
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 2, 2021
After Plum Lockhart's job as a travel magazine editor is eliminated in corporate cuts, she decides she's sick of cold winters in NYC and fruitless swiping on dating apps—what she needs is a dramatic change of scenery. On a whim, she accepts a job as a villa broker and moves to a beautiful Caribbean island.
However, paradise isn't as perfect as it seems: the slow pace of island life, the language barrier, and a cutthroat office rival make Plum question leaving her old life behind. But when a client is found dead in the jacuzzi of Casa Mango—a property Plum manages—she knows she's really in a jam. With a killer loose on the island Plum will have to deal with a stonewalling police chief, a string of baffling clues, and a handsome Director of Security to solve this deadly case!
This was a great mystery and quirky characters!
#ittakestwotomango#netgalley
However, paradise isn't as perfect as it seems: the slow pace of island life, the language barrier, and a cutthroat office rival make Plum question leaving her old life behind. But when a client is found dead in the jacuzzi of Casa Mango—a property Plum manages—she knows she's really in a jam. With a killer loose on the island Plum will have to deal with a stonewalling police chief, a string of baffling clues, and a handsome Director of Security to solve this deadly case!
This was a great mystery and quirky characters!
#ittakestwotomango#netgalley
May 17, 2021
At first, I would like to thank Netgalley and Poisonedpenpress for allowing me to review this book. Keep in mind that my review, however, is my true opinion on this book.
“It Takes Two to Mango� is the first book in a series by Carrie Doyle. Welcome to trouble in paradise!
“It's all fun in the sun until someone turns up dead�. True is. And this explains the whole story and the mood of it. The tone is set, and you are now ready to experience the story of Plum Lockhart. She is bored and wants some more excitement in her life. And that is surely what she gets in the novel. She finds a new job in what she expects to be paradise. But it might not be as flattering as she first thought. And then, a dead body is found. I am saying no more. The rest is for you to figure out, while reading the book. But I am telling you now, that you will be surprised a number of times throughout the book.
Carrie Doyle knows exactly how to create the suspense you would expect in a true mystery and thriller. And that is what you get in “It Takes Two to Mango�. The descriptions of the setting are beautiful, and I love how the landscapes are a part of the story.
There are furthermore some pretty extreme and severe plot twists in this novel, which I love!
At this time, I do not know when the second book in the series will be released, probably in around half a year from now. I do know, however, that it is called “Something's Guava Give� and sounds just as nerve wracking as “It Takes Two to Mango�. I am getting excited to read more about Plum Lockhart and all of her experiences and “trouble in paradise�. And I am excited to see where the next one is headed.
“It Takes Two to Mango� is the first book in a series by Carrie Doyle. Welcome to trouble in paradise!
“It's all fun in the sun until someone turns up dead�. True is. And this explains the whole story and the mood of it. The tone is set, and you are now ready to experience the story of Plum Lockhart. She is bored and wants some more excitement in her life. And that is surely what she gets in the novel. She finds a new job in what she expects to be paradise. But it might not be as flattering as she first thought. And then, a dead body is found. I am saying no more. The rest is for you to figure out, while reading the book. But I am telling you now, that you will be surprised a number of times throughout the book.
Carrie Doyle knows exactly how to create the suspense you would expect in a true mystery and thriller. And that is what you get in “It Takes Two to Mango�. The descriptions of the setting are beautiful, and I love how the landscapes are a part of the story.
There are furthermore some pretty extreme and severe plot twists in this novel, which I love!
At this time, I do not know when the second book in the series will be released, probably in around half a year from now. I do know, however, that it is called “Something's Guava Give� and sounds just as nerve wracking as “It Takes Two to Mango�. I am getting excited to read more about Plum Lockhart and all of her experiences and “trouble in paradise�. And I am excited to see where the next one is headed.
April 9, 2022
Loved it ! So funny!
August 21, 2023
One Sentence Summary: A NY travel writer, unexpectedly working at a Caribbean resort must team up with a easy-on-the-eyes security manager to solve a possible murder to try to save herself, those she feels responsible for and her reputation in the travel business.
Reminds Me Of:
A little like Buried in a Good Book due to the work tie-in as well as the main characters take-charge attitude.
Three Reasons You Should Read This:
1. Just reading about this lovely little island made me feel relaxed!
2. Juan Kevin
3. The titles of this series are just top notch.
One Thing You Should Know Before You Pick This Up:
I must admit, I had a hard time getting into this one because I just found so many characters (even the main character) very unlikeable. The love-able side characters are one of the things I love in cozies! However, I found Juan Kevin and Lucia both to be an absolute joy!!! I do think that the unlike-ability of the main character, especially early on in this foundational book in the series, was intentional now that I've finished the book. I anticipating like book 2 better given the circumstances.
Content Warnings:
Intoxication, Murder, Bodily Injuries (non gruesomely described), Job Problems/Being Fired, Assault
Soundtrack:
The Good Part - AJR
Keep the Car Running - Arcade Fire
Keeping Your Head Up - Birdy
Could You Be Loved - Bob Marley & The Wallers
Reminds Me Of:
A little like Buried in a Good Book due to the work tie-in as well as the main characters take-charge attitude.
Three Reasons You Should Read This:
1. Just reading about this lovely little island made me feel relaxed!
2. Juan Kevin
3. The titles of this series are just top notch.
One Thing You Should Know Before You Pick This Up:
I must admit, I had a hard time getting into this one because I just found so many characters (even the main character) very unlikeable. The love-able side characters are one of the things I love in cozies! However, I found Juan Kevin and Lucia both to be an absolute joy!!! I do think that the unlike-ability of the main character, especially early on in this foundational book in the series, was intentional now that I've finished the book. I anticipating like book 2 better given the circumstances.
Content Warnings:
Intoxication, Murder, Bodily Injuries (non gruesomely described), Job Problems/Being Fired, Assault
Soundtrack:
The Good Part - AJR
Keep the Car Running - Arcade Fire
Keeping Your Head Up - Birdy
Could You Be Loved - Bob Marley & The Wallers
June 24, 2021
Wow. This book was not what I was expecting. The mystery itself was great and had many good twists and turns and kept me guessing. On the other hand, I found Plum to be so unlikeable. I understand Plum is a harden New Yorker who gets softened by the island life but it honestly took me out of the book on a regular basis. I thought Plum dealing with Kristee, who was also not a nice person, would soften her quicker but instead two paragraphs later she was complaining once again. Enough loose ends were left open, that I would consider checking out others in the series, assuming Plum stays on the more cheerful front.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 9, 2021
What a cute cozy mystery! This was the perfect finish to my summer reading!
Plum is a highly unpleasant woman who lives for her job. So when she gets fired from the magazine travel industry in dreary New York she doesn't know what to do. Unable to find a new job she becomes more miserable than she already was.
When an opportunity presents for her to rent out villas on a laid back tropical paradise she has no choice but to take the job. Her new coworkers hate her too and her very first successful rental ends with a dead man in the backyard. Since she knows she's facing another firing she teams up with head of security to solve this crime.
In It Takes Two To Tango everyone is a suspect here and Plum is determined to get to the bottom of it. It's funny and quite ridiculous at times. I just loved it!
The best part it's a series starting off and I can't wait for more of Plum!
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for my gifted ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
Plum is a highly unpleasant woman who lives for her job. So when she gets fired from the magazine travel industry in dreary New York she doesn't know what to do. Unable to find a new job she becomes more miserable than she already was.
When an opportunity presents for her to rent out villas on a laid back tropical paradise she has no choice but to take the job. Her new coworkers hate her too and her very first successful rental ends with a dead man in the backyard. Since she knows she's facing another firing she teams up with head of security to solve this crime.
In It Takes Two To Tango everyone is a suspect here and Plum is determined to get to the bottom of it. It's funny and quite ridiculous at times. I just loved it!
The best part it's a series starting off and I can't wait for more of Plum!
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for my gifted ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 19, 2021
It Takes Two to Mango is the debut of the Trouble in Paradise series featuring Plum Lockhart, editor of a New York based travel magazine. When the magazine closes up shop, Plum suddenly finds herself without a job, running out of money and faced with the reality that she really has no friends outside of her job. Desperate, Plum accepts a job on the Caribbean island of Paraiso, working for a luxury villa rental agency and quickly finds herself having to adjust to life on an island.
The one other person working for Jonathan Mayhew Caribbean Escapes, Damian Rodriquez has it in for Plum from the start. When he challenges Plum that she will never be able to rent a run down villa, she goes out of her way to prove him wrong, and breaks the rules by renting to a group of guys hosting a bachelor's weekend. When one of the men turns up dead, Plum has to team up with the resort security guard, Juan Kevin Munoz to catch a killer.
A great plot and a spectacular setting. Plum is not a likable person at the start and you may be offended by her brash behavior, but by the end she's turned into a totally different person and you'll be rooting for her to succeed. I loved following Plum's transformation and discovery of romance, and will definitely be looking forward to many more adventures on Paraiso.
I received an advanced copy of It Takes Two to Mango from NetGalley via Poisoned Pen Press. While not required to write a review I am happy to offer my honest opinion.
The one other person working for Jonathan Mayhew Caribbean Escapes, Damian Rodriquez has it in for Plum from the start. When he challenges Plum that she will never be able to rent a run down villa, she goes out of her way to prove him wrong, and breaks the rules by renting to a group of guys hosting a bachelor's weekend. When one of the men turns up dead, Plum has to team up with the resort security guard, Juan Kevin Munoz to catch a killer.
A great plot and a spectacular setting. Plum is not a likable person at the start and you may be offended by her brash behavior, but by the end she's turned into a totally different person and you'll be rooting for her to succeed. I loved following Plum's transformation and discovery of romance, and will definitely be looking forward to many more adventures on Paraiso.
I received an advanced copy of It Takes Two to Mango from NetGalley via Poisoned Pen Press. While not required to write a review I am happy to offer my honest opinion.
June 22, 2021
Plum Lockhart loses her job as editor-in-chief when her travel magazine abruptly folds. After being stuck at home for weeks in chilly New York, Plum abruptly takes a job as a villa broker and moves to a beautiful Caribbean island of Paraiso. Plum is whiny, blunt and not adjusting well to the slow pace of island life. When Plum is challenged by her colleague Damian to lease one of the challenging properties, Casa Mango, before the President's Day weekend, she desperately defies her boss and books a bachelor party. Things go wrong from the start but she does not expect to find one of the men, Nicholas, dead near the Jacuzzi. Plum has to convince the local police and the handsome Director of Security, Juan Kevin, that the man was murdered and that they have to find the killer.
Fortunately, Plum learns to mellow out a bit while she is asking questions, dealing with guest complaints and thwarting attempts to get her fired from her new job.
This was an entertaining read and promising start to the Trouble in Paradise mystery series.
I received a digital ARC from SOURCEBOOKS/Poisoned Pen Press with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and provided this review.
Fortunately, Plum learns to mellow out a bit while she is asking questions, dealing with guest complaints and thwarting attempts to get her fired from her new job.
This was an entertaining read and promising start to the Trouble in Paradise mystery series.
I received a digital ARC from SOURCEBOOKS/Poisoned Pen Press with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and provided this review.
June 10, 2021
I received this book when I chose it from a list of ARC books I signed up to read on a whim. I tore through this book in one day. I could not put it down.
A magazine editor by the name of Plum Lockhart is fired from her high paying, stress filled job in New York out of the blue and is unsure of how to proceed in her life. She has no opportunities on the horizons and is offered a job by a contact she has in the Caribbean. The job is out of her purview, renting villas at a seaside resort. It meant to be temporary while she desperately searches for something in her preferred field of the fashion world.
She goes against policy and rents to some people she shouldn't, one of whom ends up dead. She immediately suspicious that its a murder but convincing the local police proves to be a difficult process. Plum pairs up with the resort head of security and starts fleshing out the murderer. She faces a small town where everyone knows everyone's business, a horrendous coworker dead set on sabotaging her and has to deal with threats on her life. Can she help catch the killer before they leave the island?
Ill be honest, the cover of the book was a huge draw to me. When I read the story on the back, I was intrigued to say the least. The main character in the story, Plum is literally nothing like me. She's a single, working woman, who has done nothing but focus on her career and has little to show for it. I wasn't sure I could relate. That being said, there were a few things she said within the story that I can definitely relate to and in the end, I ended up really liking her. The author redeemed her so to speak in the end and she gave vibrant descriptions of the food, clothes and the setting that made visions like a movie in my head.
The mystery part of the story was well written and definitely kept me guessing. There were more than a few times that I thought I had the killer pegged and then didn't! I love mysteries that are a surprise.
I highly recommend this book. It is the first I have read by Carrie Doyle but I thoroughly enjoyed it and will absolutely look into her other series.
A magazine editor by the name of Plum Lockhart is fired from her high paying, stress filled job in New York out of the blue and is unsure of how to proceed in her life. She has no opportunities on the horizons and is offered a job by a contact she has in the Caribbean. The job is out of her purview, renting villas at a seaside resort. It meant to be temporary while she desperately searches for something in her preferred field of the fashion world.
She goes against policy and rents to some people she shouldn't, one of whom ends up dead. She immediately suspicious that its a murder but convincing the local police proves to be a difficult process. Plum pairs up with the resort head of security and starts fleshing out the murderer. She faces a small town where everyone knows everyone's business, a horrendous coworker dead set on sabotaging her and has to deal with threats on her life. Can she help catch the killer before they leave the island?
Ill be honest, the cover of the book was a huge draw to me. When I read the story on the back, I was intrigued to say the least. The main character in the story, Plum is literally nothing like me. She's a single, working woman, who has done nothing but focus on her career and has little to show for it. I wasn't sure I could relate. That being said, there were a few things she said within the story that I can definitely relate to and in the end, I ended up really liking her. The author redeemed her so to speak in the end and she gave vibrant descriptions of the food, clothes and the setting that made visions like a movie in my head.
The mystery part of the story was well written and definitely kept me guessing. There were more than a few times that I thought I had the killer pegged and then didn't! I love mysteries that are a surprise.
I highly recommend this book. It is the first I have read by Carrie Doyle but I thoroughly enjoyed it and will absolutely look into her other series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 20, 2021
This is the first book of the Trouble in Paradise series and after reading her Hampton series, I was tempted to read this one.
Plum Lockhart loses her job as a travel magazine editor due to corporate cuts and she moves to a Carribean Resort to work as a broker. But soon, one of the men who had come for bachelor party turns up dead inside the resort and Plum must work out who the murderer is.
Just like any cozy mystery books, this book was engaging with some funny events in the book that will make you laugh at some parts. The writing was good and the author did a good job making the reader feel like they are in this exotic Carribean island enjoying the sun. Though there were not much unexpected twists and turns you would expect in a fast paced thriller, still, it was quiet enjoyable and unputdownable. The book cover is really cute and whoever designed the book cover did a good job drawing the reader to the book. Plum's character initially at first I found her annoying but gradually in the book, I got used to her character and began to like her character. Overall, this was a cute mystery book and worth four stars!
Many thanks to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.
Plum Lockhart loses her job as a travel magazine editor due to corporate cuts and she moves to a Carribean Resort to work as a broker. But soon, one of the men who had come for bachelor party turns up dead inside the resort and Plum must work out who the murderer is.
Just like any cozy mystery books, this book was engaging with some funny events in the book that will make you laugh at some parts. The writing was good and the author did a good job making the reader feel like they are in this exotic Carribean island enjoying the sun. Though there were not much unexpected twists and turns you would expect in a fast paced thriller, still, it was quiet enjoyable and unputdownable. The book cover is really cute and whoever designed the book cover did a good job drawing the reader to the book. Plum's character initially at first I found her annoying but gradually in the book, I got used to her character and began to like her character. Overall, this was a cute mystery book and worth four stars!
Many thanks to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.
June 24, 2021
This book comes out on Tuesday, June 29th. Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for sending me an ARC!
This book is a hoot! Plum, the main character, has lost her job and is trying to start again as a realtor in Paraiso, a Caribbean island. Unfortunately, one of her clients is found dead in the Jacuzzi of the property he rented from her.
Plum is unlike any cozy mystery heroine I’ve met! She is over the top in her rudeness and attitude, and Carrie Doyle does a great job pointing out Plum’s delusions in a really funny way. There are several laugh out loud hilarious moments.
I will say this mystery has some adult themes, so it isn’t one I would read with my child. But I will definitely continue the series myself! I enjoyed the mystery and Plum’s journey to self-realization in the book, and I definitely want to read the next.
This book is a hoot! Plum, the main character, has lost her job and is trying to start again as a realtor in Paraiso, a Caribbean island. Unfortunately, one of her clients is found dead in the Jacuzzi of the property he rented from her.
Plum is unlike any cozy mystery heroine I’ve met! She is over the top in her rudeness and attitude, and Carrie Doyle does a great job pointing out Plum’s delusions in a really funny way. There are several laugh out loud hilarious moments.
I will say this mystery has some adult themes, so it isn’t one I would read with my child. But I will definitely continue the series myself! I enjoyed the mystery and Plum’s journey to self-realization in the book, and I definitely want to read the next.
July 21, 2021
This was a fun one! Thoroughly entertaining 🤩
December 14, 2022
Stabilas 3.5*
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