Publishers Weekly
03/28/2022
The stalking begins in Hollis’s rollicking fourth Desert Flowers mystery (after 2021’s Poppy Harmon and the Pillow Talk Killer) soon after PI Poppy Harmon, posing as an elderly widow, catches a trio of thieves preying on the most vulnerable residents of Palm Springs, Calif. Poppy’s stalker, who creepily whistles “Twinkle, twinkle, little star” as he attempts to terrify her, succeeds in causing a fatal car accident. However, he mistook the detective’s neighbor for Poppy, and it’s Poppy who’s reported killed. Since Poppy was a star of the 1980s hit TV series Jack Colt, PI, her death makes the news. To catch the killer—who’s possibly a bachelor on an upcoming reality TV show—Poppy’s front man, Matt Flowers, joins the show as a bachelor eager to find love, with Poppy disguised as his aunt. Is the killer the astronaut, the Nascar driver, the rugged cowboy, or the “royal” with a Liverpool accent? Hijinks on the drama-filled set lead to heartbreak and murder as the clever plot with its cast of eccentrics builds to a surprise ending. Cozy lovers new to Poppy Harmon will want to check out earlier series entries. (May)
From the Publisher
Praise for the Desert Flowers Mysteries
“Hijinks on the drama-filled set lead to heartbreak and murder as the clever plot with its cast of eccentrics builds to a surprise ending. Cozy lovers new to Poppy Harmon will want to check out earlier series entries.” —Publishers Weekly on Poppy Harmon and the Backstabbing Bachelor
“The reality-show frame, combined with the intelligent, feisty heroines and the precocious Wyatt add up to a satisfying entry in the cozy series.” —Booklist on Poppy Harmon and the Backstabbing Bachelor
"Hilarious...Pop culture references throughout add to the fun, and Hollis wraps up the mystery with a truly surprising twist. Cozy fans will eagerly await the sequel." —Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW for Poppy Harmon Investigates
"A trio of likable sleuths in a story with a surprising twist for a cozy." —Library Journal on Poppy Harmon Investigates
"The theatrical frame, combined with a set of quirky characters, and plenty of humor, distinguishes this delightful cozy." —Booklist on Poppy Harmon Investigates
"All is resolved in this humorous, satisfying cozy, which follows Poppy Harmon Investigates (2018) and again draws its appeal from the premise of women of a certain age working in a nontraditional profession. Share with those who enjoy M.C. Beaton's Agatha Raisin mysteries." —Booklist on Poppy Harmon and the Hung Jury
"Irresistible...Cozy readers will look forward to seeing a lot more of Poppy and company." —Publishers Weekly on Poppy Harmon and the Hung Jury
"An amusing cozy with quirky characters and a down-to-earth heroine with plenty of moxie." —Kirkus Reviews on Poppy Harmon and the Hung Jury
“Well-drawn characters, including principals and supporting cast, especially the sleuths' 12-year-old computer expert, combine with surprising plot twists and plenty of humor to make this a satisfying entry in Hollis' popular cozy series.” —Booklist on Poppy Harmon and the Pillow Talk Killer
“A movie set in the California desert provides a suitably dangerous backdrop for the gutsy heroine.” —Kirkus Reviews on Poppy Harmon and the Pillow Talk Killer
“Fun...Hollis delivers all the essentials: appealing characters, an intricate plot, and a colorful setting. Cozy fans will hope Poppy and friends will be back soon.” —Publishers Weekly on Poppy Harmon and the Pillow Talk Killer
“Hollis delivers a gripping and sometimes creepy cozy that will keep readers engaged from page one until the final cut. The story is a standout with a puzzling crime and a plethora of suspects...Delightful.” —Mystery Scene Magazine on Poppy Harmon and the Pillow Talk Killer
Kirkus Reviews
2022-01-26
What seems like a simple case thrusts Palm Springs private eye Poppy Harmon and her associates at the Desert Flowers Detective Agency into danger.
Poppy, a retired actress, reinvented herself as a detective when her husband died and left her penniless, and even though she's good at it, she had to hire an aspiring actor named Matt to play agency head Matt Flowers in order to be taken seriously. In her latest case, she disguises herself as a woman in her 90s in order to flush out a gang of grifters preying on the elderly. Since their last case landed Matt an acting gig in Europe, Poppy and her friends Iris and Violet are on their own when the boyfriend of one of the grifters starts stalking Poppy. Then she loans her car to a neighbor, who’s run off the road—a sure sign that the stalker’s out for blood. When Poppy finds the stalker’s lair, he escapes but leaves behind plenty of evidence. Apparently he’s a lot like the talented Mr. Ripley, a man with many identities, and he seems to have a fascination with TV reality star Jessie Walters, who’s preparing to headline the new show My Dream Man. Despite Poppy’s best efforts, Jessie and her manager don’t believe that she’s in danger. When the stalker bombs Poppy’s house, she pretends to have been killed and schemes to get Matt on the show as one of the dream men, disguising herself as his elderly aunt and adviser. Now all they have to do is uncover which of the contestants is the killer.
Plenty of quirky characters enhance this compelling display of bravery in the face of danger.
