November 4, 2019
In Hollis’s irresistible sequel to 2018’s Poppy Harmon Investigates, famous aging crooner Tony Molina is on trial for assaulting chef Carmine Cicci at the chef’s Palm Springs, Calif., restaurant. Soon after PI Poppy, the lone woman on the jury and the foreperson, delivers a hung jury vote to the judge, Poppy notices a slight nod between Molina and Alden Kenny, the one hold-out juror. Days later, Poppy finds Alden floating dead in a swimming pool and winds up investigating his murder. Meanwhile, Poppy’s detective agency partners are focusing on their only paying client, Rod Harper, whose aspiring singer daughter, Lara, has gone missing. Complicating matters for Poppy are the plight of her daughter, Heather, who’s up for parole after serving 10 months in prison for involuntary manslaughter, and Rod’s amorous overtures. The stakes rise after Poppy discovers some surprising connections among Alden, Molina’s wife, and Lara. Hollis smoothly intertwines the stories of her distinctive characters. Cozy readers will look forward to seeing a lot more of Poppy and company. Agent: Michael Bourret, Dystel & Goderich Literary Management.