Review - A Trip with Trouble

If you like a more "mature" heroine for your cozy mystery, this is the book for you with a 50 year old starting the next chapter in her life after a divorce.  I reviewed the debut novel is this new series and now I'm happy to review the second.  Read on to find out the details.

1) Getaway With Murder (click here)

Author: Diane Kelly

Copyright: October 2022 (St. Martins) 297 pgs

Series: 2nd in Mountain Lodge Mysteries

Sensuality: mild

Mystery Sub-genre: Cozy Mystery

Main Characters: Misty Murphy, new owner of the Mountaintop Lodge

Setting: Modern day, Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina

Obtained Through: Publisher for honest review (Netgalley)

Book Blurb: "When the ladies of the Dangerous Curves Motorcycle Club take over the Mountaintop Lodge for their annual autumn ride along the Blue Ridge Parkway, Misty Murphy couldn’t be more thrilled. Every room is full and the adventurous women even invite Misty and her assistant Brynn to join them on a ride to admire the colorful fall foliage. Hotel handyman Rocky Crowder is happy to keep an eye on the lodge for the day, and the ladies set out for a fun ride on the scenic road.

The skies are clear, the air is crisp, and the leaves are gorgeous. But what starts as a perfect ride turns worrisome when the tail gunner – the last rider in their group – fails to show up at the Craggy Gardens overlook. Cell phone service is spotty in the remote, mountainous area, and the group is unable to connect with their friend. Might the missing woman have simply run out of gas? Or is something far more sinister afoot?

The ladies are determined to locate their ride or die, and Misty is equally determined to help them. But will they be able to solve the mystery when the scenic route seems intent on hiding its secrets?" 

My Thoughts:  Features heroine Misty Murphy as a newly divorced and just turned fifty woman who is  independent, resourceful, organized, and good with people heroine, Rocky is the hunky handyman interested in her and is daughter visits in this story, Brynn is her new-age housekeeper, and Patty is the diner owner from across the road and her new best friend. The characters were all fun and relatable. The delightful animals: dog named Molasses and cat called Yeti.  The women's biker club staying at the lodge provide interesting characters and plenty of drama.

The lodge setting amid the Smokey Mountains is excellent and the murder mystery has plenty of twists and viable suspects.  The book flows smoothly and kept my interest, it is a delight to read. The killer confrontation is short but exciting and while I had run through all the suspects so it wasn't a complete surprise, it wasn't my top guesses.  Well done.  

This series provides a more mature sleuth that has been around the block and is in her second chapter of life which is a welcome lead. I highly recommend this cozy mystery. 

Rating: Excellent - Loved it! Buy it now and put this author on your watch list