With a colorful cast of characters and a cellar full of wine, anything can happen—from murder to a second chance at love—in Jenny Elder Moke's half mystery, half romance adult debut set at a lavish destination wedding.
A high-end wedding on a private island off the coast of Seattle sounds like something out of a magazine. But for bestselling mystery author Kate Valentine, it's more like a nightmare.
Why Kate agreed to attend her ex-fiancé's wedding is its own enigma, but she'll plaster on a fake smile for two nights, with the aid of free champagne, naturally. And because the groom happens to be her editor, she'll try to finish a draft of her latest Loretta Starling mystery as a wedding gift.
When the bride is poisoned and Kate stumbles across a dead body, she finds herself in a real-life mystery that eerily echoes the plot of her latest novel. And the only person who seems willing to help Kate catch the killer is Jake Hawkins, aka: the Hostralian; aka: Kate's biggest romantic regret.
As the wine flows and the weather threatens to hold every guest hostage, bitter resentments and long-held grudges surface amongst the colorful crowd. Anyone could be capable of murder, it seems. What would Loretta do? Unfortunately, Kate doesn't have a clue.
0 of 1 copy available
Wait time: About 6 weeks
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
January 21, 2025 -
Formats
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OverDrive Read
- ISBN: 9781250354976
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EPUB ebook
- ISBN: 9781250354976
- File size: 1916 KB
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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November 25, 2024
YA author Moke (Hood) makes her adult debut with this winning romantic mystery centered on a bestselling novelist. When Kate Valentine agrees to attend her ex-fiancé’s fancy wedding on a private island in the San Juan archipelago, she expects to spend most of the weekend hiding away to work on her newest manuscript. Once she arrives, however, her plans are upended. First, she’s forced to share a room with the dreamy Jake Hawkins, an ex who Kate has recently become convinced is the one that got away. Then someone at the wedding dies in a poisoning that eerily mimics the plot of one of Kate’s novels, and she enlists Jake’s help to determine who among the party might be responsible. Predictably, sparks fly between the amateur sleuths, but it’s to Moke’s credit that little else about this brisk and charming whodunit is predictable. With truly surprising twists, fully developed characters, and a satisfying balance of courtship and detection, this has more than enough for a potential series. Agent: Elizabeth Bewley, Sterling Lord Literistic. -
January 1, 2025
Kate Valentine, author of the popular Loretta Starling mysteries, is headed to a remote Pacific Northwest island for her ex-fianc� and editor Spencer's wedding when she (literally) runs into Jake Hawkins, the one who got away. The island is owned by Spencer's fianc�e Kennedy's family, and during the rehearsal dinner, Kennedy's aunt Rebecca announces that the estate will be donated to the historical society. Later, Kennedy is found poisoned in the wine cellar and, when all signs point to Kate, Kate channels her inner Loretta to investigate. Then she and Jake discover Rebecca's body. Who was the real target, Kennedy or Rebecca? There are plenty of suspects--angry family members, disheartened authors, jealous coworkers, but Loretta--make that Kate--has trouble solidifying a motive that matches the clues. She must learn to stand on her own if she's going to solve the murder and get the guy. Moke's adult debut is the perfect blend of cozy mystery and steamy romance with a flawed, frenetic amateur sleuth readers will root for. Here's hoping that this is the beginning of a series.COPYRIGHT(2025) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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