Member Reviews

Welcome back to the author with another great addition of this series. In this 4th in series our protagonist Maggie McDonald , a professional organizer and her family are close to a wildfire and have to evacuate. They live in the drought parched hills outside of Silicone Valley in Orchard View California. This made for a edge of your seat start to this book. Each chapter of this book includes information on how to best prepare for evacuation and especially helpful is information for pet evacuation.
As they prepare for evacuation they plan to stay with their friend Tess. Tess call and advises her husband has just been murdered and soon she is the prime suspect ! . Amid the evacuation Maggie and her family go stay with Tess at her house while she is in jail.
Maggie knows Tess is being falsely accused. and set up by a lazy Sheriff who does not bother to further investigate. Maggie starts her own investigation amid the chaos of the wildfire and staying at her friends home with her family. She is determined to clear her best friend’s name. Soon suspects abound and clues start to add up. Maggie is a able and capable investigator and working hard to clear her friend.
I loved the premises of this book with the background of the wildfires which have affected all of us here in California . The helpful hints on evacuating were timely and appreciated. The supporting charcters all add to the story and the sleuth was very well crafted. A very interesting and timely book to read for our beloved California has had much fire danger for all our families in the last few years.
I thank the publisher and Net Galley for the ARC. My opinions are my own. I look forward to further books in this wonderful series. If you are a cozy fan as I am, this is a definitive mystery series for all mystery fans. I highly recommend the entire series.

Was this review helpful?

Disorderly Conduct by Mary Feliz is the 4th book in the Maggie McDonald mystery series. Maggie McDonald, her husband, Max, and their two sons, David and Brian live in Orchard View, California where Max is a college professor and Maggie is a professional organizer. Maggie and her family are evacuating their home due to forest fires, and staying with her best friend Tess Olmos. When Tess's husband is found dead, Tess become the prime suspect, Maggie must find the real killer. I really enjoyed this book, and felt like I was right there with the family during the chaos. This book has more twists and turns, that kept me reading page after page. I found this book to be a quick read, with a well developed plot and characters. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. If you love cozy mysteries, I strongly recommend this book and series. 

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed this newest book in the series! I had only read the first book and started out reading an advanced copy, but I eventually bought the Kindle version. I'm definitely planning to read the other two books since I have them on Kindle as well. If the others are anything like this book, they can probably all be stand alone stories. I knew the basic characters from the first book, but anything that happened in between, the author did a good job of explaining, without revealing any important clues or whodunits.

Maggie's best friend Tess got the call that her husband Patrick was found dead on a trail where he used to run, which was right in the line of the wildfires going on in the area in August. When Tess was arrested for the murder, Maggie knew it was up to her to investigate. They were already good friends with the police chief, Jason Mueller, and he was always grateful for her help. There were some great twists and I definitely didn't guess who the killer was. I hope the character of Martin stays around. He seemed like such a nice guy, and I loved how he protected the boys in a situation. I found out later in the book that he himself was a dad with family in Nicaragua. You'll have to read the book and find out more of his story!

The book was really interesting and kept me reading. I'm anxious now to catch up and read the other two books before a fifth one comes out (I haven't heard anything about that but I'm hoping there's more coming in this series!)

There are some great resources at the end of the book as well as a few tips for anyone who has to be involved in a disaster such as the wildfires that were taking place in this book.

Was this review helpful?

Fourth in the Maggie McDonald Mystery series, Disorderly Conduct is different from the earlier mysteries. Each chapter begins with a quote from Maggie’s notebook regarding preparing for disasters. Living in California where the risk of sweeping fires is of great concern to the residents, Maggie, as a Professional Organizer, includes details about planning for evacuation of family and pets. This time, she is faced with putting those tasks into orderly practice for her own loved ones.
Raging fire threatens to jump the ridge to the McDonald home, one that has withstood California challenges for a century. As Maggie and her family prepare to take their needs and their pets to best friend Tess’s house, Tess calls with a bizarre request. She received a call regarding her husband, Patrick, who had not come home from work the night before. An engineer working on classified projects, he sometimes gets caught up in a project and loses track of time. The police believe that a body they found where Patrick often went running, in range of the fire, is Patrick. Tess has been asked to go to the medical examiner’s office to identify him.
Maggie’s husband Max, her sons, and pets go to Tess’s home, and will stay with Teddy, her teenage son and close friend of Maggie’s teens. Tess believes it is not Patrick, she will go to the ME’s just to prove it. Paolo, a young man with the local police department, drives her and Maggie there and tries to prepare Tess for the process. Nothing could have prepared Tess, however, for the horror of seeing a photo of the remains of her husband.
Nothing could ever prepare a family for a husband’s death. Or learning that Patrick had been murdered, and Tess herself being arrested for the murder. Maggie wasn’t going to get involved with helping solve any more murders, but when 14-year-old Teddy asks her to find the truth, she cannot refuse. Tess is her best friend, and Patrick is the guy everybody liked who helped anyone in need.
Few authors could write this mystery with the compassion and skill that Mary Feliz has. Her characters could walk, run, or wheel out of the pages, so well-defined they are. In some ways it was hard to read – it was so personal, I wanted to jump into the pages and find whoever ripped apart this family’s very essence! Amidst gossips and newscasters, Maggie strived to help maintain the background order of her best friend’s home even while asking questions from those who knew Patrick. One of the most heartwarming things was how friends of the two families came together to help Tess and Teddy through the trauma of Patrick’s murder and Tess being in jail. Just as Patrick would have helped any of them with similar circumstances. The plot twists definitely kept me engaged in the mystery, and I simply wasn’t sure who really was the bad guy. The resolution brought unexpected surprises.
It is tough when it is so personal to the characters this reader has come to appreciate – temporary evacuation, murder, and false arrest. It is personal to those who realistically lose loved ones every day, whether through accidents or murder, or those who struggle with fires, hurricanes, or other storms. Because of how the author has portrayed her characters and the subjects, I highly recommend this mystery. It is very well-written with a mystery that was a challenge to solve.
From a grateful heart: I received a copy of this e-arc from the publisher and NetGalley, and was not obligated to provide a review.

Was this review helpful?

Maggie McDonald is a professional organizer and the books starts with her preparing her family to evacuate due to wild fires. Their plan is to stay with Tess Olmos her friend and as they are leaving she gets a call from Tess with devastating news that her husband Patrick has been killed (murdered). Very good mystery and I did not guess the killer until I was supposed to. What I loved about this is how family and friends rally around Tess and they work to find out who did this. Jason and Stephen are back and show such a great side as they support Teddy Tess and Patrick’s son. I learned a lot about wild fires as well as illegal pot growers. Outstanding story and I love this series. Please keep them coming.

Was this review helpful?

I've been a fan of Mary Feliz's Maggie McDonald series from the start (Address to Die For), and the author just keeps on giving me reasons to enjoy her books. We don't see much of her organizing skills on jobs, but we see her put her own advice into practice, and each chapter heading is one of her tips. In Disorderly Conduct, they are very timely indeed since they are all aimed at preparing for emergencies and natural disasters. (These are all common sense tips and worth a read even if you think you've got all your bases covered.)

This series is firmly grounded in its setting. It's no secret that California has been suffering from drought, so we see Maggie and her family pitching in at the school to put in drought-tolerant landscaping. There's also information for anyone who lives near public lands-- as in, what some criminals can be using the land for.

Two small things annoyed me with the mystery in Disorderly Conduct: a couple of clues were a bit too transparent and made it easy for me to deduce the killer's identity, and-- the biggie-- Maggie's friend Tess says the one line no character should say in a mystery: "I'll kill that man!" Any cozy reader worth their salt knows that the second those words are uttered, that character is going to be thrown in jail. Every time I see that line of dialogue, I have two reactions. One, a major eye roll. Two, I thank my lucky stars that I'm not a member of a family who goes around threatening to kill each other.

But those annoyances are small. What I really love about revisiting Maggie is just spending some time with Super Mom. Maggie has an excellent support system, and it's because she spends just as much time supporting her friends. When it looks as though the newly widowed Tess is going to jail, Maggie immediately works with her to put legal paperwork in place to take care of Tess's grieving son if the worst should happen.

These regular characters all have very real emotions and reactions, but none of them really go off the rails. It would appear that they're all just too good to be true, and I imagine that they are, but you know what? I don't care. It is so refreshing to read about intelligent people who've raised their children properly-- and everyone uses their common sense! I remember an old television commercial when I think of Mary Feliz's series. I consider these to be my "Calgon, take me away" books. They are a pleasure to read. If the world gets to be too much for you, you'll probably enjoy them, too.

Was this review helpful?

An engaging, exciting, and entertaining cozy mystery. The cover led me to believe it would be a light, breezy dog tale. Not true. Yes, there are dogs, but fire and pot growers are not fun topics, neither is murder. Serious topics that are dealt with in an interesting way. Family and friends (old and new) add to the charm.

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed this mystery that was a bit different from the standard. There's a variety of thems: from the wildfires to the drug cartel and all are well woven into the plot.
Even if this one my first book in this series I'd no problems in understanding the characters and their relationship.
The book is well written and the characters are lively and interesting.
I loved the Silicon Valley settings, a refreshing change from the usual small town setting.
A very enjoyable and fun to read mystery that I highly recommend.
Many thanks to Kensington Books and Netgalley for this ARC

Was this review helpful?

A practical guide to evacuation due to wildfires as well as a nicely crafted cozy mystery! This time around Maggie is struggling to find a way to exonerate her friend Tess, who is accused of murdering her husband. There's a lot going on in this suburban community, an undercurrent that Maggie didn't fully appreciate until now. I very much enjoyed the first book in this series and somehow missed the two after it but I was happy to read this and rediscover this family, its, animals, and the people of Orchard View, who pull it together to help Tess. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I'm looking forward to the next one!

Was this review helpful?

Disorderly Conduct by Mary Feliz is the fourth book in Maggie McDonald Mystery series but can be read as a standalone.
Even though this is the first book in the series that I have read I had no trouble at all getting familiar with the story or the characters. All past references and events as already mentioned characters are clearly explained.
Behind the deceptively cozy cover is the heartbreaking story about the death of a father and husband. Greaving process and its stages are detailedly and realistically described.
When Maggie's friend's husband is found dead there is suspicion from the first moment of how it could have happened to him. His nature, his habits and past actions all point to the impossiblitly of him being at that paricular place and time.
As her past activities show Maggie is more that eager to find out the truth and with her husband's blessing there is nothing to stop her.,especially when her friend is the one accused.
Well written and ingenious with nicely formed cast of characters this is a highly enjoyable read.

Was this review helpful?

Fire threatens Maggie McDonald's family and home in Silicon Valley, but its what is found after the fire diminishes that causes the most heartbreak. The body of Patrick Olmos, husband of Maggie's friend Tess, is found along a running trail. When it becomes obvious that Patrick was murdered and Tess is arrested, Maggie sets her investigation in motion to clear her friend. An excellent book that introduces a scary scenario to drug smuggling and cartels. Review will be published on www.MapYourMystery.com and MapYourMystery Facebook page on Monday, June 25.

Was this review helpful?

Someone is playing a game they will not win with Maggie on the case. Through various trails, Maggie discovers a bevy of people who could be responsible, and it’s those clues she picks up here and there with a few surprises thrown in that leads to the one person left standing. . .the killer.

The author did a great job in presenting a well-written drama that immediately grabbed my attention. The pacing and comfortable tone was on par with how well this story was being told. The descriptive narrative was so engaging, I envisioned a film with every interaction between the various cast members who all played pivotal roles that enhanced the telling of this tale. Maggie is a force to be reckoned and I enjoy watching her do what she does best. This was another great read in this terrific series and look forward to more adventures with Maggie and her friends.

Was this review helpful?

Disorderly Conduct is the fourth book in Mary Feliz’s Maggie McDonald Mystery series and is a wonderful read. This is a well-crafted cozy mystery, with a strong dose of love and friendship, grief, and compassion. The writing style flows smoothly and the characters are likeable. Ms. Feliz is talented in creating suspense and tension with her written words. The mystery has lots of red herrings and twists and turns to sort through. There is great practical information at the beginning of each chapter about what everyone should know and do to prepare for emergencies. I highly recommend this series and am already looking forward to reading the next installment.

Maggie McDonald is a professional organizer and amateur sleuth who lives with her husband, Max, and their two teenage sons, David and Brian, in the small town of Orchard View, California located in the hills above Silicon Valley. They have a Golden Retriever named Belle and two marmalade-colored cats named Holmes and Watson. As wildfires approach the McDonald’s property, evacuation is a strong possibility and Maggie prepares her family and pets for Plan A, which is to stay with her best friend, Tess Olmos, her teenaged son, Teddy, and their German shepherd, Mozart. Maggie receives a call from Tess saying the police have found a body and that might be her missing husband, Patrick, and need her to identify the body. After identifying the body and breaking the news to her son, they both doubt Patrick had an accident and wonder if foul play is involved. Just when they think things can’t get any worse, Sergeant Thanh Nguyen of the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office arrests Tess for Patrick’s murder. Maggie contacts Forrest Doucett, a family friend and attorney, to represent Tess. Maggie knows Tess is being falsely accused. Determined to set the record straight, Maggie starts asking people questions and sorts through clues to help find the killer and clear her best friend’s name. Detective Jason Mueller, Stephen Laird and his dog, Munchkin, Officer Paolo Bianchi, Elaine Cumberfield, neighbor and friend, provide moral support for Maggie, her family, Tess, and Teddy.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

Was this review helpful?

I really like Maggie, but this book was just so much...it's as if Mary Feliz felt a need to address every social and natural disaster event occurring in society. Plus it was sad and dark. I know there will be more and hope it can be better for me. Just not my favorite book in the series.

Was this review helpful?

Interesting throughout. I enjoyed the families and the full experience the author gave us of living in that part of the country. No aspect seemed convoluted

Was this review helpful?

I enjoyed this addition for the Maggie Mcdonald series very much. It's very well written, interesting & informative. It kept me hooked throughout. #DisorderlyConduct #NetGalley

Was this review helpful?

From the cover I expected a bit more with the dogs, but while there it was not a big part of the story. Maggie, a professional organizer, is packing the family of sons, dog, cats and husband, to go to her friend's house. When her friend Tess calls to say her husband Patrick is missing, they rush over to help. When Patrick's body is identified, and later Tess is arrested for his murder, then Maggie starts talking to people to help find the killer. A good story overall, and kept me interested to the end. There were a lot of characters though, and while a little red herring is useful, after awhile it just gets confusing. Also, the murder, the drug cartels, the fires, etc. is a lot of plot lines to follow. Would recommend, but tended to skim about halfway through.

Was this review helpful?

I have seen images of wildfires in California on television, but until I read this compelling new mystery I could not imagine the effect it would have upon a family. The wildfires are spreading near the home of Maggie, her husband Max and their two teen aged sons, David and Brian. They are in the midst of packing up their cars and pets to stay with Maggie's best friend Tess when Maggie receives a phone call from Tess saying that the police have found the body of her husband Patrick. Maggie and her family stay with Tess to help her and her son Teddy during this terrible time, which only gets worse when Tess is arrested for her husband's murder. Maggie knows Tess is incapable of doing that and begins investigating to clear her best friend. In addition to being an interesting mystery, this is a wonderful story of family and friendship. And an additional bonus is the practical information in each chapter heading about what everyone needs to know and do about preparing for an emergency. I loved this book and highly recommend it.

Was this review helpful?