Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an fair and honest review.

Jessica Fletcher, Miss Marple, move over - Poppy Harmon is on the case. Anyone old enough to remember the old TV show "Remington Steele" will love this cozy. I am and I really liked this first book in a new cozy-mystery series for so many reasons. The heroine is a 60-something that finds herself having to start from scratch. I love the Palm Springs, CA locale. The cast of supporting characters is great. There is humor. Although the mystery took quite a while to develop, it keep me guessing to the very end. Great start to what I hope will be a great series.

When Poppy Harmon got married for the fourth time and retired from her Hollywood career she never saw her future as a 62 year old penniless widow. With few skills, but with a uncanny ability to solve the crimes on any true crime show, she has decided to become a Private Investigator.

With the help of her two besties, Iris and Violet, and advice from an old friend who really was a Private Investigator, Sam, she opens the Desert Flowers Detective Agency. She soon discovers that attracting clients could be a problem. Entering stage left is Matt, the aspiring actor boyfriend of Poppy's daughter, Heather. Movie star handsome and exulting charm and sex appeal, Matt becomes the face of the Agency as Matt Flowers, PI and they land their first case - retrieving the stolen jewelry of an aging actress that was taken from her home in the Palm Leaf Retirement Village. Together our Golden Girls, and Matt, finally solve the theft, but not before there is a murder that is connected to their client and Poppy finds out that her late husband was hiding more than his gambling debts.

Poppy is a senior citizen according to most definitions but not in spirit or in actions. A former actress ready to start enjoying her golden years, her plans go south when her husband, Chester, dies. That's hard enough for Poppy to deal with but it gets so much worse when she finds out the ugly truth about Chester - he had a major gambling problem and owed a boat load of money at the time of his passing. On top of that, he took out two mortgages on their house so even selling it won't solve Poppy's financial nightmare. The house has to go, she moves in with her daughter, Heather and then has to face being broke, no job and being over 60. Not good at all. One thing Poppy does have? Two very good friends who come up with the solution, one Poppy resists at first. Before her friends Violet and Iris come up with their brilliant idea, Poppy has decided to become a private detective - with some creative thinking and the help of a former acting contact. Iris and Violet decide the perfect next move is to start their own agency, The Desert Flowers Detective Agency. Just one catch, the ladies are more Jessica Fletcher than Charlie's Angels and clients aren't interested in hiring them. That is until Heather's boyfriend, Matt (an pretty good actor and very handsome) becomes the agency "face".
It does take awhile to get to the actual mystery, theft and murder at a retirement facility, but the backstory is well drawn as are the various key characters. There is a good balance between humor and real life issues - I would like to have Iris and Violet in my corner. The mystery is full of the expected twists and turns and I sure didn't see THAT one coming. I enjoyed it and am looking forward to seeing what comes next.

E-book/Mystery: I requested this book from NetGalley because it was about a woman who has to hit the restart button at an older age. Poppy is 62 and has well-to-do friends, so it comes a little too easy in the beginning. At first I thought it was going to be like the old show Moonlighting and Poppy was going to start working in an already established PI firm. No, it's more like Remington Steele where the woman has to get a young actor to play the part of boss because no one wants to hire a over 40 female to be a PI.

I did like the book an I like the characters of Poppy, Violet, and Iris. I wasn't too crazy about Matt or the whiz grandson. The grandson was there for comedic plot, but again, he made things come to easily for the agency.

The book was okay in most places, but I did start tuning out and my mind wondering during the second half. There were so many suspects and settings that I'd have to remember who there were in the beginning of the book. That's pretty bad because I read this in two days. I will say that I did not guess the murderer, again a lot of coincidences.

A View from an Empty Nest Bonnie Sparrman sept 4
After reading this first book, I can tell that I am really going to like this series. The main character, Poppy, is one very feisty 60 plus year-old lady. Along with her two friends, she opens a detective agency. In order to get the license to do that, she needed a couple years of actually working in a detective agency for her application. Since she was a actress when she was younger and had a job as a secretary for a television detective, she feels she can check off that requirement. She talks her co-star into signing for her, adds her friends as employees and sets up shop.

The elderly women are a hoot with different personalities. I really feel like I got to know them, and I liked all three. When I read books like this I can’t help but think that the older generation is definitely having more fun than I am, but then again the author threw in a few difficult personal trials and revelations that caused the characters to struggle, and the case wasn’t as easy to solve as they first thought it would be. After a few twists in the road everything is neatly wrapped; although, the one guilty party is quite a shock to everyone, including me.

Since this is the first book in the series, it’s a great place to start.

First in a new series in which Poppy Harmon finds she is broke in her retirement. Poppy is in her sixties and she thought she was going to have a comfy retirement until her husband suddenly passes away and learns that her gambled away all their money. Now she needs to find a career and along with her friends Iris and Violet they start the Dessert Flowers Detective Agency. The agency does not get the business they wanted so they ask Matt (Poppy’s daughter’s boyfriend) to be the “face” of the agency. They finally get their first case to recover some stolen jewelry from a retirement home and end up with a murder as well. As with all first books in a new series it can be a little slow to get the foundation for the series and background on the main and secondary characters. I like the fact that our main character is not twenty something and juggling three men as so many cozies have love triangles. I think this series promises to be a winner and look forward to the next installment. I kept thinking a cross between Moonlighting and Murder She Wrote.

It is especially enjoyable to read about ladies close to my own age. Due to a desperate situation Poppy becomes a detective, as there aren't many parts available for an old (of a certain age) actress. The Palm Springs location added to my enjoyment. I look forward to reading the next one in this new series.

A decent first book in a new series with some of my favorite cozy tropes.

The Good: The whacky cast of characters were just delightful in this book, minus some of Iris's cantankerous scenes where she grated a bit. Their interactions were the highlight of this book. There were many passages I ended up highlighting in my kindle, even.

The mystery aspect took a long time to show up but it was a decent mystery in the end. I'm hoping as the series progresses the mysteries will be more prevalent in the books. Overall, each character provided a special part within the investigation which made the whole mystery interesting.

The Bad: None of the men portrayed within the book were highlighted in a positive way. In the end Matt did redeem himself but for most of the book all the men were superficial, egocentric, and ginormous tools. In regards to the other characters, I did like them but I feel Poppy's character took a hit when her daughter turned out to be a shrew and in the end Poppy blamed herself for her daughter's actions. Her full grown adult daughter.

Also, the introduction of the characters and Poppy's background in particular took a major chunk of the book. The first mystery wasn't introduced until 40% into the book which made it seem as if it weren't a big deal and the book didn't have a cozy mystery feel because of this. In addition there was a murder, which was actually an interesting part of the book, but coming into the book in the last 1/3 of the book made if feel like an afterthought.

In a Nutshell: It took me quite awhile to really get into this book but once I hit the halfway point I flew through the rest of the book. This was my first book by Lee Hollis and I would read another one by her.

In this new series we are introduced to Poppy Harmon a retiree whose life changes overnight. When Poppy's husband dies and makes her a widow she is surprised to find out he also made her penniless. She knew he gambled a bit but hadn't realized that he lost all their money and put her in the poor house. With no real skills to speak of Poppy begins to devise a plan that is a step in helping her get back on her feet. You see Poppy loves crimes shows and in her prime she acted on one, how hard could it be to become a P.I. With the help of her two best friends, Violet and Iris, she opens up the Desert Flowers Detective Agency, the only problem no one thinks a bunch of old women can help them with their needs. They decide they need a face that everyone would want to hire so they bring in Poppy's daughters boyfriend Matt. Matt not only has the face but a charismatic way about him that people trust. When they receive their first case they can't wait to show everyone what they are made of. The Palm Leaf Retirement Village has had a string of burglaries and among them is an aging actress who would love to get her jewelry back. While investigating Poppy comes across the body of said actress and a new mystery is handed to them. Follow along as Poppy and the gang investigate to figure out who killed the actress and why. Along the way they run into some unsavory characters, hidden secrets, and some truths they might not want to hear. I was surprised in the end and I think you will be to. This was a fantastic introduction to some new characters who I can't wait to get to know better. You realize as you read that you are never to old to try something new and appreciate that no matter your age things aren't always easy.

An ok chick lit without much depth although I did come to enjoy ‘Mr Flowers’.
Not wacky just a bit dull

When newly widowed sixty-something Poppy Harmon discovers that her late husband's secret gambling has left her with mountains of debt, she needs to find a job and find one fast. The former actress doesn't think she's qualified for much, but her incredibly intuitive nature and the 3 years she spent portraying a PI's secretary on television decades ago give her the gumption she needs to start her own detective agency with the help of her two best friends, Iris and Violet. Enter handsome actor, and her daughter's boyfriend, Matt, as the face of the Desert Flowers Detective Agency, and they have their first case - recovering the stolen jewels of Hollywood legend Shirley Fox. But when Poppy finds the dead body of Shirley's nemesis she must quickly step up her game to solve a murder! Poppy Harmon Investigates by Lee Hollis is a fun and fabulous read, and I enjoyed it immensely!

Another fun book showing old age doesn’t matter when having a good time.. great characters. You want to go visit in Florida

Poppy Harmon Investigates by Lee Hollis is the first book in what I hope will be a very long series.
It tells a story of Poppy whose husband has recently passed away and left her with many debths. In order to support herself she needs to find a job. Considering that she was a small time actress some 20 years ago her prospects do not look too bright. The only things she feels she is good at is investigating due to the fact that she played a secretary on a PI show a long time ago.
While her daughter is not supportive at all, her two best friends help her open a detective agency. The only problem is no one is interested in hiring 3 golden age ladies to solve their problems. So Poppy enlists the help of her daughter's annoying new boyfriend who happens to be a decent actor, to act as a front man for the agency. It is such a great plan that it jsut can't fail. Right?
Funny and highly entertaining. I love all the characters, especially the girls. Being so different from each other their interaction is hillarious. Also the man of the agency and his perception of stake out and confronting suspects had me laughing out loud.
Eventhough the first case happened well into the book I enjoyed getting familiar with the characters and opening of the agency. The story is intriguing, it has a nice flow and I couldn't put it down, I had to see what other misadventure these four will find themselves into.
Highly recommended and I can't wait for the next installment.

The novel ticks all the boxes of a domestic mystery thriller like a germaphobe cleans his house, ensure nothing is left untouched. This is pretty much how Hollis handles his novel but this is not a bad thing because Hollis does something that most writers of this genre miss and that is giving his story heart and emotions in abundance.

Reading like a pilot for a new series, the book sets all his characters up to give the reader a fully realised world in which they incorporate. You have the relationship traumas and girlfriend relationship that you would find in a classic Olivia Goldsmith novel. They are fully formed and complement each other in a well-rounded way. The host of suspects are deeply evolved and using classic entertainment tropes to help play off the interaction flawlessly.

As this is the first in, I am assuming, a supposed series, the book takes it time setting up relationships and setting up the framework on what makes these characters tick. I found this a successful recipe because there will be big payout in future instalments. I like how the characters are based on actual people such as Shirley Fox based very loosely on Shirley Jones and their relationship based on the divine feud of Crawford and Davis or Olivia de Havilan and Joan Fontaine. This gives the novel a bit of fun.

It is cleverly written with enough red herrings to confound any fan of Murder She Wrote and when the final two mysteries are solved, they seem naturalistic within this world. It is a light enjoyable read that will hopefully engage the reader from beginning to end.

This is a winning novel that captured my heart and had me deeply invested in the Desert Flower Detective Agency. Every character is a gem and the situation has all the elements of a light heart comedy with mystery thriller undertones that will engage the reader through their minds and hearts. This is exceptional winner. There are some writers who write for this market, but none come close to Hollis masterclass on how it should be done.

Sixty-two-year-old Poppy Harmon discovers her husband squandered all their money and left her in debt when he dies suddenly. Commiserating with her friends, Iris and Violet, Poppy bemoans the fact she needs to work but has no skills. Deciding to become a private investigator, her two friends surprise Poppy and set up an office in Iris’ garage along with creating a name: Desert Flowers Detective Agency (named for the three women partners).

After weeks with no calls, Violet prevails on her grandson Wyatt to set up a website that immediately generates queries. After one prospect accuses them of fraud the trio discovers the website features scantily clad young women as the detectives. Demanding that Wyatt change the website Poppy decides what they need is a figurehead and uses her daughter’s boyfriend’s photo as the main investigator.
Anyone remember Remington Steele?

Matt Cameron, Heather’s boyfriend, becomes Matt Flowers and their first case is to recover pop diva Shirley Fox’s stolen jewelry. During a tribute to Shirley, Olivia Hammersmith, once friend and now Shirley’s archrival, reads from her upcoming tell-all several unflattering accounts of Shirley’s behavior. The next day Olivia is found murdered in her apartment and, of course, Shirley is a suspect.

While this is a good beginning for a new cozy series, the writing is uneven. Some characters feel genuine while others not yet developed. The red herrings are so numerous the main crime almost seems an afterthought. Let’s see how the second adventure turns out.

I love this writer and had high expectations but unfortunately this book fell flat and I was a bit disappointed.
Even if there're a lot funny moments, it took ages to get to the mystery part and it was slow.
There's a lot of potential but the books doesn't delivery and it's a sort of incomplete work.
I'll give a try to the next instalment to see things improved.
Unfortunately this one was not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to Kensington Books and Netgalley for this ARC

Poppy Harman is a sixty something retired actress who thought she was going to be living out the rest of her life comfortably with her husband. However, after Poppy’s husband passes away quite suddenly she finds out that her rather comfortable life was all a lie and that her husband had gambled away their last cent.

When Poppy sits down with her two best friends, Iris and Violet, trying to brainstorm ideas to earn money with no real experience other than acting the trio come up with the idea that Poppy has rather remarkable investigative skills so why not become a detective? With a bit of effort the Desert Flowers Detective Agency is opened with Iris and Violet coming in to assist.

Things aren’t going so well with the new business however when it seems no one wants to hire three “older” ladies so Poppy gets a new plan to use her daughter’s boyfriend, an actor, to be the face of the firm. This gets the Desert Flowers Detective Agency their first case which turns out to be a lot more than the ladies originally bargained for.

Poppy Harmon Investigates by Lee Hollis is the first book of the new cozy A Desert Flowers Mystery series. This opener showed a lot of potential to become a new favorite cozy series for me with the likable older characters and a few laughs along the way. It took a little while to get the mystery moving but that’s understandable for the opener I suppose and while the antics were not always realistic this is fiction and for me in this genre fun usually trumps reality so I’m really looking forward to seeing what the Desert Flowers get involved in next.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

I was unable to read more than a few pages of this book. The writing was not good and the story dragged on.

Poppy Harmon Investigates is the first book in Lee Hollis’ new A Desert Flowers Mystery series. This is a fun and humorous read, with some adult language. This whodunit is well plotted, with likable characters, and twists and turns that kept me guessing until the surprising reveal. I’m looking forward to reading more books in this delightful cozy mystery series.

As Poppy Harmon, a sixty-two year old former actress, sat in Edwin Pierce’s Palm Desert, California office, she was shocked when her lawyer told her that Chester, her recently deceased husband, had left her almost penniless. Unknown to her, Chester had been fired from his job a year ago, had a gambling problem, and not only left her close to seven hundred thousand dollars in debt, but had also taken out two mortgages on their Palm Springs home. Not knowing how she’ll support herself, she tries her hand at being a companion for Clifford Wentworth’s elderly mother. Estelle, but she didn’t even make it through the second day before she was fired. Her two best friends, Iris Becker and Violet Hogan, help her figure out where her talents lie and the her friends think she should try mystery writing, but since she has a knack for solving puzzles, Poppy decides to become a licensed private investigator. She contacts Sam Emerson, an ex-lawyer, private eye, and screenwriter, who she met during the filming of a TV show. She passed her exam with flying colors, but needs someone to vouch for her practical experience and needs Sam’s help to stretch the truth. It wasn’t long before the Desert Flowers Detective Agency set up its office in Iris’ garage with Poppy, the licensed PI, Violet claiming years of lie detection made her an expert in human behavior, and Iris, an experienced bookkeeper with the ability to draw people in and gather information. Poppy’s daughter, Heather, thinks her mother has lost her mind. Business is slow coming in, in fact, there isn’t any, so Violet’s twelve year old grandson, Wyatt, creates a website, Facebook page, and Twitter account for the agency, posting articles on their recently, albeit non-existent, solved cases and providing other false information. While it did generate inquiries from ten potential clients, Poppy demands it be taken down after the first prospective client storms out of their office. Having decided to close down their unsuccessful business venture, Poppy suggests they give it one last try and bring Heather’s handsome actor boyfriend, Matt Cameron, into the agency as its “face.” Their first case is to recover valuable jewelry stolen from Shirley Fox, an award-winning actress, who is only one of a rash of recent robberies at the Palm Leaf Retirement Village, a gated community. Their first case quickly turns into a murder investigation when Poppy finds the body of another actress, Olivia Hammersmith.

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

I liked Poppy and the group of sidekicks Hollis introduced, and who will hopefully be fleshed out in future books because they're all different and engaging. The story has elements I've seen in other books, the main character being a woman of a certain age whose husband kicks off leaving her in the lurch, theft at a retirement community (though this one if more upscale), philanderers, etc. However, it's fairly light hearted and enjoyable with a heck of a kick at the end. I'm interested in finding out how the "kick" is resolved in the next book or if it falls to the wayside.

I am not a big fan of Hollis' Hayley Powell books and am glad that didn't stop me from requesting a copy of this new series from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Retired actress Poppy Harmon has a big shock when her husband dies...and she finds out he left her a huge debt. After living well for years, albeit unknowing, mostly on credit, Poppy has to find a way to earn a living after all is sold to pay on the debt.
Along with two of her 'mature' lady friends, she start a P.I. firm. Adding a 12 year old and a young actor to their team, they manage to find out quite a bit...enough to solve their case and more.
This tale is written with humor, human foibles and a variety of suspects......and the ending is a kicker.
I requested and received a NetGalley ARC to peruse. mu=y opinions are my own.