Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington books for providing me with a complimentary advance copy of Poppy Harmon Investigates by Lee Hollis in exchange for an unbiased review. The book is populated with some characters who have the potential to become both interesting and humorous with additional development. While this book has potential, it is filled with some flaws that take the reader out of the story. The two-dimensional nature of the characters and setting were also frustrating as I attempted to become more engaged with the book, while at the same time I found parts to be interesting enough to make me think there is potential within this series. In short, I found myself speed-reading through parts so that the grammar was less distracting and would hope that more attention would be given in writing and editing if there is a follow-up book within this series

I couldn't stop reading this. From the first page I was Poppy Harmon's best friend. Heck, I was Poppy once. I didn't bounce back as brilliantly 😊 The death of her husband uncovers a horrible financial hell for Poppy. While she gives in to some tears and rage, her two best friends help her rise above and create a new life. Private Investigator. You will love these characters and with Lee Hollis, you know the writing is top notch. This is one of those books I loved so much that I didn't want to finish it. Has that ever happened to you?

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I really did not expect to like it, but after reading it, I cannot wait to read (hopefully) more in the series.
The protagonist was absolutely delightful and with humor and some wonderful friends embarks on a new chapter in her life.
The whodunit was well written and had twists that kept me enthralled until the very end.
A good solid start to this new cozy series, and one that I highly recommend!
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

I received a free copy of Poppy Harmon Investigates by Lee Hollis in exchange for an honest review. One part Golden Girls, one part Murder She Wrote, and one part Remington Steele. Poor Poppy finds out that her husband lied to her while he frittered away their savings and took out multiple mortgages on their house to support his gambling habit. Devastated, Poppy, now an “experienced” woman, has to find a way to support herself. Poppy, who starred as a sidekick and secretary on a detective show and who helped develop the scripts for the same show, decides to get her PI license. With her two friends, Iris and Violet, Poppy forms the Desert Flowers Detective Agency. However, when no one will take them seriously, Poppy draws from another detective show and hires an attractive male actor to be “the boss.” This story tracks the adventures and complications of Poppy’s first case, which involves retired actors, an aged songstress, an up and coming actor, a talentless actor, and several bad actors.

I enjoyed this book. I liked the characters and am interested in Poppy’s future adventures.

#PoppyHarmonInvestigates #NetGalley

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington books for providing me with a complimentary advance copy of Poppy Harmon Investigates by Lee Hollis in exchange for an unbiased review. The book is populated with some characters who have the potential to become both interesting and humorous with additional development. The three primary investigators, Poppy, Violet and Iris, along with the “face” of their agency, Matt, may grow into individuals we enjoy although in this first book they are somewhat two-dimensional and as such leave something to be desired.

The setting, a rich retirees community in Palm Springs also has the potential to open a window into a lifestyle and area that may be unique to readers. Likewise, as the population ages, books that feature older, savvy, women as detectives can be a welcome addition to the genre of mystery fiction.

While this book has potential, it is filled with some flaws that take the reader out of the story. Throughout the book are extensive run-on sentences, many times filling an entire paragraph. These, in turn, are punctuated by incomplete sentences, phrases without either a subject or verb which are punctuated as sentences. This tendency was distracting for me as a reader.

The two-dimensional nature of the characters and setting were also frustrating as I attempted to become more engaged with the book, while at the same time I found parts to be interesting enough to make me think there is potential within this series. In short, I found myself speed-reading through parts so that the grammar was less distracting and would hope that more attention would be given in writing and editing if there is a follow-up book within this series.

Although the book offered some twists that were unexpected, the reader was given no advance clues that might enable them to solve the puzzle on their own. Rather, the final solution came somewhat out of left field as there was little groundwork given to its development. Again, this may be in part the result of limited character development, so the passion that might result in someone committing murder was lacking because the character wasn’t fully developed.

On the strength of an interesting premise, I might read an additional book in this series to see if characters and setting become more fully developed. I would want to see a second book that had more sophisticated plotting and more fully developed characters in order to become interested in an entire series.

Poppy & Friends prove you can be 60+ and still overcome setbacks and have fun doing it.

Finding herself suddenly broke and homeless, Poppy Harmon with her BFFs, Iris Becker and Violet Hogan, pool their talents and resources to open Desert Flowers Detective Agency in Palm Springs CA. Their first case: to find and return the jewelry stolen from Shirley Fox, leads to staking out Palm Leaf Retirement Village and a discovering a dead body.

Characters are likable, complex enough to be real and their actions range from mean to cute, serious to funny and I hope they all return soon.

You will fall in love with Poppy Harmon, as I did, in this delightful, laugh out loud new cozy mystery. Poppy is a former starlet who was left broke when her longtime husband, Chester, died having gambled away their fortune. Poppy's biggest acting role was a three year run as the secretary to a detective, and while playing that role she discovered an ability to solve puzzles and suss out the solutions to the fictional crimes. So when she needed a job, Poppy and her friends Iris and Violet decided to form the Desert Flowers Detective Agency. But when no one would hire the three older women they recruited the handsome actor Matt, the boyfriend of Poppy's daughter Heather to be the face of their agency. They were hired for their first case, to find the stolen jewelry of Sylvia Fox, a long time singing star and once they are on the case mayhem and mystery soon ensue. This book was a true joy to read and I look forward to a long life for the Desert Flowers Detective Agency.

I have to say I loved this book! It started out with a bang, capturing my interest immediately with sudden suspense and an easy-conversational style. Poppy is not your ordinary cozy character. She is a former lady-who-lunches in Palm Springs, a recently widowed and 62 years old. She is vibrant, sassy and determined. After the death of her fourth husband, she suddenly finds herself penniless. What is a 60-something year-old Palm Springs widow to do? Why, get her private investigators license and open up the Desert Flowers Detective Agency, with the help of her two best friends, of course! Before they know it, the ladies find themselves involved in a dangerous murder investigation while dealing with the secrets Poppy’s late husband kept. Entertaining and delightful.