Red Hot by Dana Dratch is the 3rd book in A Red Herring Mystery series, and another fun addition. Alex Vlodnachek agrees to go on a vacation with her super model older sister, Annie, to Miami. And of course Lucy her brother's dog goes along. Annie asks Alex to go to the HMO association meeting with her. Something funny is going on with a missing president and missing money. Alex is determined to get to the truth. This book is a perfect blend of mystery and humor. Not only is this book really funny, I often found myself laughing out loud, the mystery kept me guessing. I found this book to be a quick read, I read it in one day, with a well developed plot and characters. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. If you like quirky, humorous cozy mysteries, I recommend this book and series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I loved this ensemble crew!

This story was a little different in that the author very cleverly brings together a diverse range of personalities and skills. Each one contributes to the dynamic, as well as the plot (with its twists and turns). While each one was most enjoyable, Gabby gets my vote as the most intriguing. I think she could merit her own series of adventures!!

All in all an interesting cozy, murder mystery.. I loved that there was no darkness, but rather intrigue and deductive reasoning. I haven't read the other in the series and found this book stood alone, no problem.

With thanks to #Netgalley, Kensington Books and the author for my Advanced Reader Copy. The opinions in this review are entirely my own.

HOA presidents can be a pain but murder? Geez. Alex is supposed to be on vacation but she finds herself, along with her sister Annie and, it seems, her entire family AND her dog Lucy, investigating the murder of Leslie, a problematic person. It's a cozy so you know there's more than one possible villain and you know that there will be red herrings (hence the title). What you don't know, unless you've read another book in this series, is that Alex and the family are a hoot. She's a freelance writer with a penchant for solving crime. You'll be fine with this as a standalone but it might take a bit to sort out who's who. Dratch keeps this from veering too much. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. For cozy fans.

I really liked this book. It's a unique story and the characters are great. I'd really like to read another with these characters. #RedHot #NetGalley

Freelance writer Alex Vlodnachek hasn’t had a vacation in ages. So when her sister invites her—and pup Lucy—for a girls’ get-away to Miami, it’s too tempting to resist.

Big sister Annie wants Alex to savor a little fun in the sun at her South Beach condo. Redhead Alex just wants to escape complications at home, enjoy a little R&R and find an industrial-sized bottle of sunscreen. But trouble is hot on her heels—along with a few stray friends and relatives.

On the eve of the condo association's hotly contested election, everything in the luxury high-rise is going haywire. But board president and social butterfly Leslie McQueen seems curiously absent amidst the chaos. Along with a good chunk of the association's cash.

When several of Annie’s friends are left holding the bag, Alex jumps in to help—and discovers the tony condo tower offers no shortage of shady characters, murder, and mayhem.

But when her brother, Nick, arrives—with their irrepressible grandmother, Baba, and Alex’s pal Trip, in tow—is the gang riding to the rescue? Or plunging Alex into more hot water?

Free lance writer and journalist Alex Vlodnachek is headed to sunny Miami Florida with her super model sister Annie and the much loved family dog Lucy. While Alex is looking forward to some relaxing time spent pool adjacent, Annie is headed home on for a more specific reason. The condo she owns has an upcoming election for the HOA president and the current president Leslie McQueen is running for re-election and hoping for Annie's support. However suspicions begin to arise when residents realize that no one seems to recognize the names of the other candidates running for election alongside Leslie. When Leslie fails to make an appearance at her own meet and greet, and later turns up dead, Alex and Annie start their own investigation into the mysterious death. Rumors and suspects run rampant as everyone seems to have their own motives for wanting the tyrannical Leslie dead. Annie and Alex have their work cut out for them but luckily reinforcements are on their way. Gabby, a family friend who happens to be in town joins the sisters and is followed shortly after by the rest of the family. Nick, Alex and Annie's brother, and Baba, their grandmother, as well as Alex's best friend Trip are eager to investigate another murder alongside Alex.
Red Hot was another excellent addition to the Red Herring mystery series featuring the fun loving Vlodnachek family. The unfamiliar setting was a nice change of pace and the addition of the Miami condo residents were a great source of entertainment as well. While I missed seeing Alex's neighbor and love interest Ian, and do hope to see more development on that plot in the next installment, it was interesting to see Alex outside of the neighborhood and attempting to take some much needed time off. These mysteries are fast becoming one of my favorite series as the character development is expertly crafted and the characters themselves always take center stage in each of the stories. The name of the series, red herring, hints at how neatly crafted the mysteries are, full of twists and turns and yes, red herrings as well. The Vlodnachek family always come through for one another but have the fun family dynamics typical to close knit families as well as plenty of witty banter to keep you laughing. I highly recommend this series to fans of the Meg Lanslowe and the Savannah Reid series as they contain many of the same elements that make them such fantastic cozy mystery reads.

This is my first time reading anything by this author. I did not realize that there were other books with these same characters, but now I want to go read them all. I have throughly enjoyed this book! I really enjoyed the setting in Miami and the suspense throughout. The animal lover in me also enjoyed the dog portion of the book as well.

5 Stars

This is the third book in the A Red Herring Mystery series by Dana Dratch.

I thought this was a great book. But I am really feeling let down. Let me explain. At the end of the last book there was this emotional cliffhanger that was left between Alex and her British Bed and Breakfast owning neighbor, Ian. I felt for sure that this book would concern how these two would deal with the fallout. As I read along, it was as if that cliffhanger had never happened. My mind was reeling. Ian only really makes a cameo in this book at about the halfway mark (49%). And pretty much that whole drama from the last book was done and dusted in like part of a chapter. I was so confused. I wanted them to ferret out their problems and come to a resolution. I didn’t want it to just be forgotten.

Beyond my misgivings about that, this book was wonderful. Alex really should be one of those forensic investigators who digs into the details of a company’s business dealings and figures out what is what. The whodunit of this story is spot on. I wasn’t as happy that the whole book was set off site away from the normal town where Alex, Ian, Trip and her brother, Nick live. This book really threw me out of my comfort zone and what I had come to expect from a Dratch cozy mystery.

Great story, great mystery but I really hope they get back to including Ian in the story in the future, I miss him, his Dad and the Bed and Breakfast. I miss the connection he has with Alex. This missing didn’t take away from the overall concept of what was written. I just wanted more, I guess. Looking forward to the next installment.

If you are looking for a good cozy mystery, definitely check this one out.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

I can’t help but love this series as well as Alex and her family and friends.
In Red Hot, Alex heads to Miami with her sister and the family dog. She’s hoping to avoid the kitchen renovations at her home, and nothing says relaxation like sunning by the pool and walking on the beach.
Unfortunately for Alex, a gruesome death interferes, and Alex finds herself in the middle of the investigation, and realizes why everyone had a reason to want to see the victim dead.
This story had so many things going on, that I read the book in under 4 hours. I couldn’t read it fast enough, but I hated to see it end. I was thrilled that Gabby made an appearance, she adds so much color to this cast of quirky characters.
I am already waiting for the next book.

This was a fun caper filled mystery. This was an easy read that kept me intrigued and kept the pages turning. The main characters are likable and you’ve gotta love a story that has a cute pooch in it. This is the first book that I’ve read in the series but it won’t be the last. This is definitely the type of book that you take to the beach with you or any sort of vacation. I highly recommend it.

I got this as an ARC and realized about half way through that this was part of a series and I did not realize that, however, that being said it conceivably can be read as a standalone. You can easily follow the relationships and there is enough back fill to make sure that you understand the dynamics between the characters. Although well written at times it felt a bit slow and or stunted even so it was definitely entertaining and worth reading.

Red Hot is the third book in the Red Herring Mystery series. You could technically read it as a stand alone but I think reading the previous books gives you a better understanding of the secondary characters and context.

Red Hot has Alex leaving her home to head to Miami with her sister. I enjoyed seeing Alex in a new surrounding and I think it was a very smart choice by Dana Dratch. Freelance reporter Alex meets the eclectic cast of characters who share an apartment building with her supermodel sister Annie and I don’t think it’s a spoiler to say that there’s a mystery to solve.

I enjoyed seeing a different side of Alex since the first book had her playing defense and the second dealt with a mystery close to home (literally). There were genuine investigative work and interviews in Red Hot and I was trying to solve the mystery right along with Alex.

Now, before you write this off because I says there’s a mystery, let me tell you something. I cannot put my finger on the right category for this book. Dratch’s characters take front and center of each book. There is a mystery to solve but Dratch chooses to keep her books light and remove the dark suspense that comes with some mystery novels. This is a cozy, fun, character-focused novel that happens to involve solving a crime. I don’t know why anyone would not enjoy this book.

Red Hot isn’t even out yet and I’m already impatient for the next book in this series. From the excerpt it seems like we’re going to get more Ian (YES PLEASE) and I cannot wait.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my fair and honest review.

This is my first Cozy mystery and my first read from Dana Dratch! I really have no idea why I didn’t start reading cozy mysteries sooner.. the story has everything.. humour, thrills, twists, mystery, witty female lead (you gotta love Alex) and an adorable dog! The story line is light and interesting.. this novel a perfect recipe to put you in a good mood.. Definitely gonna check out more books from Dana and more cozies!
Thank you NetGalley, Dana Dratch and Kensington books for the ARC. This review is my own and is not influenced in any way!

My three favorite things! Mystery, romance and an adorable dog are the ingredients of this enjoyable read. There are enough twists and turns to keep you interested and there is enough humor to keep you laughing out loud. I hadn't read the other books by this author but certainly will now!

I couldn't wait for the third book in this series and it was wonderful! Alex is a free-lance journalist/sleuth with quirky & lovable family and friends. When a luxury vacation to Miami turns into a murder investigation of a tyrannical HOA president, Alex has the whole group working to solve the case!

In Red Hot, Alex's super-model sister Annie, Alex's best friend Trip, brother Nick, her lovable grandmother Baba, Nick's ex-girlfriend Gabby and lovely canine "daughter" Lucy are all on the case. I enjoyed "meeting" the luxury buildings residents and wanted to smack the mean HOA president Leslie!

Why do I love this book/series? So many reasons! The mystery is well-written and keeps the reader guessing, red herrings abound, there is humor, a little romance and the most likable supporting characters you'll meet! The mysterious Ian makes an appearance and I can't wait to see what develops in the next book. The minute I finished reading, I was impatiently waiting for the next book!

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the opinions expressed are my own.

Alex and the gang do it again! When the slimy president of Annie's HOA is found dead it looks like an accident, but did she really fall down the elevator shaft or was she pushed? As it's discovered that she's been embezzling money from the HOA account it's up to Alex and her family to figure out where the money is and find a killer in the process.
Fun entertaining read- can't wait to see what Alex gets herself into next.