I was not able to finish this book. I hate to DNF a netgalley release, but I just wasn't able to get into this book. I read about 5% and had to put it down. I did not enjoy the writing or plot.

A great new series from a favorite author (team)! This mystery was in the vain of a cozy mystery with a bit of an edge! I enjoyed getting to know the main characters and I was kept guessing until the very end! I'm looking forward to the next book in this series.

"Murder at the PTA" the first instalment in the "A Maya and Sandra Mystery" by Lee Hollis. I really enjoy the Hayley Powell cozy mysteries by Lee Hollis so couldn’t wait to read this book. First in a series can be a mine of information as we get to know the main characters but I really liked getting to know Maya, a private investigator, and Sandra, a housewife whose husband is a Senator.

The mystery is interesting and well plotted, I kept guessing and second-guessing myself on whodunnit right to the very end. I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Kensington Books and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Lee Hollis is one of my favorite Cozy Mystery authors, so when I heard that they would be having a new series, I was really excited. I think there was a delay with this series because I was looking forward to the release day and noticed that it never came out, so when this finally landed in my hands, I was desperate to read it.

The concept of this series is unlike any I’ve read in the genre. Honestly, I’m not sure that I would have tried it if it weren’t written by Lee Hollis. And after reading this book, I am still a bit iffy about it since it’s not an interest I usually have. However, I gave it a shot anyway.

After reading this book, I did feel a different in the style of writing. It wasn’t as clear-cut as it has been in the past and the beginning of the book was pretty slow for me. Since this is so different than the Hollis style that I know and love, it was a bit of an adjustment. I’ll have to read book two before I can really make a judgment on whether I like it or not. But I’m just glad that there’s a new series to look forward too from Hollis.

This is a great start to a new series from Lee Hollis!

*Content warning: lots of infidelity*

A school in Portland is dealing with a scandalous website exposing everyone's secrets. Sandra's husband is accused of cheating. Maya is a private detective who was asked by her daughter to get to the bottom of who is running this website. When Sandra and Maya find the webmaster dead in her office, can they team up to find out who killed her?

I enjoyed reading this book a lot. I enjoyed both Maya and Sandra as characters. I liked that they were so different but were able to become friends and work together. I liked that it was from dual perspectives. I liked seeing both Sandra's and Maya's perspectives and got glimpses into both of their lives. There was a lot that was going on and it made it a bit harder to follow. I felt like there was a storyline that was just thrown in at the end that made it a bit confusing and overcomplicated. Overall, though I loved this book and I can't wait to see what's next!

I wanted to love this one I mean female PI's and not a female who has a day job and is only trying to solve a crime because she's the police's prime suspect. But the whole PTA drama that was part of the story didn't endear me to the mystery or the story. I hate to say it but the author didn't really stereotype PTA mom's but they hit the nail on the head with that one. PTA parents can indeed cause a lot of drama between themselves and other parents at teacher's at the school. Or that's been my experience as a student and having a parent who was involved in the PTA.

Someone is trying to turn PortlandHigh into a school of scandal with a gossipy website called Dirty Laundry. The latest target is newly elected
Resident Sandra Wallace. They discover the women behind the website and storm into the gossip columnists office to find her lifeless body along with a confession although the police rule it a homicide. The group volunteer for a crash course in sleuthing and stakeouts. At this point the killer plans to teach them a lesson. A fun story as these sleuths try to figure out what happened and why.

The author wrote such a compelling story. I really enjoyed the plot of the story. The characters seemed so real and make you seem like you are part of the storyline.

I have read quite a few of Lee Hollis' Hailey Powell series, and though I enjoyed them, they make me bindge read , like I do for this new Maya and Sandra series. Also set in small town Maine, the combination of ex-cop single mother Maya and US senator wife and PTA president Sandra really works. Anyone who has had to endure the politics of a small town at any level can relate to some aspects of the storyline and the plot moved a long well and the ending caught me by surprise. I look forward to the next in the series!

This book is the first in a great new cozy series! Maya and Sandra are the main characters and I loved them. An ex cop turned PI and a Senator's wife are quite the quirky combo. The characters are well fleshed out and the storyline was interesting. Add in some scandal, Dirty Laundry (a gossip rag) and suicide or is it murder? I highly recommend this book.

This book is the first in a new cozy mystery series. For me the book was about the female characters new friendships. We get to know their lives and families. Because i liked the Main characters so much sign me up for the Next book.. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest review

I'm sure it's just me, but this setting just wasn't something that seemed comfortable to me. The connection through the kids and the mystery was not complex enough to hold my interest. I don't think I would continue with this series.

This is a really fun start to a new cozy mystery series. I loved the combination of an inexperienced sleuth with a PI who was an ex cop. This seemed so much more plausible to me than a cop who gives the main character info when they shouldn't. I also really like both Maya and Sandra. They are both moms who have to raise their children essentially on their own and despite having vastly different backgrounds come together and become friends. Overall I loved this book, thoroughly enjoyed the mystery and am very excited to read book two!

I love books by lee Hollis. This is a great book and checks all the boxes I look for in a cozy. I would recommend it to others.

This is the debut book in the news "Maya and Sandra Mystery Series" by beloved cozy author Lee Hollis. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinions are my own. I so enjoyed this new series ! The author has incorporated all the elements we cozy readers love in our mysteries. l

Murder At The PTA introduces our protagnist Sandra who is the new president of the PTA at Portland high school. A gossip website is causing outrage and she is dealing with parents that are angry. She meets up with a private investigator Maya who tells her she knows who created the gossip website and they go to confront her but find her dead. Both are now on the case together and clues abound as they find details that may put them in danger.

This is a solid start to a new series. I like the fun setting of a high school, the variety of personalities in the supporting characters and the sleuth that was very well crafted. I enjoyed and highly recommend this new cozy series.

I absolutely loved this first book in a new series by Lee Hollis. I have been a huge fan of Lee Hollis' books for a long time now and this one did not disappoint. The two main characters, Sandra and Maya were very interesting.

At first, Sandra comes off as prudish and rather snooty. But then the more you read about her you realize that that is all a facade and that she has been hiding her true self even from herself. Her true self is fun, witty and truly brave. She was a complete joy to read about.

Maya, at first comes off as mulish and stubborn but then, the more in depth you get into her character, the more you realize that she is just determined to do the right thing, protect those she loves, and is just a badass chick. I truly wish I could be friends with these two wonderful women.

The mysteries I generally read I can usually figure out at least half way through the book but this I didn't figure out until almost the end. There were lots of twists and turns and it really kept you guessing. I had my speculations on who I thought the killer might have been but then WHAMMO! Everything got thrown back up into the air and left me trying to figure out what the heck had just happened. I LOVED this book. Fantastic writing. Just a great cozy. I can't wait to see what happens next!

I received this arc from Netgalley for my honest opinion, It was in no way influenced by anything but my own opinion.

This is the first in a new series with a lot of potential.
It's entertaining, well written and the characters are fleshed out and interesting.
There's a lot of character development and I liked how the friendship between Maya and Sandra developed.
They are both interesting and relatable women who face hardship, each in her way.
The mystery was solid and kept me guessing.
I can't wait to read the next instalment, recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Murder at the PTA is the first book in the Maya and Sandra mystery series!

This book really surprised me! I mean really surprised me! I almost DNF(ed) it because I really couldn’t get into it at first. It took several tries. I think it was because of the multiple POVs and the third person voice. I’m not used to those things when reading cozies.

But I’m SO glad I kept on reading because I ended up loving this book! It was amazing! Lots of character development, and I loved the budding friendship between Maya and Sandra! It was so cute and heartwarming. And I enjoyed the other characters as well! They were all interesting and unique and some were very compelling.

The mystery itself was very good! It did sort of take a backseat to the character development at times, but I still liked it! It was very twisty and fun, and the major twist toward the end was shocking and surprising!

Overall, I absolutely loved it, and I can’t wait to read book #2!

It's always good to start a cozy mystery series from the very beginning and this one, Murder at the PTA written by Lee Hollis certainly lived up to my expectations!

The reader soon meets the stars of the show, Maya and Sandra, who went to the same high school. Sandra Wallage is a newly elected PTA president and the wife of a Maine Senator, and Maya Kendrick is an ex-police officer turned private investigator and she runs the PI business with a friend, Frances Turner. I loved the relationship between Maya and Sandra who were total opposites. There was plenty of humour in the story with twists that held my attention and kept me guessing. The mystery was very involved and the killer was someone I didn't expect.

Would I read more in this series from Lee Hollis? An emphatic... yes! 😊

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

There is a gossip website called Dirty Laundry that focuses on Portland High School in Maine. While Sandra was giving a speech to the school’s PTA in her new role as PTA President, a story explodes from Dirty Laundry into the room. Sandra’s Senator husband is rumored to be using taxpayer money to pay off his sexual assault victims. Later, there is even a Murder at the PTA. Sandra decides to investigate with new friend, PI Maya, who believes the victim is the author of the gossip blog. No conflict there!

As with most first cozy mysteries in a series, there was more character development than action in the book. I’ve read several other great mysteries by this author so I believe subsequent books will be better. For Murder at the PTA, 3 stars.

Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.