With all the secrets and underhanded goings-on in the entertainment scene, I'm sure Poppy and her team were super happy to have each other knowing they could at least trust the team members. Aside from them and the police, I wasn't sure who to trust either, but as always Poppy plowed ahead and figured things out. Iris always cracks me up because she's just so blunt and believes in telling it like it should be, and Violet's grandson Wyatt's just grown into an amazing teen and still shines as their tech expert.

The staged showdown was pretty awesome. Poppy had her own little side mystery that I was really happy had an amazing outcome! Gotta admit, at times I was a bit worried what she'd find out. Don't miss this installment, available next Tuesday, March 23, 2023.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Kensington Cozies via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

I adore all of Lee Hollis' mystery series and read them regularly on their release day. This one was enjoyable but the plot was so ridiculous I had to dock a star. I am not sure in what world someone thinks their BFF would just give them their multimillion dollar house?

The Desert Flowers Detection Agency gets a new client, Poppy's nemesis from long ago, Serena Saunders. She is getting married and wants the agency to vet her fiancé. What seems like a simple background check turns into a case of multiple murders and Hollywood gossip. Poppy never lets a good mystery get away from her and is duped by Serena into getting her out of a sticky situation that turns out to be of her own making.

I love all the characters in this series. Iris is my favorite and unfortunately she didn't get much face time in this book. There are a lot of twists and turns in this mystery and as mentioned, it got a little sketchy towards the end in the real reality of things. That doesn't preclude me from eagerly awaiting the next book in this series!

Poppy, Iris and Violet have a new case and more than a few reservation about their client. When Serena Saunders walks through the door of the Desert Flower Detective Agency to hire Poppy to do a background check on her future husband, Poppy wants to run fast in the opposite direction. She and Serena would not be the definition of friends.
Poppy retired from acting to become a PI with Iris and Violet but found that there were few jobs for mature women PIs. Now Desert Flowers has plenty of work - they hired a young actor friend to act as the face of the agency. This case tests her desire to continue as a PI. Then the bodies show up with the first one form fitted to be put on Serena. I won't say any more so I don't commit spoilers.
Spending time with Poppy, Iris, Violet and Matt is always fun and never, ever boring. Their cases are twisty and unpredictable spiced with humor. These mature ladies are a force to be reckoned with.
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Poppy is getting acquainted with her old acting nemesis, but nothing is what she thought it would be. They weren’t friends when they were both in the same shows, but Serena regrets this and wants to make amends. However, when Murder becomes the star of the show, all bets are off, or are they? Poppy wants to believe Serena and finds that she wants to be friends, but she just isn’t sure she can trust her. When one murder turns into two, she knows something is off, and it looks like Serena might be a killer or a victim.

Poppy Harmon and the Shooting Star is the first Poppy Harmon book I have read. I enjoy many of the characters and the descriptions of the relationships. Having an acting career is a great background for the main character; it gives this cozy originality. The Desert Flower PI team is terrific and entertaining and makes for some interesting situations. Readers will not know who the killer is immediately; with the varied and motive-driven suspects, along with evidence that jumps up to bite you when you least expect it, this story will keep you on the edge of your seat.

The reveal of the killer has plenty of twists and turns, and even though the reader is led in a specific direction, Poppy seems to keep finding new avenues to explore. But in the end, her acting skills allow her to keep the killer from getting away with murder. I enjoyed this book but needed to read the others in the series to understand who Poppy is and the background of the PI firm. I didn’t feel I had a grasp on who the main characters were, so a little background would have made this book more enjoyable for me. But it was still interesting, and I recommend it to cozy readers.

Serena and Poppy were not friends when they were both acting but now Serena has asked for Poppy's help in vetting her fiancé Ned. Except that there's a lot more going on and now Poppy has to figure out if Serena is- gasp- a murderer! Somehow death is following Serena, and Poppy's pals and partners Violet and Iris aren't happy about working for her. Matt, the younger public face of their agency isn't thrilled either. But slowly Poppy and Serena normalize their long standing relationship and get to the truth of the matter. I like this series for the "mature" protagonists as well as for the slightly twisty albeit classic cozy mysteries. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Don't worry if you haven't read the earlier books- this will be fine as a standalone.

I really enjoy the Desert Flowers Mysteries by Lee Hollis and would have to say this newest release in by far my favorite. Poppy Harmon is a retired actress turned private investigator, who works with her two best friends, Iris and Violet. When an old costar, who she never got along with, wants to hire them to check out her fiancé, Poppy agrees against her better judgement, Every time she thinks the case is over, something else comes up.. On top of that, Poppy's boyfriend, Sam, is acting strangely and she has no idea why,

I hope I have this much energy when I'm in my 60s.

Wow. This mystery was fantastic. The details of the mysteries, the clues and who the killer was. This is the 5th book in the series but my first. I was able to read it as a standalone. I really enjoyed following clues with Poppy. I will definitely need to go back to the beginning of the series. I'm excited to see what happens next for Poppy.

I really loved this book in a new to my series and author. I can't wait to read the next one. The characters and location really add to the plot. This book keeps you guessing until the end

I’m a huge fan of the Poppy Harmon series. Between the drama from her previous life in Hollywood, her fellow, sassy middle-aged detective crew, and Poppy’s clever thinking never fail to make for an enjoyable read.

I particularly loved the fact that a former “rival” in Hollywood, Serena, makes an appearance having made what seems to be a 180 degree turn to try to build a friendship with Poppy. Unexpectedly, Serena leads Poppy and the whole crew down a path of multiple murders with many twists and turns. The way Lee Hollis wove together several different storylines, suspects, and motives made for a fun and fast-paced read.

I can’t wait for the next in the series to see what the Desert Flowers team gets up to next!

Thank you to #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a quick read with a really good plot line. It’s not my usual go to for genre but I really enjoyed it.

The writing duo Lee Hollis has done it again. Although not my favorite series from them, the plots are always fun with depth to them and hold my attention. Poppy Harmon and friends Iris and Violet make up the Desert Flower Detective Agency with an assist from handsome Matt, an actor and former boyfriend of Poppy's daughter Heather. Since no one wanted to utilize a detective agency made up of senior citizens, which Poppy, Iris, and Violet are, Matt became the public face of the agency. His acting career seems to be taking off but he genuinely seems to enjoy hanging out with the senior ladies and lending a hand or utilizing his acting skills when needed.

All are a bit stunned, however, when Poppy's old acting nemesis, Serena, shows up and wants to hire them. Poppy more than the rest since she'd found Serena a venomous rival and had said Serena was one of the only people in Hollywood that she genuinely despised. But, seems Serena is getting married .... again .... and wants Poppy to look into her potential new husband's background before the wedding takes place. Reluctantly, Poppy agrees to take the case. That's when things get really, umm, well, interesting doesn't quite cover it. I won't detail the plot more than to simply say it's way more complex than the book blurb might have you think. And, of course, there is a murder or two to be solved.

So, is Serena on the level? She's sure flirty, even with young Matt. It's a bit of a whirl-wind romance and wedding, true, but is she genuinely unaware of Ned's wealth and the rumors that swirl around him? How do Violet's pool shark skills come in handy? What's going on with Sam, Poppy's boyfriend? Is Ned the nice guy he appears on the surface? Would Serena marry him if he was poor? Who was that unknown man? Friend or foe?

Why....oh, never mind. Enough teasers. Despite a slow to me start, this one grabbed my full attention as it went on. I must also confess that I didn't quite see the dramatic ending coming. You'll enjoy guessing along, especially with all the movie talk and name dropping, mostly from Serena. Thanks #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks - #KensingtonCozies for letting me drop in and enjoy the sleuthing, not to mention the twist in Poppy's personal life.

Poppy is extremely surprised when her old rival, Serena Saunders, enlists her aid in checking out her fiancé before getting married again. However, Poppy agrees and the Desert Flowers get involved in murder and mayhem yet again.

It is entertaining to see Poppy juggle her own friends and business while trying to be supportive of a client she doesn't really like.

This series gets better with each new title -- in this one, Poppy finds herself trying to help an old rival from her Hollywood days who is accused of murder. There is a lot of appeal in this series, and it is a great recommendation for your readers who love lighthearted cozies. It is set in a retirement community in Palm Springs, and the detective, Poppy Harmon, is a still-glamorous former actor who establishes a detective agency (along with a few friends) in her retirement. The characters are all over 60, and I love the way the author manages to avoid patronizing, ageist comments and stereotypes.

Lee Hollis does it again with another great Poppy Harmon book! Poppy and friends at Desert Flowers PI are approached by Poppy’s Hollywood nemesis, Serena. Seems she wants to make amends with Poppy now that she has found her true love and is getting married. Meanwhile, Poppy’s own love life is not going as planned. Two murders later the Desert Flowers have it all figured out.

I really enjoy this series. The main characters are likeable. Poppy, Iris and Violet are older women who run a detective agency. They also employ a younger would-be actor as the face of the agency and occasional helper. This story concerns two murders and some blackmail. There are a few unexpected plot twists that really add to the story. I look forward to the next one in the series.

I did not realize this book was in the middle of the series, but I enjoyed it immensely. Poppy and her assistants are terrific older characters. In many book older women are not portrayed very well, but Poppy and friends were dynamos. When one of Poppy's former co-stars seeks her out to assist in an investigation, Poppy is surprised. She and Serena Saunders never did see eye to eye, but Serena is getting married for the fifth time and she wants Poppy to check her intended's background to make sure he is what is says he is. Before the investigation is complete, Serena is found with a gun in her hand and an unidentified intruder dead on the floor. This complicates the investigation, but there is more drama to come. I very much enjoyed this book and I plan to go back and read the first few books just to keep up with all the ins and outs of the Desert Flower Investigation Agency.

This fifth edition in the Desert Flowers Mystery series is excellent! Details that read a just part of a complex story were quite interesting and kept me reading when I wanted to take a break.

Poppy Harmon never thought her old acting rival Serena Saunders would seek help from Poppy so taking on investigating Ned Boyce, Serena's latest fiancé took her by surprise. Serena's shooting of an intruder adds another layer to Poppy's consideration of helping Serena. Just what has brought on this new friendship? Why are some people in such a rush to settle Ned's estate?

The story moves quickly. Iris & Violet are swayed by Serena's stardom while Poppy is wary. Some great new twists and relationship changes, especially for Poppy and Sam Emerson.

Looking forward to book 6!

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of POPPY HARMON AND THE SHOOTING STAR (Book 5 of the Desert Flowers Mysteries), by Lee Hollis, in exchange for an honest review. Poppy's surprised when an old acting rival, Serena Saunders, approaches her to make amends for the bad actions of the past. Moreover, Serena wants to hire Poppy to make sure her fiance isn't a fortune hunter. After Poppy is able to reassure Serena that her fiance's motives for marrying Serena is love rather than greed, Serena makes overtures of friendship toward Poppy. However, Poppy's investigative skills are soon needed when Serena becomes a murder suspect. Re-establishing relationships from the past can be a risky business.

I recommend this book and series to fans of Remington Steele and Murder She Wrote. It's cozy mysteries featuring murder, glamor, and the experienced set.

#PoppyHarmonandtheShootingStar #NetGalley.

Poppy never planned on speaking to her old acting rival Serena Saunders again, let alone accepting her as a client. But familiar drama barges back into her life when Serena requests an urgent background check on Ned Boyce, her fiancé, before tying the knot. And the flighty film star is behaving out of character by wishing to start over with Poppy—this time as friends.
I really enjoyed this adventure with Poppy and the gang. Desert Flowers is a place that I would love to be.
#PoppyHarmonandtheShootingStar #NetGalley

Poppy's arch-nemesis from her acting days, Serena Saunders, has decided to bury the hatchet deep, asking for Desert Flowers to help make sure she's not making a terrible mistake in marrying for the fifth time (or is it the sixth? Who can keep track?) Though Serena hasn't changed much, Poppy feels sorry for the woman and the two become close. Fortunately for Desert Flowers's bottom line, there are plenty of mysteries for the ladies to solve as Serena's life crumbles around her with first a break-in, then an untimely death, followed by mysterious apparitions, and even that barely scratches the surface!

I love Lee Hollis and despite the fact that this is probably my least favorite Lee Hollis series, it's still one of my favorite cozy mystery series. Poppy is my favorite kind of character, she's taken some punches in life but she's not let it get her down. I also personally love reading about characters who later in life (and by later I mean not right out of school in their teens or twenties) discover their calling and find a career or mission that they're passionate about. The other "girls" in the agency are fun and I love Matt, this sweet, affable guy who has a budding career but still loves hanging out with these ladies and always plays an integral part in solving the cases while also protecting them from having to go into any really dangerous situations without his muscle for back up.

Another thing I really like about this series is that the mystery always has several layers. Just when you think you've figured out what's going on, some hitch comes up and you find out there's a whole other mystery going on that you hadn't even realized. I can usually figure out some part of the mystery but the end of this book was a big surprise, though it probably should have been obvious from the very beginning.

If you haven't read anything by Lee Hollis, check out the Hayley Powell series and if you've read those and enjoyed them you definitely want to check out this series.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.