I loved Gator Queen by Tara Lush. It was such a fun book with quirky characters.

I also loved that it was a romance book and a cozy mystery. It was a little more steemy than regular cozies but not as detailed as romance novels, so I enjoyed the balance of the 2 genres.

It's interesting that one sister is a gator trapper while the other runs a romance book store. It will be interesting in future novels to see how the balance of 2 such different businesses play out. I'm not a fan of alligators (terrified of them), but the book had enough of a story that kept me wanting to read more. Also, the plot was very interesting learning about politics in taking over swamp land. I'm a big animal supporter, so I loved seeing that the main characters don't hurt animals and are big into conservation. I recommend this series, especially if you love animals.

This is a fun unserious type of book. It's super short under 300 pages and while sometimes I don't thin it's to it's benefit because parts feel rushed I do think this is a nice book to jump into if you are looking for a quick contemporary "murder mystery" that doesn't take itself seriously.

"Gator Queen (Critters & Criminals #1)" by Tara Lush gets a bit more on the romance mystery side than your typical cozy mystery. I say this mostly for those cozy mystery readers who prefer their cozy mystery romances extremely mild. This one gets a tiny bit of a boil going in a couple of chapters.

Maggie and Vera are twin sisters starting out their reptile catching business and their romance book store in the more Florida of Florida cities after the death of their father. I mean, you hear about the crazy stuff that happens in Florida and this city has it all. Maggie is the main character and runs the Gator Queens side of things with assistance from Vera as needed. Vera runs the bookstore side of things with assistance from Maggie when needed. They also have an extra cabin that gets rented out to the super attractive criminal studies professor on sabbatical who also doesn't seem to like to wear much clothing while home.

The mystery was around a competing gator trapper who the girls were framed for murdering. It really wasn't much of a mystery as to who but more how to prove it. At least, that's how it came across to me. Over all, I would keep up with this series. It had quite a few funny moments. The more romantic moments were few and mild, easily skipped over if not your thing.

This was a delightful romp through the swampy world of gator trapping in small-town Florida. Maggie, our pint-sized protagonist and her adventures kept me hooked from start to finish.

The dynamic between Maggie and her sister adds an extra layer of depth to the story, although I found myself yelling at the pages as Maggie's sister struggles with her self-confidence. Despite their challenges, the sisters' determination to make ends meet in their unconventional careers is both admirable and entertaining.

And let's not forget the romance! The sparks between Maggie and Jack add a fun and flirty element to the narrative, keeping me eagerly turning pages to see where their relationship would lead.

The ending had me chuckling out loud as the bad guy gets their comeuppance in a hilariously unexpected way. Overall, Gator Queen is a cozy mystery that's as charming and perfect for anyone looking for a light-hearted escape into the wild world of gator trapping.

Thank you Netgalley and 8th Note Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

less out of left field than I expected, a really fun mystery with a nice romance subplot. cozy, and very reptile loving. thanks for the arc.

When you think of a romance book store, you automatically think of gator rescues right?

Oh. You don’t? Weird. Huh.

Well for sisters Maggie & Vera (also, they are twins), this is life right now.

Maggie moves back to Wahoo, FL after her dad passed away to help her twin open a bookstore. And also take over for her dad, known as The Gator King.

When Maggie’s rival ends up dead, both sisters could have killed him.

Or, was it the mystery writer who just moved to town, with a vast knowledge of serial killers that pulled the trigger?

There is also a cute kitten sidekick, Catsy.

Hoping for Chubbs to be a recurring character 🐊

This is the first book in this new series and releases on 3/26/2024

I would describe Gator Queen as a super cute mystery comedy! Think Janet Evanovich or Only Murders in the Building and you’re on the right track!

I thought this book was very cute! It was a little light on the romance but filled with an interesting cast of characters that made me giggle the whole way through! I had fun investigating the crime with Maggie and Jack and like all the twists and turns. I am guessing there will be a future story starring Maggie’s twin sister Vera and new detective Alex Holt and I am here for it! Overall a very fun read!

Cozy mysteries are one of my favorite type of books to read. As much as I love an investigating baker or bookstore owner I get a real kick out of books where the FMC has a more inventive job. This really hit with the lead being a gator trapper! You do still get the added bonus of her twin being a bookstore owner. I really enjoyed the mystery and the town. This book was also so funny. I won't say anything in particular about what happens with the ending but it had a perfect mix of danger and humor. The romance was also enjoyable. Maggie and Jack had great chemistry and I loved that he was a criminology professor. This is my first book from Tara Lush but was excited to see she has a nice catalog for me to go through while waiting for the next book in this series!

Thank you to NetGalley and 8th Note Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This cozy mystery is 2 parts sisterhood mixed with 1 part "Florida Man." The setting of Florida and all of its eccentricities really enhances the story in this cozy mystery. The story was adorable with just the right amount of romance and mystery to keep the plot moving. I will follow along with this series and be sure to read book 2.

This book is like if scooby doo was a novel - an easy to get into, whodunnit with a team of amateur sleuths pinning the bad guy while having a cast to please all parties.

A simple and easy read of a book, Gator Queen has your classic, nonchalant and loner, yet overly beautiful heroine, who, for once, actually is one in that she is a gator catcher who rehomes rouge alligators. The male main, as in all romances, is an overly muscly and gorgeous ‘not a boy, definitely a man’ mmc and as is slightly cliche, is also too perfect to be true.


Whilst a fun idea, albeit cliche with many standard moulds and tropes, fell into the trap many first person stories do where there was a bit too much tell, and a not enough show. I hate feeling like I’m being overly explained things, where something is being spelt out as a way to get a point across or in lieu of more slightly advanced writing. It wasn’t enough to stop me reading, but for grating after a whole. This is great for fans of the rom com genre branching into mysteries of the same vibe.

*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*

The newest addition in the genre of contemporary cozy mysteries, GATOR QUEEN joins the ranks of Arsenic and Adobo and Smile Beach Murder in my top mystery series!

Back from her plush life in Boston, Maggie Andrews takes her home town of Wahoo, Florida by storm. Along with her twin sister, Vera, the two are filling their dad’s role as resident gator trappers, with the extra challenges of running an airbnb and opening a new romance bookstore. However, when their local rival trapper ends up dead and Vera’s gun is the one left smoking– Maggie has to add the role as detective to her already full plate.

This was a really fun start to a mystery series!! The town and local residents are super quirky, and Maggie was exactly the type of MC I love– tough as nails but with a softer side. The ecological side of the story was a new twist and the mystery was full of twists and turns.

Gator Queen by Tara Lush was such a fun mystery/romantic comedy.

Maggie is a gator trapper who has to come home to her hometown and carry on the family business to keep her dad's legacy alive after he passes away. Coming home means she'll be around her twin sister, bookseller, Vera all the time, so there is that. Until she finds Vera's number one competitor dead and Vera is the main suspect.

Teaming up with Jack, who is Vera's new tenant, the twins search for the killer and to clear Vera's name. Throw in fake dating Jack and some real life romance and you have a winner.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in lieu of an honest opinion. I really, really enjoyed this book.

Gator Queen is a delightfully quirky cozy mystery that will keep you laughing. Filled with memorable characters this story will keep you flipping pages and wanting more. Female gator hunter heck yeah. Romance bookstore – I want. The Andrews twins will steal your heart.

Gator Queen is a fun, easy read, The writing is solid, and Maggie is a likeable main character. She is also pretty awkward, and her interactions with some other characters (mostly the detective) were a little weird. The mystery itself was not that engaging, but I appreciate how realistic Maggie's investigation was. She teams up with Jake, her sister's new tenant, and a romance develops between them. The romance was a little bland, maybe because it seems to come out of nowhere and Jack isn't really that interesting? The relationship between Maggie and her sister is strained during most of the book, although that is cleared up by the end. I mostly wonder how Vera (the sister) is going to run her bookstore when she seems to lack any business sense. It seems like book two might feature Vera, but I don't think I'll pick that up.
This was definitely not a bad book at all, but it wasn't great either.

The book cover and title made it seem like this would be an interesting and fun read and I was right! The main character Maggie is relatable and likeable. Her twin sister Vera wasn't as likable but adds to the story. The settings were very descriptive and I could vividly picture in my head what was going on in the book. This enhanced my reading experience. Gator Queen is funny and the author has a great sense of humor. I love when the main plot is mystery, but there is also a side story of romance. Gator Queen masterfully weaves both genres together. This is the first in a series and I cannot wait to get more from the gator queens!

Thanks to Netgalley and 8th Note Press for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you 8th Note Press, & Tara Lush for reaching out with the eARC of Gator Queen in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This book was everything you’d want in a small town murder mystery romance. It was totally ridiculous in a “Florida man” meets Hallmark channel way. Heartwarming, funny, a sprinkle of fake dating (my fav), and the tiniest bit of steam.

I really enjoyed this book! The main character had a strong voice and I connected with her immediately. I really enjoyed the bond between these two sisters—it felt very natural and realistic, especially when her sister doesn’t listen to her about Tyler at first. The mystery itself was interesting and unique, and didn’t feel cliche. Overall, I had a lot of fun reading this book and would definitely check out more books by this author.

I was taken a little out of the book when it was mentioned that the FMC and Jack had only known each for a few days. It felt like more time had passed than that, and I didn’t buy that their connection would be so strong after just a few days. I would have really enjoyed more spicy scenes between the two of them.

This was a fun read with likeable and quirky characters. There's a romance with a bit of heat to it (more than typical in a cozy mystery). I look forward to reading future books in this series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from 8th Note Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, 8th Note Press.

As soon as I saw the title and the cover I knew I had to read this! I am a gator girlie for sure!

I absolutely loved this book! I could not put it down. I am not a huge mystery book girlie (I read them occasionally) but this one was definitely worth the read!

Definitely would recommend to mystery book fans (and other gator girlies).

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Gator Queen is the first book in the Critters and Criminals mystery series by Tara Lush.
I absolutely loved this book. The characters are quirky and the town of Wahoo, Florida is the perfect location for this story.

Maggie is 25 and a gator trapper. I describe her as small but mighty. At 5 foot 2 she is a force to be reckoned with. Maggie has come home to Wahoo to keep her father's legacy alive after his passing.

Maggie has a non-identical sister Vera, who has a venture of her own, opening a romance bookstore. When Maggie finds the body of her number one competition, her sister Vera is the main suspect.

Maggie teams up with Jack who is renting a room from her and her sister to solve the crime and clear Vera's name. And HELLO fake dating trope to throw off other people's suspicions.

OMG, this book! I was so surprised who the killer was. The mystery was perfectly paced and well written. I loved the characters and the setting.

Perfect amount of romance, laughter and mystery.

I cannot wait for more books in this series!!!!