For fortysomething Poppy McAllister, taking a stroll down memory lane in Cape May, New Jersey, isn’t just awkward—it’s deadly. Newly widowed and stuck in a middle-aged funk, Poppy has been running on cookies, infomercials, and one-sided chats with her cat for months. There’s no way on earth she’s attending her twenty-five-year class reunion—especially after receiving a very bizarre letter … very bizarre letter from Barbie, the popular cheerleader who taunted her all through high school. At least, not until Poppy’s best friend practically drags her to the event . . .
Using the dreaded homecoming as an excuse to visit her eccentric Aunt Ginny, Poppy vows to leave Cape May with pride and Spanx intact. Too bad Barbie is still the queen of mean at the reunion. And worse, that her dead body is lying right in front of Poppy’s old locker. Singled out as the killer, it’s up to Poppy to confront her past and clear her name. But between protecting her aunt from disaster and tackling a gluten-free diet, can Poppy crack the case before she’s voted “Most Likely to Die” by the murderer?
Includes Seven Recipes from Poppy’s Kitchen!
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Recently widowed Poppy just wants to hide out in her house, eat cookies, and just hibernate on her couch. The last thing she wants to do is attend her 25th high school reunion, but when her dear friend Sawyer calls, she finds herself promising to go.
Poppy is not looking forward to seeing the “it” crowd that used to torture her including the ringleader Barbie. Right now Poppy is carrying about 60 pounds of extra weight, has absolutely no self-confidence, and battling depression. This spells a party for disaster and boy is she right when the Prom Queen Barbie is murdered and Poppy is found standing over the body. Did I mention the police officer in charge is Amber, one of the girls that used to torture Poppy? Can Poppy find the real murderer before she finds herself behind bars?
What can I say about this book other than I love the characters? Poppy is every woman in their 40’s who dreads going to her reunion, Aunt Ginny is eccentric and fun loving, Sawyer is the trustworthy best friend, Tim is the ex-boyfriend/fiancé that got away, and Figaro is the snarky cat with personality.
This is a fun and quirky cozy mystery that will be enjoyed by all.
The “plastiques” were well defined and I am sure one can relate to the characters from their own high school years.
I liked this book, love cozy mysteries. I loved the characters in it too, and wanted to read more, order the second in the series after I read the first one!
Interesting and it will keep you guessing as to who dunit. Figaro is an added laugh as you’ll not know what he’s up to.
Enjoyed this light hearted fun read
4.5
Fun read!
Have read both books in the series and loved them both. Love the old lady.
A new series and what a trip down memory lane….high school reunions, graduating in the 1980’s and the fashion of that time, and humor galore made this a very enjoyable book.
Poppy is a woman I can identify with – plus size, loves to cook and eat but has a heart of gold when it comes to friends and family (even if they are a bit nuts). I was enthralled with Poppy’s back story and how she arrived to that point in her life. There were happy and sad moments in that regard, but it made Poppy a stronger character. I especially liked when she decided to take charge of her life and not let everyone walk all over her good nature.
The mystery was very well written and the killer popped into my head, not for any clues that were blatantly left behind in the story….maybe because this character was the only one left that fit? It was quite the surprise and as with all cozies, Poppy puts herself into danger many times but manages to come out unscathed.
And what would this book be without a love triangle. There is Tim, Poppy’s high school sweetheart, and Gia, the owner of a local coffee shop that encourages Poppy’s love of baking and providing gluten free items for him to sell. It could be a tough choice on who to choose so it will be fun to see how this plays out in future books.
I read this the week before my high school reunion and found it to be great preparation! No one died at our reunion but I saw other parallels in the characters. Now I want to read the whole series!
Since I’m helping to plan my class reunion, I felt I had to read this book. The cliques were a little exaggerated but that’s what made it funny. I’m definitely going to read more in this series.
This was a very entertaining read. I didn’t figure out the murderer until the end. It was also timely since I will be attending my 50th class reunion next week.
A fun read.
Poppy McAllister is coerced into attending her 25th high school reunion by her bestie even though she’d prefer to stay home with her cat, Figaro, and wallow in a Pepperidge Farm fueled pity party. She should’ve followed her instincts as her high school nemesis is found dead in front of Poppy’s old locker at the reunion, and Poppy is the number one suspect! An absolute pleasure to read, Class Reunions are Murder follows Poppy as she goes home again to Cape May, New Jersey, and tries to discover whodunit before she gets locked up in the big house. A+++
Class Reunions are Murder is a fantastic first book in the new Poppy McAllister Mystery series by Libby Klein. Poppy’s character is newly widowed, her husband having passed a few months prior. She is under the oppressive thumb of her mother-in-law. Through her husband’s death and issues with her mother-in-law, Poppy’s main friend has been a dreaded four letter word – Food. So, when she receives an invitation to attend her high school reunion, Poppy has absolutely no intention on attending. Enter Poppy’s friend Sawyer. Her character manages to persuade Poppy to pack up her life and head back to New Jersey for a weekend of catching up and seeing old classmates. When one her little group’s rivals, however, is found dead in the high school hallway in front of Poppy’s old locker, the game changes.
Poppy is considered a suspect and is not allowed to leave New Jersey. Poppy isn’t the only suspect, except, she doesn’t really think that the police are looking in the right directions. It doesn’t help that one of the police officers has it in for Poppy. Now Poppy has to stay in New Jersey, try to clear her name, and find exactly what it is that she did to the police office back in school that causes her to hold a grudge to this day. Who knew that class reunions could be murder!
I cannot believe how delightful this first book is in the series. The author put a lot of thought and research into this book concerning both Poppy’s life but the life of her Aunt Ginny. Poppy is a wonderful main character. She’s not perfect, not supermodel thin, yet has a personality that is awesome. I would totally be her friend. She’s real, sarcastic, kind of a pushover when it comes to her mother-in-law, and funny. This book is full of wit, snark, and humor. Poppy’s Aunt Ginny is a such a quirky character, too. I loved her antics.
The side story concerning Aunt Ginny takes the story on a completely separate storyline but it fits so well in the book. The situation facing Aunt Ginny is, unfortunately, not uncommon. I really liked how the author wrote about this type of thing in her book. I’m deliberately being vague because I don’t want to give away that part of the story.
There is strong character development and world building in Class Reunions are Murder. Even in just the first book I saw Poppy change a little bit. Being accused of murder would most likely do that to someone but she stays strong and despite her own troubles she’s there for her aunt. Poppy and Aunt Ginny face Ginny’s situation head-on, handling it like she’s done it before. The book is written with realism that I could feel.
This book is fun and a must read for all cozy mystery enthusiasts.
Poppy McAllister has recently been widowed and she is having a hard time adjusting, spiraling downward in depression, hiding away in her house and eating carbs galore. Her best friend Sawyer convinces her to return to her home town for her 25th class reunion. On her arrival, she realizes that her Aunt Ginny is having some difficulties and taking care of those will need to be a priority while she is visiting. Poppy has received a special message from the girl who made her life miserable in high school – apparently, Barbie wants to make amends, But circumstances don’t work in Poppy’s favor but before the two can reconcile, Poppy finds Barbie dead in the hallway right by Poppy’s old locker.
Since Sawyer had been in a fight with Barbie right before the murder, Poppy feels the need to fid the murder and keep herself and Sawyer from landing in jail.
My ladies group chose this book for our May read and the author was kind enough to attend our discussion. It was fascinating to hear about the writing process and learn how the entertaining characters came to life. Already have the next book in the series can’t wait to see Poppy again.
Poppy McAllister is newly widowed and not doing well with her loss. She gets an invitation to her 25th high school reunion and her best friend talks her into going to be a support system for her. At the reunion, the mean girl from the class is found murdered right in front of Poppy’s old locker. Poppy is the prime suspect. She decides to figure out who the real killer is with the help of her friends and eccentric aunt. Also, a woman from family services is trying to put her aunt in a home for the elderly. Poppy also seems to have a possible love triangle with her ex-fiance, Tim, and handsome coffee shop owner, Gia. A great first book in a series and I look forward to reading more books.
Recent widow Poppy McAllister isn’t planning to go to her 25th high school reunion until some friends talk her into it. She is definitely not excited about seeing popular girl Barbie, who has requested a meeting with Poppy and her friends. Barbie hasn’t changed since high school, and Poppy and her friends have a run in with their former nemesis. A few minutes later, Poppy finds Barbie dead outside Poppy’s old locker. With the police certain that Poppy is the killer, she leaps into action to find the truth.
The pacing of the book is uneven, but it gets better as it goes along. As the mystery build, the suspects keep us guessing until the end. It’s a little hard to keep them straight early on, but that gets better as the mystery progresses as well. Poppy’s great aunt Tilly is a riot. I laughed multiple times while reading this book, and Aunt Tilly was the reason for many of them. This is a promising first mystery in what looks to be a fun series.
New cozy author Libby Klein blasts back to the past in her debut mystery “Class Reunions Are Murder”. I loved the sassy, wise-cracking, plus-size protagonist, Poppy McAllister as she braves her 25 year class reunion to confront the (still) mean girls, and manages to pull out all the stops to keep a conniving social services worker from sending her Aunt Ginny to an assisted living home.
The plot is fresh and fun! Poppy keeps the dialogue snapping with her wit and ‘I got grit’ personality. I was charmed by the handsome barista, Gia, who charms Poppy, who is a widow. Aunt Ginny is a hoot! The pacing is rapid, the mystery’s really good, and the murderer list is composed of Poppy’s old classmates names. You’ll be flipping pages and laughing out loud reading this story!
Ms. Klein is an author to watch. I look forward to the next adventure with Poppy and her Aunt Ginny. The author also includes delicious recipes for readers to enjoy.
Class Reunions are Murder by Libby Klein is the first installment in A Poppy McAllister Mystery series. Poppy McAllister is a widow of six months. Since her husband passed away, she has stayed cooped up in her home watching cooking shows, overindulging in sweets, talking to her cat (Sir Figaro Newton) and avoiding her overbearing mother-in-law, Georgina. She receives an invitation for her twenty-fifth high school reunion along with a strange note from her high school nemesis, Barbie Pomeroy Clark. The last thing Poppy wishes to do is attend, but her friend Sawyer insists she attend (responds to the invitation for her). It does give Poppy a chance to visit her unique Aunt Ginny and see how she is faring. After purchasing a new (hideous) dress that fits, Poppy is off to the reunion. Barbie has not changed one iota since high school (mean, nasty, bully). Poppy’s friend, Sawyer gets into an altercation with Barbie. When Poppy goes to check on Sawyer, she finds Barbie dead in front of her old locker. Amber, another high school nemesis, is now a police officer and arrests Poppy of the crime. Poppy is soon released (thanks to old high school boyfriend) and she sets out to prove her innocence. The suspects list is quite long since Barbie made enemies on a daily basis. Poppy must also help her Aunt Ginny deal with an aggressive social services worker and cope with her new diet/exercise regimen prescribed by the holistic doctor (to help with her depression). Poppy needs to locate the murderer before she ends up celebrating her 30th reunion behind bars.
Class Reunions are Murder is a debut novel from Libby Klein. The book opens with middle aged Poppy McAllister a hot mess. She is grieving the loss of her husband (understandable) and dealing with a difficult mother-in-law (who objects to Poppy spending any of her inheritance). Poppy has been eating donuts, fudge, cookies, brownies and other sweet (unhealthy but delicious) treats for the last six months (gained 60 pounds). She spends her days in workout/yoga clothes that are ill fitting and stained while watching cooking shows (and talking to Figaro). The last thing she wants to do is return to Cape May, New Jersey for her high school reunion (I do not blame her). Circumstances (and a conversation with an inmate while she was in the local jail) in Cape May force Poppy out of her funk. There is a murder (she is being railroaded by an angry police officer), a social services worker is trying to force Aunt Ginny into an assisted living facility, a holistic doctor puts her on the Paleo diet and suggests Poppy try yoga, and none of her clothes fit her. Aunt Ginny is a lively, eccentric and lonely woman. I believe she has missed having family nearby and that is why her home has been neglected. There are two love interests for Poppy (which I found odd since she is still grieving her husband). The handsome barista, Giampaolo and her old high school boyfriend, Tim. The mystery was interesting with several suspects (her high school class had a number of mean girls). The clues are sprinkled throughout the book to aid readers in identifying the culprit. Poppy does not take to sleuthing right off, but gets better as the story progresses. She is fortunate to have help from her friends and Aunt Ginny. I believe many readers can relate to high school drama with the bullying mean girls, the jocks and good friends. I like the point the author made about perception. Every story has two sides with each person having a different perspective. The various storylines were nicely wrapped up at the end of the book. I did find a repetition of information (a common problem lately in cozy mysteries), and I felt the book was a too long (407 pages). A little editing would have enhanced the story. Class Reunions are Murder is a light, humorous cozy mystery that will have readers chuckling through the whole book.