Summer has come to Ashton Falls and with it a focus on the beach, the lake, and family time outdoors. School is out so Zak is holding down the fort at home, and Zoe and Charlie are working full time at the Zoo, while Tiffany is on her honeymoon and Jeremy is out on maternity leave. Life, it seems, is just about perfect. Or is it?
Firework Fiasco (Zoe Donovan Cozy Mystery Book 29)
By kathidaley
Fireworks Fiasco
Zoe Donovan Cozy Mystery, Book #29
Kathi Daley
5 Stars
Synopsis:
Summer has come to Ashton Falls and with it a focus on the beach, the lake, and family time outdoors. School is out so Zak is holding down the fort at home, and Zoe and Charlie are working full time at the Zoo, while Tiffany is on her honeymoon and Jeremy is out on maternity leave. Life, it seems, is just about perfect. Or is it? (Goodreads)
Review:
The characters are well rounded and well developed. Any time spent with Zoe and the gang is time that I greatly enjoy. And in this book, we got to spend time with Zak’s grandma, Nona. She is a real quirky woman who enjoys life to the fullest. She may have enjoyed it a little too much this time and she finds herself in a real predicament. Fortunately, Zoe is there to help her out. I like how everyone in Zoe’s family helps each other, pitching in without even having to be asked. And all of the animals are a real hit.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author excels in her character development, in creating small town settings and her descriptive writing. I am drawn right into the story and taken along on a wonderful journey. The mystery was well developed and had enough suspects to consider and clues to sift through. Solving it was not an easy task.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. And you can be sure that any book you pick up from this author will be great.
The Body Disappears
Firework Fiasco is the 29th book in Kathi Daley’s Zoe Donovan Cozy Mystery series. This heartwarming story is well plotted, the characters well developed and affable, and the story flows at a steady pace. There’s an intriguing murder mystery, with lots of twists and turns to keep the reader engaged. Ms. Daley perfectly blended the mystery with just the right combination of family, friends, community, and romance. I highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys reading well-crafted cozy mysteries.
Zoe’s scheduled to work at the Zoo, her domestic and wild animal rescue and rehabilitation center, while Jeremy Fisher’s on paternity leave and Tiffany’s on her honeymoon, but the newest employee, Aspen Wood but ends up holding down the fort when Zak Zimmerman’s distressed honorary grandmother, Nona, comes looking for Zoe. Zoe’s resolve to give up sleuthing is short lived when Nona tells her she woke up in a motel room to find Elvis dead, with a knife in his chest, next to her in bed. In a panic after finding the body, Nona rushes out of the room and goes to Zoe for help. When Zoe takes her back to the motel, the body is gone, the room thoroughly cleaned, his suitcases are gone, and there’s no evidence that anyone spent the night there. Nona explained that after attending the annual Fourth of July fireworks celebration, rode her pink Harley to her favorite bar, and met an Elvis impersonator who was in town with eleven others for Dirk Pendleton’s contest to choose the official Elvis impersonator for his casino, Shake Rattle and Roll. She ended up in his room, had a drink, felt dizzy, and woke up lying on top of the covers next to him. Looking at a poster for the competition, Nona identifies Elvis #3, Calvin Jobs, as the man she met. Zoe and Zak wonder if Nona’s story is true and if there was a body that disappeared, or if Calvin dropped out of the competition and left town and Nona’s imagination is running wild. Zoe, Zak, and Nona work with Deputy Buckner, who is filling in for Sheriff Salinger while he’s out of town. Zoe and Zak are worried about Nona and are determined to ferret out the truth.
Summer has come to Ashton Falls and with it a focus on the beach, the lake, and family time outdoors. School is out so Zak is holding down the fort at home, and Zoe and Charlie are working full time at the Zoo, while Tiffany is on her honeymoon and Jeremy is out on maternity leave. Life, it seems, is just about perfect. Or is it?
I absolutely loved this book the characters were great! The setting was brilliant! I loved the Suspense part of the book. I love how this all turn out.
Love this series!
Great story, love this series.
“Firework Fiasco” earns 5/5 Elvis Impersonators…Thank You, Thank You Very Much!
Ok…Slow down start from the beginning…you woke up next to a dead body? Zoe hopes it’s all a bad dream. Nona is Zak’s grandmother, a “Harley-riding, free-loving, heavy-drinking grandma” who after a night of whiskey, fireworks, and a pack of Elvis impersonators winds up passed out next to Elvis #3 with a knife in his chest. Zoe’s gasp turns to a frown when she learns Nona hadn’t called 911, and with sheriff/good friend Salinger out of town, they head over to the motel to check out her story. With a “Do Not Disturb” on the door and key in hand, they open the door to discover…nothing. No body. Room recently cleaned. No evidence. Are you sure what you saw?
Wow! With a missing body, Elvis impersonators running around town, the do you see what’s in the photo? revelations, and some perilous predicaments the story was totally engaging and easily finished in one sitting…well, ‘edge of your seat’ sitting. Zoe made a promised not to go investigating now that the new baby is here, but with a new sheriff in town and her in-law questioning her sanity, Zoe can’t let it go. Her investigative journey, often with Nona in tow, revealed intriguing motives, and a few twists and turns. Have you ever tried to interview an Elvis? Kathi also weaves everyday life with children, a business, and friends and family. We learn more about Zak’s grandmother Nona which has made her a favorite I hope continues to pop in. Kathi’s solutions are always rewarding, and this time I had a good idea about what was happening…my inner Sherlock was satisfied. So much has happened in Zoe’s life, but even a newbie can join the family and feel at home. I highly recommend the series, and “Firework Fiasco” is a great summer read!
My favorite words…Recipes included! Kathi never forgets to add several easy-to-follow recipes. It’s Kathi’s Favorite Summer Recipes with Easy Picnic Potato Salad, Strawberry Jello Salad, Hobo Packs for the Grill or Campfire, Fudge Sundae Pie, Mocha Ice Cream, Strawberry Angel Cake, and Strawberry Champagne Cheesecake. Come for the mystery, and get a cookbook, too!
When twelve Elvis impersonators come to town for an event, Nona goes off to enjoy the prefestivities. But when she wakes up next to a dead Elvis, she takes off to find Zoe before calling the police. The missing body and clean motel room soon put a question mark on Nona’s story and maybe even her sanity. Zoe is determined to help Nona find the truth, whether she wants her help or not. This series has come a long way from the early novels. Zoe is now the mother of active and adorable six month old baby Catherine, as well as foster mother to Alex and Scooter, in addition to managing Zoe’s Zoo, the wild and domestic rescue and rehabilitation center. The series provides fleshed out characters with long-standing friendships and devotion to friends, family and community. I enjoy the characters respect for people, as well as animals. The mystery and clues were interesting and kept the reader guessing, although I did figure out one of the clues early on. However, I will say I was a little disappointed that Zoe wasn’t as actively involved in the solution as she normally is in her books. Since motherhood, she has made a vow to Zak that she would try not to get involved in these mysteries because they represent a danger to her, but this took a tad bit excitement out of the story for me, the reader. That said, I am already looking forward to reading Book #30!
When Zak’s grandmother Nona wakes up next to a dead Elvis imperonator she doesn’t call the police she runs straight to Zoe. After telling Zoe what happened the previous night and what she woke up to that morning they make their way back to the room to see if they can come up with any clues. When they get into the room not only is there no dead body but it is clean and it makes Zoe wonder if maybe Nona imagined the whole thing. Nona is sure of what she saw and begs Zoe to help her figure out just what happened and why. Zoe agrees but on the condition that they go to the police so they can also be looking into things, and Nona must let her tell Zak. Follow along as they talk to multiply Elvis’s, some groupies, and other witnesses along the way. Meanwhile Zoe is back working at the Zoo so some of her workers can be on vacation and she realizes just how much she misses it. She also has to juggle taking care of her daughter, her other charges, and a menagerie of animals. Will she be able to find the time to help Nona and investigate without putting herself in danger? This was definitely a fun whodunit that had me guessing the whole way through. I had my suspicions but that didn’t stop the author from taking me through a intricately woven path leading to the real killer and me finding out if I was correct on my assumptions.
It is July and many people are enjoying taking time off. Just six months after having a baby, and after having experienced being kidnapped and tortured, Zoe and Zac also promised that they would enjoy a family centered summer with the kids and animals and no more snooping, err, sleuthing!
Well, as well intentioned as those sentiments may be, when a case comes knocking at Zoe’s door, involving Zac’s septuagenarian grandmother, there is no way she can be sidelined. Nona doesn’t want to get Zac involved, because basically, the rest of her family has written her off as a crazy old coot. But when the body she found in a motel room bed isn’t really there, when Nona and Zoe go back, and Zoe’s trusty law officer has gone off to find himself, she has no choice but call in Zac and adopted daughter Alex for back-up.
Full of animal antics we look forward to in a Kathi Daley mystery, and with all the support and good will of the combined Donovan-Zimmerman extended families, this book has both the extreme ups and downs we’ve come to expect.
Twelve Elvis impersonators in town add to the insanity and confusion.
Is Nona having a health crisis or is there a secret plot in place behind the scenes of the Elvis competition?
A twisted and complex mystery to enjoy on a summer weekend.