June 7, 2021
Whitney “Whit” Dagner, the narrator of this pleasing series launch from the pseudonymous Allan (the Tallie Graver series as Misty Simon), has left corporate Los Angeles for more relaxed Santa Catalina Island, opening a shop for tourists and assisting her brother, Nick, in running the family business: taking vacationers on a glass-bottomed boat to see life under the ocean. When the body of local businessman Jules Tisdale floats by the boat, the police quickly finger Nick as the perpetrator, as the two men had fought. Nick goes on the run, leaving Whit to figure out who’s setting up her brother as the fall guy. Is it Jules’s widow, who is making ambitious plans for her expected inheritance; his goddaughter, who’s well accustomed to Jules’s money; his cousin, who has a tumultuous history with Jules; or a man who claims Jules stole from him? Another murder causes further complications, but dogged Whit, with her screwball tendencies, is up to the challenge. Colorful characters determined to weigh into Whit’s private life promise much fun ahead. Cozy fans will be charmed. Agent: Jill Marsal, Marsal Lyon Literary.