Great Escapes Tour – Dearly Departed by Hy Conrad

Dearly Departed
by Hy Conrad

DEARLY DEPARTED is a truly cool cozy, truly delightful: engrossing, at times dangerous, at times light-hearted, variably romantic, humorous, wraparound comfy…
~Mallory Heart’s Cozies

You will be whisked away on a new adventure when you pick this book up.
~Shelley’s Book Case

This is one of the most humor-filled cozies I have read in a long time. However, that is not to say that the humor overpowers the mystery. It merely adds to the fun of reading the book.
~Book Babble

Dearly Departed
(An Amy’s Travel Mystery)
2nd in Series
Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Kensington (January 26, 2016)
Hardcover: 352 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1617736827
E-Book ASIN: B00X2EOZPW

Synopsis 

Fanny and Amy Abel, the dynamic mother-and-daughter owners of a NYC travel agency, have just booked their biggest trip yet. But with danger in the air, the itinerary may include murder…

Paisley MacGregor, a maid to the rich, made a dying request to send all of her wealthy employers on a first-class wake to spread her ashes around the world. Amy has her suspicions about these “mourners,” especially when one has a life-threatening “accident” at the first stop in Paris. And when a mysterious American stranger tagging along with the group has his ticket punched in the shadow of the Taj Mahal, Amy knows she may have a killer on her tour.

Who was this stranger, and what’s the connection to someone in her group? Digging for clues while continuing on with the trip is a lot for Amy to manage, especially when another mourner has a possibly fatal encounter with a Hawaiian volcano. Back in the States, Fanny and Amy start to piece together a secret worth killing for, but someone is hot on their trail, and ready to send them on a one-way trip–to the morgue!

About The Author

Hy Conrad was the co-executive producer of the hit television series Monk. Monk received three Edgar nominations from the Mystery Writers of America for “Best TV Series.” The author of hundreds of short stories and ten books of short whodunits which have been sold around the world in fourteen languages, he’s also the author of the novels, Mr. Monk Helps Himself and Mr. Monk Gets On Board. Hy splits his time between Key West, Vermont, and New York City. Readers can visit his website at hyconrad.com.

 

Author Links:

Webpage – http://www.hyconrad.com/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/HyConrad/?fref=ts

Blog – http://www.hyconrad.com/blog/

GoodReads – http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25488908-dearly-departed

Purchase Links:
Amazon
B&N
Indie Bound

 

FTC Disclosure: I received an advance e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My thoughts:  This is the second book in the series, but even though I had not read the first book, it was easy to get right into the story.

Amy is a wonderful character. I’d like to know more about her. She’s another one of those characters that seems to stay calm in the midst of chaos.  I think she has hidden depths, that those around her fail to recognize. I think she has to be to balance out her mother, Fanny and Marcus.   You never know what  scheme those two will come up with next. To be honest, I wasn’t sure I really liked those too, especially Marcus.  I do have to give Marcus credit, though. He sort of redeems himself at the end. He really does look out for Amy. Rather made me feel guilty for liking Peter in the beginning.

I love the idea of a mystery series centered around a travel agency. Imagine all the wonderful settings and unique mysteries such a setting offers.  If you enjoy mysteries and arm chair traveling, this is the series for you.

Be sure to check out the other stops on the tour.  Visit the tour page at Great Escapes With Dollycas for a chance to a print copy of Dearly Departed and a Kensington Umbrella.

Tour Participants

February 1 – Mallory Heart’s Cozies – Review

February 2 – Cozy Up With Kathy – Spotlight

February 3 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy,  &, Sissy, Too ! – Spotlight

February 4 – Shelley’s Book Case – Review

February 5 – Brooke Blogs – Interview

February 6 – Laura’s Interests – Review

February 7 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – Spotlight

February 8 – StoreyBook Reviews – Spotlight

February 9 – Book Babble – Review

February 10 – Booklady’s Booknotes – Review

February 11 – Island Confidential – Spotlight

February 12 – Cassidy Salem Reads & Writes – Spotlight

February 13 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – Review

February 14 – LibriAmoriMiei – Review