Poppy Harmon Investigates

Desert Flowers Mystery Series, Book 1

By: Lee Hollis

Narrated by: Kim Niemi

When Poppy goes from complacent retiree to penniless widow in a matter of weeks, the idea of spending her golden years as the biggest charity case in Palm Springs renders her speechless. With no real skills and nothing left to lose, Poppy uses her obsession with true crime shows to start a career as a private eye....

But after opening the Desert Flowers Detective Agency with help from her two best friends, Violet and Iris, Poppy realizes that age brings wisdom, not business - until she convinces her daughter's handsome boyfriend, Matt, to pose as the face of the agency. It's not long before Matt's irresistible act snags a client desperate to retrieve priceless jewelry burglarized from an aging actress at the Palm Leaf Retirement Village. Or before Poppy stumbles upon the bloodied body of the victim's arch rival....

In a flash, Poppy's innocent detective gig is upstaged by a dangerous murder investigation riddled with slimy suspects and unspeakable scandal. As she and her team uncover the truth, Poppy must confront the secrets about her late husband's past and swiftly catch a killer lurking around the retirement community - even if it means turning her world upside down all over again.

©2018 Rick Copp (P)2019 Tantor

Meh

I would say this is just okay. Lost me toward the end - I wish I stopped listening. There were funny moments but mostly blah.

Did not inspire me to listen to more in the series

The story is okay. It finishes stronger than it starts. The writing is very stilted and makes me feel as if the writer doesn't think I am very bright and able to keep up with the details about places or characters from page to page.

If you are looking for a fun book with great narrative and a fun story line this is a great book

Really fun listen! Really kept you wondering!Great narration! Would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mystery murder books😃

Wow

Who saw that coming?
Slow start but good story and surprising ending! Next one please!

Mixed Feelings: Good & Bad

The good: the story was cute and the three friends were likable. Even the egotistical Matt was likable. Some characters were tongue-in-cheek humorous.

The bad: the daughter was a real bummer and it was hard to take her, and the way her mother put up with her, never really standing up for herself - pull my hair out!

The way the main character deferred to Matt Flowers for all the credit for the “detective brain work” was irksome.

Those 2 issues made it a “no” for me. Never mind that there were essentially no good male characters - they were mostly schmucks.

Narration was good.