Keys to Death

Lynne Montgomery is taking a true vacation. No group to lead. No future trips to plan. Just a chance to relax and hang out with some old friends who have just started running a resort in the Florida Keys. And the fact that it's only a couple weeks until Christmas certainly helped make the decision easier. The morning after Lynne and her daughter arrive, Lynne finds a dead body on the dock. Darcy lived in the mobile home park next door and was fundamental in running the activities the resort and park did each month. Certainly she didn't have any enemies. But as the police investigate, they turn up a habit of kleptomania and a sideline of drug smuggling. Could either of these be what got her killed? These books are all about the characters, and once again, Emily Toll has created a strong set, many of whom I'd like to get to know as friends. A few are annoying, but they're supposed to be, and it's rather fun watching them misbehave. The problem comes with the plot. Again, Lynne hardly does any investigating, trying to ignore the problems swirling around her as much as possible. This bothers me a little, maybe because of the other books I read. The conclusion is less then satisfying in this one. Even with a plot that's on the weak side, it's hard not to like this book because of the strong characters. 3.5 rounded up to a four.

California tour guide Lynne Montgomery is on the road again, and this time she and her daughter Jenna are visiting old California friends who have recently purchased a resort on the Little Sister Key in the Florida Keys. In this installment of the "Booked for Travel" series, Lynne is taking a real vacation, with no tour group to worry about. Of course, it seems that wherever Lynne travels, she manages to stumble upon a dead body while on one of her early morning strolls, and this trip is no different. On her second day in Florida, Lynne discovers the body of her hostess' friend Darcy Gainesborough, and the police determine that Darcy's death appears suspicious. The plot of this story was thoroughly enjoyable, with just the right mix of travel tidbits and development of the mystery. The subplots include some mischievous pranksters vandalizing the Dos Hermanas resort, some secrets that the murder victim has been hiding, and a search for some pirate treasure. Ms. Toll skilfully weaves together all these plots with a very likable group of characters. I particularly enjoyed Lynne and Jenna's visit to Key West and the author's tongue-in-cheek description of the Margaritaville store there. I felt this fourth installment in the "Booked for Travel" series is the strongest one yet. Grab yourself a copy of this book and a nice cold ice tea (or perhaps a margarita) and prepare to enjoy this tropical travel adventure!