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For fortysomething Poppy McAllister, taking a stroll down memory lane in Cape May, New Jersey, isn’t just awkward—it’s deadly. Newly widowed and stuck in a middle-aged funk, Poppy has been running on cookies, infomercials, and one-sided chats with her cat for months. There’s no way on earth she’s attending her twenty-five-year class reunion—especially after receiving a very bizarre letter from Barbie, the popular cheerleader who taunted her all through high school. At least, not until Poppy’s best friend practically drags her to the event . . . Using the dreaded homecoming as an excuse to visit her eccentric Aunt Ginny, Poppy vows to leave Cape May with pride and Spanx intact. Too bad Barbie is still the queen of mean at the reunion. And worse, that her dead body is lying right in front of Poppy’s old locker. Singled out as the killer, it’s up to Poppy to confront her past and clear her name. But between protecting her aunt from disaster and tackling a gluten-free diet, can Poppy crack the case before she’s voted “Most Likely to Die” by the murderer? Includes Seven Recipes from Poppy’s Kitchen!
Featured Series
6 primary booksA Poppy McAllister Mystery is a 6-book series with 7 primary works first released in 2018 with contributions by Libby Klein.
Reviews with the most likes.
The mystery is good and I love Figaro and Aunt Ginny! I probably wouldn't recommend it to people struggling with their self-esteem or grief, though.
To be honest, this wasn't the right cozy for me. Though I know it was meant to be funny/realistic, I found Poppy's attitude difficult to read. As someone who has struggled with body image issues and grief, maybe I was extra sensitive to it. There were also stereotypes that again were probably meant to be funny but left me feeling uncomfortable. To me it seemed a bit like a book from a different time. I hesitated about reviewing this at all, but I felt like it might help people to know what they're getting in to.
Bottom line: it could be a fun read for people looking for a cozy set in NJ (Cape May is awesome!) but I personally won't continue with the series.