What a fun book this was to listen to. I have listened to all of the Baltimore-based author’s detective Tess Monaghan series, but haven’t written about them, though I did write about two of her other books.
This one centers on Mrs. Blossom who made an appearance when Tess hired her as a person unlikely to be spotted following a suspect. She is 60-something and is a large woman, thus invisible to many. Even in her small role, I remember her as an appealing character. Now she has literally won the lottery and is forging a new life for herself, starting with a visit to Paris and a river cruise on the Seine. Well, that’s fun! Once you realize she won’t be murdered, you can relax and enjoy the ride.
On the way to Paris she is taken under the wing of a younger man who “helps” her through the plane change in London. They have a lovely day together in London and while the reader knows he’s using her in some smuggling operation, he gives a convincing performance of being attracted to her. He even mentions a restaurant they will go to when they both return to Baltimore. Mrs. Blossom is flattered, but has some inkling she doesn’t know the whole story. After they part company and she realizes she’s being followed in Paris, she knows something is up and that the person following her is not too skillful. Then the lovely Allan turns up dead.
Mrs. Blossom is no Miss Marple, but this qualifies as a “cozy mystery” and I did love listening to it.
Laura Lippman, Murder Takes a Vacation, HarperCollins, 2025, 261 pages (I listened to the audiobook). Available in the public library.