HomeSwappers Mysteries, Book Three
Five of five stars
An Aero Island Christmas Mystery – as do the previous HomeSwapper Mysteries – is made all the more interesting because the sights of this island community, are unique, and described in enough detail to bring it all alive for the reader, but not so much as to detract or distract.
Add to that these wonderfully drawn characters – Dora and Etta. These two ladies are among my favourite cozy sleuths. With her acerbic observations, Etta never misses a chance to dig, BUT I sense in this one that there may be a softening. Toward both Dora and Leon. Her introspection as she questions whether perhaps Dora might have it right, her “amiable and sociable” demeanor in some of the passages, when she is as enraptured as Dora at some of the sights they visit; these all seem to be pointing to a perhaps more open Etta. I like her as she is, of course, but these glimpses serve to make her more endearing.
When Licio gives Leon almost human feelings and thoughts, she makes him a genuinely engaging character. I’m not sure if I simply didn’t notice it in the first books, but it definitely stood out in this one. He’s not merely “the dog”, he’s a contributing part of their little family, and that makes for a great addition to the story. Who doesn’t like a story where the dog is a key character, after all?
There are enough twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat; Aero Island kept me awake through the night till it was done, as Licio’s stories always seem to do. I was off in pursuit of what turned out to be the wrong suspect. I had suspected the culprit actually, but not as the mastermind. Another great whodunnit, to keep us on our toes. I highly recommend this newest installment. It reads well as a standalone, but don’t miss the other adventures if you haven’t yet read them!
Pick up your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/8832249235/
[I was fortunate to receive an Advanced Reader Copy of the book from the author, with no obligation to review. The opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.]
Roxx Is Reading 