Murky Murder (A Maid Ivy Cozy Mystery Book) by Hazel Smith – Review by Christie Mitchum

Murky Murder by Hazel Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Murky Murder was a cute, cozy, and heartwarming mystery!

Life is looking good for Ivy. She has been promoted to the new head maid at Hotel LaFontaine, and her first date with her boss, Max Humphrey, was a success except for one creepy interruption, someone rushing into the restaurant brandishing a knife. However, it was short-lived and the hooded man left almost as quickly as he appeared, escaping security.

The hotel is all abuzz with a business conference with many successful, elite businessmen and women arriving. Nothing ruins success like a murder, and that is just what happens not long after guests arrive. One of the guests is found in his room, and there are plenty of suspects as he isn’t the most liked person. If that wasn’t enough, Ivy discovers that the random person who came running towards their table at dinner on their first date wasn’t random. It seems like someone has something against Max as cryptic and threatening notes begin to appear.

I love quirky characters, and Murky Murder is packed with them. I love Ivy. She is tenacious and so likable. She is determined to discover who the murderer is and how it connects to herself and Max. Max was just as likable as Ivy was, and the two make a great team. I’m so glad that the romance between the two of them is not rushed. It’s utterly charming!!! The addition of great secondary characters and the dogs made it even better! There are some twists and turns and no shortage of suspects that kept the book rolling along at a great pace.

This book is the 4th in the series, and while it was very easy to read without any confusion from not reading the earlier books, I liked it so much that I would love to go back and read the prior books. It reminds me of my favorite TV mysteries on PBS and Brit Box, and it was a perfect way to spend the day… helping Ivy solve the case and drinking a nice cup of hot tea.

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