Poppy Harmon and the Shooting Star

by Lee Hollis

Overview

The Golden Girls meets Remington Steele in Lee Hollis' fifth mystery set in a Palm Springs retirement community, featuring retired actress-turned-PI Poppy Harmon and her Desert Flowers Detective Agency!

Poppy never planned on speaking to her old acting rival Serena Saunders again, let alone accepting her as a client. But familiar drama barges back into her life when Serena requests an urgent background check on Ned Boyce, her fiancé, before tying the knot. And the flighty film star is behaving out of character by wishing to start over with Poppy—this time as friends . . .

Wealthy, connected, and the owner of a breathtaking mountaintop home, Ned seems like the most unlikely private investigation subject in Palm Springs. Poppy no sooner thinks she’s nailed down her latest assignment than Serena is caught holding a smoking gun over a stranger’s dead body . . .

With Serena claiming self-defense and the wedding fast approaching, the Desert Flowers team must summon their showbiz talents to expose the truth about the unknown victim. But as her former enemy finds herself in another devastating position, only Poppy can determine who’s innocent and who’s ready to smile for their mug shot . . .

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781496738899
Publisher:	Kensington
Publication date:	05/23/2023
Series:	Desert Flowers Series , #5
Pages:	288
Sales rank:	346,092
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Lee Hollis, the pen name for Rick Copp, is the author of the Desert Flowers Mysteries and the Maya and Sandra Mystery Series. He is also the co-author of the Hayley Powell Food & Cocktail Mysteries with his sister, Holly Simason. A veteran Hollywood screenwriter, he is the co-writer of The Brady Bunch Movie and has written for numerous television series, including The Golden Girls, Wings, Scooby-Doo, Teen Titans, and Barbershop. He also produces, writes, and stars in the hit web series Where the Bears Are. He lives in Palm Springs, California and can be found online at LeeHollisMysteries.com.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for the Desert Flowers Mysteries

"Hilarious...Pop culture references throughout add to the fun, and Hollis wraps up the mystery with a truly surprising twist. Cozy fans will eagerly await the sequel." —Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW for Poppy Harmon Investigates
 
"A trio of likable sleuths in a story with a surprising twist for a cozy." —Library Journal on Poppy Harmon Investigates
 
"The theatrical frame, combined with a set of quirky characters, and plenty of humor, distinguishes this delightful cozy." —Booklist on Poppy Harmon Investigates
 
"All is resolved in this humorous, satisfying cozy, which follows Poppy Harmon Investigates (2018) and again draws its appeal from the premise of women of a certain age working in a nontraditional profession. Share with those who enjoy M.C. Beaton's Agatha Raisin mysteries." —Booklist on Poppy Harmon and the Hung Jury
 
"Irresistible...Cozy readers will look forward to seeing a lot more of Poppy and company." —Publishers Weekly on Poppy Harmon and the Hung Jury
 
"An amusing cozy with quirky characters and a down-to-earth heroine with plenty of moxie." —Kirkus Reviews on Poppy Harmon and the Hung Jury
 
“Well-drawn characters, including principals and supporting cast, especially the sleuths' 12-year-old computer expert, combine with surprising plot twists and plenty of humor to make this a satisfying entry in Hollis' popular cozy series.” —Booklist on Poppy Harmon and the Pillow Talk Killer
 
“A movie set in the California desert provides a suitably dangerous backdrop for the gutsy heroine.” —Kirkus Reviews on Poppy Harmon and the Pillow Talk Killer
 
“Fun...Hollis delivers all the essentials: appealing characters, an intricate plot, and a colorful setting. Cozy fans will hope Poppy and friends will be back soon.” —Publishers Weekly on Poppy Harmon and the Pillow Talk Killer
 
“Hollis delivers a gripping and sometimes creepy cozy that will keep readers engaged from page one until the final cut. The story is a standout with a puzzling crime and a plethora of suspects...Delightful.” —Mystery Scene Magazine on Poppy Harmon and the Pillow Talk Killer
 
“The reality-show frame, combined with the intelligent, feisty heroines and the precocious Wyatt add up to a satisfying entry in the cozy series.” —Booklist on Poppy Harmon and the Backstabbing Bachelor

“Hijinks on the drama-filled set lead to heartbreak and murder as the clever plot with its cast of eccentrics builds to a surprise ending. Cozy lovers new to Poppy Harmon will want to check out earlier series entries.” —Publishers Weekly on Poppy Harmon and the Backstabbing Bachelor

“Plenty of quirky characters enhance this compelling display of bravery in the face of danger.” —Kirkus Reviews on Poppy Harmon and the Backstabbing Bachelor

From the Publisher

2023-04-24
A retired actress is forced to sleuth on behalf of a longtime rival.

When Poppy Harmon was a TV star, one of her least favorite parts of the job was having to work with divas like Serena Saunders. So stuck on herself that she once refused to attend an on-set birthday party when she found out she’d have to share the place of honor with Poppy, Serena went on to have a longer and slightly more illustrious career than her former castmate. Meanwhile, Poppy retired to Palm Springs, where she now runs the Desert Flowers Detective Agency with partners Iris Becker, Violet Hogan, and Matt Flowers. But if you thought running her own business would give Poppy the freedom to turn snooty Serena down flat when she asks for Desert Flowers’ help running a background check on her brand-new fiance, local entrepreneur Ned Boyce, you’d be underestimating the sway Serena’s star power has on Poppy’s partners. After several days investigating the wealthy businessman, Poppy finds herself wondering whether it’s the bride, not the groom, who should be vetted. Discovering who, if anyone, in the Saunders-Boyce union is in peril is only part of the fun. As the investigation unfolds, Poppy is dogged by the growing indifference of her boyfriend, Sam. She also finds herself reviewing her career path and pondering how long to hold onto old grievances. It’s only the very end of the story, when Hollis decides to introduce new drama into a case that seemed solved, that might leave readers wanting a little less.

Sneaky fun but just a twist too far.

Kirkus Reviews