Books
Murder at the PTA

by Lee Hollis
Kensington, August 2019, $7.99

In Murder at the PTA, veteran writer Lee Hollis starts a new series built around ex-cop turned private eye Maya Kendrick and senator’s wife Sandra Wallage, the new president of the Portland, Maine PTA. Both women have complex backstories, leading to a fast-paced, absorbing read. Things kick off at Sandra’s first PTA meeting as president, but as she speaks, the local scandal blog, Dirty Laundry, breaks a story about her husband’s adultery, a fact Sandra discovers only when she sees that everyone in the audience is riveted to their phones instead of to her speech.

Maya and Sandra’s paths cross when the woman behind the venomous blog is found hanged in her office, an apparent suicide. But, as any mystery reader worth their salt could foretell, her death is soon exposed as murder most foul. The victim’s sister, a glamorous actress, hires Maya to uncover the truth, and since Sandra has some thoughts on the case herself, they decide to join forces.

Maya is the mother of a teenager whose father, her ex-husband, is in prison. He was a corrupt cop, as guilty as could be, something Maya tries to keep from her daughter, who fantasizes about her daddy being released on appeal. Maya’s life couldn’t be more different than that of the privileged Sandra, but they did go to school together, and a certain rapport, shaky at first, slowly develops. As Maya’s PI partner is eight months pregnant and not at their office much, Maya begins to appreciate Sandra’s help.

The backstories and lives of both women are well drawn, and Hollis has created two three-dimensional and compelling characters. They have the kind of odd-couple contrast that’s always an appealing element in a mystery. I loved the clever way Hollis told her story, keeping things brisk and clear, with a surprisingly twisty denouement. This is a new series to keep an eye on.

Robin Agnew
Teri Duerr
6644
Hollis
August 2019
murder-at-the-pta-2
7.99
Kensington