Review
The First Whit and Whiskers Mystery
Whitney Dagner has happily left the corporate world behind on mainland California and joined her brother, Nick, and grandparents to run the family business, Nautically Yours, on Santa Catalina Island. When Whit and Nick find the island's man of the year dead in the water, Whit is stunned, but even more perplexed when her brother is brought in for further questioning. Nick barely knew the man...or did he? Although Nick pulled a disappearing act, Jules' wife sure isn't acting like a grieving widow and there are plenty of other people who make better suspects than her brother. With the help of her roommate and her ex-boyfriend Whit vows to get to the bottom of the situation.
Humor suffuses the first Whit and Whiskers Mystery making it a light-hearted fun read. I really like Whitney and wanted to smack her brother on her behalf! Whit is practical, self deprecating, loyal, and a good cat momma. Felix is a complete hunk while Maribel makes the perfect best friend/compatriot. Nick is the annoying little brother who is always getting into trouble, now grown up and in bigger trouble than ever! I absolutely adore Goldy and can picture the sun worshiper tooling around in her high heels giving out sage advice, as long as it doesn't take too much time away from her sun bathing.
The mystery is intriguing with plenty of interesting suspects, including Nick! I like how Whitney went about trying to solve the murder, with plenty of self doubt and no expertise. This made it much more believable and made her that much more likable.
MUCH ADO ABOUT NAUTICALING is a breezy island mystery with great characters and a wonderful setting.
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Much Ado about Nauticaling (A Whit and Whiskers Mystery) by Gabby Allan
About Much Ado about Nauticaling
Cozy Mystery 1st in Series
Publisher: Kensington (July 27, 2021)
Paperback: 256 pages
Whitney Dagner is your tour guide to a Pacific paradise that’s to die for—only to find it’s a place people are also willing to kill for—in Gabby Allan’s Much Ado About Nauticaling, first in the Whit and Whiskers Mystery series.
After far too many years in the Los Angeles corporate world, Whitney Dagner has come home to Santa Catalina Island off the California coast to help her brother Nick run Nautically Yours, the family tourism business. Between gift shop shifts selling all manner of T-shirts and tchotchkes and keeping her feline Whiskers in fine fettle, she pilots the Sea Bounder, a glass bottom boat showing tourists the underwater sights of aquatic plants, marine life—and a murder victim?
The self-proclaimed “Master of the Island,” Jules Tisdale was a wealthy man with business interests throughout Catalina who was about to be honored as Person of the Year before someone strangled him with his own tie and tossed his body into the water. That someone appears to be Nick, who had a raw deal from Jules and no alibi the night of his murder. To clear her brother’s name, Whit will have to investigate Jules’ shady associates and not exactly grief-stricken family members—with the unwelcome help of Felix Ramirez, police diver and Whit’s ex-boyfriend who’s looking to rekindle their relationship.
About Gabby Allan
After writing plays for her friends to act out as a kid, bad poetry in high school, and her high school Alma Mater song, GABBY ALLAN finally found her true passion—cozy mysteries. Being able to share her world with readers, one laugh at a time, and touch people’s hearts with her down-to-earth characters makes for the best job ever. This California girl now lives with her husband, daughter, and two insane dogs in Central Pennsylvania where she is hard at work on her next novel.
Author Links:
Website - http://www.gabbyallan.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/GabbyAllanAuthor
Purchase Links - Amazon - B&N - Kobo - Google Play - IndieBound -
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The author is graciously gifting a copy of the book to one reader. Simply comment on this post telling us what most interests you about this mystery. Leave your comment no later than 11:59 Monday, August 2, 2021 along with an e-mail address. Sorry US addresses only.
Cute cover! I love the nautical theme. I am someone who enjoys going on sailing trips and I love cats so this book really appeals to me.
ReplyDeleteWelcome today. Lisa thanks for your review. What a cute cover. Oh but this sounds like a fun story.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your review on "MUCH ADO ABOUT NAUTICALING" by Gabby Allan. It brought not only this delightful and fun sounding book to my attention, but also introduced me to a new to me author. It's now on my TBR list and can't wait for the opportunity to read and review. Hoping to get to know this author through this book and it be the start of a great author/reader relationship. Adorable cover too.
ReplyDelete2clowns at arkansas dot net
Thank you so much!
ReplyDeleteGabby Allan (aka Misty Simon)
The glass bottom boat.
ReplyDeletejtcgc at yahoo dot com
I love a good cozy mystery. I want to know who killed Jules.
ReplyDeleteKit3247(at)aol(dot)com
Sounds like an exciting book.
ReplyDeleteMarilynDKC[at]aol[dot]com
Thanks, everyone! And if anyone is interested in a doorhanger, you can email me at gabbyallanwrites@gmail.com with a mailing address!
ReplyDeleteI love Catalina! I don't see many books that take place there! This sounds good!
ReplyDeletedigicats {at} sbcglobal {dot} net
This delightful cozy interests me greatly. The setting is great. Thanks for this lovely feature. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteWhat a special and intriguing cozy. Many thanks. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI love reading cozies, it takes place in Ca and it is a print that I can read and review on a few sites. Peggy Clayton ptclayton2@aol.com
ReplyDelete