annieb123
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
A Trip with Trouble is the second Mountain Lodge hotel cozy mystery by Diane Kelly. Released 25th Oct 2022 by Macmillan on their St. Martin's imprint, it's 304 pages and is available in mass market paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
This is a fun and easy to read light cozy from an experienced and prolific author. All the working parts fit together well into a seamless, escapist read. Mainly told from the third person PoV of the protagonist, Misty, a 50something recently divorced destination lodge owner, there are short interludes featuring her cat as the central dramatis persona. The chapters have an identifying heading for which character is in focus for added clarity.
It's lightly humorous and easy to read. Although it's the second book in the series, the mystery is self contained in this volume and it works well as a standalone. The setting is beautifully rendered and evocative. With 2 books extant and a third due out 4th quarter 2023, it would make a good choice for a short binge or buddy read.
Four stars. Fans of Cleo Coyle, Lynn Cahoon, and Amanda Flower will find a lot to like here.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.