"Death Under the Sea" By Rosalie Spielman: Review/Giveaway

Review by Kathleen Costa

Details at the end of the post on how to enter to win an ebook copy of the book and a link to purchase it.

Aloooha!

Gemma Halliday Publishing has gathered together nine popular cozy authors at the Aloha Lagoon resort on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. There each author has taken a particular facet of the resort in which to set their cozy mystery providing their characters with tropical breezes, crystal blue surf, umbrella-ed drinks, and mayhem. Rosalie Spielman is the newest “guest” in the Aloha Lagoon mystery world offering the diving community as a backdrop to mischief and murder. She includes a few crossover cameos of characters found in the other stories, like Detective Ray and other resort staff, which keeps an engaging consistency fans, like me, love about the Aloha Lagoon Mysteries.


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Image Source Gemma Halliday Publishing
Death Under the Sea
Earns 5/5 SPAM Sandwiches…Engaging Adventure!

Introduced as Kiki Hepburn, her passport and diving certificate has her listed as Katherine Barrington. The subterfuge has made being incognito difficult to maneuver with the added issues of a declined credit card, limited cash reserves, and having no luck trying to put her Louboutins on consignment to raise capital. But, no matter the problems that pop up, or the former classmates she runs into or the number of Mai Tais she downs, she’s not returning home! Her family has other ideas for her so-called vacation by sending tattooed Joey, with his thick New Yawk accent, to locate her, a difficult and time-consuming task, and bring her home…or else! Trapped. Kiki has resigned herself to her fate, packed her belongings, and she waits, and waits, and waits. Joey, her family-designated captor, however is MIA. Kiki relishes the reprieve and decides not to waste anymore time…one more dive? Bad idea. Sea turtles, moray eels, and the vast lava rock formations are breathtaking [Oh dear, bad choice of words in the diving community], but “There’s a body, like, a dead body!” Kiki is shocked. It’s Joey.

Could it be that easy? Not ignoring the sadness of the situation, a murder and all, but Kiki got herself a job at the dive shop, a place to stay with Paulie the parrot, and new friends for support, and, for now, she’s free from her family’s control. But her deception will be more problematic when she becomes too closely connected to Joey’s murder, and her freedom again may be temporary. But, with Auntie Akamai and Paulie the parrot, she just might have to prove her innocence.

Tropical Treat! Rosalie Spielman is a great addition to the Aloha Lagoon Mystery series with this sixteenth, her first, adventure. The drama grabs readers immediately as we learn about the dilemma with which our leading character is struggling: trying to find funds since hers have been cut off, maintaining anonymity with a big hat and sunglasses, and having her dream of independence and a life near, or in, the sea coming true. But, no success since she’s been discovered by her family’s hired goon and old friends from her school days, and being implicated in a murder will not warm her parents to the idea of her “adventure in adulting.” Kiki is not the only one with a viable motive on the detective’s mind with wedding weirdness, disgruntled formers, and dysfunctional families providing an entertaining challenge and some perilous predicaments. Spielman’s writing style is descriptive and clever and her focus on diving with basic insights, hand gestures, and safety guidelines was a fascinating element I’ve yet to see in any cozy. I’m more of a floater than a diver, but I was totally entertained by her underwater descriptions allowing me to revisit some of the sights I had while snorkeling in the Hawaiian waters, and…I love SPAM sandwiches! What a great tropical adventure…all without getting wet. There is a hint another, as yet untitled, Kiki Hepburn book is in the planning. Mahalo, Rosalie!

Be a Big Rosalie Spielman Fan!

“Somewhere along the way, I discovered that I could make other people laugh with my writing. I enjoy reading to escape from the real world, and hope to give you the same with my stories.” —Rosalie Spielman (website bio)

Facebook—Rosalie Spielman, Author

Website—Rosalie Spielman, Author

Be a Big Gemma Halliday Publishing Fan!

Facebook—GHPublishing

Website—Gemma Halliday Publishing

To enter to win an ebook copy of Death Under the Sea, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line "sea,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen November 27, 2021. US residents only and you must be 18 or older to enter.  If entering via comment please include your email address so we can contact you. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section in Kings River Life and in our mystery category here on KRL News & Reviews. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. And check out our new mystery podcast which features mystery short stories and first chapters read by local actors! A new episode went up this week.

You can use this link to purchase the book or click here. If you have adblocker on you may not be able to see the Amazon link:

Kathleen Costa is a long-time resident of the Central Valley, and although born in Idaho, she considers herself a “California Girl.” Graduating from CSU-Sacramento, she is a 35+ year veteran teacher having taught in grades 1-8 in schools from Sacramento to Los Angeles to Stockton to Lodi. Currently Kathleen is enjoying her retirement revitalizing hobbies along with exploring writing, reading for pleasure, and spending 24/7 with her husband.
Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.

Comments

  1. Almost as good as a vacation! Count me in!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Love the cover. Would love to read the book.
    diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Love the cover. Would love to read the book.
    diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Congratulations to the winner! I hope you enjoy the book. And thank you again Kathleen for the nice review!

    ReplyDelete

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