"Desert Reunion" By Michael Craft: Review/Giveaway

Review by Lorie Lewis Ham  

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

Desert Reunion is the third book in the Dante and Jazz mystery series set in Palm Springs and written by Michael Craft. The pair first met in Desert Getaway and have turned into an unlikely, but fun, pair of sleuths. While in the first book, they were thrown together, since then they have started working as a team by choice. Jazz Friendly is a Black ex-cop who has her own PI business, and Dante works for her on the side. Dante’s day job is working as sort of a concierge to the high-end clients of Sunny Junket Vacation Rentals. Some of the other recurring characters in the book include Jazz’s young daughter and relatively new boyfriend, Dante’s boyfriend Isandro, and former interior decorator Zola Lorinsky.

---

➡ switch to KingsRiverLife.com for more articles ⬅

---

Image Source Questover Press

One of Dante’s wealthy clients, Richard Gibbs (who also recently sold the coach house on his estate to Isandro where he and Dante now live there together), has discovered some long-lost relatives and is planning a reunion. Dante has helped out by finding a rental for the relatives to stay in during their month-long visit. Zola, who has become very close to Richard, attends a dinner at the rental with Richard, Dante, and Isandro. The new relatives prove to be an odd group—especially Richard’s cousin Harold’s wife Wendy. The one exception is Harold’s gorgeous gay son Keith. One of the guests is murdered and Zola becomes the prime suspect as she did not get along with the victim. Zola says that she has been framed and they believe her. Jazz and Dante are hired to find the real killer and prove Zola’s innocence.

As if things weren’t complicated enough already, a second death makes things even harder to figure out, but Dante and Jazz are well up to the task. This unusual duo has great chemistry and are excellent detectives, and thanks to some possible changes in Dante’s life solving crimes with Jazz may become more than just a side gig.

Michael has created a fun series filled with quirky and interesting characters that quickly begin to feel like friends you can’t wait to visit when you pick up the next book. The mystery is filled with plenty of twists and turns, but it is the characters that keep you coming back to this series for more. Just an FYI, while this book has the feel of a cozy, there is some language in the book that you don’t typically find in cozies, but don’t let that keep you from enjoying this delightful series.

To enter to win a copy of Desert Reunion, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line "reunion,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen November 16, 2024. US residents only and you must be 18 or older to enter. If entering via email please include your mailing address in case you win. 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 goes up next week.

You can click here to purchase this book.

Lorie Lewis Ham is our Editor-in-Chief and a contributor to various sections, coupling her journalism experience with her connection to the literary and entertainment worlds. Explore Lorie's mystery writing including her latest mystery novel One of You, the latest Tower District Mystery, at Mysteryrat's Closet.

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.