When Serena and her family travel to Martha’s Vineyard to celebrate family friend Jack Hill’s engagement, they find a shocking discovery — Jack is dead. Police rule his death an accident, but when Serena learns Jack had contacted the FBI about a potential antiquities smuggling ring on the island, she immediately becomes suspicious.
And when more and more strange and dangerous happenings occur — a missing friend and a hit and run accident, just to name a few — she knows she must look into Jack’s death and the alleged smuggling ring.
With the help of spunky Aunt Martha, her FBI partner Tanner and friend and apartment supervisor Nate, Serena and gang dive deeply into a tale of illegal activity, jealousy, betrayal and greed. They must sort through the clue, determine whom they can truly trust, and solve the case.
“Over Maya Dead Body” is full of great characters — Serena who is an incredible female lead; Tanner and Nate, who can both make a girl swoon; Aunt Martha, a plucky character we all aspire to be like; parents with the names of Ward and June; the is-he-or-isn’t-he-a-mobster Carmen; and the new and mysterious Winston.
And in Orchard’s latest novel, besides learning some shocking revelations about her loved ones, Serena just might finally decide which man she will giver her heart to — will it be Nate or Tanner?
This book has some mild religious theming — characters must put aside their pasts and relearn to rely on God and his help and protection. It also reminds us that God doesn’t change, just our circumstances change.
Overall this is a great story, full of romance and mystery. I will say I feel the ending was a tad rushed, and therefore a bit hard to follow as to the true “whodunnit” and their reasonings for the multiple situations going on. And for that reason I give it:
Four and a half stars out of five.
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, provided this complimentary copy for my honest, unbiased review.
“Over Maya Dead Body” (Serena Jones Mysteries, #3) by Sandra Orchard