The Hot Mess

Peri Minneopa Mystery #3

by Gayle Carline

No one in the small town of Placentia, California is surprised when Benny Needles’s house catches fire. The outside hasn’t seen a paint brush in years. The inside is stuffed with Dean Martin memorabilia. It would be a simple case of homeowner negligence, except for the body found inside. Under suspicion of both murder and arson, Benny turns to the one person who has always helped him, private investigator Peri Minneopa. Fire investigation isn’t on her menu of services, but Peri’s weak spot for Benny overrules her reluctance, and she agrees to look into things. Her investigation takes a dangerous turn as she uncovers family secrets, going back several decades. There are skeletons in everyone’s closet, and even Benny’s bones are rattling.

Genres: Mystery, Amazon, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Contemporary, Thriller

324 pages, Paperback

First published November 24, 2012

About the author

Gayle (G.S.) Carline has been an artist, a software engineer, and an author, mostly because she believes in reincarnation while you're still alive to learn a lesson or two. She loves to write mysteries, fantasies, and humor--and sometimes all together.
Currently, she lives in sunny southern California with her husband and a sassy Corgi. She also has a son and two horses, all of whom she enjoys even if they don't live with her.

Reviews

[Nola Arganbright]

Loving the series

The action is non stop. The characters are well developed and the plot is strong. I love quirky Bennie and caring every time I hear Skip call Peri, Doll. There are so many directions that the stories take us and all of it interesting.

[Kelly]

Won The Hot Mess from Goodreads First Reads. Did not get the book yet, but when I do, I will get to reading it soon. (:

[Babs]

A great read review coming soon

[Joy Pixley]

Fun romp! I grabbed this without reading the first two books, but I didn’t have any trouble getting into the main character and her shenanigans. It’s great to see an adventurous main character who’s a middle-aged woman with plenty of moxie – and a full life, with a good friend to dish with and a hot boyfriend for those hot nights (ooh la la!). Of course, there’s also a mystery to be solved – and Peri is on it!

I wasn’t drawn in right away by the first chapter. Like many mystery novels, it starts with the scene of the crime, and I had a hard time getting into the viewpoint character. But as soon as we switched to Peri, I got hooked, and enjoyed the rollercoaster right to the end.

This is definitely a silly, “suspend your disbelief” kind of book. Peri doesn’t just bend the rules, she breaks the law, repeatedly, and if I stop to think about what the real-life consequences would be, especially with a cop as a boyfriend, I get sidetracked. So don’t think about it: just have another margarita and go with the flow. You won’t be disappointed!

[Pauline F Cornelius]

The Hot Mess was lively and funny. If you want a light murder mystery without gore and nightmares, this book is for you.

[Diane Coto]

No one is more surprised than Benny Needles that his house went up in flames; all of his precious Dean Martin memorabilia was destroyed; and that they found a dead body. Benny had been away with friends, and when he returns home, he’s devastated about his collection – ‘Dino stuff.’ Peri Minneopa is a PI and also a friend of Benny’s. She’s the first person he turns to when he needs someone to investigate what happened. Benny wasn’t very organized, so Peri needs to locate his insurance policy first. When she finds it and contacts them, they deny he ever had a policy. Digging into the matter only causes the danger level to increase. And, whose body had been found inside his house?

This is book 3 of the Peri Minneopa Mystery series set in southern California. I read it as a standalone, which worked well as I didn’t feel I was missing any information. Benny is an oddball (but a lovable one). He’s described as a “full-time needy little man with a big obsession with Dean Martin.” The story moved at a rather quick pace although we do get slowed down a bit by the author’s description of Peri’s meals, and she actually eats a lot. Her personality is relatable and very likable. I’d describe this series as cozy mysteries; there’s no offensive graphic information. There is a bit of romance as she’s been with Detective Skip Carlton for ten years. He’s also involved in the investigation. I rated The Hot Mess at 3.5 out of 5.

[wendy]

Another great read

Yet another book that I couldn't put down til I finished. My poor hand has a cramp from holding my kindle. great plot, engaging characters.

[Jan]

Loved the main character.

Peri is a intelligent woman who is very determined and strong. She faced every obstacle in her path in order to get the job done.

[KristinO]

Enjoyed this book from cover to cover! Hard to put down, and didn't see the ending coming! A great read.