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Murder at the PTA
(Maya and Sandra Mystery #1)
by
First in a new series!
Someone is trying to turn Portland High into a school for scandal with a gossipy website called Dirty Laundry. The latest target of ruinous rumors is newly elected PTA president Sandra Wallage. After a heated meeting with outraged parents, Sandra runs into fellow school mom and private investigator Maya Kendrick, who's discovered the person behind the ...more
Someone is trying to turn Portland High into a school for scandal with a gossipy website called Dirty Laundry. The latest target of ruinous rumors is newly elected PTA president Sandra Wallage. After a heated meeting with outraged parents, Sandra runs into fellow school mom and private investigator Maya Kendrick, who's discovered the person behind the ...more
Mass Market Paperback, 320 pages
Published
September 29th 2020
by Kensington
(first published August 27th 2019)
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Start your review of Murder at the PTA (Maya and Sandra Mystery, #1)
MURDER AT THE PTA by Lee Hollis is the first book in the Maya and Sandra cozy mystery series and the first book that I have read by this author. The story is largely set in Portland, Maine. What happens when the latest target of rumors by a scandalous website affects the new PTA president, Sandra Wallage, wife of junior Senator Stephen Wallage? How does private investigator Maya Kendrick fit into the picture?
Sandra and Maya were great protagonists. You wanted them both to succeed and they had de ...more
Sandra and Maya were great protagonists. You wanted them both to succeed and they had de ...more
This is a cozy mystery, and it is the first book in the Maya and Sandra Mystery series. This book was really about how Maya and Sandra became friends. I feel this book was just a lot of character building which is what a lot of first books in a series are. I felt the mystery part was ok, and I did not guess the big twist. I think the second book can be really good. I give it 3 stars because I do not love books that mainly about building characters friends and developing characters. Again I know
...more
I received an advance copy of this book from net galley and Kensington Books in return for an honest review. Release date for this book is 29 Sept 2020
I really enjoyed this first book in this new cozy Murder mystery series. The characters are compelling and complexed and the storyline was intriguing. Lee Hollis is one of my favorite mystery writers because her stories are more raw and less cutesy then most cozy mysteries. I love that this series has two very strong women as main characters. They ...more
I really enjoyed this first book in this new cozy Murder mystery series. The characters are compelling and complexed and the storyline was intriguing. Lee Hollis is one of my favorite mystery writers because her stories are more raw and less cutesy then most cozy mysteries. I love that this series has two very strong women as main characters. They ...more
Sep 01, 2019
Chatting About
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
contemporary,
cozy-mystery,
cozy-series,
mystery,
humor,
goodreads-giveaway,
2019-cozies-read
A great new series set in Maine featuring a pair of unlikely protagonists—housewife, Sandra Wallage, and female P.I., Maya Kendrick. The plot is nifty, and zips along, centering around topics right out of today’s news. Plenty of chuckles throughout, plus a whopper of a shocking ending/reveal! Wow! I can hardly wait to read the next story. Now, I’m going to listen to the old song, Harper Valley PTA! 😊
I received an ARC in a Goodreads Giveaway. Thank you.
I received an ARC in a Goodreads Giveaway. Thank you.
I really enjoyed this first book in this new cozy Murder mystery series. The characters are compelling and complexed and the storyline was intriguing. Lee Hollis is one of my favorite mystery writers because her stories are more raw and less cutesy then most cozy mysteries. I love that this series has two very strong women as main characters. They come from vastly different backgrounds but complement each other so well. I look forward to reading more in this series to see what direction the auth
...more
Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an fair and honest review.
It's as if the authors took their Politically Correct Checklist and wrote a book. As fellow reviewer, Erin, perfectly put it: "This book may be a purple haired leftist wet dream, but it turned me off completely."
✔ Two female co-heroines, one a woman of color
✔ Gay son
✔ A Senator husband is the darling of CNN
✔ Husband/Senator accused of using taxpayer money to pay off mistress
✔ ...more
It's as if the authors took their Politically Correct Checklist and wrote a book. As fellow reviewer, Erin, perfectly put it: "This book may be a purple haired leftist wet dream, but it turned me off completely."
✔ Two female co-heroines, one a woman of color
✔ Gay son
✔ A Senator husband is the darling of CNN
✔ Husband/Senator accused of using taxpayer money to pay off mistress
✔ ...more
Lee Hollis is one of my favorite Cozy Mystery authors, so when I heard that they would be having a new series, I was really excited. I think there was a delay with this series because I was looking forward to the release day and noticed that it never came out, so when this finally landed in my hands, I was desperate to read it.
The concept of this series is unlike any I’ve read in the genre. Honestly, I’m not sure that I would have tried it if it weren’t written by Lee Hollis. And after read ...more
I always enjoy cozy mysteries authored by Lee Hollis. This book differs from many cozy mystery debuts. In this series the sleuths are actually a duo. Maya is a private investigator and Sandra is a housewife and PTA president. They are united through their children and a shared fortitude that comes from suffering through disappointment. Maya and Sandra both have complicated marriages and a penchant for righting wrongs. I love that the characters in this book have layers. The surprising twist was
...more
Dirty little secrets, dirty little lies
We got our dirty little fingers in everybody's pies
We love to cut you down to size
We love dirty laundry
Maya a former police officer turned private investigator has a husband, also a former police officer, in jail for corruption while on the force.
That was the story that needed to be told.
Instead i got the wife of a senator who was newly elected PTA president, her husband the philandering senator, her gay son the QB of the football team, her other not gay so ...more
We got our dirty little fingers in everybody's pies
We love to cut you down to size
We love dirty laundry
Maya a former police officer turned private investigator has a husband, also a former police officer, in jail for corruption while on the force.
That was the story that needed to be told.
Instead i got the wife of a senator who was newly elected PTA president, her husband the philandering senator, her gay son the QB of the football team, her other not gay so ...more
It's always good to start a cozy mystery series from the very beginning and this one, Murder at the PTA written by Lee Hollis certainly lived up to my expectations!
The reader soon meets the stars of the show, Maya and Sandra, who went to the same high school. Sandra Wallage is a newly elected PTA president and the wife of a Maine Senator, and Maya Kendrick is an ex-police officer turned private investigator and she runs the PI business with a friend, Frances Turner. I loved the relationship betw ...more
The reader soon meets the stars of the show, Maya and Sandra, who went to the same high school. Sandra Wallage is a newly elected PTA president and the wife of a Maine Senator, and Maya Kendrick is an ex-police officer turned private investigator and she runs the PI business with a friend, Frances Turner. I loved the relationship betw ...more
Murder at the PTA by Lee Hollis is the first book in the Maya and Sandra Mystery series. When the person behind gossip website Dirty Laundry is found dead by apparent suicide, private investigator Maya Kendrick is hired by the woman's sister to investigate. Newly elected PTA president and senators wife, Sandra Wallage, befriends maya and assists in the investigation. I loved this book and I especially loved getting to know the characters and how they are drawn together despite their differences.
...more
This book is the first in a new cozy mystery series. For me the book was about the female characters new friendships. We get to know their lives and families. Because i liked the Main characters so much sign me up for the Next book.. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest review
Maya and Sandra Mystery
There is a website called Dirty Laundry going around Portland High and the latest target is the new PTA president Sandra Wallace a senators wife and her two sons go to that high school. We also meet Maya a private investigator who married a dirty cop serving time who also has a daughter going to the high school.
Maya has an eighth month pregnant partner, but stakeouts and interviewing suspects is hard to do for her. Seeing her daughter and Sandra's son are dating she gives ...more
There is a website called Dirty Laundry going around Portland High and the latest target is the new PTA president Sandra Wallace a senators wife and her two sons go to that high school. We also meet Maya a private investigator who married a dirty cop serving time who also has a daughter going to the high school.
Maya has an eighth month pregnant partner, but stakeouts and interviewing suspects is hard to do for her. Seeing her daughter and Sandra's son are dating she gives ...more
Christ! If I could give this no stars I absolutely would. DNF at page 82. This is part of a new batch of cozies that are Barnes and Noble exclusives for a year and it's the second dud out of two, which means that under no circumstances will I purchase another of these.
Murder At The PTA is supposed to be a mystery, but by page 82, no murder has happened. All we have so far is pages and pages of description of brown people, constantly described as beautiful, gorgeous, impossibly handsome, confide ...more
Murder At The PTA is supposed to be a mystery, but by page 82, no murder has happened. All we have so far is pages and pages of description of brown people, constantly described as beautiful, gorgeous, impossibly handsome, confide ...more
This is the first book in the Maya and Sandra mystery series. Sandra is a senator's wife and president of the PTA at Portland High School. Maya is a recently divorced PI whose cop husband is in jail for corruption. During Sandra's first meeting of the PTA a story in the gossip website for the high school comes out about her husband, Senator Wallage. Sandra does her best to ignore the rumors about her husband. Maya's daughter hires her mother to find out who runs the website and get it shut down.
...more
This was okay. Some parts seemed way too unrealistic.
I really enjoyed this book a lot! I knew I'd like anything this author writes, because I love their other two series. It's great how they can set a different tone for each series they've written. Maya and Sandra were the two most unlikely candidates for sleuthing partners, but they worked together really well once Maya adjusted to Sandra being a senator's wife. She soon found out that Sandra wasn't the typical prissy trophy wife but someone who was very committed to a new friendship and possibly
...more
3.5 Stars
Lee Hollis is one of my favorite Cozy Mystery authors, so when I heard that they would be having a new series, I was really excited. I think there was a delay with this series because I was looking forward to the release day and noticed that it never came out, so when this finally landed in my hands, I was desperate to read it.
The concept of this series is unlike any I’ve read in the genre. Honestly, I’m not sure that I would have tried it if it weren’t written by Lee Hollis. And af ...more
Murder at the PTA is the first book in the Maya and Sandry Mystery series by Lee Hollis.
I love that the story is set in Portland, Maine as I live in Maine myself and I loved reading about Maine. Maya Kendrick is a Private Investigator and Sandra Wallage is the wife of a Maine Senator. Sandra is in a new position as the President of the PTA and social media is rampant with a "Dirty Laundry" a social media site that claims that Sandra's husband is taking taxpayer money to pay for a sexual harrasm ...more
I love that the story is set in Portland, Maine as I live in Maine myself and I loved reading about Maine. Maya Kendrick is a Private Investigator and Sandra Wallage is the wife of a Maine Senator. Sandra is in a new position as the President of the PTA and social media is rampant with a "Dirty Laundry" a social media site that claims that Sandra's husband is taking taxpayer money to pay for a sexual harrasm ...more
Series: A Maya and Sandra Mystery – Book 1
Author: Lee Hollis
Genre: Cozy Mystery/ Private Investigator
Publisher: Kensington Mystery
Page Count: 314
Publishing Date: August 27th, 2019
The debut book, Murder at the PTA in a new cozy mystery series from Kensington Books, Lee Hollis’ “A Maya and Sandra Mystery” starts with a hit. This book will have readers asking for more. Murder at the PTA is a hard-boiled detective story with a fantastic cozy book feel.
Sandra is a politician’s wife in every way th ...more
Author: Lee Hollis
Genre: Cozy Mystery/ Private Investigator
Publisher: Kensington Mystery
Page Count: 314
Publishing Date: August 27th, 2019
The debut book, Murder at the PTA in a new cozy mystery series from Kensington Books, Lee Hollis’ “A Maya and Sandra Mystery” starts with a hit. This book will have readers asking for more. Murder at the PTA is a hard-boiled detective story with a fantastic cozy book feel.
Sandra is a politician’s wife in every way th ...more
I'm stunned by the number of very high ratings. This is an innocuous little book that will pass your time but evaporate into the atmosphere in no time at all leaving little if any impression.
Neither of the heroines is in any way extraordinary or impressive. Relateable, maybe but hardly memorable. You know who did it -- if not why -- 2/3 of the way into the book. And it's written as though the author is being paid by the word or the product endorsement.
Put it in your purse for those times when ...more
Neither of the heroines is in any way extraordinary or impressive. Relateable, maybe but hardly memorable. You know who did it -- if not why -- 2/3 of the way into the book. And it's written as though the author is being paid by the word or the product endorsement.
Put it in your purse for those times when ...more
Good first in the series read. If you love cozies, give it a go
Murder at the PTA by Lee Hollis is the debut of A Maya and Sandra Mystery series. This book takes the time to establish the main characters and their families. We get to know Sandra Wallage, the wife of United States Senator Stephen Wallage. She has two teenage sons, Jack and Ryan. Sandra was just elected the PTA president at South Portland High School in Maine. She is used to being in the spotlight, but it is not something that she enjoys. Maya Kendrick is a former police officer turned private
...more
Sandra Wallace has just been elected as president of the PTA and as a politicians wife knows all about scandal. When a website called Dirty Laundry posts an article about her husband she knows she must keep a level head. She runs into Maya, an old classmate who is now a P.I. and find sour she has discovered who is behind the website. When the two women go to confront the woman they find her dead a note next to her. Although the police say her death is a suicide Maya saw some clues that say other
...more
"Murder at the PTA" the first instalment in the "A Maya and Sandra Mystery" by Lee Hollis. I really enjoy the Hayley Powell cozy mysteries by Lee Hollis so couldn’t wait to read this book. First in a series can be a mine of information as we get to know the main characters but I really liked getting to know Maya, a private investigator, and Sandra, a housewife whose husband is a Senator.
The mystery is interesting and well plotted, I kept guessing and second-guessing myself on whodunnit right to ...more
The mystery is interesting and well plotted, I kept guessing and second-guessing myself on whodunnit right to ...more
I really enjoyed this first in a new series by Lee Hollis.
Sandra and Maya are two strong characters, who work very well together.
In this new series, we meet Sandra, the wife of a Maine senator, and Maya, married to a dirty cop serving time.
They may seem like an odd pair, but when the creator of an online gossip blog is found dead, it seems fishy to Sandra.
This book is a great start to a new cozy mystery series.
Sandra and Maya are two strong characters, who work very well together.
In this new series, we meet Sandra, the wife of a Maine senator, and Maya, married to a dirty cop serving time.
They may seem like an odd pair, but when the creator of an online gossip blog is found dead, it seems fishy to Sandra.
This book is a great start to a new cozy mystery series.
I knew I'd like this book from the author alone! I thought this was a great start to the series. Sandra and Maya were different people who work well together. I was wondering if the author would go a certain route and I was half right. I hope this is a start to another long series by this author!!
...more
An edgier cozy mystery but still a must read for fans of Lee Hollis!
A housewife, a private eye, and the PTA make for an excellent read! The mixture of characters is so fun and different, and they lead the reader down a path of twists and turns. This book is fun filled mystery, even if it was required school reading!
Maya Kendrick ran a private investigative service with her friend, a pregnant Frances Turner, just barely paying the bills.
Sandra Wallage was president of the PTA and the wife of a senator.
Their paths cross when they come upon the body of the principal's assisant during a PTA meeting.
Maya knows the cause of death was untrue, she had seen the body, but had to let it go without a paying client. Lucky for her, she got one....and the assistance of Sandra in her investigation.
Ms. Hollis writes a ...more
Sandra Wallage was president of the PTA and the wife of a senator.
Their paths cross when they come upon the body of the principal's assisant during a PTA meeting.
Maya knows the cause of death was untrue, she had seen the body, but had to let it go without a paying client. Lucky for her, she got one....and the assistance of Sandra in her investigation.
Ms. Hollis writes a ...more
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