Poppy Harmon and the Pillow Talk Killer

A Desert Flowers Mystery #3

by Lee Hollis

Private investigator Poppy Harmon likes the anonymity of working behind the scenes for the hottest names in Palm Springs. But when solving a case demands dragging her old acting career out of retirement, it’s lights . . . camera . . . murder!   Cast in her first role since the 1980s, Poppy has never been more rattled or unprepared on a film set. It’s an embarrassing but necessary cover to keep an eye on client Danika Delgado, a rising starlet and social media influencer with a large following—including a dangerous stalker who won’t disappear. The leading lady’s fame is growing, and so are the threats against her life . . .   Unfortunately for Poppy, there’s more to fear than flubbed lines. When she finds Danika smothered to death in her trailer at Joshua Tree National Park, the horrifying crime stirs up memories of a man known as the Pillow Talk Killer during her time as a young actress, bringing unsolved murders from the past back into focus . . .   A trail of clues urges Poppy, hunky sidekick Matt Flowers, and the rest of the Desert Flowers Detective Agency gang on a frantic chase after Danika’s crazed #1 fan. But as co-stars and production crew members start looking equally suspicious, Poppy must expose a slew of insidious industry secrets before a murderer rolls out the red carpet for someone else . . .  

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Audiobook, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Historical Mystery

331 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 30, 2021

About the author

Lee Hollis is the pen name for Rick Copp and his sister Holly Simason.

Reviews

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poppy Harmon and the Pillow Talk Killer by Lee Hollis is the third book in the cozy A Desert Flowers Mystery series. As with most cozy mysteries each book of this series contains it’s own mystery that is fully solved within the book so they could be read as a standalone if choosing to do so. There is however some character building that carries over book to book for those that follow the series from the beginning.

In the first book of the series readers were introduced to Poppy Harman who is a sixty something retired actress who thought she was going to be living out the rest of her life comfortably with her husband. However, after Poppy’s husband passed away quite suddenly she found out that her rather comfortable life was all a lie and that her husband had gambled away their last cent.

When Poppy sat down with her two best friends, Iris and Violet, trying to brainstorm ideas to earn money with no real experience other than acting the trio came up with the idea that Poppy has rather remarkable investigative skills so why not become a detective? With a bit of effort the Desert Flowers Detective Agency was opened with Iris and Violet coming in to assist.

Things weren’t going so well with the new business when it seemed no one wanted to hire three “older” ladies so Poppy got a plan to use her daughter’s boyfriend, an actor, to be the face of the firm. Now that the ladies are up and running and have a few solved cases under their belt it’s time to dust off Poppy’s own acting talent. The ladies have been hired to keep an eye on rising star Danika Delgado and being in front of the camera again keeps Poppy close to Danika while keeping an eye out for her possible stalker.

I have followed the Desert Flowers Mystery series from the beginning and have compared this one to turning the Golden Girls into detectives. The books have an extremely humorous vibe with quirky fun characters which is what I enjoy in my cozy mysteries so of course I love coming back to the series each time. Along with the quirky character and fun vibes there’s also an engaging mystery in each book so I will continue to follow this series in the future!

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good cozy mystery series, and this is a great one. The older heroine caught my interest and being that I am of a certain age, references to events and pop culture from the 60s-70s make sense to me. I also love the Palm Springs, CA setting as I have spent many a delightful weekend there.
Poppy gets herself into all kinds of situations, but she is a smart senior and she and her crew, The Golden Girls meet Remington Steel, get themselves out of a lot of tight places. Lee Hollis takes a current event and makes a great cozy mystery out of it.

Poppy Harmon is a retired actress who started Desert Flowers Detective Agency after she discovered her deceased husband had gambled away all their savings. It has proven quite successful, and they have been hired to provide additional security to an up-and-coming star on location in Palm Springs. Danika Delgado has a stalker who has become a threat to her. Another threat is the producer who can't seem to keep his hands off the young and lovely talent. Danika takes one look at Matt Flowers and knows that he can protect her. She has no idea that hunky Matt is just the figurehead for the Agency.

Poppy meets the director, who is a fan of her 70's era TV show and ends up with a part in the movie, a remake of that classic 60's rom com "Palm Spring Weekend". When the production moves to Joshua Tree National Park, Poppy finds Danika dead in her trailer. This bring to mind a similar death during the time when Poppy was a young starlet herself. Three young actresses were smothered, the killer never found. The case became known as the Pillow Talk Killer. Unfortunately for Poppy, she has a lot of suspects to choose from this time around.

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Dessert Flowers Mystery series is a lot of fun. Poppy Harmon and her two friends, Iris and Violet are the Desert Flowers Detective Agency. Because no one will hire three, female, seniors to investigate for them, they bring on Matt Flowers, their Remington Steele. (If you don't get that reference, you will need to google it). They are a hoot and I always enjoy seeing what they get up to while working on a case. In this story, Poppy and Matt find themselves on a film set trying to find a stalker who is infatuated with Danika Delgado, a rising starlet and social media influencer with a large following. To remain undercover, they are both given parts in the production. Unfortunately, Danika ends up dead, smothered in her trailer. This has Poppy very worried that The Pillow Talk Killer from years ago, is back and killing again.

This book and series is packed with great characters. They are all so different, but have such great personalities, quirks and are a great team. I love Matt. He started out as a bit of a heel in book 1, but I like him as much as Poppy now. There are so many suspects in this story that I had no idea who had killed Danika. The twists and the humour kept coming, so not only was I reading quickly to see whodunnit, but to enjoy the story and have some good laughs as well. The showdown was great and gave me the conclusion I was hoping for. If you haven't read any of the books in this series, you can read this one as a standalone, but I recommend you start at the beginning of this series, because you won't want to miss any of the Desert Flowers Mysteries. The audiobook was narrated by Kim Niemi. Once again, I enjoyed her performance. I love the voices she gives the characters, especially Iris and her over-the-top acerbic, German accent. Her expression and emotion when performing this story are well done. She is able to voice indignation, anger, sadness and soothing all in a short period. I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook which I received from the publisher upon request. The rating and opinions shared are my own.

[beachbum bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

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[Jennifer Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this one! It had funny parts that made me laugh, and friendship parts that made me feel good inside. I love Poppy and Matt's partnership. They've grown to be a nice duo and Iris and Violet complete them. Poppy's relationship with Sam isn't front and center, but makes for a nice little added romance.

I enjoyed the movie set scenes from present and pass. I wasn't sure how the original pillow talk killer was going to play in with the present day murders, but it fit nicely. Everything tied up perfectly with the killings and that's what I like to read! I didn't see the ending happening the way it did. I honestly thought the past and present murderer would be the same person and I was wrong! (Hopefully that doesn't spoil anything!!)

I can't wait for the next book in the series...or really just the next book from Lee Hollis because I really enjoy this author's work!

[Linda Langford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poppy Harmon was an actress in the 1960’s. Today, she’s a private investigator with her friends Iris, Violet, and Matt. Hired by a young actress, Danika Delgado, to find her stalker; Poppy is also cast in the movie which is great cover for her detective gig.

Tension, jealousy, and turmoil between the movie actors, crew, and management set the stage for the murder which is reminiscent of an 80’s serial killer dubbed The Pillow Talk Killer, who smothered his victims to death.

Poppy, Iris, and Violet sometimes remind me of three female stooges with the fixes they get into! There are so many suspects provided it’s mystifying at times as to whether the murderer is one person, or three. I enjoyed that the plot was action-packed. The main characters are likeable and smart. I was surprised at the killer identity—the author managed to keep them low on the radar to me. Great story!

I honestly reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Kensington Publishing. All opinions are my own. Thank you.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

With the first installments of this series, I was a little bit surprised and confused by the different writing style and target audience, but now that I’ve got a couple of books under me, I felt like I was better prepared for this third installment.

The difference in writing style is still definitely there, but I found that I enjoyed it more this time. It has grown on me the more I read and I think the only reason why it tipped me off was because of the difference in the authors. But this time, the theme of the story was something that really resonated with me. Poppy and her crew are dipping their toes back into acting. Since Poppy is double my age, I thought that it was a little hard to relate to her with the first book, so I worried if something like this would be something I would enjoy. But the acting premise definitely closed that age gap for me and made things more enjoyable this time around.

That being said, I definitely enjoyed this installment more than the first and I’m looking forward to reading more of this crew in the future books!

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining mystery listening 🎶🔰

This novel e-book is from my local library. Book three of a five book series.

Poppy Harman and Matt are working on a movie 🎥 filming set when a woman 🚺 is found dead. The investigation leads Poppy and Matt in a number of directions but no closer to the conclusion. The everything comes together leading to the truth and the arrest of the killers.

I would recommend this series and author to 👍 readers of mystery novels 👍🔰. 2023 👒😀😡💘🏡

[Ell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've loved the adventures of Poppy Harmon and the Desert Flowers Detective Agency since book one. The books stand alone, but if you haven't read the first in the series, I strongly recommend you check out Poppy Harmon Investigates. It's fast-paced, witty and has a terrific twist ending. Poppy Harmon and the Pillow Talk Killer is full of delightful twists and turns. It's the perfect hat trick of mystery, humor and great characters. I just love the unique characters, realistic dialogue and plot twists in this series.

[Jeneane Vanderhoof · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing third book of the series and I can't believe how well the books can be read stand alone, meaning, if you don't read the series, you could pick up this third book and read it without any before. But, I must admit that when I read the fifth book, liked it, starting at the first and reading the series did lend well to giving the background insight so that it made the book more enjoyable. But, the relationship I see between a writer who wrote for the series The Golden Girls, while it was on television and the cozy mysteries about a feisty retired actress renewing her work life by becoming a private eye....that is exactly like the things the Golden Girls got into, while they were on television. I am surprised there wasn't an episode in which they solved a crime but then, there was the episode in which there was the murder mystery dinner they attended. But, how much better would the spin off of the Golden Girls be, the Golden Palace, had Rose, Blanche and Dorothy's mother Sophia become private eyes? While it may have been a hard series to believe possible in reality, I think it would have been a little more fun than the girls running a hotel. Regardless, the Poppy Harmon, Desert Flowers Mystery series gives me the warm undertones that I got from watching the show, in my youth and as I grew into a woman (and, now, an old one, as I'm getting to their age more and more daily, I feel it, lol) and I feel those same feelings I had, while watching the episodes, here, in Lee Hollis's Poppy Harmon books.

With the Pillow Talk Killer, we get to go back to some memories in Poppy's hey-day (which is the 80's), when she was a big time actress and on a show where she was a secretary to a private detective. It was long ago and a time she has almost forgotten but, when a woman is murdered in this same way, she is reminded of the pillow talk killer who struck actresses in her day and she was once almost a victim. But, now, Poppy is no longer acting as a private eye or a secretary, she is one in real life, in the mix and danger of real crimes and real, dangerous, criminals. And, with Poppy's memories of the past she is well suited to solve this crime and prevent future murders. But there was a suspect and that was because of Poppy. In looking into that suspect, when they find out he is dead, after all this time and all the suspect went through, after Poppy accused him of being with the victim, was she wrong? And, if she was, who is the real killer? Are these cases even connected at all?

Readers are going to love this series as much as I do (and I hope you can tell that I do). These are fun books that you can sit down, spend a little time with daily, get your dose of a golden girl in, and enjoy that pleasure. Because Poppy Harmon is really a new Golden girl. I will always recommend this series and anything, really, that Lee Hollis writes as he carries that magic from writing sitcoms during the time I came of age and I love to feel that magic carried to the page, be able to read it, daily!

Happy Reading!

[Emmalynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5-4 stars for this one. Poppy, Iris, and Violet are still running their Detective Agency with Matt Flowers as the face. Business is booming to the point that they now have a celebrity client. Poppy and Matt are asked to a movie set to protect a social media influencer and rising star from a stalker. The director is a fan of Poppy and casts her in a small role. The male lead ends up being fired and and Matt is cast as the lead. However, their client is not happy happy, fires them and is soon found dead.😮😮 dun dun dun

The mode and manner of her death chills Poppy because it reminds her of a serial killer from the past. Soon the team is investigating cold case murders and new murders. Is the Pillow Talk killer back or a copy cat?

The books are getting better, the characters are getting better (at least some of them) still don’t like Iris, she’s still abrasive and rude. Matt, to me, is the actual star of the series so far in terms of his evolution, he is funny, loyal, smart, and loves his job and the ladies of the detective agency.

The plot was filled with action, twists, turns, and emotions. There’s anger and jealousy on the set, mystery and humor to unpack.

[Taryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poppy's detective agency has been asked by Danika Delgado to look I to a stalker situation for her. The young social media influencer is the main character in a new film and she worries about someone vetting to her on the set. Matt, Poppy's sidekick, is happy to look after the young woman while Poppy tries to figure out who the stalker may be. While on the set of only does Poppy get asked to join the cast but Matt does as well. The two are looking at crew members, other cast mates, and any outside people in hopes of coming up with just one suspect. The whole gang is in on the action and secrets start to come to light. Follow along as the Desert Flowers Detective Agency does everything they can to keep a.young woman out of harms way. Will they succeed or will death visit the set in the end?

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is so refreshing. I love the older MC and her friends, rather than the typical 20 to 30 something. Poppy knows who she is and she's not ashamed of it. The investigations are smarter, with better techniques, primarily because she's a PI, but mainly because they work smarter, not harder. I enjoyed the film setting and the look back into her past. I highly recommend this series!

I received a copy from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

#PoppyHarmonandthePillowTalkKiller #NetGalley

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poppy and her detective agency get involved on a film set and Poppy gets to go back to acting. When a woman is killed it reminds her of 3 old cases, one of which she knew the victim.

[Robyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

POPPY HARMON AND THE PILLOW TALK KILLER
Lee Hollis

This is a cute series about a retired female actress who has a PI firm with two other retired ladies (Iris and Violet) and a really hunky guy, Matt Flowers.

Poppy is hired to protect, or at least investigate a stalking incident against a rising star, Danika who is making a movie. Thus, Poppy gets cast in a part, as does Matt. But then Danika is murdered by the Pillow Talk Killer and the case is off the straight and narrow. Poppy and the group get busy working to solve the crime and end up knee-deep in the plot.

This is the only book in the series that I have read, but already have one on hold at my library. I like the characters, although they (Poppy) never act older, so I really like that. There is a little touch of romance between Sam and Poppy. Sam is the near-boyfriend that might be moving to that role at a greater speed.

It's about a 3.7 read, but I rounded it up to 4.

4 stars

Happy Reading!

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third in this series. I enjoy the characters as they are three retired women who open a detective agency in Palm Springs, CA. The other main characters are retired film stars from the same era as Poppy. This story has Poppy on a movie set filming a NETFLIX remake of the “Palm Springs Weekend” movie from the 1960s. A murder occurs that is eerily similar to three murders that occurred in the 1960s. The movie director is a thinly veiled copy of Harvey Weinstein. This had a nice ending that makes me look forward to the next book.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley.

[Karren Hodgkins · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise of the book, together with the more mature cast of characters attracted me to this book and yet it just didn't work for me. Some of the twists and turns just seemed implausible.

Perhaps it would have helped if I read the previous two books? I'm really not sure. Poppy Harmon fans will surely find it an intriguing read.

My thanks to Kensington Books, #Netgalley and the author for my Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Susan Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Princess Fuzzypants here: How could you not like Poppy Harmon? She is a former tv star who has been forced to reinvent herself as a private investigator but recognizes the hurdles of her age and sex and has brought in a hunky young actor named Matt as the face of the Matt Flowers Agency. What was once a matter of convenience has turned into a very good and effective duo, ably assisted by Poppy’s two senior partners, Violet and Iris.

After they are hired by the young actress starring in a new movie, both Poppy and Matt get hired on as actors too. There job is protect the woman from a stalker until she fires them. Bad move on her part with disastrous consequences. When Poppy finds her body, it brings back memories of a similar crime wave from the early 80s. Has the serial killer returned or is it a copycat?

There is a ton of action, lots of intrigue and a riveting story. Poppy, Matt and the other characters are not only likeable and intelligent but they are so well fleshed out that I have been able to visualize certain actors playing the characters. That is an excellent sign. I did twig to the killer on the set really early on but the reasons behind the actions were a revelation later. The cold murders were another surprise and both story lines had me hooked. Parts of the storyline could have been ripped from recent headlines. Here is hoping there are a lot more Poppy adventures to come.

Five purrs and two paws up.

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This is the third book in the Desert Flowers mystery series by Lee Hollis.

Here we are in book three and it is just as exciting and fun as the last book. I enjoy all the 80’s references to tv shows and actors of that time. I keep seeing Poppy as a cross between Della Street and one of Charlie’s Angels.

This episode we are introduced to an influencer who is staring in a movie and the director becomes so fascinated with Poppy that he casts her in a role. Later, Matt finds himself as the leading man.

This book is light-hearted and fun. I look forward to each new book that comes out. The mystery is hard to figure out and keeps you guessing. And the characters all jump off the pages like you are reading about real people in the entertainment pages.

I highly recommend this series so much.

If you like cozy mysteries, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

[Patty]

Poppy Harmon and the Pillow Talk Killer by Lee Hollis is the 3rd book in A Desert Flowers Mystery series, and another fun addition. I have always liked Ms. Hollis's Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails Mystery series, and I'm enjoying this one too. Poppy is a 62 year old widow who learns her husband left her broke, with the help of her two friends Iris and Violet they start the Desert Flowers Detective Agency. Poppy asks Matt Flowers, an actor, to be the front man of the agency. Poppy is also a former actress. In this adventure Poppy and Matt agree to protect a young actress on a movie set, and Poppy gets offered an acting job. I really loved this book, it was laugh out loud funny, and I like that the book features strong middle age women. I am looking forward to the next Poppy and friends adventure. I highly recommend this book/series, if you like fun cozy mysteries.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Sharon Mariampillai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Read

This was an enjoyable read. This is the third book of the Desert Flowers Mystery series. This series keep getting better and better. In this book, Poppy and Matt go undercover on a film set to find the stalker of Danika Delgado, who is a rising starlet and social media influencer. When Danika is found dead in her trailer smothered, Poppy fears that the Pillow Talk Killer is back and killing again. I thought this story was great. It was funny, and I really liked the characters. I thought Poppy, Violet, and Iris were great characters. They were funny, and their friendship is so great to read. I also thought Matt was a great character as well. He might be an actor, but his personality was great as well. I thought the ending was great. I cannot wait to read book 4 - Poppy Harmon and the Backstabbing Bachelor. Overall, a great read.

[L.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poppy Harmon is going back to the screen! I loved the setting of this book, a tumultuous movie set in the desert. The characters are everything you expect from Hollywood, dramatic, volatile, and maybe a tad unstable. The mystery was similar to previous books in the series, with several layers leaving you guessing as Poppy and her desert flowers chip away until they get to the truth. Though I prefer Hollis’s Hayley Powell series to this one, I really enjoy this series, as well as his other series.

[Dawn Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had some of this figured out, but never saw the second part coming and was just blown away by that part of it. WOW. This was a good read though I will say the director guy reminded me so much of Harvey Weinstein that every time he came up in the book I had to swallow back bile. The character just HAS to be based on him - he is just so gross. Thankfully, his being there really adds to the story-line and you can see why his royal grossness is needed. But still....blech.

[Lori Bonkoski · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this third book, Poppy solves not one but two murders, one a cold case from the 80's. Desert Flowers is called to do security on a movie set and Poppy and Matt both end up being in the cast. When the star is murdered, Poppy begins to ask questions that make people nervous. A fun read, good characters and plot make this an enjoyable read.

[Debra B · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books were so much fun. I love the narrator's rendition of Iris, one of Poppy's friends and partner in her detective agency. Can't wait for the next book in the series ... I'm hooked!

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story and the mystery were okay, but there were just a few scenes and situations that bothered me a little. I'll probably continue with the series.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Tari · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best book in the series yet! The characters are now like old friends to me, and I love that Poppy and Sam were becoming closer. I never thought in the first book that Matt would become a favorite character, but I just love the guy! He's amazing and so good to Poppy and her friends. It was cool that Wyatt had an even bigger part in this book doing online investigating

What a wild mystery with tons of secrets! I liked that there was a tie-in to a series of murders that Poppy remembered when she was acting in the 80s. It was interesting to read the flashbacks and hear some of my favorite shows mentioned too. After reading this book, I desperately wish I could open YouTube and find Jack Colt reruns lol! It sounds like just the kind of show I would have watched back then.

I absolutely loved the showdown and rescue that followed, it was epic! Everything was explained, and there was a very sweet ending that makes me really anxious now for the next book!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bit boring in comparison to other plots with Poppy.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 3rd installment in the Desert Flower Mystery series. Poppy Harmon is a private investigator in her golden years along with her two best friends Violet and Iris and Matt Cameron (aka Matt Flowers) is the cover or face for the agency (aka Remington Steele). The agency is hired by the new star Danika Delgado who has a stalker and has been receiving threats. The movie is a 1960’s remake and Danika is a social influencer and high profile star and she wants Matt and Poppy (who she thinks is his assistant) on the set with her all the time. At first there are objections and then the director recognizes Poppy from her role in a 1980’s private investigator drama. The director wants to hire her immediately for a role and she does not want to act again but gets forced into it. Famous producer Hal Greenwood is not thrilled by the addition of the private detectives as at the moment he is being hounded by a reporter who wants to find dirt on him and all the rumors that surround him and allegations of sexual harassment etc. Then when there are issues with Danika’s co-star, Matt (who is an aspiring actor) gets pulled into the production as well. Danika is hot and cold and after Matt is almost killed on set and her former co-star is implicated, Danika fires Poppy and Matt. Poppy begins to wonder what is going on goes to talk to her and she is locked in her trailer and she is found dead with a pillow over her head. This freaks Poppy out as back in the 80’s when she was on her show there had been a serial killer who killed three actresses and Poppy feels she could have been the third victim and it turns out she knew the victim briefly. This becomes personal to Poppy and although Detective Jordan wants her to back off she is clear that she will not. Poppy and Matt along with her friends get into some sticky and dangerous situations. I love the relationship of Matt (who was the Poppy’s daughter boyfriend – she broke up by text..ugh) with Poppy and the ladies. The relationship works and touching how much Matt cares about these ladies (i.e. tattoo story). This is a great series and truly enjoyable read.