Kasey Nottingham needs a splashy idea at her company where they find and develop the next big thing for investors—her job depends on it. Impulsively, she pitches Mags’ Desserts, a beloved small-town business run by her grandma Mags and live-in “best friend” Celia, two women who overcame deadbeat husbands and financial ruin to build a word-of-mouth clientele. Kasey expects her boss to say no. Instead, he sends her home to North Carolina to land the deal…and now she has a problem.
Mags and Celia aren’t interested, which isn’t a surprise, but something else is going on in their kitchen. Locked cabinets. Cryptic conversations. Unexpected notations on business records. The ladies have secrets and whatever they’re hiding is big. As reports of mysterious deaths of abusive men in the area surface—all in households that recently received a delivery from Mags’ Desserts—Kasey worries Gram and Celia have gone into the poison pie business.
As investors start circling, Kasey enlists Jackson Quaid, Celia’s nephew and Kasey’s long-time crush, as her reluctant investigation assistant. Jackson is practical. Kasey has a wild imagination. Together, they dodge Kasey’s boss and gather intel. And kiss. Lots of kissing, though probably not the best idea to start an unexpected romance. Doing it while keeping two feisty ladies from going to jail for knocking off bad husbands—even if those husbands deserve it—might be impossible…but Kasey never shied away from a challenge.
PJ's Thoughts:
I had high expectations for this book. Dimon's first novel in this vein, Moorewood Family Rules (read my review), was one of my top books of 2023. While The Usual Family Mayhem didn't quite reach that level for me, it was still a very enjoyable read.
I loved the relationship Kasey has with her grandmother and Celia; the unconditional love the two women have for a young woman who is still trying to find her path. Those two are sharp cookies. It's hard to put anything over on them, though Kasey tries her darndest. In the end, though, it's Gram and Celia who show it's never wise to underestimate two white-haired ladies or what they might be hiding behind those sweet smiles.
I enjoyed Jackson's character a lot. I found him to be interesting, endearing, and multi-layered. I appreciated his honesty but also his loyalty and how far he was willing to go to support those he loves. Kasey, on the other hand, is a clueless - but lovable - mess. She creates much of the drama in the book but has good intentions at her core.
If you enjoy a madcap cozy mystery that features dysfunctional family (Jackson's), supportive family (Kasey's), humor, finding one's path, murder (or is it?), female empowerment, dispensing justice, and a sprinkle of romance, give The Usual Family Mayhem a try.
Thanks for the review. Sounds like a cute story. New author for me.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a fun read.I'd like to know what those two ladies are hiding in their cupboards. It is interesting that Kasey is described as a clueless mess. Not usual for the "heroine" of a story. Thank you for the review.
ReplyDeleteI read Moorewood Family Rules last year and recommended it to my book club as it was so different than our usual fare. I was voted down. That said, I am looking forward to reading this next book.
ReplyDeleteI read too, enjoyed but first book was better!
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