Milkshakes, Mermaids, and Murder

A Mom Zone Mystery #8

by Sara Rosett

In this cozy mystery by the USA Today-bestselling author of Murder at Archly Manor, a professional organizer on vacation takes a side trip into murder Military wife Ellie Avery planned a perfect family getaway: fun in the sun on Florida's Gulf Coast, with a side visit to the eBay vendor who'd mistakenly sent her the wrong handbag. But what should have been a simple exchange turns into a fatal transaction when Ellie discovers Angela495 floating face-down in her pool. With some savvy snooping, Ellie learns that Angela's dangerous double life included blackmail, compromising photos, and a scandalous secret that threatens a local celeb. When a kidnapping shatters her family's safety, Ellie leaves the white sands behind to face down a killer whose warm Southern charm masks a cold, cold heart. Includes great tips for super family vacations!

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

320 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published October 1, 2013

About the author

USA Today bestselling author Sara Rosett writes lighthearted mysteries for readers who enjoy atmospheric settings, fun characters, and puzzling whodunits.

She is the author of the High Society Lady Detective historical mystery series as well as three contemporary cozy series, the Murder on Location series, the On the Run series, and the Ellie Avery series. Sara also teaches an online course, How to Outline A Cozy Mystery.

Publishers Weekly called Sara's books, “satisfying,” “well-executed,” and “sparkling.” Sara loves to get new stamps in her passport and considers dark chocolate a daily requirement. Find out more at SaraRosett.com.

Reviews

[Sue · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have enjoyed Rosett's cozy mysteries but this one was so bad on so many levels. The main character, Ellie, an Air Force wife has planned a family vacation leaving on the same day her pilot husband is to return from a mission. Even I know how erratic the military can be - of course, the crew end up stuck and not getting home. She leaves with the 2 kids, for a Florida get away. First day witnesses one murder, discovers another. Then she sees her brother kidnapped but doesn't call the police, keeps leaving her phone in her car while she is running in circles and needs help. It was the first Rosett book that I can truly say bored me!

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Averys plan a family vacation at in Florida near the ocean. It goes,wrong when Mitch is delayed returning from flight. Ellery takes the children planning meeting in a day. A designer's purse that ordered is not the correct one. Meeting her brother, Dan she watches in horror as he is kidnap. Because she is threatened Ellery is tried to solve the problem. Much action occurs.

[Belinda · Rating 1 out of 5]

I abandoned this book just over 50% of the way through. I just could not get into it. I tried and tried and it kept me from reading anything else for months! Crazy! I am always reluctant to give up on a book but honestly, I just didn't care. I'm sure this is a personal opinion and others will love the book, but it was just not for me. For one thing, it bothered me that the lead character had young kids and was never with them in the book while she ran off chasing criminals and trying to rescue her brother. I also don't like the idea of a mom of young kids putting herself in harm's way like that. Maybe I should stick to the older sleuths. LOL!

[D.L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 rounded up.

I felt this book had so much potential and started out great but by about page 100 or, it was a true struggle to keep turning said pages. It really began to lag in the middle and ended up limping towards the finish line. Ellie (the main character) likened her journey to the movie Groundhog Day. I totally agree. She really did run around in circles, repeating her same steps over and over. It got tiring. I am not sure if I would read a book by this author again or not.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ellie Avery is on vacation in Sandy Beach, FL. Her kids have an overnight with her sister-in-law, her husband's flight has been delayed, and Ellie sees a woman tossed from a balcony on the hotel across the road. Then the woman she's supposed to meet disappears. Ellie and her brother Ben find that the woman has died, and someone wants a memory card that's hidden in a knockoff designer purse. After Ben is kidnapped, Ellie must find the card or suffer dire consequences. But when you think about it, this is missing all the domestic chaos and fun that attracted me to this series to start with. It's suspenseful, yes, but it's not the Ellie and family we love.

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I am off the "cozy mysteries".I liked this book to begin with,but it got dragged out too much. Just skimmed the last part of the book.

[B. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eesh. There's so much to unpack here, but let's just say this book is a bit of a train wreck. Like the last two books in the series, this one keeps getting more and more farfetched, completely negating the suspension of disbelief. From "zombie powder" being used by (spoiler) to an adult woman in heels fitting in the tiny little cupboard underneath a bathroom sink (and being able to get out without issue, while everything that was under there stays under there with her and without messing up her hair, makeup, or outfit), a doting mother ditching her kids for several days so that she can hop from balcony to balcony in a hotel (among other things) all while ignoring their existence until it's needed for a plot point, mistaking a swimming cap for a shark fin (come on! these things float-ish in the water, they don't stand up like a fin without a head in them and they certainly don't look like a fin on a head), these things just aren't believable. The list goes on and on and on. The book had potential and then it tanked fast. Still, they're fluff reads that require zero brainpower, so I'll keep plugging through the series and hope that the end of the series has a quality akin to the first four books - after all, I've stuck it out this long and already bought the next two from thriftbooks before I read this one...still, with the middle four books steadily declining in quality and believability, it's hard to believe - at this point - that this series will be a keeper when I'm done.

[Micki Hughes-zitar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ellie has planned a family vacation to Florida! Everyone is excited cause they’re gonna spend time with Ellie’s brother and Mitch’s sister. Everyone’s excited until Mitch gets stuck in Canada. He tells Ellie to continue on without him and he will meet them in Florida. To add to the disappointment, Ellie’s new fashionable handbag isn’t the quality that she’s used to. But she’s assured by the creator that she’ll get the handbag she ordered when Ellie arrives in Florida. Things just keep piling up when the woman who is supposed to rectify the handbag debacle is found dead! The police thinks she either committed suicide or overdosed. However, everyone that knows her, says she would never touch drugs! So what really happened? Ellie’s brother decides to help Ellie but then he’s kidnapped! The man that kidnapped Ellie’s brother wants some paparazzi photos that were taken of a professional female swimmer. These photos happened to be in the wrong purse that was sent to Ellie and now they’re missing!! Will Ellie be able to track them down in order to save her brother?

Another cute edition in this mom zone mystery series! I loved that we were introduced to some family members that we haven’t known till now. I really like that in every book of this series, the reader gets advice on how to organize different things in their lives. In this book, it’s all about organizing things on your computer. I would recommend this series to anyone that’s looking for a cozy mystery series!

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this story and I don't know why so many people hated it. This book basically have me on pins and needles.

Seemingly normal exchanging a knock-off purse for a real one then saw attempted murders and real murder. Then her brother got kidnapped and kids are in danger. Man! this book got it all going at the same time.

I don't know how the author was able to have Ellie pull out all the details in the case and sort it all out in neat order of the events leading from one to another. It is none stop. just plain amazing.

[Kandice · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the mystery in this book and the characters. But it was so unrealistic. Here’s a self-professed helicopter mom who forgets about her kids when a mystery comes her way. And the organizing tips just took away from the flow of the book. It’s like you’re reading a novel and are then jolted out of that reality so someone can give you self-help advice. I haven’t read any other books by this author and don’t see myself doing so after this. I couldn’t even finish it.

[Toby · Rating 2 out of 5]

Blah. This was my first book by Sara Rosett and it was a bit underwhelming. The mystery wasn’t that hard to figure out and the MC and her brother spent a massive portion of the book making really dumb decisions, beyond what I can tolerate while maintaining suspension of disbelief. If the MC had been 10 years younger and/or not a parent, I would’ve been more able to accept her impulsive/rash/stupid decisions.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Going on vacation with your family, well maybe. Ellie's husband has been delayed and things start going haywire right after Aunt Summer picks up the children to spend the night with her. Ellie was to meet with her on line seller of designer purses to give her the fake one and get the real one. But the seller was not there and her apartment had been ransacked .

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have found this series fun to read, if a tad light. Ellie and family are going on vacation. Her husband gets delayed and then things keep happening to her. Two murders and a kidnapping are just some of the issues. Reality is not usually a problem for the main character to solve a mystery and this is no exception. Just enjoy the ride and don't get too concerned with details.

[Ami · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rated this 3.75 stars. Ellie's family is on vacation in Florida. Ellie is able to meet someone she has bought great handbags from in the past. When the recent handbag is a knock off, Ellie goes to exchange the bag only to find the seller face down in a pool. Ellie has her husband with her this time as well as other back up so no TSTL rating this time.

[Cozybooklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story

I love this series. The author writes a believable tale and the characters are extremely likable.
Ellie and Mitch make a great pair and their escapades always leave me chuckling.

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another mystery full of many twists. Ellie gets involved in finding out many secrets after the death of Angela. It becomes dangerous at times when she is putting herself in bad situations. Great mystery.

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think this was the wrong one to start with. The mystery was really far fetched, but that didn’t bother me too much. It was all the details that got to me, like the calorie counting and ridiculous mistakes by the cops.

[Zan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is my cozy guilty pleasure. Milkshakes, Mermaids, and Murder was a fun, lighthearted read that brought me a lot of joy on a day when I was feeling down. It’s an easy, comforting mystery. Don’t overthink it; just enjoy it.

[Alise HARRIS · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of dissapointed. The title made me think this would be funny, but it wasn't.

[Wendy Theriot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now I have to go back and read the first 7

Not sure how I got book 8 first, but glad I found this series! Great story, lots of suspense, without gory details! Perfect Sunday read.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved reading this one!!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best in the series by far!

[Marilyn Slusher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mystery and murder in the sun!

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

As delightful as the others in this series

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whew- would need tranquilizer after a few days like that!Good job building the story and especially good job developing the partnership of the tabloid writer Monica and Ellie. Fun read.

[L Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good mystery

A good mystery in the on-going series, this one taking place on a lovely beach in Florida where things suddenly all go wrong.

[Wilma Wieckert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re: excellent

Could not put it down will tell my friends to check it out great mystery will read one of her other books

[Jean Walton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable cosy mystery featuring a very stubborn heroine and some very improbable scenarios but, hey, that's what poetic licence is for, right?

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book in Sara Risetts series is a bit more involved. Ellie wants to have fun at the beach with her children but things get out of hand.

[NANCY HENDLEY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!

I loved this mystery and the characters. Can’t wait to read more books by this author. Makes me wish I was at the beach swimming in the Gulf of Mexico.