Fa-La-La-La-Lola: A Lola Cruz Christmas Caper Prequel

Lola Cruz Mystery #7

by Melissa Bourbon

A Lola Cruz Christmas Mystery

Christmas is a time for giving, but Lola Cruz never expected her holiday spirit to include solving a murder. When PI-in-training Lola Cruz agrees to help Jack Callaghan’s cousin, Margo--with her baby in tow--she quickly finds herself in the middle of a holiday caper like no other. Just when Lola thinks she’s found Margo a safe haven, a man is found dead—and the police want answers.

Now, with Margo a prime suspect and the law closing in, Lola must untangle a web of secrets and lies. With Jack reluctantly by her side, their undeniable chemistry adds sparks to the chill in the air as they follow a trail of clues that lead them through festive but potentially deadly twists and turns.

Lola's sleuthing skills are put to the test as she uncovers more suspects than snowflakes, from shady neighbors to mysterious Christmas cards with sinister messages. Can she solve the case in time to save Margo’s future—and make it home for her family’s annual tamale-making marathon?

Filled with Lola’s trademark humor, heart, and sass, Fa-La-La-La-Lola is the perfect holiday caper to curl up with this Christmas. Fans of Janet Evanovich and Stephanie Plum will love this fast-paced, festive adventure!

Perfect for fans

Sassy sleuths with a knack for getting in (and out) of troubleHoliday-themed mysteries with a dash of romanceLaugh-out-loud capers with heartGet ready to deck the halls with mystery and mischief—Lola Cruz style! 🎄✨

140 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 28, 2024

About the author

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Melissa Bourbon is the national bestselling author of more than forty novels and nonfiction writing resource books. All of her books feature strong female and family relationships, bits of history, and lots of fun.

Melissa used to teach middle school English/Language Arts, but now she teaches creative writing to adults. She founded WriterSpark Academy, an online school for aspiring and new writers seeking to hone their craft.

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Reviews

[Kenneth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was written as a prequel to the author's Lola Cruz mysteries, when Lola was just an intern working for Manny Camacho at his Camacho & Associates, an outfit which provided private investigations for their clients, in Sacramento, California. Lola is contacted by Margo Callaghan Voss, an old high school classmate and a cousin of Jack Callaghan, Lola's old flame. She was recently widowed but had just had a baby boy, named Anthony ("Tonito"). Margo needs to get away and doesn't know who else to turn to. But she refuses to give Lola any information as to why or whom she was running away from. Lola's first thought is to hide him in her own flat, an apartment above her parents' home but that doesn't work out. But Margo has called Jack, who arrives and takes her away. When Lola returns to the office, it turns out that a body has been found - that of a realtor named Garrett Steele. And there is a BOLO - a "Be on the Look Out" from the police, for a person of interest named Margo Voss, who was last seen with another person of interest, unnamed, but Lola realizes it's her. Lola feels sure that Margo did not kill Steele, so she sets out to investigate. To learn Steele's background - turns out he was a scam artist in swindling people out of their houses (which he had done to Margo after she was widowed), which means that there is more than one person who could have had a motive for the murder. And Lola's investigation goes from there, with more encounters with her old flame, Jack.