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Critters and Criminals #2
Swamp Princess
Solving murders, kissing criminology professors, and just the right amount of alligators combine in Swamp Princess, the cozy mystery + rom-com follow up to Gator Queen!
Maggie Andrews is swamped—literally—as she tries to balance running her family's gator trapping business, "defining the relationship" with tattooed professor Jack Bianchi, and helping her twin sister Vera with her bookstore.
When she's invited to speak at a conference about the dangers hunting for cryptids in gator-infested waters, she assumes it's a joke she doesn't have time for. But it's all too real; hundreds of Bigfoot fans are sure that their monster has migrated to the swamps of Florida. Against her better judgement, Maggie agrees to lead a group of them on a small expedition. And it's going well—until a cryptozoology influencer ends up dead.
With her twin sister Vera dating the town's only homicide detective (and Maggie's own sparks still flying with criminology professor Jack), she has an in on solving murders. But navigating conspiracy theories, petty jealousies, and Bigfoot sightings make the investigation even more complicated than last time. Plus, she's gotta figure out - is Jack just along for the crime-solving ride and a summer fling, or are they playing for keeps?
SWAMP PRINCESS is a slightly edgy cozy mystery, which means there is a little swearing and a few steamy references. Perfect for fans of Janet Evanovich!
Maggie Andrews is swamped—literally—as she tries to balance running her family's gator trapping business, "defining the relationship" with tattooed professor Jack Bianchi, and helping her twin sister Vera with her bookstore.
When she's invited to speak at a conference about the dangers hunting for cryptids in gator-infested waters, she assumes it's a joke she doesn't have time for. But it's all too real; hundreds of Bigfoot fans are sure that their monster has migrated to the swamps of Florida. Against her better judgement, Maggie agrees to lead a group of them on a small expedition. And it's going well—until a cryptozoology influencer ends up dead.
With her twin sister Vera dating the town's only homicide detective (and Maggie's own sparks still flying with criminology professor Jack), she has an in on solving murders. But navigating conspiracy theories, petty jealousies, and Bigfoot sightings make the investigation even more complicated than last time. Plus, she's gotta figure out - is Jack just along for the crime-solving ride and a summer fling, or are they playing for keeps?
SWAMP PRINCESS is a slightly edgy cozy mystery, which means there is a little swearing and a few steamy references. Perfect for fans of Janet Evanovich!
323 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 4, 2025
About the author
Tara Lush
34 books644 followersTara Lush is the cozy mystery pen name of author and former journalist Tamara Lush. As Tara, she writes cozy mysteries filled with fresh starts, found family, and usually a murder.
Her paranormal cozy mystery series include the Crescent Moon Mysteries, a witchy series set in the fictional Florida town of Cypress Grove, beginning with Eat, Pray, Hex, and the Hemlock Hollow series, set in a magical Vermont town. She also writes contemporary cozy mysteries, including the Coffee Lover’s Mystery series, the Critters & Criminals series, and the Beach Blooms series.
Before writing fiction full time, Tamara spent nearly three decades as a journalist, including many years with The Associated Press. Her journalism received the George C. Polk Award for environmental reporting, and she was an Amtrak Writing Fellow.
As Tamara Lush, she is a USA Today bestselling romance author and a RITA Award finalist. Her Formula One romance Drive has been adapted for Prime Video and premieres October 28, 2026.
Tara/Tamara lives on Florida’s Gulf Coast with her husband and a Shih Tzu. She loves strong coffee, vintage pulp fiction covers, witches, Florida Man, and baking sourdough bread.
Her paranormal cozy mystery series include the Crescent Moon Mysteries, a witchy series set in the fictional Florida town of Cypress Grove, beginning with Eat, Pray, Hex, and the Hemlock Hollow series, set in a magical Vermont town. She also writes contemporary cozy mysteries, including the Coffee Lover’s Mystery series, the Critters & Criminals series, and the Beach Blooms series.
Before writing fiction full time, Tamara spent nearly three decades as a journalist, including many years with The Associated Press. Her journalism received the George C. Polk Award for environmental reporting, and she was an Amtrak Writing Fellow.
As Tamara Lush, she is a USA Today bestselling romance author and a RITA Award finalist. Her Formula One romance Drive has been adapted for Prime Video and premieres October 28, 2026.
Tara/Tamara lives on Florida’s Gulf Coast with her husband and a Shih Tzu. She loves strong coffee, vintage pulp fiction covers, witches, Florida Man, and baking sourdough bread.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
September 27, 2024
This book hooked me right from the start and had me laughing out loud! Maggie’s life is a whirlwind—trying to keep her family’s gator-trapping business afloat, helping her twin sister Vera run their quirky bookstore, and sorting out her relationship with criminology professor Jack Bianchi. When Maggie reluctantly agrees to lead a group of Bigfoot enthusiasts through the Florida swamps, she’s prepared for ridiculousness—but not for murder.
The Bigfoot convention setting is perfect for an offbeat mystery, and I loved following Maggie and Jack’s investigation as they navigated conspiracy theories, eccentric cryptid hunters, and a very real killer. Their chemistry is fun and flirty, and watching them balance crime-solving with romance kept me turning the pages. Maggie’s sharp humor and Jack’s steady presence make them a great team, and I can’t wait to see how their relationship develops.
I also really enjoyed the focus on Maggie’s bond with Vera. These sisters couldn’t be more different, and seeing them figure out how to support each other while staying true to themselves added an extra layer of depth to the story.
This book is a perfect blend of humor, mystery, and romance. I’m already looking forward to the next installment to see where Maggie’s love life and crime-solving skills take her next. If you’re looking for something quirky and laugh-out-loud funny, definitely give this one a try!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
The Bigfoot convention setting is perfect for an offbeat mystery, and I loved following Maggie and Jack’s investigation as they navigated conspiracy theories, eccentric cryptid hunters, and a very real killer. Their chemistry is fun and flirty, and watching them balance crime-solving with romance kept me turning the pages. Maggie’s sharp humor and Jack’s steady presence make them a great team, and I can’t wait to see how their relationship develops.
I also really enjoyed the focus on Maggie’s bond with Vera. These sisters couldn’t be more different, and seeing them figure out how to support each other while staying true to themselves added an extra layer of depth to the story.
This book is a perfect blend of humor, mystery, and romance. I’m already looking forward to the next installment to see where Maggie’s love life and crime-solving skills take her next. If you’re looking for something quirky and laugh-out-loud funny, definitely give this one a try!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
August 30, 2024
(rounded up from 3.75)
Swamp Princess is the second book in a cozy mystery series set in a small town in Florida and featuring (non-identical) twin sisters, Maggie and Vera. Maggie has returned to Wahoo, Florida, to continue her family’s wildlife trapping business (mostly alligators, given the location). Vera has opened a romance-only bookstore in town. As with the first book, Gator Queen, there’s a ton of Florida atmosphere and some really funny moments along the way, in addition to a murder mystery.
There’s a Bigfoot convention in town - more accurately, a “cryptid” convention, with Bigfoot probably the best known one. Others mentioned along the way are Mothman, the Loch Ness Monster (“Nessie”) and the Skunk Ape (that one is local to Florida). Maggie has been asked to speak at the convention about local wildlife (again, mainly alligators) and to lead a nature walk. Vera is one of the vendors at the convention and is selling a ton of “monster romance” books to the attendees. When a YouTube/TikTok influencer who hunts cryptids keels over on Maggie’s nature walk, Maggie once again gets involved in sleuthing, along with her neighbor, Professor Jack Bianchi, who is in the area to write a book. The two of them had a “maybe” romance starting in book one.
I really enjoyed the story and the people who attended the Bigfoot conference. There are a lot of possible suspects. The whole story is narrated by Maggie and the one thing that stuck out at me is that, given she’s in her mid-20s, her inner monologue felt very immature to me, more like a hormonal teenager. I also haven’t completely warmed up to Vera; she seems pretty cranky much of the time, but Maggie loves her anyway. I’ll be on the lookout for more books in this series in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and 8th Note Press for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Swamp Princess is the second book in a cozy mystery series set in a small town in Florida and featuring (non-identical) twin sisters, Maggie and Vera. Maggie has returned to Wahoo, Florida, to continue her family’s wildlife trapping business (mostly alligators, given the location). Vera has opened a romance-only bookstore in town. As with the first book, Gator Queen, there’s a ton of Florida atmosphere and some really funny moments along the way, in addition to a murder mystery.
There’s a Bigfoot convention in town - more accurately, a “cryptid” convention, with Bigfoot probably the best known one. Others mentioned along the way are Mothman, the Loch Ness Monster (“Nessie”) and the Skunk Ape (that one is local to Florida). Maggie has been asked to speak at the convention about local wildlife (again, mainly alligators) and to lead a nature walk. Vera is one of the vendors at the convention and is selling a ton of “monster romance” books to the attendees. When a YouTube/TikTok influencer who hunts cryptids keels over on Maggie’s nature walk, Maggie once again gets involved in sleuthing, along with her neighbor, Professor Jack Bianchi, who is in the area to write a book. The two of them had a “maybe” romance starting in book one.
I really enjoyed the story and the people who attended the Bigfoot conference. There are a lot of possible suspects. The whole story is narrated by Maggie and the one thing that stuck out at me is that, given she’s in her mid-20s, her inner monologue felt very immature to me, more like a hormonal teenager. I also haven’t completely warmed up to Vera; she seems pretty cranky much of the time, but Maggie loves her anyway. I’ll be on the lookout for more books in this series in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and 8th Note Press for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
August 17, 2024
Another super fun cozy mystery/romcom from Tara Lush. I really enjoyed the first book in this new series, Gator Queen, but this one was even more wacky and fun than that one. Set around a Cryptid conference, Maggie is a guest speaker, while her sister Vera is a vendor, hawking paranormal and monster romance books.
When one of the 'famous' big foot hunters drops dead literally at Maggie's feet, she finds herself caught up in another murder mystery with her new boyfriend, Jack. Full of action, romance, gator wrangling and two kick ass twin sisters. I loved this one and can't wait for more in the series!
💋Steam level: closed door
Fav quotes: "Romance novels have the power to uplift and inspire, and we believe there's a story here for everyone regardless of color, sexual orientation or gender identity."
When one of the 'famous' big foot hunters drops dead literally at Maggie's feet, she finds herself caught up in another murder mystery with her new boyfriend, Jack. Full of action, romance, gator wrangling and two kick ass twin sisters. I loved this one and can't wait for more in the series!
💋Steam level: closed door
Fav quotes: "Romance novels have the power to uplift and inspire, and we believe there's a story here for everyone regardless of color, sexual orientation or gender identity."
September 2, 2024
I thought Tara Lush's "Gator Queen" was one of the funniest mysteries I've ever read. She tops it with her new one, "Swamp Princess." I've been reading mysteries for more than 50 years and this is the first one I've ever encountered that was set at a Bigfoot conference. It's also the first one where the climax comes wheb the narrator gets in a knock-down, drag-out fight -- while dressed in a Bigfoot costume.
Our narrator is Maggie Andrews, who has come back to her hometown of Wahoo, Florida, to take over her dad's alligator-trapping business, "Gator King" which she renames "Gator Queen." She's also helping her twin sister Vera open a romance-themed bookstore. Vera winds up selling lots of books from a booth at the conference, and some of the humor in this book comes from WHAT she's selling.
Maggie has been hired to lead a swamp walk for conference goers and then deliver a talk about the hazards of looking for creeping critters in the wild. Her swamp walk goes awry with the arrival of a social media celebrity Bigfoot hunter named Kristi Klaus, who's loud and obnoxious and insists on live-streaming the whole thing. Then she collapses and dies on the trail -- close to where an alligtor has emerged from the water.
There's an abundance of suspects and clues, plus Maggie's romance with college professor/author Jack is really taking off as they team up to solve the case. The dialogue and scenes that follow are a riot. I don't want to give any more away, except to say I actually laughed out loud when Maggie's demure twin sister sees she's in trouble and literally LEAPS in to help her.
Our narrator is Maggie Andrews, who has come back to her hometown of Wahoo, Florida, to take over her dad's alligator-trapping business, "Gator King" which she renames "Gator Queen." She's also helping her twin sister Vera open a romance-themed bookstore. Vera winds up selling lots of books from a booth at the conference, and some of the humor in this book comes from WHAT she's selling.
Maggie has been hired to lead a swamp walk for conference goers and then deliver a talk about the hazards of looking for creeping critters in the wild. Her swamp walk goes awry with the arrival of a social media celebrity Bigfoot hunter named Kristi Klaus, who's loud and obnoxious and insists on live-streaming the whole thing. Then she collapses and dies on the trail -- close to where an alligtor has emerged from the water.
There's an abundance of suspects and clues, plus Maggie's romance with college professor/author Jack is really taking off as they team up to solve the case. The dialogue and scenes that follow are a riot. I don't want to give any more away, except to say I actually laughed out loud when Maggie's demure twin sister sees she's in trouble and literally LEAPS in to help her.
October 21, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley & Tara for the eARC of Swamp Princess. All opinions are my own.
4 stars ⭐️
I truly enjoyed the second installment in this cozy kooky murder mystery series. This book was fast paced and funny with a splash of romance. We also got some insight on previous characters from Gator Queen!
Tropes
🐊 Closed Door Romance
🐊Small town
🐊Interconnected standalone
Spice Level - Closed door, some on-page mentions of adult activity
4 stars ⭐️
I truly enjoyed the second installment in this cozy kooky murder mystery series. This book was fast paced and funny with a splash of romance. We also got some insight on previous characters from Gator Queen!
Tropes
🐊 Closed Door Romance
🐊Small town
🐊Interconnected standalone
Spice Level - Closed door, some on-page mentions of adult activity
September 26, 2024
This is a hilarious, cozy romance mystery set in my home state of Florida which I loved. I was not expecting this book to be so funny, quirky and fun but I am 100% here for it! Definitely recommend.
The story follows Maggie Andrews - the self proclaimed “Gator Queen” who took over her family business of gator trapping after her father’s passing. She also just opened a romance bookstore along with her twin sister, Vera. On top of all that, Maggie was invited to speak at a local Big Foot Conference to shed light on the dangers of the wild. Little does she know, Big Foot is a big deal to these enthusiasts and in their world? They’re crazy for cryptids. She takes all of this in stride, finding the whole thing hilarious and amusing. For her event, she brings her group on a short nature hike and meets a loud, obnoxious and very famous influencer who winds up very dead on their hike. As if that isn’t bad enough, the whole event was live streamed, causing the believers to go crazy with their own theories. Maggie now has to work secretly with her sexy, older, hopes it’ll be more than, friend, Jack. She learns that there’s so much more to Big Foot Followers than meets the eye and uncovers all sorts of jealousy, drama and over all crazed fans. Can Maggie get to the bottom of this homicide without getting herself in trouble along the way?
This is the second in a series but can be read as a stand alone. I didn’t know that when I picked it, but I didn’t have any issues following along & I fully plan to go back and read book 1!
The story follows Maggie Andrews - the self proclaimed “Gator Queen” who took over her family business of gator trapping after her father’s passing. She also just opened a romance bookstore along with her twin sister, Vera. On top of all that, Maggie was invited to speak at a local Big Foot Conference to shed light on the dangers of the wild. Little does she know, Big Foot is a big deal to these enthusiasts and in their world? They’re crazy for cryptids. She takes all of this in stride, finding the whole thing hilarious and amusing. For her event, she brings her group on a short nature hike and meets a loud, obnoxious and very famous influencer who winds up very dead on their hike. As if that isn’t bad enough, the whole event was live streamed, causing the believers to go crazy with their own theories. Maggie now has to work secretly with her sexy, older, hopes it’ll be more than, friend, Jack. She learns that there’s so much more to Big Foot Followers than meets the eye and uncovers all sorts of jealousy, drama and over all crazed fans. Can Maggie get to the bottom of this homicide without getting herself in trouble along the way?
This is the second in a series but can be read as a stand alone. I didn’t know that when I picked it, but I didn’t have any issues following along & I fully plan to go back and read book 1!
August 13, 2024
Swamp Princess was a cute and cozy mystery!
I haven't read the first one yet (Gator Queen) and while I think it would have helped me understand the characters quicker I think it's fine that I didn't read them in order.
Maggie is a guest speaker at a cryptid conference. She also had the opportunity to take guests on a walk through nature and unfortunately a famous person in the Bigfoot community keels over and dies. Maggie and her friend (or should I say more than a friend?!), Jack, go on a deep dive to try to figure the case out.
I enjoyed the storyline and I learned a thing or two about Bigfoot while reading this!
Thank you NetGalley and 8th Note Press for the e-ARC in exchange for my review. I look forward to reading Gator Queen and seeing what other books Tara Lush writes for this series.
I haven't read the first one yet (Gator Queen) and while I think it would have helped me understand the characters quicker I think it's fine that I didn't read them in order.
Maggie is a guest speaker at a cryptid conference. She also had the opportunity to take guests on a walk through nature and unfortunately a famous person in the Bigfoot community keels over and dies. Maggie and her friend (or should I say more than a friend?!), Jack, go on a deep dive to try to figure the case out.
I enjoyed the storyline and I learned a thing or two about Bigfoot while reading this!
Thank you NetGalley and 8th Note Press for the e-ARC in exchange for my review. I look forward to reading Gator Queen and seeing what other books Tara Lush writes for this series.
November 14, 2024
Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!
This book is the second book in a series that follows Maggie, an alligator trapper who keeps finding herself in sticky situations. Her twin sister owns a bookstore and is invited to sell her books at a Bigfoot convention. Maggie is invited to give talks about Florida wildlife, on one of those walks someone drops dead and Maggie has to solve the murder.
I really enjoy this series! We have a lot of fun and humor sprinkled throughout. Maggie is a fun character to follow and I like the other characters throughout too. I love alligators so I love the gator stories throughout the book.
The mystery kept me interested as well. I called the killer early but that’s ok, I was still interested.
I would definitely recommend this book to everyone!
This book is the second book in a series that follows Maggie, an alligator trapper who keeps finding herself in sticky situations. Her twin sister owns a bookstore and is invited to sell her books at a Bigfoot convention. Maggie is invited to give talks about Florida wildlife, on one of those walks someone drops dead and Maggie has to solve the murder.
I really enjoy this series! We have a lot of fun and humor sprinkled throughout. Maggie is a fun character to follow and I like the other characters throughout too. I love alligators so I love the gator stories throughout the book.
The mystery kept me interested as well. I called the killer early but that’s ok, I was still interested.
I would definitely recommend this book to everyone!
August 10, 2024
Swamp Princess is the second book in the Critter and Criminal series by Tara Lush.
I absolutely loved Gator Queen and this book was so good!
I love how this is a cozy mystery romance. Yes, romance, and I am all hear for Maggie and Jack.
There is a Bigfoot (criptid) conference in town and Maggie has been asked to speak as a Gator expert.
While on a walking tour, there is a murder. All eyes are on Maggie, so she decides to poke around.
I really enjoy Maggie and her twin sister Maggie's relationship; they could not be any more different.
The mystery is really well done, and the romance has a little spice. I love how the author incorporates these genres in such a flawless way.
This is a book and series not to miss! I am telling you; you need read this !
I absolutely loved Gator Queen and this book was so good!
I love how this is a cozy mystery romance. Yes, romance, and I am all hear for Maggie and Jack.
There is a Bigfoot (criptid) conference in town and Maggie has been asked to speak as a Gator expert.
While on a walking tour, there is a murder. All eyes are on Maggie, so she decides to poke around.
I really enjoy Maggie and her twin sister Maggie's relationship; they could not be any more different.
The mystery is really well done, and the romance has a little spice. I love how the author incorporates these genres in such a flawless way.
This is a book and series not to miss! I am telling you; you need read this !
August 13, 2024
We are back in Wahoo, Florida with Maggie and Vera Andrews. They own a romance bookstore and a gator trapping business. Maggie has been invited to talk at a Bigfoot convention. Maggie takes some bigfoot enthusiasts on a critter walk. When a social media bigfoot influencer arrives late and loud. She keeps interrupting Maggie. When Maggie is about to lose it. Kristi Claus the influencer starts to head to a gator nest and then collapses and starts convulsing. Maggie has to wrangle the gator while the paramedics take Kristi away. When they later learn Kristi died. Jack & Maggie decide to investigate.
This book hooked me right away and had me laughing out loud. I loved the chemistry between Jack & Maggie. I just love this series and can't wait to read more.
This book hooked me right away and had me laughing out loud. I loved the chemistry between Jack & Maggie. I just love this series and can't wait to read more.
August 11, 2024
Swamp Princess starts back off a couple weeks after Maggie helped find the killer of another Gator Hunter. Maggie has been invited to give a tour of the local wildlife and vegetation at a Bigfoot Convention. Everything is going well, until a Bigfoot hunter ends up dead on her walk and the death was filmed live on social media. Now with conspiracy theorist thinking Maggie may have had a hand in the murder, Maggie and Jack must navigate the crazy world of cryptids to find the killer.
I was so excited to be invited to read Swamp Princess. I loved Gator Queen and immediately started reading this book when it reached my inbox. This book was so ridiculous, and I loved every second of it. The Bigfoot convention was the perfect place for an investigation, and I enjoyed reading about Maggie and Jack's shenanigans as they tried to find the killer. The book delves deeper into the relationship of Maggie and Jack as well as the relationship between Vera and the detective. I loved the evolving relationships between these two couples, and I am excited to see where they go in future books.
The Critters and Criminals series is quickly becoming one of my favorite cozy mystery series of the year and will be impatiently waiting for book 3.
Swamp Princess comes out on August 20th.
Thank you to NetGalley and 8th Note Press for the opportunity to review Swamp Princess. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I was so excited to be invited to read Swamp Princess. I loved Gator Queen and immediately started reading this book when it reached my inbox. This book was so ridiculous, and I loved every second of it. The Bigfoot convention was the perfect place for an investigation, and I enjoyed reading about Maggie and Jack's shenanigans as they tried to find the killer. The book delves deeper into the relationship of Maggie and Jack as well as the relationship between Vera and the detective. I loved the evolving relationships between these two couples, and I am excited to see where they go in future books.
The Critters and Criminals series is quickly becoming one of my favorite cozy mystery series of the year and will be impatiently waiting for book 3.
Swamp Princess comes out on August 20th.
Thank you to NetGalley and 8th Note Press for the opportunity to review Swamp Princess. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 17, 2024
This is Book #2 in the cozy mystery series. I liked the first book so I was looking forward to this one. We’re back in Wahoo, FL and Maggie ‘the gator queen’ is a speaker at a Bigfoot convention. While on her guided ‘gator’ walk, a woman dies. It was a fun cozy mystery. The topic of Bigfoot was a bit bizarre but entertaining. I loved the romance and the mystery had the usual suspects. I loved Tara Lush’s previous cozy mystery series (about coffee) a lot more but this series is fun too! Can’t wait to read the next book in this series.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
August 20, 2024
I’m always a little iffy of sequels, especially because vividly remember how much I loved Gator Queen, but this author did not disappoint!! I couldn’t put this book down for two days straight. The writing is so addictive and action packed, but the characters are so genuine and loving. I’d love for the next book to be about Vera’s love story.
August 8, 2024
"Swamp Princess (Critters and Criminals #2)" by Tara Lush brings us back to Maggie's life in Florida with her twin sister, Vera, and their tenant/neighbor, Jack. She spend a lot of time with Jack. I think it's okay to call him her boyfriend/gentleman friend (since some people have an issue with the term boyfriend when they get past age 25) and they're really into only seeing each other. This book boarders a bit more on the romance side than the first one. It gets a bit more spicy but still on the cozier side of romance than full blown romance. Very much more of a cozy mystery though.
They are at a Bigfoot Convention that's in town. Maggie is there to talk about Florida wildlife and Vera is selling paranormal romance books in the vendor hall. On a wildlife hike that Maggie is leading, a minor celebrity of the Bigfoot world tags along just to fall ill and die in the middle of the swamp. Of course, this is all live streamed by the victim. The Bigfoot community is torn between believing Maggie had something to do with the death or in love with her because she was there when the victim passed. Maggie is curious on top of wanting to clear her name so she and Jack jump into investigating.
They are at a Bigfoot Convention that's in town. Maggie is there to talk about Florida wildlife and Vera is selling paranormal romance books in the vendor hall. On a wildlife hike that Maggie is leading, a minor celebrity of the Bigfoot world tags along just to fall ill and die in the middle of the swamp. Of course, this is all live streamed by the victim. The Bigfoot community is torn between believing Maggie had something to do with the death or in love with her because she was there when the victim passed. Maggie is curious on top of wanting to clear her name so she and Jack jump into investigating.
December 15, 2024
i am so confused by the ending
September 6, 2024
Mystery novel, but the mystery doesn't make sense?
Characters who annoy the heck out of you.
For me this was hard to get into, there were characters I didn't like at all. The story was hard for me to get into. Being a Florida book, and then with Sasquatch, I thought this would be a funny light mystery book, but it just fell short for me.
Thank you NetGalley and 8th Note Press for my ARC.
Characters who annoy the heck out of you.
For me this was hard to get into, there were characters I didn't like at all. The story was hard for me to get into. Being a Florida book, and then with Sasquatch, I thought this would be a funny light mystery book, but it just fell short for me.
Thank you NetGalley and 8th Note Press for my ARC.
February 4, 2026
✅My thoughts:
The Swamp Princess is a quirky, corny story that makes for a fun ride.
Maggie is trying to run her family’s gator trapping business. When taking a group on a gator expedition, one of the people end up dead.
I enjoy seeing Maggie and Jack working together. There is a spark going on between them for sure. Is their relationship a summer fling? Or, something more?
If you are wanting to relax with a fun, cozy mystery rom-com, The Swamp Princess would be the perfect book for you to pick up.
The Swamp Princess is a quirky, corny story that makes for a fun ride.
Maggie is trying to run her family’s gator trapping business. When taking a group on a gator expedition, one of the people end up dead.
I enjoy seeing Maggie and Jack working together. There is a spark going on between them for sure. Is their relationship a summer fling? Or, something more?
If you are wanting to relax with a fun, cozy mystery rom-com, The Swamp Princess would be the perfect book for you to pick up.
August 26, 2025
Tara Lush delivers another fun, cozy mystery rom-com at a Bigfoot Convention with Gator trapping. on the side.
April 8, 2026
A great second installment! I love the quirkiness of these books! A Sasquatch convention? Yes please!
August 30, 2024
*I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher; the review is my own.*
3.5 stars
This sequel was on par with the first book, and I'm glad I was able to get a copy (thank you, 8th Note Press!) so I could continue the story. It was fun with a cute romance (or two), reptiles, crazy Bigfoot fans, and crime. In addition to trapping alligators, Maggie gets involved in another murder investigation when a social media influencer in the Bigfoot world dies on a nature walk she's guiding.
I'm not typically an age-gap romance reader, but I really do like Maggie (25) and Jack (35--finally got an age!). He's rather self-conscious about being older than she is, but it's pretty adorable. She's confident in who she is, including all her quirks, and he's crazy about all of her. We also get a little bit more progress on a relationship between Vera (25) and Alex (29), who are pretty much the opposite of Maggie and Jack. Vera and Alex are a lot more shy and unsure of each other's feelings, but I like them together, too.
This book focuses more on the relationship between Maggie and Vera, as well. They have to learn how to navigate the separate aspects of their lives, which is good.
Only one thing about the writing really sticks out as something that bothered me. Jack and Alex included "bro," "man," and "bruh" in their dialogue so much in this book that I thought they were trying to be honorary members of my teenagers' generation. I don't recall them speaking that way in the first book, and it was just odd to have it in this one. Not a deal breaker, though.
Although the book doesn't end with a cliffhanger, I definitely feel that there's room for more and hope that there's at least a third book. I would absolutely read it.
How it ends:
Note: Some swearing. I can't remember if this one had any f words in it--if it did, there was maybe one. Some sensuality. Closed-door sex.
3.5 stars
This sequel was on par with the first book, and I'm glad I was able to get a copy (thank you, 8th Note Press!) so I could continue the story. It was fun with a cute romance (or two), reptiles, crazy Bigfoot fans, and crime. In addition to trapping alligators, Maggie gets involved in another murder investigation when a social media influencer in the Bigfoot world dies on a nature walk she's guiding.
I'm not typically an age-gap romance reader, but I really do like Maggie (25) and Jack (35--finally got an age!). He's rather self-conscious about being older than she is, but it's pretty adorable. She's confident in who she is, including all her quirks, and he's crazy about all of her. We also get a little bit more progress on a relationship between Vera (25) and Alex (29), who are pretty much the opposite of Maggie and Jack. Vera and Alex are a lot more shy and unsure of each other's feelings, but I like them together, too.
This book focuses more on the relationship between Maggie and Vera, as well. They have to learn how to navigate the separate aspects of their lives, which is good.
Only one thing about the writing really sticks out as something that bothered me. Jack and Alex included "bro," "man," and "bruh" in their dialogue so much in this book that I thought they were trying to be honorary members of my teenagers' generation. I don't recall them speaking that way in the first book, and it was just odd to have it in this one. Not a deal breaker, though.
Although the book doesn't end with a cliffhanger, I definitely feel that there's room for more and hope that there's at least a third book. I would absolutely read it.
How it ends:
Note: Some swearing. I can't remember if this one had any f words in it--if it did, there was maybe one. Some sensuality. Closed-door sex.
September 1, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and to 8th Note Press for the ARC of Swamp Princess by Tara Lush.
I absolutely adored the first book in this series and thought it was a great start to a new cozy mystery series. As someone who lived in Florida for five years, and who is writing this while watching the new Florida based show Bad Monkey, I think the setting is really unique and really encompasses the expectations of Florida Man and associated crimes. Sometimes I'll start a cozy series and think, but this town is so nice, why does the protagonist keep finding dead bodies?! Not in the Critters and Criminals series! It makes total sense that there will be random murders all over because Florida.
I want to say this one is 3.5 stars, only because I think character growth stuttered/stalled a bit here in a way that held the story itself back. At first, the death of a famous cryptid influencer while on a nature walk with Maggie was a great start to another compelling mystery - but it seemed like the story kept getting stuck on her relationships with Jack and her sister, both of which felt really forced. Vera's disappointment and shaming of Maggie in every joint scene felt so disjointed. I know Vera is more sensitive and insecure, but nothing about their relationship in this story felt loving, and Vera's odd ways of acting like book characters was kind of offputting. She just felt very flat in this one until the very end. Nick and Maggie, while making progress in their relationship is great, seemed a bit childish together as a couple. They seemed a lot more like teenagers trying to sneak away to be together than actual adults. I get why they were curious about the crime, but their actions just felt like "wouldn't it be fun to insert ourselves in this?" when instead, sticking to the "people now think Maggie killed someone because the death was livestreamed and she's on the camera". For Nick, a criminologist, to be so lax about messing around with a police investigation just felt immature. Maggie too seemed to be pretty centrally focused on herself or herself/Nick.
I did like the mystery a lot - and the very, very Florida personalities and cryptid enthusiasts. I thought the culminating end scene with the murderer felt a bit forced and oddly violent (especially when one character is being harmed and the other ignores it to do something else), thought the murderer itself made sense.
I'm hoping this is just a growing pain with being early in the series, and that we will see more growth in the characters and their motivations/actions in the next book.
I absolutely adored the first book in this series and thought it was a great start to a new cozy mystery series. As someone who lived in Florida for five years, and who is writing this while watching the new Florida based show Bad Monkey, I think the setting is really unique and really encompasses the expectations of Florida Man and associated crimes. Sometimes I'll start a cozy series and think, but this town is so nice, why does the protagonist keep finding dead bodies?! Not in the Critters and Criminals series! It makes total sense that there will be random murders all over because Florida.
I want to say this one is 3.5 stars, only because I think character growth stuttered/stalled a bit here in a way that held the story itself back. At first, the death of a famous cryptid influencer while on a nature walk with Maggie was a great start to another compelling mystery - but it seemed like the story kept getting stuck on her relationships with Jack and her sister, both of which felt really forced. Vera's disappointment and shaming of Maggie in every joint scene felt so disjointed. I know Vera is more sensitive and insecure, but nothing about their relationship in this story felt loving, and Vera's odd ways of acting like book characters was kind of offputting. She just felt very flat in this one until the very end. Nick and Maggie, while making progress in their relationship is great, seemed a bit childish together as a couple. They seemed a lot more like teenagers trying to sneak away to be together than actual adults. I get why they were curious about the crime, but their actions just felt like "wouldn't it be fun to insert ourselves in this?" when instead, sticking to the "people now think Maggie killed someone because the death was livestreamed and she's on the camera". For Nick, a criminologist, to be so lax about messing around with a police investigation just felt immature. Maggie too seemed to be pretty centrally focused on herself or herself/Nick.
I did like the mystery a lot - and the very, very Florida personalities and cryptid enthusiasts. I thought the culminating end scene with the murderer felt a bit forced and oddly violent (especially when one character is being harmed and the other ignores it to do something else), thought the murderer itself made sense.
I'm hoping this is just a growing pain with being early in the series, and that we will see more growth in the characters and their motivations/actions in the next book.
August 16, 2024
Cozy-ish Mystery in which a Florida woman who runs a gator trapping business turns sleuth after a cryptozoology influencer and Bigfoot hunter dies suspiciously.
4/5 stars: This is the second entry in Lush's Critters and Criminals series, which is a Cozy-ish Mystery that takes place in Florida and features a former zookeeper who's juggling running her alligator trapping business, helping her twin sister's romance bookstore and trying to figure out her “relationship" with a tattooed criminology professor. When a cryptozoology influencer looking for Bigfoot ends up dead she turns sleuth to investigate. With plenty of twists and turns, Lush has crafted a mystery that deftly balances the suspects, clues and red herrings and will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. With wit and humor, Lush's writing and character work are excellent; the characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable. It's fun to catch up with Maggie, her twin Vera, their friends and family. I also like seeing Maggie's relationship with Jack, who's writing a book about serial killers, progressing. (Be aware the romance is pretty steamy.) And of course one can't forget Maggie's cat, Casty Cline and Harry the iguana. Plus I really enjoy the wildlife info, gator wrangling and Chubbs the golf course gator. While you could read this as a stand-alone, you'll gain so much more by reading the series from the beginning; so be sure to pick up book one, Gator Queen.
I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and 8th Note Press in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.
4/5 stars: This is the second entry in Lush's Critters and Criminals series, which is a Cozy-ish Mystery that takes place in Florida and features a former zookeeper who's juggling running her alligator trapping business, helping her twin sister's romance bookstore and trying to figure out her “relationship" with a tattooed criminology professor. When a cryptozoology influencer looking for Bigfoot ends up dead she turns sleuth to investigate. With plenty of twists and turns, Lush has crafted a mystery that deftly balances the suspects, clues and red herrings and will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. With wit and humor, Lush's writing and character work are excellent; the characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable. It's fun to catch up with Maggie, her twin Vera, their friends and family. I also like seeing Maggie's relationship with Jack, who's writing a book about serial killers, progressing. (Be aware the romance is pretty steamy.) And of course one can't forget Maggie's cat, Casty Cline and Harry the iguana. Plus I really enjoy the wildlife info, gator wrangling and Chubbs the golf course gator. While you could read this as a stand-alone, you'll gain so much more by reading the series from the beginning; so be sure to pick up book one, Gator Queen.
I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and 8th Note Press in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.
September 5, 2024
*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*
Twins Maggie and Vera Andrews are not only juggling their newly opened romance bookstore and thriving gator trapper business, but with the Bigfoot convention in their hometown of Wahoo, Florida a whole other world has opened up in front of their very eyes. Vera struggles to keep up with demands for supernatural romance books and Maggie has been invited to lead a gator-themed nature walk and seminar.
However, things start to go south when a popular Bigfoot influencer dies in Maggie's arms during her hike-- suddenly, the tight knit cryptid community starts to point fingers on who could have killed the beloved (and controversial) cryptozoologist and secrets from the past begin bubbling to the surface. Maggie finds herself, once again, in the middle of a murder investigation against her will; but this time her own personal life, and relationships, may suffer because of it.
Another fun installment to the Criminals and Critters series, SWAMP PRINCESS did not disappoint in the creative cozy mystery department. I loved the creativity of setting the story at a Bigfoot convention-- it was such a fun way to introduce a unique cast of characters and keep the story fresh. I'm a huge fan of the recent group of 'modern' cozy mysteries, and this was a fantastic addition to the collection!
Twins Maggie and Vera Andrews are not only juggling their newly opened romance bookstore and thriving gator trapper business, but with the Bigfoot convention in their hometown of Wahoo, Florida a whole other world has opened up in front of their very eyes. Vera struggles to keep up with demands for supernatural romance books and Maggie has been invited to lead a gator-themed nature walk and seminar.
However, things start to go south when a popular Bigfoot influencer dies in Maggie's arms during her hike-- suddenly, the tight knit cryptid community starts to point fingers on who could have killed the beloved (and controversial) cryptozoologist and secrets from the past begin bubbling to the surface. Maggie finds herself, once again, in the middle of a murder investigation against her will; but this time her own personal life, and relationships, may suffer because of it.
Another fun installment to the Criminals and Critters series, SWAMP PRINCESS did not disappoint in the creative cozy mystery department. I loved the creativity of setting the story at a Bigfoot convention-- it was such a fun way to introduce a unique cast of characters and keep the story fresh. I'm a huge fan of the recent group of 'modern' cozy mysteries, and this was a fantastic addition to the collection!
January 24, 2025
Thank you, NetGalley, Publishers, and Tara Lush, for gifting me a copy of Swamp Princess in return for my honest opinion.
3/5 stars
Maggie has a lot on her plate. She barely has time for herself between her gator business, helping her sister with her newly opened romance book store, and balancing a new relationship. But when she is invited to speak at a Big Foot Conference on the dangers of hunting them in alligator-infested water. While on her walk, one of the members drops dead. Maggie is back on the case with her trusty partner, Jack, who is there to help!
What I liked
- I loved Maggie! She is such a strong, independent, and leading lady. She is very aware that she should not be sleuthing alone, and she rarely, if ever, does it! This is usually one of my least favorite parts of cozies: how the person realizes who the killer is and is immediately put in danger. But not my girl Maggie! She is a sharp cookie, on top of her game, and knows when she needs help!
- The plot is well written and kept me entertained throughout. It also made me guess who the killer was.
What I didn't enjoy
- Maggies twin sister, Vera, is still very much annoying. At least by the end she seemed to realize how obnoxious she is. Lets see if she changes in the next book.
I didn't find myself enjoying this one as much as I did the first one. To me this one was just ok. I will still read the next one if it comes out because I really am enjoying Maggie as a character.
3/5 stars
Maggie has a lot on her plate. She barely has time for herself between her gator business, helping her sister with her newly opened romance book store, and balancing a new relationship. But when she is invited to speak at a Big Foot Conference on the dangers of hunting them in alligator-infested water. While on her walk, one of the members drops dead. Maggie is back on the case with her trusty partner, Jack, who is there to help!
What I liked
- I loved Maggie! She is such a strong, independent, and leading lady. She is very aware that she should not be sleuthing alone, and she rarely, if ever, does it! This is usually one of my least favorite parts of cozies: how the person realizes who the killer is and is immediately put in danger. But not my girl Maggie! She is a sharp cookie, on top of her game, and knows when she needs help!
- The plot is well written and kept me entertained throughout. It also made me guess who the killer was.
What I didn't enjoy
- Maggies twin sister, Vera, is still very much annoying. At least by the end she seemed to realize how obnoxious she is. Lets see if she changes in the next book.
I didn't find myself enjoying this one as much as I did the first one. To me this one was just ok. I will still read the next one if it comes out because I really am enjoying Maggie as a character.
August 20, 2024
4.25 STARS!
Maggie, the Gator Queen is once again at the right place, at the wrong time! In the 2nd book in this series, Maggie is once again looking into a mysterious murder. What started as a work conference, speaking at the Florida Bigfoot Conference, and snacking on a yummy bigfoot pretzel, soon turns into watching a young woman mysteriously die. Maggie, Jack, Alex and Vera are together once again, and the investigation commences!
I read the first book Gator Queen, I enjoyed that book, but I like this story even more. I don't think you need to read the first book to enjoy the 2nd book in the series. The stories are different, and you get enough background enabling the reader to jump into the second book.
I am not usually a fan of cozy mysteries, I usually find them corny, and the dialogue silly. But not with this author. She writes a smart cozy mystery, with a bit of slow-burn romance, plenty of humor, and a little gator-catching thrown in too. I enjoy the dialogue, the characters, and the mystery. The Florida Bigfoot Conference (Yes it's real!), makes for an interesting background, and itself a character in this book.
This truly is a feel-good, smartly written, cozy mystery. I look forward to more books in this series, and visiting these characters and their relationships more in the future.
Thank you Netgalley for providing the eARC for review!
Maggie, the Gator Queen is once again at the right place, at the wrong time! In the 2nd book in this series, Maggie is once again looking into a mysterious murder. What started as a work conference, speaking at the Florida Bigfoot Conference, and snacking on a yummy bigfoot pretzel, soon turns into watching a young woman mysteriously die. Maggie, Jack, Alex and Vera are together once again, and the investigation commences!
I read the first book Gator Queen, I enjoyed that book, but I like this story even more. I don't think you need to read the first book to enjoy the 2nd book in the series. The stories are different, and you get enough background enabling the reader to jump into the second book.
I am not usually a fan of cozy mysteries, I usually find them corny, and the dialogue silly. But not with this author. She writes a smart cozy mystery, with a bit of slow-burn romance, plenty of humor, and a little gator-catching thrown in too. I enjoy the dialogue, the characters, and the mystery. The Florida Bigfoot Conference (Yes it's real!), makes for an interesting background, and itself a character in this book.
This truly is a feel-good, smartly written, cozy mystery. I look forward to more books in this series, and visiting these characters and their relationships more in the future.
Thank you Netgalley for providing the eARC for review!
September 24, 2024
Gators do not stand a chance when Maggie is around. Nor do murders when Maggie’s talents are enlisted for a Sasquatch convention. Her first job is a nature walk that is hijacked by a celebrity podcaster who is acting dangerously and erratically just before she drops dead. It doesn’t take long to learn she was poisoned but the big question is by whom. The deceased was gorgeous and used her looks to scam and manipulate as she clawed her way to the top. She left a heap of steaming animosity in her wake. Maggie’s natural curiosity has her wondering what happened but when gossip starts to build that she might have played a part, she becomes determined to find the killer.
Once again she has a partner in crime, and other things, in writer Jack. The two investigate together and apart and they are a team that can get into a whole lot of trouble. Her twin, Vera, plays straight woman trying to convinced Maggie to stop snooping. Maggie and Jack are convinced they know who committed the murder but need a way to get the villain to confess. They come up with a hairball scheme that, naturally, goes awry. In the wake of it, there is a very exciting but funny “take down”
The series is batting two for two with five purrs and two paws up.
Once again she has a partner in crime, and other things, in writer Jack. The two investigate together and apart and they are a team that can get into a whole lot of trouble. Her twin, Vera, plays straight woman trying to convinced Maggie to stop snooping. Maggie and Jack are convinced they know who committed the murder but need a way to get the villain to confess. They come up with a hairball scheme that, naturally, goes awry. In the wake of it, there is a very exciting but funny “take down”
The series is batting two for two with five purrs and two paws up.
September 29, 2024
This is the second book in the Critters and Criminals series by Tara Lush, and what a fun, unique premise for a mystery novel. We follow Maggie, the Gator Queen, who has been invited to speak about the dangers of cryptid hunting in gator-infested water. Maggie begrudgingly accepts the gig, only to have a famous cryptid hunter die suddenly on a small expedition into the swamp. Together with her sister, Vera, and her love interest, Jack, Maggie investigates the mysterious death and finds out some shocking information along the way.
Swamp Princess was a bit of a step outside my comfort zone, as it's my first mystery read, but I just couldn't resist the title, setting, and cover. Everything about the initial impression of this book sucked me in, and I'm glad it did. It was a fun, quick read that made the perfect palate-cleanser after finishing up some fantasy reads. It's categorized as a cozy mystery and I think that's fitting. Despite the underlying murder mystery theme, there's also some gator-wrangling, some humor, and some romance to lighten the tone. The pace of the story is a nice medium- not too fast but not boring, and the characters are likeable. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for the next book in the series.
Swamp Princess was a bit of a step outside my comfort zone, as it's my first mystery read, but I just couldn't resist the title, setting, and cover. Everything about the initial impression of this book sucked me in, and I'm glad it did. It was a fun, quick read that made the perfect palate-cleanser after finishing up some fantasy reads. It's categorized as a cozy mystery and I think that's fitting. Despite the underlying murder mystery theme, there's also some gator-wrangling, some humor, and some romance to lighten the tone. The pace of the story is a nice medium- not too fast but not boring, and the characters are likeable. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for the next book in the series.
August 21, 2024
Swamp Princess
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“ Maggie Andrews is swamped—literally—as she tries to balance running her family's gator trapping business, "defining the relationship" with tattooed professor Jack Bianchi, and helping her twin sister Vera with her bookstore.
When she's invited to speak at a conference about the dangers hunting for cryptids in gator-infested waters, she assumes it's a joke she doesn't have time for. But it's all too real; hundreds of Bigfoot fans are sure that their monster has migrated to the swamps of Florida. Against her better judgement, Maggie agrees to lead a group of them on a small expedition. And it's going well—until a cryptozoology influencer ends up dead.”
This was the first book I finished in awhile due to life but man o man I couldn’t put it down once I started it. Tara Lush wrote another wonderful book. This series is awesome. I love the way the characters are written and the setting is amazing. I want to go to Wahoo and hang out in the bookstore and be friend with Maggie and Vera. I can’t wait to see what comes next in the bigger picture for them. Highly recommend this book and this series.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“ Maggie Andrews is swamped—literally—as she tries to balance running her family's gator trapping business, "defining the relationship" with tattooed professor Jack Bianchi, and helping her twin sister Vera with her bookstore.
When she's invited to speak at a conference about the dangers hunting for cryptids in gator-infested waters, she assumes it's a joke she doesn't have time for. But it's all too real; hundreds of Bigfoot fans are sure that their monster has migrated to the swamps of Florida. Against her better judgement, Maggie agrees to lead a group of them on a small expedition. And it's going well—until a cryptozoology influencer ends up dead.”
This was the first book I finished in awhile due to life but man o man I couldn’t put it down once I started it. Tara Lush wrote another wonderful book. This series is awesome. I love the way the characters are written and the setting is amazing. I want to go to Wahoo and hang out in the bookstore and be friend with Maggie and Vera. I can’t wait to see what comes next in the bigger picture for them. Highly recommend this book and this series.
August 27, 2024
Tara Lush does it again with her second novel in the Gator Queen cozy mystery series!
Swamp Princess takes us back to Wahoo, Florida with our favorite familiar faces and some new kookie characters. Maggie our resident gator trapper has been invited to present at a Bigfoot convention of all places. During her guided nature walk, tragedy strikes again and one of the biggest Bigfoot influencers live streams her own suspicious death. Being involved in yet another strange murder Maggie enlists the help of her not quite boyfriend but not just a friend, Jack. Not only does she need to figure out what happened to dead influencer but she also needs to see where she and Jack stand.
This was a fantastic second novel. It brought back all my favorite characters and expanded on the world building of the first novel while keeping the mystery fresh and fun. The romance between Maggie and Jack was again a fantastic take on the typical cozy mystery romance. I'm glad to see Vera move on from her experience in the last book but she still has some room for personal growth that I hope to see in coming books. This is quickly becoming one of my favorite cozy mystery series.
Swamp Princess takes us back to Wahoo, Florida with our favorite familiar faces and some new kookie characters. Maggie our resident gator trapper has been invited to present at a Bigfoot convention of all places. During her guided nature walk, tragedy strikes again and one of the biggest Bigfoot influencers live streams her own suspicious death. Being involved in yet another strange murder Maggie enlists the help of her not quite boyfriend but not just a friend, Jack. Not only does she need to figure out what happened to dead influencer but she also needs to see where she and Jack stand.
This was a fantastic second novel. It brought back all my favorite characters and expanded on the world building of the first novel while keeping the mystery fresh and fun. The romance between Maggie and Jack was again a fantastic take on the typical cozy mystery romance. I'm glad to see Vera move on from her experience in the last book but she still has some room for personal growth that I hope to see in coming books. This is quickly becoming one of my favorite cozy mystery series.
September 26, 2024
I believe I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again: I will read any cozy mysteries Tara Lush writes.
I read Gator Queen earlier this summer, and I was so excited to be back in Wahoo again. Only this time, we got to hang out at a Bigfoot convention!
Lush’s premise lends itself to an incredibly fun ride. It can be slightly absurd at times, but I’ve no problem suspending my disbelief.
Maggie and Vera’s relationship was one of my favorite parts of Gator Queen, so I was a little bummed that there seemed to be so much tension between them here. However, the source of this tension is eventually revealed and by the end, we do see that even though there may be some unresolved issues, these sisters will always be there for each other, no matter what.
I also enjoyed getting a bit more about Jack’s past and watching his relationship with Vera develop.
All in all, this was a really fun trip back to Wahoo and hopefully not the last we hear from the Gator Queen.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC!
I read Gator Queen earlier this summer, and I was so excited to be back in Wahoo again. Only this time, we got to hang out at a Bigfoot convention!
Lush’s premise lends itself to an incredibly fun ride. It can be slightly absurd at times, but I’ve no problem suspending my disbelief.
Maggie and Vera’s relationship was one of my favorite parts of Gator Queen, so I was a little bummed that there seemed to be so much tension between them here. However, the source of this tension is eventually revealed and by the end, we do see that even though there may be some unresolved issues, these sisters will always be there for each other, no matter what.
I also enjoyed getting a bit more about Jack’s past and watching his relationship with Vera develop.
All in all, this was a really fun trip back to Wahoo and hopefully not the last we hear from the Gator Queen.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC!
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