Murder At The Bake Sale

Maya and Sandra Mystery #2

by Lee Hollis

Maya and Sandra are friends, fellow moms, and private-detective partners in the picturesque waterfront city of Portland—where sometimes their cases can get as rocky as the Maine coast . . .

While private investigator Maya Kendrick is still mentoring her new partner, PTA president Sandra Wallage, in the detective game, the two women don’t need incredible powers of deduction to know their marriages are on the rocks. With Maya’s ex-cop husband in prison and Sandra’s senator spouse separated from her, both find themselves investigating the dating scene. Until Diego Sanchez turns up dead. The flirtatious high school Spanish teacher who had eyes for Maya was poisoned by cookies from a bake sale fundraiser for a Portland High class trip to Spain.

Hired by the students to find out who killed their popular and beloved teacher—including their own children—Maya and Sandra get a real education in parenting, relationships, and murder as their search for whodunit leads them deep into the unpleasant realities found in the small town politics and gossip of their Maine community . . .

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Audiobook, Fiction, Contemporary

314 pages, Paperback

First published November 30, 2021

About the author

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

Reviews

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder at the Bake Sale is the second book in the Maya and Sandra Mysteries written by Lee Hollis. In this caper, the two investigators are hired by their children to investigate what happened to everyone's favorite Spanish teacher. Diego was late to a first date with Maya, and when she tracked him down, the man had been killed by someone already. Why would they go after a hottie, Maya wonders... it seems he was a little too close to some gossip on another teacher or student and was trying to get the situation under control. Except his murderer took Diego out before the teacher could reveal the truth. Another teacher having an affair with a student? A student with an obsession? A jilted lover? A senator involved in college entry scams? Lots going on... apropos storyline, and ultimately, it kept my interest. Except two stories fizzled out... they were side stories but why would the senator have Sandra talk to her in front of her husband, if there were secrets? Plus, what happened with the Russian exchange student. Too many open-ended plot points, so I settled on 4 stars. Already ordered the third in series to start soon.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder At The Bake Sale by Lee Hollis is the second book in the cozy Maya and Sandra Mystery series. As with most cozy mysteries the Maya and Sandra Mystery series is one that has a fully solved murder within each book so they can be read as a standalone or in any order if choosing to do so. There will be of course be character development that carries over from book to book for those reading from the beginning.

The Maya and Sandra Mystery series is a little different than your average cozy in the fact it has two lead characters and changes the point of view between them to give both sides to the story. Sandra Wallage is a housewife and the PTA president that is married to a scandalous politician. Maya Kendrick is a an ex cop whose husband went to prison and now had become a private investigator that has a huge workload with her partner being pregnant and close to giving birth.

When Sandra’s husband became a victim of a gossipy website called Dirty Laundry outing him as a cheater and then the woman running the Dirty Laundry website was murdered it brought Sandra and Maya together to work the case. After that was solved Sandra found she enjoyed helping Maya and proposed being her new partner. Now the ladies are taking on a new case when hired by the students at their kids high school after the spanish teacher, Diego Sanchez, was found murdered after the high school bake sale.

I will admit that I wasn’t totally sure if I would enjoy The Maya and Sandra Mystery series when I first dove in with book one. The series is a cozy with some humor but along with having two main characters that alternate the point of view it’s also a little different in being a little darker than your normal cozy but I was certainly curious having an actual private investigator as one of the main characters so I did return to this second attempt. With my rating of this one being top notch it’s probably obvious that I did enjoy this second book even more than the first and while some may not enjoy the uniqueness of this series I will definitely be returning for more.

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 found the first book in this series a tad too Woke (I think that is the current expression for Politically Correct) for my taste. But after getting past all the PC nonsense I found a fairly good cozy-mystery. I have decided to give this series another shot, oops I meant chance. Don't call me out for my NRA reference, it won't matter to me at all. For some reason I'm just not clicking with this series, even though I absolutely love the Lee Hollis Poppy Harmon Desert Flowers Series.

Maya Kendrick's ex-cop husband is in jail for being a bad boy. Sandra Wallage's husband is the junior Senator from Maine and has cheated on her. As a former detective, Maya has formed a Private Investigation Agency and together she and Sandra solve matters for the Portland, Maine community. It so happens that their kids all attend the same high school, and it seems that the place has quite a few secrets. Both women are struggling with getting on with their lives and dating again, unfortunately neither one has much success.

When Maya is asked out by the hot, charismatic Spanish teacher, he ends up dead before their first date. Maya and Sandra are asked by his students to find out who poisoned his Bake Sale cookies. Sandra also has bad luck with a tech bazzionare but she at least gets a couple of dates before he falls and falls hard and not for Sandra. 3 1/2-Stars

[Jennifer Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maya and Sandra are back and this time they are asked by students to investigate the murder of one of their teachers. Good cozy with laughs along the way. I had a feeling it was going to go a certain way and it pretty much did. I still enjoyed it and look forward to more in this series!

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a weakness when it comes down to cozy mysteries! So earlier this month when I was given the first book in this series and I blew through it I knew I needed more and I jumped at the opportunity to read More of Maya and Sandra!
Maya, an ex-cop, and Sandra, the wife of a political figure, are partners in a private investigator firm! While they don't always have cases they work hard at the ones that they do have along with the ones that kind of just fall into their laps!
Maya's daughter Vanessa's class is having a bake sale to go overseas, while Maya is definitely not a Betty Crocker kind of mom she wanted to show her support and she attempted making cookies for the bake sale. While she is working the bake sale the new Spanish Teacher asks her out on a date, and while she is kinda nervous about the whole dating scene because she is still technically married to her husband in prison. She takes him up on his offer and she goes to the bar to have a drink and she waits and waits but he never shows. Vanessa pushes Maya to go to the teacher's house because she knows him and he would never stand her up on a date. Grudgingly Maya goes to the teacher's house only to find him dead by a box of cookies sold at the bake sale.
While at first, they were not investigating the death, his Spanish class hires Maya and Sandra to solve the case!
While working to solve the case they are also working through personal things such as Sandra getting into the dating field, and Maya figuring out her own feelings about her marriage. Then, other things just happen to come along in the case and more than one person goes down with everything going on at the school! I am in love with this series and will definitely check out some of the other series this author wrote! I love how the author doesn't basically focus on the mystery at hand and shows how the ladies put things together! Such a great series! Thank you Kensington Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to continue on with this series!

[Tari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd forgotten how much fun the first book of this series was since it's been a while since I read it. These two very opposite friends made a heck of a good sleuthing team! And Sandra had grown a little since the first book too seeming more confident and after finding out something in this book, she was more determined to prove she could be a worthy PI partner for her pal Maya who was a former cop and knew exactly how to play things to stay by the book and out of trouble.

Maya cracked me up with her kitchen efforts always backfiring. But just as Sandra was trying very hard at sleuthing, Maya gave it a shot for her daughter's bake sale. Collectively, these two ladies had some pretty cool kids, two of which were dating (Maya's Vanessa and Sandra's Ryan). I know I was suspicious of someone throughout the book for something but never really thought about them being the killer.

The showdown was good with the police getting there in time to haul off the perp. Both Maya and Sandra had a couple of life-changing moments in their individual lives, so it'll be interesting to see how any future books play out.

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

[Cozybooklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most of us know that it's a nervous feeling waiting for a college acceptance letter.
Unfortunately, Sandra & Maya, a duo detective team, find out that some parents feel it's perfectly fine to bribe your child's way in to a prestigious school.
With this comes a murder investigation, accusations and deceit.
Who knew life could be this exciting!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
#MurderattheBakeSale #NetGalley

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Ell · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I see a new book has been released by Lee Hollis, I immediately snatch it up. These books are full of likable characters, good fun, and a clean mystery with pleasing twists and turns. They do not disappoint.

Maya is a private investigator, who’s ex-husband is in prison for being a dirty cop. Sandra is the local PTA president, separated from her arrogant senator husband. Both women have life experience behind them. Both are highly involved in their community, and both have a gift for detecting deception and unraveling the truth.

Together they navigate divorce, caring for children about to enter adulthood, the oft crazy parents and teachers in the PTA, and of course, solving crimes.

In this book, Maya’s and Sandra’s penchant for solving crimes intersects with their deep involvement in local education. It’s the story of a school bake sale fundraiser gone terribly wrong. How the story is told, however, is deliciously right.

My advice is to spoil yourself and dive into Murder at the Bake Sale with a mug of your favorite drink and a delectable baked good. It’s fun, it’s light-hearted, and it’s a real treat.

[June Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lipstick taser?

Now that I have your attention I'll note that though it took me longer to get into this book than expected, once I got into it I was thoroughly into it. I had the advantage of having read the first in the series and found the budding partnership between Maya and Sandra intriguing, so it was doubly interesting to see how it had progressed. They are definitely an odd couple, with layers of illusion they've garbed themselves with the protect their inner core, layers that are slowly being peeled away in "A Murder at the Bake Sale". I honestly had no clue who the murderer was until the very end. With several parallel stories drawn from both the political and real world, There are many, many things going on within the larger whole. The relationships Maya and Sandra have with their husbands is given a bit more emphasis here, with decisions being made that will impact more than just Maya and Sandra. One of my main takeaways from the book is how the smallest action or lack of action can impact so many, ranging from high school students and school staff to political movers and shakers, not to mention ones own children. Thus, as the book wound up some loose ends, I couldn't help feeling both satisfied and sad. Real life has a way of doing that and author Lee Hollis pulls us into not just Maya and Sandra's worlds but the world and people about them. Despite it taking me awhile to get into the book, which may be as much my fault as the plot, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and ultimately went with the five star rating. I came away thinking of, well, so many things and looking forward to the next visit to Maya and Sandra. One of the things I'm thinking of, of course, is that darn lipstick taser. While I'm checking on where to buy one, make sure you add this one to your "To Be Read" list.

Thank you #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks for the Arc.

[Karen Stallman · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Murder at the Bake Sale" the 2nd instalment in the "A Maya and Sandra Mystery" by Lee Hollis.

Maya and Sandra are friends, fellow moms, and private-detective partners in the picturesque waterfront city of Portland—where sometimes their cases can get as rocky as the Maine coast...

I really enjoyed book one and wasn’t disappointed with book two. I really liked seeing how Maya and Sandra are adjusting to being partners in Kendrick Investigations and how much they both have grown personally now that they are single parents. The setting is in Portland, Maine which isn’t really a small town but we get the small town vibes anyway.

The mystery is interesting and well plotted, I kept guessing and second-guessing myself on whodunnit right to the very end. I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Kensington Books and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Stephanie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I honestly don't know how to rate this. This is advertised as a cozy mystery, but I do not agree. The content and plot twists were not within the cozy genre. There was also a plot thread that made me very uncomfortable, and I feel as though the characters' responses were not realistic. I will not be continuing with this series.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Ryan Hoffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maya and Sandra are back in the sequel to Murder at the PTA. Business is slow at the moment but the private investigators \moms are hoping for another case. The biggest thing has been tackling the dating scene. That is until the flirtatious Spanish teacher, Diego Sanchez, is poisoned at the bake sale fundraiser for the class trip to Spain. I really like this story and the characters

[Gretchen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like Sandra and Maya, the two private detectives in this series. They both juggle work and kids. It was interesting to read about the events at the high school their kids attend. The mysteries were clever. I liked how the book ended concerning each woman’s personal life.

[L.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maya and Sandra have a history going way back. to high school, where Maya was the free spirit and Sandra was the "goody two-shoes." Their lives continued on very different tracks but after reconnecting as adults they've found that they're surprisingly simpatico. The latest book in the Maya and Sandra series has them investigating a murder at their alma mater, the high school their children now attend, an investigation that ends up taking a backseat to some more pressing drama in their lives as they both dip their toe into the dating pool.

I've been a huge fan of Lee Hollis since I picked up Death of a Kitchen Diva on Christmas break in 2016 and binge read the first 7 books in the Hayley Powell series. Actually, it turns out I've been a fan of half of Lee Hollis (Rick Copp) since I was a little girl watching episodes of Golden Girls on Friday nights (which I loved even though I didn't get any of the jokes and love even more now that I do!)

There's something about the way these books are written that grabs you by the collar and drags you in. When I read anything by Lee Hollis it's like I'm transported and lose all track of time. This series isn't humorous like the Hayley Powell series is, but it's still very cozy. You can't help but love the characters. Maya is a semi-single mom, raising her daughter and supporting her family alone as her husband serves a prison sentence for corruption (a charge that ended Maya's career as well). Sandra is also a semi-single mom, raising two sons while separated from her Senator husband who spends most of his time in Washington D.C. Though the women are in similar circumstances, things couldn't be more different. Maya is scratching out a living as a private investigator after being forced out of her job as a police officer, while Sandra is living high, still supported by her wealthy husband. But both find great personal reward in investigating and their shared passion, along with their shared trials, give them a unique and strong bond.

The mystery in this book was very interesting and for me the killer came completely out of left field. Though there were little clues along the way, I didn't pick them up. There were also some other things going on in the story that may or may not be connected, which kept me guessing throughout.

I thought this book was great, not only the characters and the mystery but also the growth of the characters and the new directions they're taking in their lives. I really look forward to seeing what happens to them as the series goes on.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

[ellen · Rating 1 out of 5]

The first book of this series was so much better. Not only in the writing, plot, and characters, but the ending was pleasing and compelled me to want to read this next book. For a cozy mystery, this one was just dumb and the culprits in the end didn't justify this long convoluted story that mostly focused on the love lives of our private detectives. Also a bit concerning that Maya AND Sandra weren't as proactive in reporting the inappropriate teacher-student sexual relationship, but were feeling sympathetic (?!) Very confused since Sandra has two teenage-aged sons that go to that same high school.

To paint the student as the "aggressor" is beyond sickening as if the adult teacher not only has power over this student but isn't also the adult in the situation and needs to put a stop to that. To cry to Sandra and Maya as if she was the victim. Ugh.

Society needs to get it together, especially these authors if we keep giving passes to female teachers being predators and sexual groomers of students and that male students should want this. The whole affair was met with such blasé that it soured my reading.

Also, why oh, why is Maya running back to her corrupt, asshole of a husband. FOR LOVE?! All the respect for this woman vanished and is an easy out for her. This same husband ruined her police career and was doing some shady ass shit, but she just loves him and will wait for him. Give me a break. I won't be reading the next as the characters are just evolving into ridiculous silly women tropes.

[Susan Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Princess Fuzzypants here: Former cop Maya and political wife Sandra are an unlikely duo as friends and even more unlikely as partners in Maya’s detective agency. Sandra wants more clout in the partnership but Maya is unwilling to relinquish control. But for all of her background, Sandra turns out to be a strong and savvy lady. The two are going to need all that and more as they search for the killer of a popular high school Spanish teacher.

They are hired by his students who held a bake sale to raise funds for a trip he had planned for the students to Spain. It turns out that the poison that killed him may have come from one of the cookies they were selling. Who wanted the handsome fellow dead and why. There were a lot of ladies who were swooning around him but it was Maya who had caught his eye.

They are going to have to dig deep to find the villain and in the process, they learn more about their own errant husbands than they wish to know. But whatever comes their way, they are more than up to the challenge. Four purrs and two paws up.

[Taryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maya and Sandra are both still working on their relationships but still have to go about their everyday routines. The PTA is holding a bake sale to raise funds to help the Spanish class raise money for a trip to Spain. The Spanish teacher Diego Sanchez is a huge flirt and asks Maya out. Trying to move on from her ex dating is something new for her. When she finds the teacher dead she wonders who in the world would kill him and why. Diego's students hire the ladies to figure out who murdered their teacher and why. The two soon learn more than they bargain for when it comes to the students and their parents. Follow along as the two search for a killer and along the way find out some interesting facts about their town.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed getting to know Maya and Sandra more but felt that this book was focused more on their relationships rather than the mystery. They did solve several cases but it was all bogged down between dates and conversations with exes. The mystery itself was good and I had no idea who the murderer was until the very end but that may be because of all the relationship talk rather than well placed clues. Still, the story flowed well so I will continue with the series but it is not my favorite by this author.

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

[Chelsea · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't think I'll be continuing this series. It's fine but the characters can feel really juvenile or just plain stupid sometimes and it's frustrating. Not sure if they're meant to come off as cute or quirky but I wasn't impressed really. There are a few side plots shoe-horned in and much like the first gets more screen time than the primary murder it feels like. And people are thrown in for convenience sake so it's almost too hard to piece together which just takes the fun out of it.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy reading books by Lee Hollis! This one didn’t fail to disappoint me! Maya and Sandra are cool chicks! If I had one gripe, I’d say that the book could’ve been trimmed down in a few spots. Other than that, I’m looking forward to seeing how these ladies continue their investigating.

[Emily Stiner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is too good! Maya and Sandra are a dynamic duo (good cop, bad cop?) that make these cozy mysteries enjoyable. Definitely my go to when I am in a book slump.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this over two (non-consecutive) days, and I gotta say that’s a complete 180 of an ending! I did not see that coming AT ALL. I also loved all the side dramas all happened around Sandra and Maya. So ready for book three!

[Renee Winter · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I see this author I know I'm in for a treat. This book, the second in the "Maya and Sandra Mystery " series is sheer delight! Great character growth. Plenty of twists and turns. Love the story plot. Ready for book 3! Thanks #netgalley and #Keningston for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.

[Margie · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Murder at the Bake Sale by Lee Hollis, which is the second book in the Maya and Sandra Mystery series, the local high school Spanish teacher is the murder victim. Maya Kendrick who is an ex-police officer and now a private investigator has agreed to let Senator's wife Sandra Wallage assist her in investigations. Maya and Sandra are hired by the high school students to find who poisoned their beloved teacher. The storyline is slow but the book itself is well-written. I prefer a faster pace. Plus there's more about relationships than mystery solving.

I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

peppy, but unrealistic.

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Murder at the Bake Sale is the second installment in the Maya and Sandra Mystery series set in Portland, Maine and featuring the investigating duo of Maya Kendrick and Sandra Wallage. Both ladies are enjoying their newfound partnership and the cases coming along while they attempt to navigate through their personal struggles and raise teenagers. Maya's husband remains behind bars for corruption and Sandra's husband the Senator is staying in DC while the couple determines if their separation will end in divorce.

Longtime South Portland High coach Vinnie Cooper is retiring and being replaced by newcomer Josh Kirby. The new Spanish teacher, Diego Sanchez is causing a stir among the young high school girls and a few of the female teachers. Much to her dismay, Maya finds herself roped into having to participate in the Bake Sale to raise money for an upcoming class trip to Spain, and even more shocked when the hunky Sanchez asks her out on a date. When the teacher doesn't show up for their coffee date, Maya's daughter Vanessa begs her mom to go to his house and check on him. Sadly, Maya discovers the man dead - apparently poisoned by one of the bake sale treats.

Hired by the student's to find their teacher's killer, the duo uncovers several dark and dangerous secrets hidden behind the school walls. An interesting plot that weaves a murder, teenage angst, personal relationships and greed into a well rounded afternoon read.

I received an advanced copy of Murder at the Bake Sale from NetGalley via Kensington Publishing. While not required to write a review I am happy to offer my honest opinion.

[LittleRead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maya and Sandra are both grappling with the same decision…do they divorce their partners or do they stand by their man? When both are asked out on dates, they figure why not? They’ve got to make a decision one way or the other, so why not take the handsome men up on their offer. What’s the worse that could happen?

For Maya, the worst that could, and did, happen is finding her date, the believed Spanish teacher at SOPO, dead at his home when he stood her up. For Sandra, the tech billionaire that asked her out is acharming man and is working hard to impress her, but there’s something has put her off about him just a tiny bit. When the teacher’s students hire Maya and Sandra to find out who killed their favorite teacher, they start seeing a whole other side to some of the parents in their community. But is this reason enough to kill a teacher? That’s what they hope to find out without become another notch in the killers belt.

I am not a big fan of taking on every single topic out in the world within cozies, because I like to escape from said world when I fall into a cozy, but it worked. These books can be read stand alone, but you’ll definitely want to catch up on previous entries. I’ve been reading since the first book dropped and this is one of my must read series and I watch for each new entry as soon as I finish the most recent one…it’s that good.

[Bridget · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one follows on from Lee Hollis's Murder at the PTA which was published last year. Murder at the Bake Sale certainly lived up to my expectations!

The reader soon meets the stars of the show, Maya and Sandra, who went to the same high school. Sandra Wallage is a PTA president and the wife of a Maine Senator, and Maya Kendrick is an ex-police officer turned private investigator and she runs a PI business with Sandra on board, too. In this tale, both Maya and Sandra are dating again as Sandra has separated from Stephen and Maya's husband is in prison for corruption. When Diego Sanchez the Spanish teacher of the women's children, who is attracted to Maya is found dead poisoned by a cookie at a fundraiser, Sandra and Maya don their sleuthing hats...

I love the relationship between Maya and Sandra who are total opposites. There are twists that held my attention and kept me guessing. The mystery was very involved with clues dotted around and the killer was someone I didn't expect. Would I read more in this series from Lee Hollis? An emphatic... yes! 😊

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

[Tyneisha Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bake sale, drama, and a murder await readers in Murder at the Bake Sale by Lee Hollis!

Maya Kendrick and Sandra Wallace are partners /private investigaters. Both of them are going through their own respective troubles with one's ex-husband in prison and the other a popular senator becoming separated from her. Things come to a head when both of them help with their high school kids' fundraiser to raise funds for a class trip to Spain. However the bake sale turns tragic, as the popular high school Spanish teacher turns up dead. Maya and Sandra start an investigation.

It was also touching to see the students of the late Spanish teacher Karma hire Maya and Sandra to find out what happened to him and what causes his death.
We see how Maya and Sandra's partnership really take root in the story as well. Both women have their own trials and troubles in this book it's nice to see them work together on this case.

The cover itself gives a school-like vibe to the story, with the sale taking place in the auditorium and tables filled with scrumptious looking treats for sale.

My thanks to the author for a copy of this book for my review. Here's to more of Maya and Sandra's adventures!