What do you think?
Rate this book
Port Sunset Mysteries #1
Penthouse, Pools, & Poison
When the obnoxious guest in the penthouse is poisoned beside his private pool, my daily planner is turned upside down. I’m Millie Wentworth, Assistant General Manager of the swanky Gulf Palms Resort and Spa and solving the murder shouldn’t be my job, but the only food found near the body is a charcuterie board sent to the victim by yours truly.
The Port Sunset Police are looking my way until a shocking revelation shifts their attention to a friend. Suddenly, cracking the case moves to the top of my to-do list and it’s up to me to find the real killer and clear my friend’s name.
Uncovering the truth should be a breeze with me, my pink-haired grandmother, her rescue corgi, and her crew of fun-loving septuagenarian beach bunnies on the case. What could possibly go wrong?
The Port Sunset Police are looking my way until a shocking revelation shifts their attention to a friend. Suddenly, cracking the case moves to the top of my to-do list and it’s up to me to find the real killer and clear my friend’s name.
Uncovering the truth should be a breeze with me, my pink-haired grandmother, her rescue corgi, and her crew of fun-loving septuagenarian beach bunnies on the case. What could possibly go wrong?
200 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 7, 2021
About the author
Louise Stevens
8 books18 followersThis author is also published under Donna Simonetta.
Louise Stevens is the pen name of contemporary romance author Donna Simonetta. A lover of mysteries since her discovery of Nancy Drew many years ago, she is thrilled to be writing cozy mysteries now. Being the author of the Port Sunset Mysteries series is the fulfillment of a childhood dream.
Louise Stevens is the pen name of contemporary romance author Donna Simonetta. A lover of mysteries since her discovery of Nancy Drew many years ago, she is thrilled to be writing cozy mysteries now. Being the author of the Port Sunset Mysteries series is the fulfillment of a childhood dream.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
November 4, 2021
Millie’s the number one suspect when a penthouse guest is poisoned so she teams up with her grandmother Lulu and her crew of friends plus an adorable corgi to sniff out the murderer. Being the assistant manager of the exclusive Gulf Palms Resort and Spa, Millie Wentworth loves her job, even the occasional disgruntled guest. But when the current penthouse guest is found dead beside his private pool and it turns out to be poison, Millie’s life spirals out of control. First, the police suspect her because it appears he died right after she sent up a lovely tray of meats and cheeses. Talk about awkward. Millie’s no murderer and neither is her friend who gets arrested for the murder. Teaming up with her hip grandmother and her grandmother’s friends, Millie investigates the murder. There are a lot of suspects and alibis to sort through, all with reasons to want the victim dead, but who did the deed? Just as Millie narrows the search, someone tries to run her down in the street. Can she nab the killer before she’s the next victim?
Penthouse, Pools, & Poison is a delightful cozy mystery I couldn’t put down. It has all the qualities of a great cozy: a plucky heroine, a room full of suspects, an exotic setting, an adorable dog, keystone cops, and a mystery to solve. I connected with Millie, and it was so much fun to be a part of the ins and outs of a resort in sunny Florida. The mystery itself was well-written with plenty of twists I didn’t expect. I tried solving the crime before Millie did and trust me, you’ll be hard-pressed to identify the killer. Millie’s grandmother and her crew make this cozy mystery an absolute joy to read. The plot moves at a great pace with a slew of quirky characters to interact with. The ending made me smile and I look forward to reading more in this series. Louise Stevens is a talented writer who weaves words like an artist. From the descriptive narration to the plot progression, from the character development to the humorous dialogue to the antics of the corgi, all blend to make Penthouse, Pools, & Poison one of the best cozy mysteries I’ve ever read. If you’re a cozy reader, you need to read this book. If you’re looking for a fun read to escape the cool weather, dive into Penthouse, Pools, & Poison. I can’t wait for the next book in the series. Highly recommend!
Full disclosure: I edited this book, but it never influenced my honest thoughts of the story. My thoughts are completely my own. I received a copy from the author in the hopes I'd review it.
My Rating: 5+ stars
Reviewed by: Mrs. N
This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...
Penthouse, Pools, & Poison is a delightful cozy mystery I couldn’t put down. It has all the qualities of a great cozy: a plucky heroine, a room full of suspects, an exotic setting, an adorable dog, keystone cops, and a mystery to solve. I connected with Millie, and it was so much fun to be a part of the ins and outs of a resort in sunny Florida. The mystery itself was well-written with plenty of twists I didn’t expect. I tried solving the crime before Millie did and trust me, you’ll be hard-pressed to identify the killer. Millie’s grandmother and her crew make this cozy mystery an absolute joy to read. The plot moves at a great pace with a slew of quirky characters to interact with. The ending made me smile and I look forward to reading more in this series. Louise Stevens is a talented writer who weaves words like an artist. From the descriptive narration to the plot progression, from the character development to the humorous dialogue to the antics of the corgi, all blend to make Penthouse, Pools, & Poison one of the best cozy mysteries I’ve ever read. If you’re a cozy reader, you need to read this book. If you’re looking for a fun read to escape the cool weather, dive into Penthouse, Pools, & Poison. I can’t wait for the next book in the series. Highly recommend!
Full disclosure: I edited this book, but it never influenced my honest thoughts of the story. My thoughts are completely my own. I received a copy from the author in the hopes I'd review it.
My Rating: 5+ stars
Reviewed by: Mrs. N
This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...
Read
October 6, 2021Millie Wentworth is a gem. AS the assistant manager of the Gulf Plam resorts and Spa, she has her pulse on the heartbeat of every guest and staff member. After an obnoxious guest tries her patience to the quick, he's discovered dead in his penthouse suit. Suspicion turns first to Millie, and then to one of her co-workers, a man she knows in her heart couldn't hurt anyone. With the help of her octagenarian grandmother and her merry crew of amateur sleuths, Millie vows to find out who murdered the man and clear her name, the resort's, and her friend's.
Louise Stevens' debut cozy mystery is a gem, too! The writing is fresh and the pace quick. I guessed wrong a few times about who the killer was!!! The cast of characters is fully developed - even the secondary ones - and Millie is a heroine I can get behind and hope to see again in future books. Steven's writing is reminiscent of Agatha Christie of old - quick wit, an intricate plot shot thru with red herrings, a man who needed to be murdered, and a sleuth you can picture youself as! All facets that make this kind of book unputdownable!
5starts for a valiant and well-written debut cozy!
As far as a debut cozy goes, this one is a must-read.
Louise Stevens' debut cozy mystery is a gem, too! The writing is fresh and the pace quick. I guessed wrong a few times about who the killer was!!! The cast of characters is fully developed - even the secondary ones - and Millie is a heroine I can get behind and hope to see again in future books. Steven's writing is reminiscent of Agatha Christie of old - quick wit, an intricate plot shot thru with red herrings, a man who needed to be murdered, and a sleuth you can picture youself as! All facets that make this kind of book unputdownable!
5starts for a valiant and well-written debut cozy!
As far as a debut cozy goes, this one is a must-read.
December 29, 2021
Millie has a nose for the truth and smoothing over ruffled feathers in her job as assistant manager of the resort where she works. When his cantankerous guest is murdered she takes it upon herself to clear the only person in the police sites... even if it has put her directly in the line of sight of the murder.
The supporting cast of characters are a hoot!
The supporting cast of characters are a hoot!
December 19, 2021
This was a fun, fast read, and I didn’t want it to end! Set in a hotel on Florida’s Gulf Coast, this cozy has it all: a puzzling mystery, evocative descriptions, and characters you can really root for. Millie’s observational skills and gumption are laudable, and I can’t wait to tag along for her next adventure. Eagerly awaiting Book 2!
June 21, 2024
This was great! Millie is a relatable character that feels like a real person. She is clever and witty and sometimes funny. Lulu is just a breath of fresh air character that is quite entertaining and free spirited. The characters of this story feel like a warm caring family with lots of spunk and determination.
The resort is a fun location setting for the story. Everything moves at a good pace and I was excited to see what the next chapter would hold.
Fun, entertaining, funny…such a great story and I look forward to continuing on with this series. Two thumbs up for book one!
The resort is a fun location setting for the story. Everything moves at a good pace and I was excited to see what the next chapter would hold.
Fun, entertaining, funny…such a great story and I look forward to continuing on with this series. Two thumbs up for book one!
June 10, 2026
Millie Wentworth has built a good life for herself: as Assistant General Manager at Gulf Palms Resort and Spa, she's known as The Fixer - the person called when something goes wrong. And something has gone terribly wrong: a guest has been murdered. When it becomes apparent that the police have erroneously zeroed in on a staff member as their suspect, Millie, her grandmother Lulu and Lulu's friends set out to find the real killer.
Penthouse, Pools, & Poison is the introduction to the Port Sunset Mysteries, a cosy series set at a resort in Florida. The beautiful setting, the intriguing characters, and the twisty mystery all made this a win for me.
Penthouse, Pools, & Poison is the introduction to the Port Sunset Mysteries, a cosy series set at a resort in Florida. The beautiful setting, the intriguing characters, and the twisty mystery all made this a win for me.
April 5, 2023
I absolutely loved Millie's grandma and her friends! They were so funny sometimes, but they were able to sleuth without people noticing them much. This was a twisty mystery with all kinds of possibilities, an exciting ending and an adorable dog, Spud too! I loved that a true creep of a perp had gotten their comeuppance, and it was pretty sweet that Millie had a nice guy interested in her too!
July 12, 2026
I enjoyed this book.
This is a new to me author but it won't be my last visit this the Gulf Palms resort. It was a fun read and certainly caught my attention. I loved the behind the scenes working of the hotel, it was a nice change to the usual bakery featured in cozy mysteries. It also have the author plenty of chance to come up with some quirky characters. I have got to say I loved grandma Lula and her friends, what a hoot. Millie was a great main character and with her like able personality is in the perfect position to investigate and receive help from a number of different sources.
The mystery was interesting, with a number of suspects and every time I started to expect someone they would come up with an alibi. I never did come up with the right person. Good in Mollie was on the case and I hope to join her again very soon.
Dealing with difficult guests is all part of the job for Millie as assistant manger of a hotel. So why would she kill one? The police put her at the top of the list after a particular obnoxious one dies after eating from the charcuterie board she sent him. That is until they focus on one of her employee's. With his family all staying at the hotel to go over his will, Millie thinks one of them makes much better shut which one? And can Millie figure it out before she becomes a victim too.
This is a new to me author but it won't be my last visit this the Gulf Palms resort. It was a fun read and certainly caught my attention. I loved the behind the scenes working of the hotel, it was a nice change to the usual bakery featured in cozy mysteries. It also have the author plenty of chance to come up with some quirky characters. I have got to say I loved grandma Lula and her friends, what a hoot. Millie was a great main character and with her like able personality is in the perfect position to investigate and receive help from a number of different sources.
The mystery was interesting, with a number of suspects and every time I started to expect someone they would come up with an alibi. I never did come up with the right person. Good in Mollie was on the case and I hope to join her again very soon.
Dealing with difficult guests is all part of the job for Millie as assistant manger of a hotel. So why would she kill one? The police put her at the top of the list after a particular obnoxious one dies after eating from the charcuterie board she sent him. That is until they focus on one of her employee's. With his family all staying at the hotel to go over his will, Millie thinks one of them makes much better shut which one? And can Millie figure it out before she becomes a victim too.
June 10, 2026
And the Corgi for the Win!
What a fun cozy. I loved the setting - hotel in small town, Florida on the west coast. But it’s the characters that really make this story. The main character, Millie, is the assistant manager of the hotel. She’s used to dealing with all kinds of people, but the rich, entitled Eugene is one for the books. And when she discovers his body in the penthouse pool area, she dives headfirst into family secrets and intrigue. While she really doesn’t want to do any investigating, having the cops arrest her friend Ellis - the hotel maintenance guy - she can’t let it go. But Ellis has a few secrets of his own. Still, she believes him so she goes to bat for her “uncle” (not really, but feels like it).
Favorite characters? Millie’s grandmother Lulu and her gang. And Lulu’s dog Spud, who really does save the day.
Overall, a fun read with a little romance, a lot of suspects, and an ending that satisfies.
Recommended.
What a fun cozy. I loved the setting - hotel in small town, Florida on the west coast. But it’s the characters that really make this story. The main character, Millie, is the assistant manager of the hotel. She’s used to dealing with all kinds of people, but the rich, entitled Eugene is one for the books. And when she discovers his body in the penthouse pool area, she dives headfirst into family secrets and intrigue. While she really doesn’t want to do any investigating, having the cops arrest her friend Ellis - the hotel maintenance guy - she can’t let it go. But Ellis has a few secrets of his own. Still, she believes him so she goes to bat for her “uncle” (not really, but feels like it).
Favorite characters? Millie’s grandmother Lulu and her gang. And Lulu’s dog Spud, who really does save the day.
Overall, a fun read with a little romance, a lot of suspects, and an ending that satisfies.
Recommended.
July 5, 2026
A Fun Beach Read
This is a fun introduction to Millie and her crew. I especially enjoyed her vivacious grandmother Lulu. It is wonderful to read stories where anyone over 60 is not treated like a feeble and helpless nuisance! Well done. This was a fun read, set in a believable locale, with lots of memorable characters. The mystery was deftly done with clues woven deftly into scenes.
My only complaint with the story was with pronouns. The story is written in in Millie's first person viewpoint, but several times, Millie is talking about her and other characters being together and uses the pronouns "them" or "their" instead of "us" or "them".
I don't know if the story was originally written from a third a person viewpoint or what happened, but it was a bit off setting for someone who loves the written word. But, I think it is a fun story and I already have the next one in my To Be Read file on my Kindle.
Long live Team Millie!
This is a fun introduction to Millie and her crew. I especially enjoyed her vivacious grandmother Lulu. It is wonderful to read stories where anyone over 60 is not treated like a feeble and helpless nuisance! Well done. This was a fun read, set in a believable locale, with lots of memorable characters. The mystery was deftly done with clues woven deftly into scenes.
My only complaint with the story was with pronouns. The story is written in in Millie's first person viewpoint, but several times, Millie is talking about her and other characters being together and uses the pronouns "them" or "their" instead of "us" or "them".
I don't know if the story was originally written from a third a person viewpoint or what happened, but it was a bit off setting for someone who loves the written word. But, I think it is a fun story and I already have the next one in my To Be Read file on my Kindle.
Long live Team Millie!
September 25, 2024
Murder at an upscale resort
Millie Wentworth is accustomed to dealing with difficult people. It's a large part of her job as the assistant general manager at the Port Sunset resort where she works. When the latest unhappy guest, Eugene Tarkington, ends up poisoned in his penthouse suite, she bolts into action to steer the stubborn detective Green away from her friend, Ellis. She is aided by her grandmother, the unstoppable Lulu, and Spud, Lulu's Welsh corgi. The whole Tarkington clan is at the resort, and all of them have motives to be suspected of the crime. The story is a delightful romp filled with quirky characters, a loveable dog, and a budding romance. Can't wait to read more in this series!
Millie Wentworth is accustomed to dealing with difficult people. It's a large part of her job as the assistant general manager at the Port Sunset resort where she works. When the latest unhappy guest, Eugene Tarkington, ends up poisoned in his penthouse suite, she bolts into action to steer the stubborn detective Green away from her friend, Ellis. She is aided by her grandmother, the unstoppable Lulu, and Spud, Lulu's Welsh corgi. The whole Tarkington clan is at the resort, and all of them have motives to be suspected of the crime. The story is a delightful romp filled with quirky characters, a loveable dog, and a budding romance. Can't wait to read more in this series!
June 19, 2026
Entertaining!
Such a fun story, it was hard to put this book down. The assistant manager of a nice hotel in Florida solves the mystery of who killed a really mean man staying in the penthouse suite of the hotel with the help of her family and friend. A really fun beginning to this series.
Such a fun story, it was hard to put this book down. The assistant manager of a nice hotel in Florida solves the mystery of who killed a really mean man staying in the penthouse suite of the hotel with the help of her family and friend. A really fun beginning to this series.
March 2, 2023
Great book
June 17, 2026
This was cute! It held my attention well and I really liked the main characters. There was a bit of personal background embedded in the sleuthing story, which really helped me connect to the MC. I look forward to reading more books in the series.
June 20, 2026
Really enjoyed this cozy mystery. Terrific characters and packed with drama, fun and set in the sunshine state. The perfect summer read.
June 29, 2026
Love the grandma granddaughter team! Would read again can't wait to start reading the next adventure!
June 16, 2026
Cute cozy summer mystery
December 29, 2023
Hot garbage does not even begin to describe this book....
I only read this through because it was quick, and my book club picked it so I wanted to be prepared for the inevitable roasting when we met up and my did we roast well.
This story is completely unbelievable, predictable, and lazy. I have read sci-fi novels about alien protons that were far more believable than this. The Assistant GM of a kind of crappy yet fancy at the same time hotel tracks down the killer of one of her hotel guests who was kind of an asshole anyway. Right. I get it, she is trying to clear her name and her buddies but no one believes that this nobody is actually going to accomplish this right? Wrong. Miss death-wish follows someone she suspects of murder to their house and actually has the cahones to walk right up the driveway. STUPID STUPID STUPID. No one would do this, ever. Then more shocking... the DOG she brought with HER on a covert ops mission decides to bark revealing her lamely sought out hiding spot and the jig is up. But wait, there's more. She somehow knocks the killer into the pool at the last second and he kind of flounders there until the authorities arrive... just.... no...
It is all clunky, and terribly foreshadowed and just shallow. I cannot even waste anymore of my time to review it, ripping it apart would take too long.
I only read this through because it was quick, and my book club picked it so I wanted to be prepared for the inevitable roasting when we met up and my did we roast well.
This story is completely unbelievable, predictable, and lazy. I have read sci-fi novels about alien protons that were far more believable than this. The Assistant GM of a kind of crappy yet fancy at the same time hotel tracks down the killer of one of her hotel guests who was kind of an asshole anyway. Right. I get it, she is trying to clear her name and her buddies but no one believes that this nobody is actually going to accomplish this right? Wrong. Miss death-wish follows someone she suspects of murder to their house and actually has the cahones to walk right up the driveway. STUPID STUPID STUPID. No one would do this, ever. Then more shocking... the DOG she brought with HER on a covert ops mission decides to bark revealing her lamely sought out hiding spot and the jig is up. But wait, there's more. She somehow knocks the killer into the pool at the last second and he kind of flounders there until the authorities arrive... just.... no...
It is all clunky, and terribly foreshadowed and just shallow. I cannot even waste anymore of my time to review it, ripping it apart would take too long.
April 6, 2023
Someone should have proofread this book. Words were missing or there were extra words, which didn't make sense.The story was good and the main characters were likeable, but reading it was painful. For example, when a word is spelled with hyphens between each syllable, it's not necessary to say, "He pronounced every syllable." That's what the hyphens indicate. Phrases using "heck" in the wrong place make no sense, either. I think this book went to publication too soon. I hope the authors and publisher worked these bugs out in this first book.
July 18, 2026
This is the first in the series. The main character is Millie. Millie is the GM AT the Gulf Palms where the murder takes place in the penthouse. Millie is the first on the scene from the hotel. The granddaughter finds the body and it seems the entire family is there booked in different rooms. The murdered mans brother that no one has seen in well over 20 years works for the hotel as a fix it man. The main cop is fixated in the brother because the murdered man was very rich so of course he did it. He won't even look at anyone else.
Millie decides she has to look into it even if just to help the hotel. Before long someone tries to kill her. Now she really sure it is up her to solve it. Millie's grandma lives by the hotel and the two of them are very close. Grandma is not going to let anyone hurt her . Then Millie calls her grandma and tells her she thinks she knows who the killer is and if grandma doesn't hear from her in 15 minutes come to the rescue. Can grandma get there in time ? Will she call the cops first ?
Millie decides she has to look into it even if just to help the hotel. Before long someone tries to kill her. Now she really sure it is up her to solve it. Millie's grandma lives by the hotel and the two of them are very close. Grandma is not going to let anyone hurt her . Then Millie calls her grandma and tells her she thinks she knows who the killer is and if grandma doesn't hear from her in 15 minutes come to the rescue. Can grandma get there in time ? Will she call the cops first ?
October 12, 2021
Are you looking to escape into a great cozy? Look no further.
Penthouse, Pools and Poison was such a fun read. Millie Wentworth assistant general manager of the Gulf Palms Resort is known as The Fixer because making sure every guest- even the cranky ones- have a good vacation experience is what her job is all about.
When a particularly disgruntled guest turns up dead, and she, then a friend are viewed as suspects, Millie's life is turned upside down and it becomes her job to figure out just what happened—fast.
Well-drawn characters and hilarious moments abound in this cozy. Stevens gifts the reader with her assured touch for spot-on dialogue and vivid descriptions that bring the Florida resort to life. You'll be right there in the action and you won't want this rollicking romp to end.
Penthouse, Pools and Poison was such a fun read. Millie Wentworth assistant general manager of the Gulf Palms Resort is known as The Fixer because making sure every guest- even the cranky ones- have a good vacation experience is what her job is all about.
When a particularly disgruntled guest turns up dead, and she, then a friend are viewed as suspects, Millie's life is turned upside down and it becomes her job to figure out just what happened—fast.
Well-drawn characters and hilarious moments abound in this cozy. Stevens gifts the reader with her assured touch for spot-on dialogue and vivid descriptions that bring the Florida resort to life. You'll be right there in the action and you won't want this rollicking romp to end.
July 21, 2026
This ended up being a really cute, cozy mystery. It’s set in a small Florida town with plenty of interesting characters, each with a finger pointed at them along the way. I was kept guessing until the end, and only started to suspect l whodunnit as we closed in on the final chapters.
🌴 small town
🌴 animal sidekick
🌴 mystery solving
🌴 fun characters
🌴 small town
🌴 animal sidekick
🌴 mystery solving
🌴 fun characters
July 30, 2026
Such a fun and entertaining cozy mystery! Millie is a likable main character, and the resort setting adds a fresh twist to the story. The mystery kept me guessing, and the humor from her grandmother and the beach bunny crew made it even more enjoyable. A quick, engaging read with great charactersI’m excited to continue the series
August 2, 2026
Honestly so boring and mediocre. I hate how the story was written why didn’t she work with the police it would have been more entertaining way more suspects and information. If girl was so nosy why didn’t she snoop for files or look for information not just ease drop on conversations the whole time and don’t get me started on the nanny crew they were middle age nosy alcoholics who did nothing the whole time.
April 15, 2023
Am I just so lame? Am I actually an old lady? It’s FRIDAY NIGHT and I’m tucked into bed reading a cozy mystery about an assistant manager at a Florida resort and a group of elderly women solving a murder case. And I love every damn minute hahaha
This book was so pure. Spud the corgi🥹🥹
This book was so pure. Spud the corgi🥹🥹
June 14, 2026
Very cute read!
June 23, 2026
Penthouse, Pools and Poison
A cute story. I liked it. Millie and her grandmother and friends didn't believe the police could solve a murder, so they jumped in to help!
A cute story. I liked it. Millie and her grandmother and friends didn't believe the police could solve a murder, so they jumped in to help!
July 3, 2026
fun Reading
It was a fun book but could have been a little more polished. Avoid beach book and a quick read
It was a fun book but could have been a little more polished. Avoid beach book and a quick read
July 5, 2026
Easy reading book with twists and turns of its own.
Read
July 15, 2026This cozy mystery sounds like a delightful read! The blend of humor, memorable characters, and an intriguing murder mystery makes it hard to resist. Wishing the series continued success!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews