Mexico, Margaritas, and Murder

Sally and Pearl Adventure Club #1

by Wendy Day

Golden Girls meets Thelma and Louise

After her grumpy husband dies, Sally throws out his thread-worn plaid recliner, cashes the life insurance check, and lets her spunky best friend, Pearl, drag her to Mexico for an all-inclusive vacation using their Senior Citizen’s discount.

They kayak, sing karaoke, and spy on the next-door nudist resort. Sally’s not sure if it’s the sun or tequila, but she is truly having fun for the first time in her life.

That is until a fellow guest turns up dead.

While Sally fearfully packs her bags for home, Pearl insists they stay and get to the bottom of what’s happened.

Together, they become crime-fighting seniors who refuse to let the bad guys win.

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Cozy, Book Club, Summer, Contemporary

270 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 5, 2022

About the author

Wendy Day loves to write stories with snarky banter and strong female characters. She is the author of the popular Sally and Pearl Adventure series, named after her own grandmother and great-grandmother. She lives in Michigan with her husband, four kids, two dogs, and one very entitled cat. She is a mediocre painter and terrible cook. When not writing, she’s likely to be found daydreaming in a rowboat or curled up in a cozy chair with a glass of wine and a good book.

Find out more about Wendy’s unique outlook on life at the website: www.readwendyday.com

Reviews

[Phrynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is for Mexico, Margaritas, and Murder. There seems to be a mix of reviews on this page - some for this book and others possibly for Christmas, Cabernet, and Chaos

Anyway in Mexico, Margaritas, and Murder we meet Sally whose husband of many years has recently died. Even though it was not the best marriage Sally feels sad and lost and her friend Pearl decides they need a holiday in Mexico to cheer her up. Of course they manage to get involved with murder and drug smugglers and end up having a much more exciting holiday than most people do.

This was a quick, easy read. I liked Sally, found Pearl a little over the top but she does have a good heart, and really liked Mike. I hope he continues to appear in future books.

[Kristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This had moments but could have been better.

This started off with a compelling premise; the newly widowed Sally, burying her emotionally neglectful/abusive husband and grieving her lost life. Cue her best friend, wacky and ott Pearl, living her best senior life, encouraging Sally to live. I expected funny shenanigans and emotional growth, and sometimes that almost happened; but mostly this was badly paced and underdeveloped.
The murder portion of this book didn’t even happen until halfway through, the finding her groove love story I awaited never amounted to anything, and the shenanigans were minimal and kinda boring. So the first few chapters were interesting, and the last few chapters tried to achieve what this book promised, but the middle was so drawn out and boring, that this didn’t do much for me.
Sadly, I have the arc for the next one, so I have to read it. Maybe it will be funnier, maybe Pearl will be less of a caricature and Sally less of a ho-hum, doormat.

[June Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

A confession. I was expecting a bit of a light-hearted romp from this book but, oh, it's so much more. What a delightful surprise. Although there is certainly humor, there are also "moments". Moments that show human nature, growth, fear of both failure and not being who you were meant to be, and the strength to find that person. Sally and Pearl, named in honor of the author's grandmother and great-grandmother, are both widowed, Sally just recently, and set out for Mexico to celebrate....well, I'll leave that for the reader to decide. Pearl is the more daring of the two but has trouble expressing true human emotions. Neither planned on their escape to Mexico for some sun and recreation including a dead body.

The book opens with them already there, fleeing men with guns in a warehouse. How did they get there? We don't know at that point. Heck, we don't really even know Sally and Pearl although the dialogue quickly makes you care about these two plucky, obviously older women as they mention creaky bones and fears running might lead to a heart attack. But, they don't back down and are running for their lives when....oops, time to flashback to how they got there with people shooting at them.

I'm not going to detail how that happened but, trust me, while there was humor and some blushing on Sally's part anytime she encounters the handsome fellow guest Mike, we learn a great deal about them, their hopes, fears, and strengths and weaknesses as the story progresses. If we cared about them at first simply because of their pluck fleeing the gunman, we come to care about them as humans and admire both. Pearl is the more daring, true, and it's her courage that helped bring Sally out of the pity party she'd fallen into after her husband's sudden death. Even though the marriage didn't give her much of what she'd hoped and her husband dashed many of her dreams and hopes, it was comfortable and, dare I say it, safe. It's a giant step for Sally to join Pearl in Mexico.

Knowing how the book begins, with them in danger, you can't help but look at the people they seemingly innocently encounter initially as potential trouble. That adds an element to the story that we don't always have, knowing danger is lurking when all seems safe and secure to the main characters. Is handsome Mike a good guy or one of those who winds up shooting at her? How are some of the other guests making the money they're making? How shocked is Sally to learn there is another meaning to "swinging" than she thought? Why is Pearl so insistent they stay on after the dead body is found? Is every hour Happy Hour for Pearl? What is Sally finding out about herself?

Bottom line, I enjoyed this book far more than I expected to and highly recommend you give it a read. I liked both characters and admired Sally's new-found determination to take the time to get to know the new Sally. But, but.... oh, not telling the ending. I'm just hoping there will be more books in this series. Think of the countries Sally and Pearl can visit to get in trouble, er, enjoy playing tourist. Thanks #NetGalley and #ClearSkyPublishing - #WendyDay for introducing me to these two wonderful characters. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for more adventures from them.

[Dani Boise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Wendy Day for the copy via Netgalley to read and review!

This is such a cute story of two friends coming together after a loss. I love Pearl's energy, she gives me all the happy vibes even though she has seen tragedy in her own life. (But..... did her kids names change from book 1 to book 2....???)

I loved the descriptions of Mexico and the beach. it made me feel like I could imagine the resort. I also loved the fun, flirty relationship between Sally and Mike. They're cute.

[Eileen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wendy Day's Mexico, Margaritas, and Murder is a feel good, seniors chick lit murder mystery. Sally's best friend Pearl convinces her to take a trip to Mexico with her to give herself some space before facing the reality of widowhood. This was a relatable thing to do; my own mother did something similar and it worked for her. Not everybody considered this a wise choice. A family member warned her about crime in Mexico and about innocent tourists unwittingly becoming drug mules. Sally and Pearl had some fun new adventures, from spa day massages to first time kayaking. They also met the Flamingo Singles, an adventurous group of seniors who liked to travel and have a good time. The partying turns to murder. Sally and Pearl solve the crime after almost getting killed. There are surprises and risks, but unless you are no longer young, you will want a little more action in a mystery.

[Angela Y (yangelareads) ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Copy provided by Clear Sky Publishing.

After her grumpy husband dies, Sally throws out her thread-worn plaid recliner, cashes the life insurance check, and lets her spunky best friend, Pearl, drag her to Mexico for an all-inclusive vacation using their Senior Citizen’s discount. They kayak, sing karaoke, and spy on the next-door nudist resort. Sally’s not sure if it is the sun or tequila, but she is truly having fun for the first time in her life. That is until a fellow guest turns up dead. While Sally fearfully packs her bags for home, Pearl insists they stay and get to the bottom of what’s happened. Together, they become crime-fighting seniors who refuse to let the bad guys win.

If you enjoy cozy mysteries with adventure, then this book is for you. This story has a great set of characters. I liked both characters and admired Sally's new lease on life .It made me think of how being a senior citizen does not mean that you can’t have fun. It was well written and combined humor with serious situations.I am hoping there will be more adventures and cannot wait to see what's in store for them. I enjoyed this book far more than I thought I would and highly recommend you give it a chance.

[Teena in Toronto · Rating 1 out of 5]

I went into this book with high hopes but gave up about halfway through.

I don't think Sally was that much older than me but I couldn't relate to her and found her character unbelievable. She had spent many years in an unhappy marriage and her husband had emotionally beat her down. When he passed away, she had no idea about their state affairs or how to carry on. She had befriended Pearl about 10 years ago and I found her to be way over the top. They decide to take a trip to Mexico to an all-inclusive resort. The people they meet there are also way over the top ... swingers, nudists, etc. When someone is found dead, Pearl automatically assumes that he was murdered and it's up to her and Sally to figure out who killed him. Really?!

[Brittany | Hot Mess Homeschool Mom N. - · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely read! I love that all my emotions were brought out in this book! I also enjoyed the older age of the characters a lot more then I expected! I love Pearl so much, she’s now my ideal older woman I hope to be like! There is more story prior to the “main event” then I normally care for, but well worth finishing the read!
I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for a review.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perfect for some silly summer fun

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

First in a cozy, clean mystery series set in a contemporary resort in Mexico.

[Shauna Bostick · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up. This was a cute and quick read, but not much depth in the writing. I enjoyed it overall.

[Dana Fontaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

For fans of The Golden Girls and Anne George Books

Thelma and Louise don’t hold a candle to these two sleuths. Recently widowed Sally, and her best friend Pearl, decide to book a last minute trip to Mexico. Sally kind of discovers her voice thanks to Pearl and the hijinx that they encounter and get up to.

[Tammy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not worth the read!!!

I try really hard not to be too harsh in my reviews, but this book did not live up to the hype. It started off well -- a good lead in, good character development, exploring grief and mental abuse, a scenic location and the complexities of the new people they encountered, and then a death.
At this point you are about 50% into the book. The question then becomes -- was this murder? This is where the author started to loose me, with the characters doing crazier and crazier things.
By 70% in it felt like the author didn't know how to move the story forward. I started speed reading hoping to find out how the book ended. By 80% I just couldn't do it anymore. This went from being a good story to an extremely amateurish story that needed a lot more editing before publishing.
I honestly figured out where the story was going at 30% into the story. If the flow and writing had continued as it started off, this would have been a good read. As it is currently written, it was honestly a waste of my time and I had to stop at 80%. I understand that an amateur detective story is going to stretch reality and the characters are going to do crazy things, but this was too far from reality. These women took investigating to the crazy level and would have been killed many times over by this point.

[Emma Siemer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mexico, Margaritas, and Murder is a cozy mystery with two senior ladies, Sally and Pearl, front and center. While I thought the character development was well done, I found the plot to be completely unbalanced. The author tried putting a lot of action into the last few pages, and it felt rushed. Overall, this novel was an okay read, but I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend it to others.
(PUB DATE: AVAILABLE NOW)
(I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed above are my own.)

[Carmen · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Sally’s husband passes, she’s not sure what to do with herself. She spent the majority of their marriage as the housewife of a very grumpy man, but now she’s widowed and her children have families of their own. Now that Sally is free to do what she wants and be her own person, she doesn’t even know where to start, but you know who does? Pearl, her best friend of ten years, who has decided it’s time they go on a trip to Mexico.

After reading the second book in the series, I decided to give this series a solid chance because the writing is good and I really like the characters. Because I read the second book first, I didn’t really get to know much about her husband or marriage other than it wasn’t a good marriage. The longer I was reading, the more I learned what a terrible marriage she felt trapped in. I feel so bad for Sally and how she had been emotionally beat down and defeated for all those years with no way out. We learn small pieces about her marriage throughout the book, especially as Sally starts to learn how to be herself again without someone harshly judging her.

We also learn a lot about Pearl, who is naturally very tight-lipped about her past because it hurts and she’s trying to live in the moment. I was having a hard time believing these two best friends were such good friends at first, but the longer I read, the more I believed it. The shenanigans they went through were hilarious, and I could see how these characters continued to grow throughout the book.

This time around, the book was indeed a cozy mystery! I like how the mystery was being set up soon after they arrived. It was an easy mystery to solve, but that doesn’t matter when the story was a fun read. We’ve got Pearl deciding to test out her skills as an amateur sleuth, which turns out to be a bumpy ride for both her and Sally. At least the pair were having fun until things went south because they were out there poking the bear. I’m glad I decided to give this series a solid chance because it’s well written and I love the characters.

[Rhonda · Rating 3 out of 5]

*** 2.5 ⭐️***

Golden Girls meets Thelma and Louise gives the wrong setup for this book and these two protagonists. I would say it’s more like retirees left to run amok.

Sally and Pearl, bingo buddies, take a much needed vacation when Sally’s husband dies. At the resort where they’re staying in Mexico, they meet members of a singles group and also get mixed up in an inadvertent murder and a drug smuggling ring.

Sally is a sad-sack kind of character, used to being silenced and pushed around by her stodgy husband. When he dies, and she gets to rediscover herself outside of her marriage, it takes 3/4 of the book for her to find her voice. It was frustrating to read about her being so afraid of common perception as well as her lack of initiative to do anything.

Pearl, on the other hand, is the zany, no filter, Southern woman with a family secret that doesn’t get divulged until at least halfway through the story (if not further) - adding zero insight into her character profile. Pearl is the friend that most people can only tolerate in short spurts because of her raucous behaviour.

In short, this book had its good and bad moments and definitely is not the cozy mystery designed to get anyone out of a reading slump. The plot is fine, the characters were somewhat unbecoming, and the ending lacked excitement (even with a shootout). A semi-ok attempt at what is supposed to be a series with the same shenanigans.

This ARC was provided by the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

[Marietere T · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my god! this was such a fun read!

After Sally husband passes away, Sally's best friend Pearl think it's time Sally lives a little and drags her to Mexico. Sally and Pearl are having fun in Mexico when all of a sudden someone ends up dead. As a true Crime fans, Pearl and Sally take it upon themselves to solve the mystery.

This is a very funny book. I liked that Sally is in the road of discovering herself post-husband in this new adventure in her life and Pearl is in fact the best friend a girl can have. I can't wait to read more of these two crazy adventures.

[Kerri Lipe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm finding that I love elderly characters. Meet Sally and Pearl; a fun loving set of friends that get mixed up in a murder in Mexico. This book is a good reminder that age doesn't limit your life but your mindset can. I enjoyed reading by the pool and look forward to the other books in the series.

[Olivia Gloria Perez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heck, maybe we can catch the killer and be the heroes of the resort.” 🤨


5 ⭐️

~ cute, adorable, murder-mystery summer read. Sally and Pearl are adorable.

~ gave crime fighting vibes, which I found super fun and cool to read 🤩

~ love the friendship that Sally and Pearl have, it’s just aweee 🫶🏼

~ makes me cautious to visit Mexico 🤣, all in all, a good summer read!

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Y'all know I had to read a cozy mystery lauded as Golden Girls-esque with margaritas in the title. Unfortunately it wasn't great—I predicted whodunnit early on, there really were no twists, and the writing needed to be tightened up. That said, everyone needs a Pearl BFF in their life. I won't be continuing the series.

[Danielle Lawson · Rating 3 out of 5]

meh....maybe it was a me thing and not the writing itself...it had a good plot just didn't hold my interest like I thought it would and I expected it to be much more fast paced than it turned out to be

[Albi (albireadingromance) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the characters a lot, it just needed more mystery. I do plan to read book 2 for vlogmas.

[Esther · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was thoroughly entertained by this book so it’s really more of a 3.5. There’s just not enough substance to it for me to feel I can rate it any higher.

[Tracy N · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very slow to get going. Not written the best. The last few chapters are good.

[Cate · Rating 2 out of 5]

okay so this wasn’t bad by any means but it also wasn’t anything special or memorable?

[Margaret Lundborg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute mystery told in a light-hearted way. A nice change of pace from the mysteries/thrillers I usually read

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book. It was so funny.

[Marita Franklin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love! Crime fighting senior citizens? Count me in.

[Kellie Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read! It was a little too predictable, but I really enjoyed this adventure of Sally and Pearl.

[Emma Stith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Went to a book swap with some friends two days before leaving for Mexico… saw this book and knew I had to bring it on my trip. Sally and Pearl were lovable characters. Pretty predictable plot line but still enjoyable for a quick beach read.