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Midlife Crisis Mystery #2
Bewildered in Florida
After everything that happened in Las Vegas, I wasn’t one hundred percent sure that I wanted to keep traveling. But I couldn’t let one isolated incident ruin my plans. Having ticked off one item on my bucket list, I wanted to do more.
It turns out that March is a good time to visit Florida. The weather was predicted to be almost perfect, and I found a resort offering really wonderful deals. A cheap flight was all I needed to add to my getaway.
When I woke up on my first morning on St. Pete’s Beach, I felt like I was a million miles away from everything that causes stress in my life. I reserved a private cabana for myself and then took a long walk on a nearly deserted beach. Things seemed to be just about perfect until I arrived at my cabana.
I should have just walked away. I could have given up on the idea of sitting on the beach that day and gone somewhere – anywhere – else. Instead, I informed the woman cleaning and straightening the cabanas that mine was already occupied. She called security and that was how I managed to be there when the body was found.
Finding a body on my first day in Vegas seemed like incredibly bad luck. Finding another one on my first day in Florida feels more like a curse.
It turns out that March is a good time to visit Florida. The weather was predicted to be almost perfect, and I found a resort offering really wonderful deals. A cheap flight was all I needed to add to my getaway.
When I woke up on my first morning on St. Pete’s Beach, I felt like I was a million miles away from everything that causes stress in my life. I reserved a private cabana for myself and then took a long walk on a nearly deserted beach. Things seemed to be just about perfect until I arrived at my cabana.
I should have just walked away. I could have given up on the idea of sitting on the beach that day and gone somewhere – anywhere – else. Instead, I informed the woman cleaning and straightening the cabanas that mine was already occupied. She called security and that was how I managed to be there when the body was found.
Finding a body on my first day in Vegas seemed like incredibly bad luck. Finding another one on my first day in Florida feels more like a curse.
- GenresMystery
226 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 19, 2023
266 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
Diana Xarissa
225 books261 followersDiana started self-publishing in 2013 and over a decade later she now has over a hundred books available for readers. Writing remains her passion and she has no plans to stop writing in the foreseeable future.
Diana grew up in Erie, Pennsylvania, and earned a history degree from Allegheny College. She met her husband, an Englishman, while living and working in Washington, DC. Following their marriage, she moved to Derbyshire. A short while later, the happy couple moved to the Isle of Man.
During their years on the island, Diana and her husband welcomed two children, and Diana completed a master’s degree in the history of the island. In 2008, the family made the decision to move to the US. Now empty-nesters, Diana and her husband are living in the suburbs of Buffalo, New York, and contemplating moving somewhere that doesn’t get snow.
Diana also writes mystery/thrillers set in the not-too-distant future as Diana X. Dunn and Young Adult fiction as D.X. Dunn.
Diana grew up in Erie, Pennsylvania, and earned a history degree from Allegheny College. She met her husband, an Englishman, while living and working in Washington, DC. Following their marriage, she moved to Derbyshire. A short while later, the happy couple moved to the Isle of Man.
During their years on the island, Diana and her husband welcomed two children, and Diana completed a master’s degree in the history of the island. In 2008, the family made the decision to move to the US. Now empty-nesters, Diana and her husband are living in the suburbs of Buffalo, New York, and contemplating moving somewhere that doesn’t get snow.
Diana also writes mystery/thrillers set in the not-too-distant future as Diana X. Dunn and Young Adult fiction as D.X. Dunn.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 26, 2024
I was a bit disappointed with this book. It was still a good story, but there were a lot of things that could have been better thought out, eg, the heroine bought groceries at the market so she could make her own breakfasts, then ate breakfast out every day - it was a ruse to get her to the shop where she could overhear some things about the people around the murder victim. I'm sure Diana Xarissa could have thought of a more valid reason to get her to the market, or else had her eat breakfast in her room. She was given credit on her card at the resort because she found the body, and was going to check how much credit they had given her, but then she never sought the information but kept on putting everything on credit. Anyway, apart from that stuff, which pulled me out of the story, I enjoyed it.
August 7, 2024
Man, I was hopeful. With this series available on Kindle unlimited I was thinking how great it would be to have some light reading of a long series. I got through book one, barely. I couldn't even get halfway through this one before I returned it, and the others I had downloaded, back to Amazon. The writing is just not good. It's written in the first person as someone who just eavesdrops on everyone around so you're reading conversations of characters you don't care about. It's very formulaic, even after only starting the second book I could tell it wasn't going to get any better. You can see by my Goodreads profile I don't generally leave reviews but it felt necessary to warn off others from trying this series out. Don't waste your time like I did!
April 13, 2024
Holly is continuing to burn up accumulated vacation days by chipping away at her goal to vacation in all 50 states. During the off season, she finds a cheap flight and lovely accommodations at a beachfront resort in Florida. On her first morning there her assigned chaise lounge on the beach is already occupied. By a body.
Thus begins a tale not dissimilar to Book One, but written with fresh characters. Holly honestly tries not to get involved but she does have a knack for overhearing conversations concerning the deceased.
Considering the limited number of people Holly has contact with, the author does a very good job of providing multiple suspects. At over 200 pages, not sure if this is considered a short novel but it is a quick read. The final section of the last chapter is a bit of an epilogue tying up all loose ends. Ending with a warning from the victim’s seemingly psychic first wife: never trust a man wearing a hat. That makes a great teaser for Holly’s next vacation.
Thus begins a tale not dissimilar to Book One, but written with fresh characters. Holly honestly tries not to get involved but she does have a knack for overhearing conversations concerning the deceased.
Considering the limited number of people Holly has contact with, the author does a very good job of providing multiple suspects. At over 200 pages, not sure if this is considered a short novel but it is a quick read. The final section of the last chapter is a bit of an epilogue tying up all loose ends. Ending with a warning from the victim’s seemingly psychic first wife: never trust a man wearing a hat. That makes a great teaser for Holly’s next vacation.
February 12, 2023
On the first morning of her vacation in St. Petersburg, Florida, Holly Parker is looking forward to a relaxing day on the beach. When she gets to her assigned cabana, however, there's a complication: it's already occupied -- by a dead man.
The body is identified as Tom Weber, who was doing some construction work at the resort. Holly learns through overheard conversations that the possible suspects include two ex-wives, Tom's son Matt, Tom's sister and brother-in-law, two employees, and a new girlfriend, who may or may not exist.
Unfortunately, because Holly technically "found" the body, she's at the top of the police suspect list...
The body is identified as Tom Weber, who was doing some construction work at the resort. Holly learns through overheard conversations that the possible suspects include two ex-wives, Tom's son Matt, Tom's sister and brother-in-law, two employees, and a new girlfriend, who may or may not exist.
Unfortunately, because Holly technically "found" the body, she's at the top of the police suspect list...
July 14, 2024
Unique story…
A mystery is a mystery…or so you think. However, the perspective of this one is different than the first in the series. Diana’s characters are pretty spot on for their ages and lifestyles…this lends a unique feel to the plot. I can visualize most of the events and adventures of her main character because I have traveled alone too. Once or twice I “hid my eyes” because I thought the MC was being extremely stupid…but then I had to read on to find out the ending. Good Job.
A mystery is a mystery…or so you think. However, the perspective of this one is different than the first in the series. Diana’s characters are pretty spot on for their ages and lifestyles…this lends a unique feel to the plot. I can visualize most of the events and adventures of her main character because I have traveled alone too. Once or twice I “hid my eyes” because I thought the MC was being extremely stupid…but then I had to read on to find out the ending. Good Job.
September 21, 2024
I typically love this author and I loved the first one in this series. This one is a mess and annoying. Why did Holly allow herself to be bullied by Jean? Why are cops always so snarky and rude to the person who found the body? I hate the whole trope and will not be finishing this series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 25, 2023
Same story as #1
May 24, 2023
Who killed Tom Weber and why??? If only Paula listened to her earlier!!! I enjoyed this story and recommended the book.
November 4, 2025
Another Good Read!
After reading the first book in this series I was looking forward to reading the second one and hoping that I wouldn't be disappointed - I wasn't! I love the characters in this book as I did the other. I like that in each book (each vacation) Holly makes a friend. I really like Holly a lot and I'm looking forward to reading book number three. Although I wish the books weren't such a fast read because I know I'll have to wait for the next one!
After reading the first book in this series I was looking forward to reading the second one and hoping that I wouldn't be disappointed - I wasn't! I love the characters in this book as I did the other. I like that in each book (each vacation) Holly makes a friend. I really like Holly a lot and I'm looking forward to reading book number three. Although I wish the books weren't such a fast read because I know I'll have to wait for the next one!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews