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She's a hot mess on a cold case. What could possibly go wrong? A midlife meltdown leads to southern-fried mayhem in this outrageously funny story about a down-on-her-luck divorcee's attempt at starting life over again in St. Pete Beach, FL. Duped out of her life savings in Germany, 45-year-old Val Fremden retreats home to Florida with more than just her pride in tatters. Broke, divorced, and virtually unemployable, starting over is going to be tough enough. But when her only friend suddenly turns up dead, Val begins to seriously wonder if the world is out to get her. Maybe it is … maybe it isn't... Read this Humorous Women’s Fiction/Cozy Mystery Series if You Love: 🤣 Laugh-Out-Loud Humor and Hijinks 🔥 Bungling, Hair-on-Fire Heroines 👵 Empowering Grandmother Figures 🏡 Small-Town Secrets 👯 Ride-or-Die Best Friends ⚖️ Later-in-Life Reinvention 🌊 Small Coastal Town Settings 🎭 Found Family of Kooky Characters 💔 A Tease of Romance If you adore cozy, women-centric mysteries like Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum or Jana Deleon's Fortune Redding, and funny-yet-heartfelt stories like those from Sara Goodman Confino, Maddie Dawson and Fannie Flag, you'll probably find yourself resonating with Val Fremden, too. She's a lovable, bungling mess who's a bit older, a tad more jaded, and a ton more experienced in big-time failure. Life’s been tough for Val. Still, she always manages to find her way with sardonic humor and an intrepid spirit. A gin and tonic now and then helps, too. What Readers are Saying: "I have never related to a character more in my life!" "If you like humor, twists and turns, and not being able to guess the outcome of a story, this book is for you!" "Full of the magic that come from that mysterious place between caring about what’s important and flipping off the rest!" "A funny, frenetic fantastic read! Every bit as entertaining and maybe more so than Stephanie Plum at her best." “I have no idea how the author is able to write about trauma in a way that is also hopeful and uplifting. Whatever it is, it's beautiful.” "Hooked like a fish. Val could be Stephanie Plum's double!! Phenomenal writing." "Full of twists and turns as only Margaret Lashley can write!" "There’s a mystery at the heart of this book that will hook fans of Janet Evanovich."