From Publishers Weekly
At the start of Henry's intriguing third mystery to feature Maxie McNabb (after 2006's
The Tooth of Time), the 64-year-old Alaskan leaves home—and her mini-dachshund Stretch—to help a widowed, injured acquaintance, Karen Parker Bailey, in Hawaii. Hobbling on crutches, Karen needs Maxie's assistance packing up to move back to Alaska, but Maxie's reluctant good Samaritan work turns hazardous: the first night a prowler almost breaks in, the next day Karen's plumbing is sabotaged. Maxie senses Karen is concealing something when she overhears a whispered phone call. Maxie hires Jerry, the conveniently just-fired plumber's assistant, to help with the move. When Karen goes on ahead to Alaska, Maxie rents an RV so she can tour the island with Jerry until their flight home. But the real danger closes in as they travel to a park, the Refuge, which, of course, turns out to be anything but. Despite a touch of cuteness, Maxie is good company, and she teams with Jerry to entertaining effect.
(Apr.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist
Anthony and McCavity awards winner Henry's adventurous senior, Maxie McNab, is looking forward to a relaxing stay at her home in Homer, Alaska. After nine months on the road with her faithful companion, miniature dachshund Stretch, Maxie wants to spend some time gardening, but a phone call from Karen Bailey, a former neighbor who has retired to Hawaii, has her on the road again. It seems that someone wants Karen out of her rental home. Maxie arrives in time to deal with mysterious prowlers, sabotaged plumbing, and scary stalkers. As Maxie works to find out what is going on, she manages to get a tour of the Big Island's natural wonders. Cozy readers will enjoy the surprise ending and the Hawaiian locale (quite a change of pace from Henry's usual Alaska setting). Maxie is an engaging sleuth who proves that seniors make excellent detectives.
Barbara BibelCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
