Synopsis
Murder is nothing to tap at. . . The high-kicking Happy Hoofers--Tina, Janice, Pat, Mary Louise, and Gini--have been booked to flaunt their fabulous flamenco footwork on a luxury train ride through northern Spain. But when a blowhard talk show host is found deader than four-day-old flan--with Gini as suspect numero uno--the feisty friends waste no time stepping into their sleuthing shoes to protect one of their own. The dynamite dancers will have to step up their game before a clever killer brings the curtain down on one of them . . . for good! Includes Photo Tips And Tasty RecipesReview
A train ride through southern Spain has more excitement than planned for Gini and the Happy Hoofers when the mouthy, obnoxious, ultra right-wing talk show host is poisoned. Like any "closed room" mystery, everyone on board is considered a suspect. The train is stopped and the inspector, Javier, interviews everyone. The big problem? The talk show host has only one fan on the train and several were heard to mutter or yell, "I'll kill him!" including Gini.
Gini talks to the various people on board, including the mother with her son in a wheel chair, the mother whose son suffers from depression, and the two gay men who own a restaurant, the bartender, the blonde bimbo who was traveling with the talk show host, and of course, the only one fan, Dorah. Then there's a second murder.
The main plot is well-developed with Gini's sleuthing placing her predictably at risk, but almost necessary as Javier is smitten with Janice. He breaks many rules including taking some of the Happy Hoofers off the train to see the sights. Each of the Hoofers has their own subplot or story, each unique. The characters have depth with unique characteristics and conflicts. The sub themes related to attitudes toward gay marriage, individuals with physical and sensory disabilities, and those who suffer from depression or other mental illness are timely. Descriptions of parts of Spain, the various dances (including to New York, New York), recipes and photo tips are interspersed as well.
This is the second book in the Happy Hoofers Mystery series, but it can be read alone. CHORUS LINES, CAVIAR, AND CORPSES (Happy Hoofers Mystery Book 1) is now on my TBR pile. I hope to get to it before the next one (available for pre-order) - CANCAN, CROISSANTS, AND CASKETS (Happy Hoofers Mystery Book 3) comes out in August 2015.
Mary McHugh graduated from Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts, with a B.A. in English Literature and studied at the Sorbonne in Paris. She is the author of nineteen nonfiction books and two novels. She was a contributing editor for Cosmopolitan, an articles editor at Woman’s World, Travel Holiday, and Bridal Guide, and has written articles for The New York Times, Good Housekeeping and Family Circle.
She loves to tap dance and to travel -two passions that inspired her to write the Happy Hoofers series.
She lives in the New York area. Author Links
WebPage: http://marymchugh.org/index.html
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mary.mchugh.77
Purchase Links Amazon
B&N Book Depository Kobo Google Play 
Flamenco, Flan, and Fatalities sounds like a delightful book, and I always like to check out the recipes. I will check out this book. :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good book!
ReplyDelete