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Reviewed by Olga Markova for Readers' Favorite
A Helluva Holiday is the third book in the Stone & Steele Mysteries series by talented author Gail Meath. The story is set in 1938. In the Port of Los Angeles, we meet Vivian Steele, a fashion designer, and her friends, including actress Carole Lombard, as they board Santa Rosa, a luxury sea liner bound for Havana. But this seemingly exciting and relaxing holiday voyage is not what it seems. A week earlier, Preston Stone, the wealthy playboy and Vivian’s sleuthing partner, received a tip that the man who had murdered his sister twelve years ago would be on board this ship. In need of Vivian’s help to track his sister’s killer, Preston arranged and paid for this trip. But will they catch the killer? And more importantly, will they survive?
A Helluva Holiday was my first encounter with this series, and it read perfectly as a standalone. And what an immersive, atmospheric, and amazingly delightful mystery it was! I liked how Gail Meath morphed what started as a cozy whodunnit into an exciting cat-and-mouse action thriller with a sprinkle of clean romance and an eventually heartwarming family reunion. The atmospheric photos at the start of every chapter helped my imagination; the atmospheric setting of Havana was delightful, and the humor was second to none, especially Carole’s gift exchange with her fiancé! I also appreciated the tribute to Carole Lombard and the selection of historical and fun facts the author came across while researching for the book. I look forward to my reunion with Vivian and Preston, and I highly recommend this fabulous read to cozy crime and action thriller fans.
