Indulging in It Takes Two to Mango
It Takes Two to Mango was a breath of fresh air for me as a cozy mystery for me. Not only was the protagonist so different from most other cozies I’ve read, but who doesn’t want to be whisked away to the Carribean even if it’s only in your head while reading?
Plum, the protagonist, is really rough around the edges. She’s snarky, rude and snobbish and I found all her snubs hilarious. This is what made her stand out from other amateur sleuths I have come across and she does redeem herself at times. But I like that she was flawed and it’s apparent that she will continue to grow as a person. It was also funny when Plum put in her place every so often because it was deserving.
I thought the red herrings were well developed and fleshed out and as a series starter, the book did an excellent job at building up the setting and laying the foundation of the relationships between the characters. Additionally, there was a hint of the possibility of romance in the future for Plum and the Head of Security, Juan Kevin.
Overall, a great start to the Trouble in Paradise cozy mystery series.
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for the advanced reader’s copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Book Description
It's all fun in the sun until someone turns up dead
After Plum Lockhart's job as a travel magazine editor is eliminated in corporate cuts, she decides she's sick of cold winters in NYC and fruitless swiping on dating apps—what she needs is a dramatic change of scenery. On a whim, she accepts a job as a villa broker and moves to a beautiful Caribbean island.
However, paradise isn't as perfect as it seems: the slow pace of island life, the language barrier, and a cutthroat office rival make Plum question leaving her old life behind. But when a client is found dead in the jacuzzi of Casa Mango—a property Plum manages—she knows she's really in a jam. With a killer loose on the island Plum will have to deal with a stonewalling police chief, a string of baffling clues, and a handsome Director of Security to solve this deadly case!