#carriedoyle

Welcome to Cozy Wednesday!  It is my pleasure to share with you my thoughts about The Girl with the Dragonfruit Tattoo by Carrie Doyle today.

The Girl with the Dragonfruit Tattoo: A Tropical Island Cozy Mystery (Trouble in Paradise!) Cozy Mystery 3rd in Series Setting - Caribbean Island Poisoned Pen Press (January 31, 2023) Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 336 pages ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1728232392 ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1728232393 Kindle ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BB8SFS8Y

Sometimes you have to rock the boat to catch a killer! On the tropical island of Paraiso, Plum Lockhart has a new zest for life. Her villa rental company is growing like a weed, she's solved a couple of pesky murders, and things with her long-time crush are finally starting to heat up. Plum does sometimes miss her sparkly life in the Big Apple, so she's thrilled when she gets an invite to dinner on the yacht, where she can mingle with famous singers, up-and-coming stars, society swans, and billionaires. After a few hours on the boat, Plum is less than impressed with the celebrity set and when a server tries to pull her aside to confide a secret, she wonders what else may be lurking beneath the surface. Two days later, one of the servers from the yacht—a girl with a dragonfruit tattoo—washes up dead, and Plum's sweet bit of paradise quickly goes sour. As the ship prepares to set sail across the Caribbean, Plum hops onboard to investigate the case, undercover. But the best-laid plans turn deadly as it becomes clear that everyone on the boat has a motive and Plum must sleuth out the killer before she becomes the next victim... Dollycas's Thoughts We are back on the island of Paraiso and Plum Lockhart is thrilled with the way her villa rental company thriving. She is also happy with the direction her relationship with a certain Security Director is moving. At a party hosted by one of the island's elite residents Plum runs into a friend from her magazine days, Ellen Katz. She is on vacation with her Hollywood producer husband. They have been yachting around the world with famous rapper/talent manager Robert Campbell and his other guests. Ellen invites Plum to come out to the yacht where there is always a party going on. Plum does join the party for a few hours and is surprised when one of the servers tries to share a secret with her. Before the two can meet privately Plum is headed back to the island. When that server's dead body washes up onshore two days later Plum wishes she had known what the girl wanted to tell her. In a real twist, Police Captain Diaz asks Plum to go undercover on the yacht to uncover the killer. She vows to do her best but she soon learns the server wasn't the only one with a secret. Everyone on board could have done the deed. And asking the right questions to the wrong people could make Plum the next victim to wash up on shore. Plum spends a lot of time away from her business in this third Trouble in Paradise Mystery. Thankfully she has Lucia to keep things running. Juan Kevin Munoz is also left on the island but he has a personal problem to handle. I missed that we didn't have as much time with these characters but the time we did have was worthwhile. Readers are introduced to Plum's friend Ellen, her husband Joel, their host Robert Campbell, and all his guests and crew on the yacht including a young actress, India Collins, and R&B pop singer Nachelle Brown. A surprise guest shows up later in the voyage. All the characters are complex and interesting. They all make perfect suspects. The mystery is complicated with plenty of twists and turns. I thought that while it would never happen in real life Plum going undercover on the yacht was pretty entertaining. I loved Agatha Christie-esque reveal. The subplots were very well written and placed within the story. Plus the surprise yacht guest was hilarious. There are other humorous moments as well. Of course, the setting on Paraiso is delightful. My happy place is on a beach with my feet in the sand. I would mind traveling the seas on a yacht either, but I am faced with caviar dreams on a hamburger budget. That is why I enjoy escaping into stories like these. The Girl with the Dragonfruit Tattoo was a very enjoyable getaway with unique characters, funny situations, and a mystery that kept me guessing, all set in an idyllic place. I look forward to returning soon.

Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent

Carrie Doyle is the best-selling author of multiple novels and screenplays that span many genres, ranging from cozy mysteries to chick lit to comedies to Young Adult. A born and bred New Yorker, Carrie has spent most of her life in Manhattan, with the exception of a six-year stint in Europe (Russia; France; England) and five years in Los Angeles. A former Editor-in-Chief of the Russian edition of Marie Claire, Carrie has written dozens of articles for various magazines, including countless celebrity profiles. She is also a screenwriter, and her movie Intern (co-written with Jill Kargman) premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Carrie has three books that will be published in 2021: Death on Bull Path (the fourth book of the Hamptons Murder Mystery Series); The Murder Game; and It Takes Two to Mango (the first book of the Trouble in Paradise Series.) Carrie currently splits her time between New York and Long Island, with her husband and two teenage sons. Website

Also by Carrie Doyle

Welcome to Cozy Wednesday!  It is my pleasure to share with you my thoughts about The Girl with the Dragonfruit Tattoo by Carrie Doyle today.

The Girl with the Dragonfruit Tattoo: A Tropical Island Cozy Mystery (Trouble in Paradise!) Cozy Mystery 3rd in Series Setting - Caribbean Island Poisoned Pen Press (January 31, 2023) Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 336 pages ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1728232392 ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1728232393 Kindle ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BB8SFS8Y

Sometimes you have to rock the boat to catch a killer! On the tropical island of Paraiso, Plum Lockhart has a new zest for life. Her villa rental company is growing like a weed, she's solved a couple of pesky murders, and things with her long-time crush are finally starting to heat up. Plum does sometimes miss her sparkly life in the Big Apple, so she's thrilled when she gets an invite to dinner on the yacht, where she can mingle with famous singers, up-and-coming stars, society swans, and billionaires. After a few hours on the boat, Plum is less than impressed with the celebrity set and when a server tries to pull her aside to confide a secret, she wonders what else may be lurking beneath the surface. Two days later, one of the servers from the yacht—a girl with a dragonfruit tattoo—washes up dead, and Plum's sweet bit of paradise quickly goes sour. As the ship prepares to set sail across the Caribbean, Plum hops onboard to investigate the case, undercover. But the best-laid plans turn deadly as it becomes clear that everyone on the boat has a motive and Plum must sleuth out the killer before she becomes the next victim... Dollycas's Thoughts We are back on the island of Paraiso and Plum Lockhart is thrilled with the way her villa rental company thriving. She is also happy with the direction her relationship with a certain Security Director is moving. At a party hosted by one of the island's elite residents Plum runs into a friend from her magazine days, Ellen Katz. She is on vacation with her Hollywood producer husband. They have been yachting around the world with famous rapper/talent manager Robert Campbell and his other guests. Ellen invites Plum to come out to the yacht where there is always a party going on. Plum does join the party for a few hours and is surprised when one of the servers tries to share a secret with her. Before the two can meet privately Plum is headed back to the island. When that server's dead body washes up onshore two days later Plum wishes she had known what the girl wanted to tell her. In a real twist, Police Captain Diaz asks Plum to go undercover on the yacht to uncover the killer. She vows to do her best but she soon learns the server wasn't the only one with a secret. Everyone on board could have done the deed. And asking the right questions to the wrong people could make Plum the next victim to wash up on shore. Plum spends a lot of time away from her business in this third Trouble in Paradise Mystery. Thankfully she has Lucia to keep things running. Juan Kevin Munoz is also left on the island but he has a personal problem to handle. I missed that we didn't have as much time with these characters but the time we did have was worthwhile. Readers are introduced to Plum's friend Ellen, her husband Joel, their host Robert Campbell, and all his guests and crew on the yacht including a young actress, India Collins, and R&B pop singer Nachelle Brown. A surprise guest shows up later in the voyage. All the characters are complex and interesting. They all make perfect suspects. The mystery is complicated with plenty of twists and turns. I thought that while it would never happen in real life Plum going undercover on the yacht was pretty entertaining. I loved Agatha Christie-esque reveal. The subplots were very well written and placed within the story. Plus the surprise yacht guest was hilarious. There are other humorous moments as well. Of course, the setting on Paraiso is delightful. My happy place is on a beach with my feet in the sand. I would mind traveling the seas on a yacht either, but I am faced with caviar dreams on a hamburger budget. That is why I enjoy escaping into stories like these. The Girl with the Dragonfruit Tattoo was a very enjoyable getaway with unique characters, funny situations, and a mystery that kept me guessing, all set in an idyllic place. I look forward to returning soon.

Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent

Carrie Doyle is the best-selling author of multiple novels and screenplays that span many genres, ranging from cozy mysteries to chick lit to comedies to Young Adult. A born and bred New Yorker, Carrie has spent most of her life in Manhattan, with the exception of a six-year stint in Europe (Russia; France; England) and five years in Los Angeles. A former Editor-in-Chief of the Russian edition of Marie Claire, Carrie has written dozens of articles for various magazines, including countless celebrity profiles. She is also a screenwriter, and her movie Intern (co-written with Jill Kargman) premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Carrie has three books that will be published in 2021: Death on Bull Path (the fourth book of the Hamptons Murder Mystery Series); The Murder Game; and It Takes Two to Mango (the first book of the Trouble in Paradise Series.) Carrie currently splits her time between New York and Long Island, with her husband and two teenage sons. Website

Also by Carrie Doyle

Something's Guava Give: A Tropical Island Cozy Mystery Cozy Mystery 2nd in Series Setting – Caribbean Island Poisoned Pen Press (January 25, 2022) Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 288 pages ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1728232368 ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎978-1728232362 Kindle ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0915QZ6WD

Nothing ruins an ocean view like a body on the beach! Plum Lockhart went out on a limb when she ditched her corporate job in New York City and moved to the Caribbean island of Paraiso. Now the head of her own villa broker agency, Plum spends her days chasing down clients and lounging on white sand beaches. But the sweet life turns sour when a publishing heiress is found dead at the mansion of an eccentric tycoon, Dieter Friedrich. Even worse, Plum's old colleague cashes in a favor and asks her to investigate. It looks like she'll need to fit a murder case into her already jam-packed schedule! Friedrich is known for his shady dealings, but he's not the only bad apple on the island—Plum will have to contend with a scheming millionaire, a sleazy rockstar, and devious B-list celebrities. And joining Plum once again is Juan Kevin Munoz, the distractingly gorgeous Director of Security. Despite the sparks between them, they'll need to stay focused on the case—there's a murderer hot on their heels! Dollycas's Thoughts Plum Lockhart took a big step leaving New York for Paraiso, a Caribbean island overflowing with tourists. Now she takes another big step by starting her own villa brokerage agency. In the midst of finding the perfect tenants for her clients, renovating villas, and trying to get in a little beach time she finds herself in the middle of another murder investigation. A young publishing heiress runs into a little trouble in paradise and an old employee from New York, someone she fired right before she was let go, Gerald Hand, begs Plum to help the girl, his new boss's daughter out of it. Plum does but then the next day she learns the heiress was found dead on the private beach of Dieter Friedrich, an eccentric fat cat with a crazy theme park-like estate with a group of bizarre friends and staff. Soon Gerald arrives on the island and moves into Plum's guest room to help her catch the killer. Gerald gets more caught up in island life while Plum deals with Dieter Friedrich, his employees, some B-List Celebrities, a rundown rockstar, and other assorted island residents as she works with the hunky Director of Hotel Security, Juan Kevin Munoz, to catch a killer before they become victims themselves. _____ Paraiso is a zany island if you live there, hopefully, the tourists can avoid all the drama. Feuds between families, jealousy, greed, lust, envy, heck all the seven deadly sins are apparent on this island of paradise. Sadly our protagonist, Plum, a tall redheaded American, gets caught up in it all as she tries to find her place and solve a murder. Her new friend Lucia, a small sixty-year-old grandma Paraison, accompanied her to start her own villa broker agency Plum Lockhart Luxury Retreats. Lucia knows everyone and the ways of the island. It will take both of them to make the business a success. I wasn't really a Plum fan when reading the 1st book in this series, It Takes Two to Mango, but I liked her much better in this book. She is still adjusting to island life but still has a lot of New York attitude to work through. It is Juan Kevin Munoz, the Security Director that I really enjoy. His laid-back way of life is just so comfortable. He grew up on the island so while he takes things like murder very seriously he understands how to handle danger on Paraiso. His interactions with Plum are filled with romantic tension and are very entertaining. He is doing his best to keep her safe while the murder investigation unfolds. He knows she can't keep her nose out of it and that knowledge is half the battle. Of course, having Gerald tagging along in his leather pants on a tropical island adds to the chaos but sometimes it is pretty darn funny. Yes, there are a bunch of secondary characters but they all have unique traits, good and bad. Some live on unique estates too. The author's descriptions really brought the people and places to life. Let me tell you, Dieter Friedrich has some outlandish tastes and weird things on his estate and I easily envisioned it all from her words. The mysteries are very well-plotted and Ms. Doyle sets a quick pace. There was a slew of suspects to work through and again Plum isn't always the best amateur sleuth, she needs to work a little more on her questioning and eavesdropping techniques but that just adds to the fun for readers. There were several twists and turns too but all the clues do come together setting up a very satisfying reveal. Something's Guava Give was a very amusing cozy mystery. Heavy on quirky characters but set on a delightful island paradise. The mystery was complicated and kept me guessing the whole way.  I am looking forward to reading The Girl With the Dragonfruit Tattoo soon.

Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent

Carrie Doyle is the best-selling author of multiple novels and screenplays that span many genres, ranging from cozy mysteries to chick lit to comedies to Young Adult. A born and bred New Yorker, Carrie has spent most of her life in Manhattan, with the exception of a six-year stint in Europe (Russia; France; England) and five years in Los Angeles. A former Editor-in-Chief of the Russian edition of Marie Claire, Carrie has written dozens of articles for various magazines, including countless celebrity profiles. She is also a screenwriter, and her movie Intern (co-written with Jill Kargman) premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Carrie has three books that will be published in 2021: Death on Bull Path (the fourth book of the Hamptons Murder Mystery Series); The Murder Game; and It Takes Two to Mango (the first book of the Trouble in Paradise Series.) Carrie currently splits her time between New York and Long Island, with her husband and two teenage sons. Website

Also by Carrie Doyle

Something's Guava Give: A Tropical Island Cozy Mystery Cozy Mystery 2nd in Series Setting – Caribbean Island Poisoned Pen Press (January 25, 2022) Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 288 pages ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1728232368 ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎978-1728232362 Kindle ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0915QZ6WD

Nothing ruins an ocean view like a body on the beach! Plum Lockhart went out on a limb when she ditched her corporate job in New York City and moved to the Caribbean island of Paraiso. Now the head of her own villa broker agency, Plum spends her days chasing down clients and lounging on white sand beaches. But the sweet life turns sour when a publishing heiress is found dead at the mansion of an eccentric tycoon, Dieter Friedrich. Even worse, Plum's old colleague cashes in a favor and asks her to investigate. It looks like she'll need to fit a murder case into her already jam-packed schedule! Friedrich is known for his shady dealings, but he's not the only bad apple on the island—Plum will have to contend with a scheming millionaire, a sleazy rockstar, and devious B-list celebrities. And joining Plum once again is Juan Kevin Munoz, the distractingly gorgeous Director of Security. Despite the sparks between them, they'll need to stay focused on the case—there's a murderer hot on their heels! Dollycas's Thoughts Plum Lockhart took a big step leaving New York for Paraiso, a Caribbean island overflowing with tourists. Now she takes another big step by starting her own villa brokerage agency. In the midst of finding the perfect tenants for her clients, renovating villas, and trying to get in a little beach time she finds herself in the middle of another murder investigation. A young publishing heiress runs into a little trouble in paradise and an old employee from New York, someone she fired right before she was let go, Gerald Hand, begs Plum to help the girl, his new boss's daughter out of it. Plum does but then the next day she learns the heiress was found dead on the private beach of Dieter Friedrich, an eccentric fat cat with a crazy theme park-like estate with a group of bizarre friends and staff. Soon Gerald arrives on the island and moves into Plum's guest room to help her catch the killer. Gerald gets more caught up in island life while Plum deals with Dieter Friedrich, his employees, some B-List Celebrities, a rundown rockstar, and other assorted island residents as she works with the hunky Director of Hotel Security, Juan Kevin Munoz, to catch a killer before they become victims themselves. _____ Paraiso is a zany island if you live there, hopefully, the tourists can avoid all the drama. Feuds between families, jealousy, greed, lust, envy, heck all the seven deadly sins are apparent on this island of paradise. Sadly our protagonist, Plum, a tall redheaded American, gets caught up in it all as she tries to find her place and solve a murder. Her new friend Lucia, a small sixty-year-old grandma Paraison, accompanied her to start her own villa broker agency Plum Lockhart Luxury Retreats. Lucia knows everyone and the ways of the island. It will take both of them to make the business a success. I wasn't really a Plum fan when reading the 1st book in this series, It Takes Two to Mango, but I liked her much better in this book. She is still adjusting to island life but still has a lot of New York attitude to work through. It is Juan Kevin Munoz, the Security Director that I really enjoy. His laid-back way of life is just so comfortable. He grew up on the island so while he takes things like murder very seriously he understands how to handle danger on Paraiso. His interactions with Plum are filled with romantic tension and are very entertaining. He is doing his best to keep her safe while the murder investigation unfolds. He knows she can't keep her nose out of it and that knowledge is half the battle. Of course, having Gerald tagging along in his leather pants on a tropical island adds to the chaos but sometimes it is pretty darn funny. Yes, there are a bunch of secondary characters but they all have unique traits, good and bad. Some live on unique estates too. The author's descriptions really brought the people and places to life. Let me tell you, Dieter Friedrich has some outlandish tastes and weird things on his estate and I easily envisioned it all from her words. The mysteries are very well-plotted and Ms. Doyle sets a quick pace. There was a slew of suspects to work through and again Plum isn't always the best amateur sleuth, she needs to work a little more on her questioning and eavesdropping techniques but that just adds to the fun for readers. There were several twists and turns too but all the clues do come together setting up a very satisfying reveal. Something's Guava Give was a very amusing cozy mystery. Heavy on quirky characters but set on a delightful island paradise. The mystery was complicated and kept me guessing the whole way.  I am looking forward to reading The Girl With the Dragonfruit Tattoo soon.

Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent

Carrie Doyle is the best-selling author of multiple novels and screenplays that span many genres, ranging from cozy mysteries to chick lit to comedies to Young Adult. A born and bred New Yorker, Carrie has spent most of her life in Manhattan, with the exception of a six-year stint in Europe (Russia; France; England) and five years in Los Angeles. A former Editor-in-Chief of the Russian edition of Marie Claire, Carrie has written dozens of articles for various magazines, including countless celebrity profiles. She is also a screenwriter, and her movie Intern (co-written with Jill Kargman) premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Carrie has three books that will be published in 2021: Death on Bull Path (the fourth book of the Hamptons Murder Mystery Series); The Murder Game; and It Takes Two to Mango (the first book of the Trouble in Paradise Series.) Carrie currently splits her time between New York and Long Island, with her husband and two teenage sons. Website

Also by Carrie Doyle

Murder in the Hamptons! A Review of Death on West End Road by Carrie Doyle

3.5 Stars It’s always fun for me to delve into a mystery after reading so many romance novels. I love challenging myself to figure out who the villain is, collecting the clues the author leaves for her readers, and putting the puzzle together. Death on West End Road has all the pieces and parts that I enjoy, plus the added bonus of the Hamptons as its setting and the owner of a bed and breakfast…