Murder is a Family Business by Heather Haven

Liana (Lee) Alvarez is a tough, yet sensitive PI who works for her family's business-a high tech PI firm in the heart of Silicon Valley.  When Lee stumbles onto a murder in a warehouse at San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf, she calls upon her family—a blueblood mother, a computer-genius brother, and a good-hearted uncle—to solve the case.

A Note from Acey Deucy to Rum Tum Tugger

Dude:  There are easier ways to get adopted than by practically drowning.  Take me for instance.  My mom was smart enough to give birth to my siblings and me on an unnamed person’s patio in a secret house that kept us warm and dry. And Rochelle, who lived next door, was a really soft touch.  All I had to do was climb her screen door and meow at her while she was on the phone, and I had her.  She hung up, ran outside and scooped me up saying, “Oh, look! Acey knows my voice!”  Then I gave her the eyes.  You know—the kitty eyes.  Yup, it works every time.  But that’s how you got Lee.  With the eyes and the pitiful meow.  I suppose I’ll let Rochelle take over now.  It’s a nice day and the mice’re stirring out back by the auto museum.  Good hunting for Dusty and me.

Are you done Acey?  Can I work now?  Sheesh!

 

Acey (in laundry basket) and Tugger

Murder is a Family Business is another winner from MuseItUp Publishing, Inc.  In fact, it was a top ten finisher in the Preditors and Editors Readers Poll, 2010.  Okay, so all of my reviews so far have been good ones.  I pretty much don’t read books I don’t enjoy.  Who does?  Anyway…

Heather’s mystery is tight and scary and often humorous.  Can you imagine having a mother who supports you in her own blue-blood way?  What can you say about a Girl Scout Leader who guts fish perfectly coiffed and manicured wearing a beaded Halston gown—with an apron, of course?  I don’t think Lee’s the only member of that troop who had difficulty getting that image out of her mind.  No wonder she rebels by wearing the bright colors of the Latina of her heritage, albeit with designer labels.  She’s doing a favor for a long-time friend of her mother’s when she stumbles upon that body on the wharf in a deluge.  She stumbles onto Tugger that day, as well—both literally.  Tugger, of course, is the safer of the two discoveries.

Read the book.  You’ll see what I mean.

Murder is a Family Business by Heather Haven

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