Killer Calories
(Libby/OverDrive eBook, Kindle)

Transplanted Georgia peach and former police officer Savannah Reid (last seen in Bitter Sweets, 1996) must quell her penchant for fattening foods as she looks for a former screen star's killer in this predictable but entertaining tale. After disco legend Kat Valentina dies at her Southern California health spa, Savannah, who operates the Moonlight Magnolia Detective Agency, receives an envelope full of money. A note is enclosed asking her to investigate Kat's death, which the coroner has already ruled accidental. Suppressing her sweet tooth, Savannah goes undercover at the spa. She is suspicious from the beginning of those closest to Kat: her ex-husband, now the spa's manager, who's been trying to keep it afloat; a convicted stalker turned masseur; and an outspoken doctor who champions physician-assisted suicide. When she discovers that Kat was suffering from breast cancer and refused to submit to an operation, Savannah wonders if the death might have been suicide. Still unsure that the woman was indeed murdered, she and the members of her agency use their moxie to track down what really happened to the aging movie star. Astute readers will solve the mystery quickly, but McKevett's snappy style may hold their interest to the end anyway. (May) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

An anonymous note to saucy Savannah Reid instigates an investigation into the apparently accidental death of actress- turned-club owner Kat Valentina. This third bouncy adventure (e.g., Bitter Sweets, LJ 5/1/96) for the witty, sweet-toothed heroine is a real treat. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

A third chapter in the adventures of voluptuous, Georgia-born Savannah Reid (Bitter Sweets, 1996, etc.), who now runs the Moonlight Magnolia Detective Agency in San Carmelita, after a stint in the local police force. When Kat Valentina, a promiscuous onetime disco queen, is found dead in a mud bath at the Royal Palms spa--owned by Kat and husband Lou Hanks--the coroner's verdict is accidental death. Savannah, though, has received an anonymous letter, accompanied by a wad of cash, with a promise of more to come, asking her to investigate further. Her part-time assistant Tammy also works at the spa, and Savannah, leaving behind her beloved chocolate and doughnuts, checks in for an extended stay. Engineering a series of nosy interrogations and unauthorized room searches, Savannah quickly uncovers a slew of candidates for Kat's murder: Lou Hanks, beneficiary of her life insurance policy, which could save his failing enterprise; spa doctor Freeman Ross, who'd diagnosed Kat with breast cancer and was prepared, maybe, to do a Dr. Kevorkian; trainer Dion Zeller, frantically attempting to protect a secret he feared would be revealed; Phoebe and Ford Chesterfield--brother and sister--rich owners of the estate bordering Royal Palms who battled over Kat's campaign to seduce Ford. And there's more, in between Savannah's consultations with slobby Dirk Coulter, an old pal still on the police force; her escapes to forbidden foods with elegant gay friends John and Ryan; lots of raunchy dialogue; and, finally, a solution as silly as the rest of this hyperactive, overextended, mildly vulgar exercise.

An anonymous note to saucy Savannah Reid instigates an investigation into the apparently accidental death of actress- turned-club owner Kat Valentina. This third bouncy adventure (e.g., Bitter Sweets, LJ 5/1/96) for the witty, sweet-toothed heroine is a real treat. Copyright 1998 Library Journal Reviews

Transplanted Georgia peach and former police officer Savannah Reid (last seen in Bitter Sweets, 1996) must quell her penchant for fattening foods as she looks for a former screen star's killer in this predictable but entertaining tale. After disco legend Kat Valentina dies at her Southern California health spa, Savannah, who operates the Moonlight Magnolia Detective Agency, receives an envelope full of money. A note is enclosed asking her to investigate Kat's death, which the coroner has already ruled accidental. Suppressing her sweet tooth, Savannah goes undercover at the spa. She is suspicious from the beginning of those closest to Kat: her ex-husband, now the spa's manager, who's been trying to keep it afloat; a convicted stalker turned masseur; and an outspoken doctor who champions physician-assisted suicide. When she discovers that Kat was suffering from breast cancer and refused to submit to an operation, Savannah wonders if the death might have been suicide. Still unsure that the woman was indeed murdered, she and the members of her agency use their moxie to track down what really happened to the aging movie star. Astute readers will solve the mystery quickly, but McKevett's snappy style may hold their interest to the end anyway. (May) Copyright 1998 Publishers Weekly Reviews