Tipping the Valet: A Workplace Mystery By K.K. Beck

by Cynthia Chow

Details on how to win a copy of this book at the end of the review.

All Tyler Benson wanted was time to study and complete his engineering education at the University of Washington. Unfortunately, the extremely ill-advised financial decisions of his father force Tyler to work for Elite Valet, parking cars and hustling for tips. A new assignment at the hot new Ristorante Alba should be a primo opportunity to earn some much-needed extra cash, but instead it becomes a black comedy of errors and unfortunate timing. A drive-by shooting, and then a body traced back to Alba, lead police back to Alba and Tyler’s inadvertent fingerprints.

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While Tyler quickly attempts to explain away his involvement, his fellow valets are enmeshed in their own schemes with even more dangerous accomplices. The Russian mafia may be borderline incompetent, but they are quite adept at murder. Their trail of bodies leads right back to Alba, and, more specifically, to Tyler. He finds an unlikely ally in Flavia Torcelli, a young woman who only wants to study marine biology but has been drafted by her family into helping her brother manage Alba. This young couple must now outmaneuver the family’s expectations, suspicious detectives, and lethal European mobsters.

Image source: Perseverance Press

I’ve been a fan of K.K. Beck since the early 90s, when I discovered her Iris Cooper and Jane da Silva mystery series. Fans of her other suspenseful mystery novels will be delighted to know that the author is still continuing to create entertaining characters who spout very sharp and witty dialogue. Tyler’s family has become very accustomed to their wealthy lifestyle, and they never developed his grandfather’s work ethic. As a result, they continue a delusional lifestyle of consumerism and get-rich-quick schemes. Watching the beleaguered but very admirable Tyler attempt to follow a moral path while the rest of the world seems intent on sabotaging him is hilarious fun. A part of the Workplace Mystery series that highlights different occupations and characters, this new entry only enforces Beck’s record as an author of stellar mystery fiction.

To enter to win a copy of Tipping the Valet, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “Tipping,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen September 26, 2015. If entering via email please include your mailing address.

Use this link to purchase this book and a portion goes to help support KRL & it supports an indie bookstore:

Tipping the Valet: A Workplace Mystery

Cynthia Chow is the branch manager of Kaneohe Public Library on the island of Oahu. She balances a librarian lifestyle of cardigans and hair buns with a passion for motorcycle riding and regrettable tattoos (sorry, Mom).