Killer Cocktail: A Nick & Nigel Mystery By Tracy Kiely

by Cynthia Chow

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

The discovery of home videos made by the daughter of a famous film producer has placed Nicole and Nigel Martini firmly in the eye of celebrities and celebrity journalists. Danielle Samuels recorded behind-the-scenes activities during the making of her father’s 1996 Oscar-winning movie, and those videos were recovered by Nic and Nigel when they purchased Frank Samuels’s home. That former child-star and promising young actress Melanie Summers overdosed during the making of “A Winter’s Night” only adds to the salacious interest. Nigel’s Movie Magic Company locates and restores films, and he plans to digitalize and re-edit the old footage for a public release. A brutal robbery and break-in at the Martini home curtail those plans, and the tapes seem to be the target of an Oscar-wielding assailant.

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While Nic and Nigel experience the dubious privilege of walking down the red carpet at the Oscars and hobnobbing with the likes of Ellen DeGeneres, Anne Hathaway, and a frenetic James Franco, they have no illusions over Hollywood’s shallowness and dark side. Infuriated by the attack that left Nigel’s employee in the hospital, the former NYPD Homicide detective Nic wields her considerable talents to uncover the numerous secrets, affairs, and abuses that were all captured by the missing film.

Flashbacks to scenes of the 1996 footage slowly expand on the mystery and expose the seedier side of movie production. A former ‘stage mom’ who continues to retain her grasp upon her Oscar-winning daughter, a husband-stealing starlet, a director desperate for a hit, all had their futures tied to Melanie Summers and benefited by her premature death.

Image source: Midnight Ink

Once again, Tracy Kiely creates a snappy, banter-filled mystery that moves along so swiftly that readers will be tempted to finish the novel in one sitting. They should resist, as the pun-heavy and very witty dialogue deserves to be savored slowly in order to truly appreciate its cleverness. The tarnished side of Hollywood is perfectly balanced out by the lively humor and sexy relationship between Nic and Nigel. Nigel’s ne’er-do-well, cavalier attitude hides his obvious love for his more serious wife, and Nic appreciates more than just tolerates his balancing lightness. Readers will love this couple who quote Dorothy Parker, take a bullmastiff named Skippy to the Oscars, and own a frequently intoxicated and continually vulgar parrot. While those can mostly be attributed to Nigel, Nic’s level-headedness and sharp intelligence ensure that all readers will revel in this very modern and sophisticated mystery novel.

To enter to win a copy of Killer Cocktail, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line "cocktail,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen May 28, 2016. If entering via email please include your mailing address.

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).