Four ex-cops in a retirement paradise. Sure they’ll rest…when the killer is caught.
After a long career as a police officer, Moira hopes a move to a luxury retirement community will mean she can finally leave the detective work to the youngsters and focus on a quieter life. But it turns out The Homestead is far from paradise. When she discovers the body of a young woman floating in one of the pools, surrounded by thousands of dollar bills, her crime-fighting instinct kicks back in and she joins up with fellow ex-cops—and new neighbours—Philip, Lizzie and Rick to investigate the murder.
With the case officers dropping ball after ball, Moira and the gang take matters into their own hands, turning undercover homicide investigators. But the killer is desperate to destroy all the evidence and Moira, Philip, Lizzie and Rick soon find themselves getting in the way—of the murderer and the police.
Just when they thought they could finally relax, they discover that someone has infiltrated their ‘safe’ community. Can they hunt down the murderer and get back to retiring in peace? And after all the excitement, will they want to?
🌴🌴🌴🌴.5
Hi and welcome to my review of Death in the Sunshine!
Death in the Sunshine is the first instalment in a brand new series called Retired Detectives Club. A new Steph Broadribb series? You know I’m there for that!
Death in the Sunshine is kinda like The Tuesday Murder Club in better weather, except that these are not amateur sleuths, as I assume you’ve gathered from the series title. The story is told from four different perspectives and they are all former law enforcement. Who better to investigate a murder, especially since the detective who is actually paid to investigate doesn’t seem all that bothered.
Death in the Sunshine is more action-packed than I expected from a cosy crime mystery. A dead body kicks off the story and in the aftermath of this murder the action and suspense don’t let up. Moreover, two of the protagonists are clearly harbouring secrets, which adds to the general suspense and mystery. I was fully prepared to miss bounty hunter Lori Anderson (from the eponymous series by this author) but I didn’t even have the time to realise she wasn’t there! Death in the Sunshine is super entertaining and highly addictive, I read it in a day and I had a ball!
While the murder has been solved at the end of the book, it is clear that we have not yet uncovered all there is to know about these retired detectives, one in particular, and I think I might have spotted a bit of a romance on the horizon. Suffice it to say that I will be waiting very impatiently for the next instalment!
If you love protagonists that are a bit older and you enjoy a thrilling murder mystery, then Death in the Sunshine is one you should add to your TBR right now!
Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.