I’ve just finished the fabulous Party Planning Can Be Murder by Kerry Schafer / Kerry Anne King and am eagerly awaiting book number two. If you love the Finlay Donovan or Eleanor Dash series, this is a must-read.

It’s a fast-paced, compelling, darkly funny—and poignant—cozy mystery with plenty to say about small town life. There’s a twist or two, a budding romance, a full cast of unique characters, and an unforgettable heroine (who has the best twin brother).

Addy Winters is a party planner used to dealing with bridezillas. When we meet her, she’s attending the funeral of her beloved grandmother, who left specific instructions for how the family should handle her death. None of her wishes included a church or a burial, and no one but Addy listened.

Sporting a yellow, polka dot sundress, she stands up mid-service to commandeer the lectern and read a letter from her grandmother. Addy’s outfit plus the contents of the letter = quite the showstopper. Most people in the congregation, including family members, are horrified.

One person watches in awe: Leno, her high school BFF. He dissed her to become a rock star legend. Now frail and unrecognizable, he’s come home to die. He has his right-to-die paperwork and a prescription for the pills. All he needs is help from Addy to plan the actual death and a memorial party that will rock the town.

Despite the obscene amount of money he’s offering, Addy’s not so easily bought and not so quick to forgive. But still, she arranges to meet him the next day.

When he turns up dead, she knows he was murdered. Now she has to prove it AND plan the party of the decade. And convince friends to help. And avoid Leno’s sexy big brother who clearly thinks she’s a gold-digger. And stay alive … all while making peace with the scary Maserati Leno insisted on leaving her in his will.

Such a fun read full of shenanigans.