Deana Harris, now Deana Cooney, returns in McKenna’s sequel to Last Tracks, and this time she’s headed to rural Virginia with friends Cindy, Shelly, and Jean, in search of serenity and a peaceful round of golf, but when Deana stumbles onto a dead body while searching for a lost ball, their tranquil getaway is shattered. The body belongs to Kyle Dixon, a shady real estate agent working under the alias of Ken Draper in Washington, D.C., who swindled Shelly and Jean.

Whether you’re a brother or mother, the disco-inflected mystery that follows will keep you on your toes as Deana and her dishy, sharply drawn crew face multiple suspects, from scorned lovers and their partners to, well, each other. Kyle is well-known as the philandering husband of the wealthy Jennifer Dixon, co-owner of the Monarch Estates, the swank gated community where the body was discovered. Complicating matters is the fact that a major development is in the works for Monarch, and Kyle’s opinions—and involvement—in the scheme may have put him at risk. Soon enough, more death follows, and as the friends begin to understand the danger they’re in, and local detective Greg O’Neill gets involved. Deana and co. are quick to jump in and offer assistance to O’Neill, along with their retired police officer friend Snooky, as the group works to overcome lies and betrayals.

McKenna brings the milieu, in the shadows of the Blue Ridge Mountains, to engaging life—“this bucolic area certainly does remind one of the goings-on in the English crime shows” Shelly declares—as the story blends sleuthing, suspense, and complicated friendships. A touch of romance is welcome, despite the setting’s decidedly dangerous happenings. This murder mystery is served with a slice of lightheartedness though, as the titular song functions as the story’s theme song, playing every time Cindy’s doorbell rings and offering comic relief, while still reminding the crew of their ultimate goal.

Takeaway: Dishy mystery pitting friends against murder in gated-community Virginia.

Comparable Titles: Ellen Crosby’s The Merlot Murders, Ella Barrick’s Quickstep to Murder.

Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A