Teetotaled
A Mystery
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4.0 • 7 Ratings
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- $12.99
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
After her philandering husband died and left her penniless in Prohibition-era New York, Lola Woodby escaped with her Swedish cook to the only place she could—her deceased husband’s secret love nest in the middle of Manhattan. Her only comforts were chocolate cake, dime store detective novels, and the occasional highball (okay, maybe not so occasional). But rent came due and Lola and Berta were forced to accept the first job that came their way, leading them to set up shop as private detectives operating out of Alfie’s cramped love nest.
Now Lola and Berta are in danger of losing the business they’ve barely gotten off the ground—work is sparse and money is running out. So when a society matron offers them a job, they take it—even if it means sneaking into a slimming and exercise facility and consuming only water and health food until they can steal a diary from Grace Whiddle, a resident at the “health farm.” But barely a day in, Grace and her diary escape from the facility—and Grace’s future mother-in-law is found murdered on the premises. Lola and Berta are promptly fired. But before they can climb into Lola’s brown and white Duesenberg Model A and whiz off the health farm property, they find themselves with a new client and a new charge: to solve the murder of Grace’s future mother-in-law.
Teetotaled, Maia Chance's sparkling new installment in the Discreet Retrieval Agency Mysteries will delight readers with its clever plotting, larger-than-life characters, and rich 1920s atmosphere.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Set in 1923, Chance's fun sequel to 2015's Come Hell or Highball takes penniless New York socialite Lola Woodby and her former cook, Berta Lundgren, who have formed the Discreet Retrieval Agency, from the Washington Square apartment left to Lola by her philandering late husband (who used it as a love nest) to the Willow Acres Health Farm on Long Island. Their first client, Sophronia Whiddle, a friend of Lola's mother, wishes them to retrieve the diary of her plump 19-year-old daughter, Grace, who's booked at Willow Acres in an effort to slim down before getting married in eight days. Sophronia fears the diary records indiscretions that could jeopardize the wedding. Lola is reluctant to proceed, since she doesn't get along with Willow Acres' owner and head doctor, who happens to be her brother-in-law, Dr. Chisholm Woodby. Lola and Berta may not be Holmes and Watson, but their deficits in experience and talent are balanced by determination and an abundance of action. P.G. Wodehouse fans will find a lot to like.
Customer Reviews
Just a hoot
Just plain fun.
Engaging, unique and clever
So – I couldn’t find a way to resist this one – I’m obsessed with the BBC mysteries that air on PBS weekly, and have been taken in by the improbably Australian production of the Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, the heroine is a straight-forward modern woman, rather clever but mostly lucky, with a fun setting and clever mix of historical influences and murder. So, I had hopes.
And Maia Chance delivered what I had hoped for: characters with style and a bit of flair, plenty of humor and a touch of luck. Lola is a widow, down on her luck and funds, after her husband’s death. With the help of her loyal cook Berta and one portly Pomeranian, Cedric. Not willing to ‘out’ herself as a lady detective with the Discrete Retrieval Agency, the rent has come due and needs must…
Traveling to her brother-in-law’s ‘fat farm’, Lola and Berta have been hired to find a diary belonging to the daughter of her mother’s friend. Friend’s daughter Grace and her diary disappear shortly after their arrival, and then the bodies start to drop…..
Characters stand out in this story: Lola with her ‘way’ of approaching life and it’s pleasures, her attempts to maintain a ‘certain standard’ in all things while still enjoying the times she indulges her sweet tooth. Berta, a no-nonsense and rather pragmatic woman with a logical way of thinking, a belief in Lola and her wish to do well, and providing an insight and perspective that the life Lola has led do not provide. When you add in Ralph the detective with his obvious feelings for Lola despite her driving him around the bend with her unorthodox approach, there are plenty of moments to love, and the story moves forward quickly. Engaging, unique and clever, I’ll be sure to read more of this series.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Second book in series!
Teetotaled by Maia Chance is the second book the Discreet Retrieval Agency Mysteries. Lola Woodby is a thirty-one-year-old widow living in New York. Lola has started the Discreet Retrieval Agency with Berta Lundgren (a former cook). They have not had much luck in finding paying cases. If they do not get some money soon, they will out on the street. Luck comes through their door in the form of Sophronia Widdle, a New York society lady, who wishes the ladies to retrieve her daughter’s diary (she wants to know what her daughter is up to). Her daughter, Grace is very protective of her diary. She keeps the older versions in a safe in her room and the current book does not leave her side (at night she keeps it under her pillow). Grace is currently spending the week before her wedding to Gilbert Morris at Willow Acres (a health farm). Lola calls her brother-in-law, Dr. Chisholm Woodby (who will soon be marrying Lola’s sister, Lillian) who runs Willow Acres to get them two rooms. Lola and Berta believe they can get the diary quickly and head back home (because the food leaves something to be desired). Unfortunately, you know what they say about best laid plans! Locked rooms and a diligent nurse keep them from getting the diary during the first two days of their stay. Then their target, Grace flies the coop. She has decided to elope and thwart her mother. Lola and Berta are about to pack up and head home when they hear a scream. Muffy Morris, who was to be Grace’s mother-in-law, is dead in her room (wife of a Senator Winfield Morris). After speaking with the police, Lola and Berta can leave. In the parking lot is Senator Morris. He wishes to hire the Discreet Retrieval Agency. He needs them to find the killer discreetly. The senator does not want any negative publicity. They take the case and set out to find the culprit. It is a good thing they have a new case, because Mrs. Widdle fires them (it is not their fault Grace took off). Lola and Berta have their work cut out for them. Will they be able to solve the case and get their much-needed fee?
Teetotaled is the second book in the series, and, as I discovered, you do need to read the first book in series. The author tries to update the reader, but I was definitely out of the loop. There was information from the first book that the reader needs to understand Lola’s situation (not for the mystery though). I found Teetotaled easy to read and it contained a complex mystery. There are inconsistencies (a few of them). Lola is told the doors to the rooms at Willow Acres are locked at night and during the day. Then Lola is shocked when she finds the doors locked. This is just one example. Lola is a hard character to like. She is a grown woman who is afraid to tell her mother about her current circumstances (broke and now working as a private investigator). I preferred Berta and wished she was more dominant in the novel (she is very much in the background). The author tries to capture the 20s feel with phrases from that era. She tosses them around like confetti. I give Teetotaled 3 out of 5 stars (it was okay). The mystery was the best part of the book (which helped raise the score). Teetotaled was just not for me. I will not be continuing with this series.