Andi Anna Jones, so-so travel agent and amateur sleuth, puts aside her resentment of her father’s widow and books a sixtieth birthday cruise to Cancun for Ruby and three friends. Never does Andi imagine the cruise will include the murder of a has-been lounge singer—or that Ruby might be the main suspect.

Flirting with more than danger after arriving in Mexico, Andi connects with charming local sheriff, Manual Gonzales. An embarrassing night involving the sheriff, too many margaritas, and a Mariachi band, can’t quell her determination to clear the name of her ex-stepmother.

While gathering clues and interviewing witnesses, however, she suspects dear old step-mom isn’t the only one in jeopardy.

About Mary Cunningham

“I live in my own little world, but it’s okay, they know me here.”

Author, Mary Cunningham grew up in the sleepy little town of Corydon, Indiana. And she really means, “in the town!” Her house was just beyond the main intersection that took Southern Indiana cars and trucks from north to west. That was well before I-64 zoomed traffic just north of town, so imagine the teeth-grinding sound an 18-wheeler made wheeling around the tight corner, then downshifting as they passed her house. Winter? Not so bad. Summer with the windows open? Countless sleepless nights sitting on the porch with her dad telling stories and learning about the constellations.

After 10 years as a bank teller, followed by a horrifying stint as a travel agent and more rewarding experience teaching travel and tourism and the airline computer reservation system, she finally realized that her heart belonged to writing.

Her childhood experiences, and a recurring dream about a mysterious attic, inspired her to create characters, Cynthia and Augusta Lee, for her award-winning ‘Tween series, “Cynthia’s Attic.” Like Cynthia and Gus, her childhood best friend, Cynthia and she grew up in a small, Southern Indiana town…the setting for the series. Cunningham and her friends spent much of the summer playing softball, hide and seek, badminton, and croquet in a vacant lot on her block. Years later, those joyful summers would be recalled in the five-book series, “Cynthia’s Attic.”

She is also co-author of the humor-filled lifestyle book, (WOOF) Women Only Over Fifty, along with a published short stories, Ghost Light, and “Cynthia’s Attic” short story, Christmas With Daisy.

Her latest adult mystery, Margaritas, Mayhem & Murder, An Andi Anna Jones Mystery (Book 1) is being released April 27, 2022. A biography of an army brat/college and professional basketball player who has established a foundation to provide scholarships to children of deployed military veterans, will be published in the spring, 2022.

Cunningham is a member of The International Thriller Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, national chapter, Sisters in Crime, regional chapter, and the Carrollton Writers Guild.

When she gives her fingers a day away from the keyboard, she enjoys golf, swimming and exploring the mountains of West Georgia where she makes her home with her husband. Together they’ve raised three creative children, have 2 granddaughters and an adopted, four-legged, furry daughter, Lucy.

At last count, she’s moved 9 times into six different states (all after the age of 36), and aside from the packing and unpacking, she believes it’s been a great experience, having made some very dear and lasting friendships.

She may be reached through her website: Marycunninghambooks.com. or through The Wild Rose Press, Inc

Margaritas, Mayhem and Murder is the first book in her An Andi Anna Jones Mysteries. It has been updated and expanded. She also is the author of Cynthia’s Attic series.

Synopsis:

Andi’s step-mother is a real piece of work! But is Ruby a murderer?

Andi Anna Jones, so-so travel agent/amateur sleuth, puts aside her resentment of her father’s widow and books a 60th birthday cruise to Cancun for Ruby and three friends. Never does Andi imagine the cruise will lead to the murder of a has-been lounge singer—or that Ruby will be the main suspect.

Flirting with more than danger after arriving in Mexico, Andi connects with the charming local sheriff, Manuel Rodriquez. After an embarrassing night involving the sheriff, too many margaritas, and a Mariachi band, a chance to check out an eyewitness to the murder leads her to Las Vegas.

In Vegas, a mysterious meeting in the Bodies Exhibition, a body preserving in the prep-room, and an evasive owner of a dance studio, give Andi clues to help Ruby. But when Andi is mercilessly drugged and locked in a storage room, she realizes dear old step-mom isn’t the only one in jeopardy. (Goodreads)

Review:

The characters are well rounded and well developed. Andi is a no-nonsense woman who does not really like to be told what to do. When her former stepmother, Ruby, calls and demands that Andi help her out of the mess that she has gotten herself in (a murder charge), Andi is not happy but what can she do? She promised her dad that she would watch out for Ruby, so she knows she has to help. Ruby is a real pain, and Andi has a hard time being anywhere near her. Her sister, Georgia, has a family and really cannot leave them to help with Ruby’s problem. I personally thought that Georgia was a spoiled person and I really did not like her very much. I did like Andi and I thought her sarcasm and some of her actions were funny. I really enjoyed get to meet har and learn more about her.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and through much of the story, I felt like I was right there, watching all of the action taking place. The mystery was well plotted and I felt there was a fair amount of clues to pick up on. But I thought that the mystery ended abruptly and I would have liked it to have been developed and drawn out a little more. That is only my opinion and other’s may not agree with me.

I would recommend this book to all of those who like a funny well written cozy mystery. I hope this is the start of a new series because I would like to be able to spend more time with Andi and see what she gets up in next. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series, when it is released.