A cold case heats up a Palm Springs private investigator's life.Former TV actress Poppy Harmon reinvented herself as a detective when her spendthrift husband's death left her broke. She started the Desert Flowers Detective Agency with her friends Violet and Iris, but it wasn't until they hired an aspiring actor to play the part of dashing detective Matt Flowers that they were taken seriously. Now the agency is hired by ingenue Danika Delgado, the star of a remake of camp classic Palm Springs Weekend, who's being harassed by a stalker. Poppy is recognized by the movie's director, a big fan of her 30-year-old detective series, who wants to cast her in a small role. Poppy's less than thrilled, but the role does give her a chance to keep an eye on Danika. Even better, Matt joins the cast after leading man Chase Ehrens gets canned for sexually harassing Danika. Is the stalker the one who almost kills Matt by cutting the brake lines in his stunt car? When Poppy finds Danika smothered in her trailer, she can't help remembering a similar scene in the 1980s, when three actresses were killed in the same way by the Pillow Talk Killer. Has he returned, or is this the work of a copycat? Amid nonstop publicity, Poppy considers a raft of possible suspects, one of whom may want to add her to his list.A movie set in the California desert provides a suitably dangerous backdrop for the gutsy heroine.

Set in Palm Springs, Calif., and vicinity, Hollis-s fun third Poppy Harmon mystery (after 2019-s Poppy Harmon and the Hung Jury) finds the 60-something widow and retired TV star-who owns the Desert Flowers Detective Agency with her two best friends-looking into who-s stalking Danika Delgado, a rising young actor starring in the remake of a campy 1960s beach-blanket movie. The director recognizes Poppy from her TV days and, conveniently for the investigation, recruits her for a small part in the film. When the insufferable lead is fired, Matt Cameron, the detective agency-s front man, joins the cast. After Danika is smothered in her bed, Matt is nearly killed in a suspicious accident, and a reporter who was writing an exposé of the movie-s executive producer is drowned in his bathtub, Poppy uncovers disturbing connections to the Pillow Talk Killer of the 1980s, who was never caught. Hollis delivers all the essentials: appealing characters, an intricate plot, and a colorful setting. Cozy fans will hope Poppy and friends will be back soon. (Apr.)