This was such a fun mystery. Denise Grove Swank is amazing at crafting fun characters that are a joy to read.

Deadly Summer introduces us to Summer Butler, who was once the star of teenage television series about a teenage sleuth, called "Gotcha". After the series ended and her mother absconded with most of her money, Summer needs work, badly. At a meeting with a producer, she is hounded by fans and physically attacks a man who won't leave her alone. She is offered a job, working as a PI in a new reality TV show, the catch being it is to be filmed and set in her home town where she hasn't been since she was a teenager. Her mother has returned and built a large home. She works training girls for beauty pageants and remarried. Summer has never told anyone her mother stole from her and ruined her career, so you know there will be issues there. Summer's cousin, Dixie, spent two years in juvie, for setting a fire that killed her parents and grandfather, but Summer and her brother Teddy believe she either didn't do it, or it was an accident. When Summer stumbles on a dead body, Darling Investigations becomes a bit more real. Will Summer be able to make a go of her new show? Will she be able to reconcile with her family?

This was a fun cozy mystery story. Summer has a lot of history and baggage dealing with her family and hometown. The cases that her director, Lauren, dug up for her were hilarious and somewhat bogus, but Summer finds a case of her own. She meets up with police chief Luke Montgomery, her first love and one she has never gotten over. They end up having to work together and there are definitely sparks there. Lauren sets up situations trying to make Summer look bad, but they often backfire. There is humour, but also some serious themes as well. Family reconciliation is a big part of the story, as well as how parents take advantage of their children and their talents. There is murder, drugs, extortion and corruption, that all get solved in the big case that Summer solves on the side. I am definitely looking forward to the next book in this series.

What a fascinating book. I was impressed by the storyline and the characters were all well written and complex. Where there are complex storylines combined with intriguing characters the reader experience is magnified tremendously. To have a book that is well written as well as entertaining is a delight. Reading is about escaping your world and entering another one. The word building was phenomenal in this book. Here I forgot about my own life and was immersed in the world created by the author. I would recommend this book.

This is quite fun, laidback ride to the sunset at the end of the movie - if former teenage actress turned reality show sleuth can live that long! Her hometown of Sweet Briar, Alabama can be hiding more than a community gossip...

This is a cozy read, not very challenging, yet fun and fluffy enough to make your lazy afternoon being a quite pleasant time. As Summer struggles with unpleasant bosses, nosy neighbours, hot former boyfriends and crime-makers of smalltowns, you can ride with her and enjoy the atmosphere we crave in our cozies - the warm and embarrassing mentality of your native place and family drama - and home.

It took me ages to get to, but I really liked this book. It was funny and had a good mystery. I am intrigued by Summer's backstory and will pick up the next book. The characters were 3 dimensional and seemed real instead of just caricatures. (Except Lauren. What a witch.)

Denise Grover Swank tells a good "light" mystery story, and the Summer Butler series is no exception. I don't love these books as much as I do her Rose Gardner/NeelyKate stories, but they're a nice, quick, satisfying read with a fun little romance thrown in. Overall, worth the read, although it's nothing new or earth-shatteringly different.

What a fun read! If you are a fan of Denise’s Rose Gardner series you will LOVE Darling Investigations. There is something about the way Denise writes that makes you feel like you are surrounded by old friends even at the beginning of a new series. There is a comfortable familiarity in Denise’s books that I absolutely love. Summer and her family are a fun bunch. I immediately fell in love with the characters and the story. Mystery, romance, humor, quick wit. This one has it all. Sit down with a cup of coffee and Deadly Summer and lose yourself in a great story….and don’t be surprised if you find yourself chuckling out loud.

I received an ARC of this book for my review. I love Denise! I was so sad when Magnolia ended but this is a wonderful new mystery series. I loved it, she was able pull me in and have me not want to put it down. Summer is now one of my favorite characters of all Denise's books. I love strong hot headed leading women and men in uniform, throw in a mystery and I'm hooked. Can't wait to see what is next for Summer.

I am always a bit hesitant to jump into a new book series with gusto, I mean I have my favorites (many of which have been written by this author), but I always wonder if I will really like the series as much as many of the others. Well let me tell you, this is already one of my favorite new series!!
I was lucky enough to get an ARC copy prior to the book's release and I could.not.put.it.down. Summer is a very likable character, she was a Hollywood child star who was never able to break into grown-up stardom, but left a lasting impression that still has people asking her for her famous line from her role as a young actress. She's in a world of financial troubles since her mother ran off with much of her earnings years earlier and she hasn't been able to find steady work since, thus her desperate decision to star in a reality TV show in her hometown in Alabama.
She's a humble woman and willing (albeit reluctantly) to face those people in her past that she feels she let down. While the reality show is a farce, one of her cases to find a missing person catches her interest and she decides to look into it on her own along with her new investigations sidekick, Dixie (aka her cousin). That decision kicks the book into high gear, putting Summer in awkward and dangerous situations the closer she gets to the real truth behind this case. There's suspense, romance, and lots of laughs with a whole host of new characters who are definitely going to make this another superb series. There are many things that I look forward to see play out through the series including her relationship with Luke, Granny finding out about the balloon payment on the farm, the "must happen" showdown with her mother, and lots of great cases that are sure to keep us all entertained. Can't wait for the next Darling Investigations installment!

I really enjoyed this book!

What I most enjoyed has to be the humour, this book has got to be the funniest one I've read in a while. Most, if not all, of the jokes landed, with gems like these:

"You claimed it was love", she scoffed. "What could you possibly know about love at seventeen?"
"I obviously didn't learn from you", I snapped back. "You still haven't learned what real love is at fourty-six."
"Did you just say MY AGE on TV?" my mother asked in horror.
*************
It was then I noticed he'd set two paper plates on the sofa next to me with sandwiches, potato salad, and pickles.
"It's your lunch break", he said, handing me a plate. "You need to eat."
"You got this for me?"
He grinned. "I'd hoped to eat what was on one of the plates, but if you want it, you're welcome to them."

The characters were well written, and the plot was unpredictable and kept me guessing (the ending WAS a little predictable, but okay), plus the entire "Former teenage star is now bankrupt and struggling to reconnect with her family" is a story I never knew I wanted to read, and also never knew I could relate to.

(Disclaimer: I am not a former teenage star)

The book DID require a certain suspension of disbelief at times, and it dragged on at some points, but these flaws didn't prevent me from enjoying the book at all. I had a lot of fun with it, and I'm looking forward to reading the sequel!

Denise does it again. Couldn't put this book down. I'm so happy it's book 1 so I will get more of these characters and characters they are. Not a cliff hanger either. You're never quite sure who done it. Keep them coming Denise You sure can write them.

Denise Grover Swank never fails to entertain me! I love that Summer Butler is a very strong, independent, pulls herself up by the bootstraps kind of gal! She's made some mistakes but she realizes them and doesn't try running away from them. I really liked Luke but wish there had been a little more of him. There are quite a few similarities with this set of characters and the Rose Gardner series. I really love that series though so it didn't bother me too much. I'll definitely continue with the series.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Denise Grover Swank!

What a brilliant start to a new series, as usual Denise writes fantastic female lead characters and it's flows so effortlessly that it's a joy to read. I look forward to Darling investigations no 2

Well written and an enjoyable story. I really enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading more by this author.

I fell in love with this book in the first couple of pages. It is so easy to read and really catches your attention the whole way through. I loved Summers character and how this book takes her back to her roots and reminds her what it is like to be part of a family. I also liked the mystery aspect of the book as well. At first you think it is going to be just some girly fluffy stuff with a silly blonde, but then it turns into an actual mystery. The book has lots of good depth in it. It gives you a look inside what some celebrities might think and feel, as well as how normal of a person they really want to be.

Deadly Summer is book one in the brand new series, Darling Investigations by Denise Grover Swank.

Summer Butler was a very popular teenage television star portraying Isabella Holmes, a teenage sleuth. Now, ten years later, she can’t find work, she’s broke, and about to lose her house. A loan payment is also due on her family’s farm in Alabama and if she doesn’t figure something out soon, they will lose that as well.

Summer is offered the chance to star in a reality show with her as a now grown up private investigator solving small town crimes. The problem is, the show is being shot in her home town of Sweet Briar, Alabama. The salary for the show will allow her to be able to pay off the farm. But she hasn’t been home in eight years. Her grandmother had made it clear she wasn’t welcome any longer. And then there is the case of the broken heart she left behind, of the only man that she had really ever truly cared for. The now Chief of Police, Luke Montgomery.

Summer arrives in town determined to do whatever it takes to make this show successful. It doesn’t take long, though, to realize that the cases are ridiculous and that the show wasn’t going to make it. But then the dead bodies start showing up. And Summer, her cousin/assistant Dixie, and their cameraman, Bill, start to do a little of their own detective work to try to solve the murders.

This was a cute whodunit that keeps you guessing until the very last minute. Summer has finally had enough and chooses this time to assert herself and I was so proud of her. I loved her side kick, Dixie. They may have started out as fake PI’s, but these two just might have enough smarts and common sense to make this work. I usually like a little more romance in my books. It’s clear that Summer and Luke still care for each other but their acceptance of giving things a second chance is a very slow build. Perhaps that will get a little more attention in the next book, Blazing Summer, when Sweet Briar seems to have a town arsonist, and Summer and Dixie try to figure out who it is.

I read a lot of heavier, dark works, so reading this was a lot of fun for me! Cozy mysteries usually aren't my thing, but there was something about this one that sucked me in. Maybe it was the fun colorful cover, maybe it was the silly description. Who knows. What I do know is if you're looking for a fun, light book that will make you laugh out loud (but is well written!!) look no further.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
This is as sweet and fluffy as a murder mystery gets. The story of a washed-up teen star who stumbles into a real crime while filming a ridiculous reality TV show is full of small town Southern charm. It’s a fun read that builds slowly to a surprisingly exciting end.

I couldn’t help but like Summer more than I wanted to. She has more substance than anyone expects, and she is more self-deprecating than the first few chapters suggest. Her mind is sharp and her humour is slightly darker than I expected.

The murder mystery takes some time to start and it felt like it wandered in circles for a while before there was any real excitement in the book. I enjoyed Summer and Dixie’s unconventional investigation, but parts of the story aren’t terribly plausible.

The romance is almost negligible. Summer’s high school boyfriend is now the police chief and the two have unfinished business. There isn’t much heat in this story but there are some entertaining moments as Summer’s investigations interfere with Luke’s job.

In the mood for a cozy mystery book? Deadly Summer by Denise Grover Swank is the first in the Darling Investigation series. Summer Butler was once the teenage star of the TV show "Gotcha." Now ten years later she is a washed-up TV star and about to not only lose her house but also the family farm. As a last resort at getting her finances in check, she is offered a reality TV show being a PI. The downside though is that it is in her hometown of Sweet Briar and even worst is that Sweet Briar is a small town filled with gossipy birds and history and for Summer, that history isn't all good. Back home now Summer will have to not only face a lot of demons and family issues but when one of her first cases - a missing person turns up dead and then not one but two connected to the dead, missing person is also killed. Now Summer is determined to solve the mystery of who killed Otto? If that wasn't bad enough, Summer has a crazed fan stalker - Sebastian Jenkins to deal with. Can Summer stay alive in Sweet Briar to make it to the end of Season One of Darling Investigations? Find out in Book #1 of the Darling Investigations - Deadly Summer.

Deadly Summer by Denise Grover Swank might be the epitome of a beach read. I mean, just look at the cover. It's got a great, strong female protagonist, a crime that needs to be solved, a small town, and a big dose of romance. And guess what? It all happens because a struggling, child-actor-now-grown-up needs to pay the bills and she figures she might as well sign up for a reality show. (It's better than having to take nude pictures, right?)

Synopsis (from Goodreads):
Ten years ago, Summer Butler was television’s most popular teenage sleuth. Since then, she’s hit—what gossip sites just love to call—the gutter. Nearly bankrupt, betrayed, estranged from her greedy mother, and just about unemployable, she’s coaxed into that desperate haven for has-beens: reality TV.

Winging it as a faux PI, she’ll solve off-the-cuff mysteries in her hometown of Sweet Briar, Alabama. For added drama, there’s police chief Luke Montgomery, inconveniently Summer’s first and only love.

It’s when Summer stumbles upon a very real corpse that Darling Investigations takes an unexpected twist. The growing list of suspects is a big draw to viewers, but the reality is that Summer doesn’t know whom she can trust. Someone has written this killer new scene especially for her, and unless Summer gives the role everything she’s got, it could be her last…

The book starts off with Summer Butler living in Los Angeles just barely scraping by. She is about to lose her house and possibly her grandfather's farm that her family has worked on for generations. Her mother stole all the money she earned while she was a teen star on a popular sleuth show (think Nancy Drew). Now Summer is willing to take any work she can get and that's when a TV producer (sort of) offers her her very own reality show. She will have to go back to her hometown of Sweet Briar, Alabama and solve crimes around town. Pretty simple, right? NOPE! Summer hasn't been back to Sweet Briar in years. But a woman's gotta do what a woman's gotta do so she heads back to her hometown to see if she can salvage the last bits of her career, her money, and her dignity. And that's when the fun begins.

Let's start with the romance. I can't help myself. Summer and Luke were together at teenagers and broke up because Summer (with her mother's encouragement) decided to stay in Los Angeles. Even when her grandfather died, Summer's mother insisted she stay in LA and continue her work on the show, despite Summer wanting to go to the funeral. Luke took this as her not wanting anything to do with him. Fast forward to present day and Luke is the Chief of Police of the Sweet Briar Police Department and is not happy when Summer and her crew come to town to film her crime-solving reality show. Of course, when they first meet (and because this is a romance book), their reunion involves Summer and Luke becoming tangled in a bunch of dog leashes and her falling into his arms. Yes, this is tropey, cheesy, and stereotypical of romance novels, but it is probably the only interaction between the two of them that is that way. The other times they meet are intense, sweet, and scary once we get to the crime elements of the novel. Luke is quite protective of Summer even when he is trying his best to not love her. I expected Summer to go along with this protectiveness but that was not the case (THANK GOD!). She fights with him to do what she wants and snatches back her agency when he tries to take it away. She is not one to sit on the sidelines and she doesn't let him put her there. Summer puts him in his place and he takes it and accepts her for who she is. They both have to accept each other for who they are now and not who they were when they were teenagers. It is exhilarating to read their scenes together.

Summer also reunites with her cousin, Dixie. Dixie becomes Summer's assistant at her reality show PI agency. Dixie is a great partner and is always there to support Summer when Lauren, the producer of the show, tries to give her shit. Dixie has also known a good amount of tragedy in her life. Her parents were killed in a fire that she blames herself for. She had snuck out to go meet a boy and by the time she got back, her family was gone. She was arrested for the fire and spent two years in a juvenile facility. Summer's reality show becomes a chance for Dixie to show how much she'd grown since then.  Dixie is also very much for Summer and Luke getting back together. She tries to get them alone together at any cost and it is hilarious. She is an incredibly lovable character and along with Summer, one of my favorite characters in the book.

Summer also has some reunions that are not so welcoming. The main reason Summer didn't go back to Sweet Briar sooner was because her grandmother disowned her after she didn't come to her grandfather's funeral and because she was gone for so long. Summer also stayed away from Sweet Briar because her mother moved back to there after she took most of Summer's money. As Summer didn't take any legal action against her mother for taking the money (she didn't want the press getting a hold of any of the family's secrets), she didn't know how her mother would react to her being back or what she had told everyone else after they un-amicably parted ways. Once back, her mother turns out to be her old despicable, selfish self, caring more about appearances and her own beauty pageant business than seeing her daughter. Summer's grandmother, on the other hand, is willing to house Summer while she stays in Sweet Briar but still takes a while to warm up to her estranged granddaughter. I found Summer's grandmother to be a really great character. She is a strong and stubborn woman who shows her love through what she makes in the kitchen. I was nervous at first that she would completely shun Summer when she arrived, and while that was somewhat true in the beginning, she eventually warms to her granddaughter and fiercely protects her.

Now to the crimes and the detective work. One of the cases Summer gets for the reality show is a missing person case which quickly turns into a murder. Summer finds the town drunk and low-life, Otto Olson dead in the woods. Later in the investigation, Summer and Dixie find the body of one of Otto's associates in his apartment. As the bodies start piling up, Summer, Dixie, and Luke become even more determined to find who is responsible for the killings and when they finally do, they have to figure out how they'll get out alive. 

Summer is a great detective. She knows what questions to ask, she empathizes with the families and the victims, and she is not afraid to do the legwork. She discovers midway through the investigation that it might be her calling. Not acting or being famous, but solving crimes and helping people. This realization doesn't happen suddenly, it's very subtle until the show ends and the murderer is caught and Summer has to decide whether she is going to go back to LA or stay in Sweet Briar for good.

Overall, I really enjoyed Deadly Summer by Denise Grover Swank. I don't really have much bad to say about it. It was fun, thrilling, romantic, and, at times, quirky. Out of 5 stars, I am giving this book 4 stars. It is a great story, but I only give five stars if the book completely blew me away or made me think about something in a different way. While it didn't do that, it was definitely an entertaining read.

Deadly Summer came out January 9, 2018.

Thank you, NetGalley and Montlake Romance for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.