Private Investigator Maya Kendrick’s life had been turned upside-down by scandal and betrayal. After quitting law enforcement and setting up her PI firm, Maya has gotten a better handle on things and although money is tight, business is good. With her partner and best friend, Frances, being out and eight months pregnant, work has been at an all-time high, lately. And wouldn’t you know it, things are about to take a turn for the crazy! Scandal, secrets and murder en masse in the first book of the Maya and Sandra Series by Lee Hollis.

Being in the spot light is never easy and for Sandra Wallage, a Senator’s wife, it’s all about keeping her cool and pretending that her husband is not lying to her again. To top off the disaster of her marriage and its current feature on the vile Dirty Laundry website, Sandra is also this year’s president of the PTA. A chance encounter with Maya, after a disastrous meeting at school, sets forth a murderous chain of events that will upend her life in the best way.

Lee Hollis sets up an extended get-to-know introduction to the the Maya and Sandra friendship. Don’t expect to solve the nitty-gritty murder until the end, because there’s lots of characters gunning to steal the show in this book! I actually prefer this set-up in a first-in-series book. I really want to get to know the characters and build up the chemistry between them and with its paced telling this story delivers. Guilt runs amok with these characters and it seems like there’s a suspect in everyone and everyone is guilty of something. Yikes!

I love a strong female character. A no-holds-barred and take-no crap-from-nobody type of woman. A character that undermines the narrative and pushes forward for the sake of truth and justice. I can just imagine, the mischievous adventures that ensue with stoic Maya and newbie Sandra! These women complement each other, and you can really see their friendship empower each other as the story moves on. Men should get ready for these strong women taking over private investigating.

This was an excellent start to a new series. Ultimately, this story is about sisterhood. The bonds that tie us, the bonds that hold us together, the bonds that disappoint us and the lines we should never cross.

~ Patricia

dvanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an fair and honest review.

It's as if the authors took their Politically Correct Checklist and wrote a book. As fellow reviewer, Erin, perfectly put it: "This book may be a purple haired leftist wet dream, but it turned me off completely."

✔ Two female co-heroines, one a woman of color
✔ Gay son
✔ A Senator husband is the darling of CNN
✔ Husband/Senator accused of using taxpayer money to pay off mistress
✔ Vegetarian/organic foods prominently showcased
✔ Co-heroine character drives a electric Volt
✔ Co-heroine character's former police-captain ex- husband serving time for corruption
✔ Men are lying, cheating A-Holes

That's just the first 15% of the book. After the minutia at the beginning of the book establishing the women as shat upon wives, it settles down to a respectable mystery.

Sandra Wallage is the wife of the Jr. Senator from Maine. She is the quintessential politician's wife. She is the mother of two teens and president of the PTA. She has also looked the other way, at least once. When a story breaks on a local scandal site that says her husband "The Senator" has used public money to pay off a sexual harassment claim. well, she puts on her politician's wife smile and denies the claims. When she and fellow mom, Maya Kendrick, a local PI, discover who is behind the Dirty Laundry site they rush to confront them, only to find a dead body.

When the police rule the death a suicide, Sandra and Maya both know that is just not the truth. A race is on to find who the real killer is and to also expose some dirty doings in the police department. When the answers cause some discomfort, both Sandra and Maya are at risk to become the next victims. 3-1/2-Stars

Murder at the PTA by Lee Hollis, one of my favorite authors, is the 1st book in the Maya and Sandra Mystery series, and it is off to a great start. This book is great, and I love the relationship between Maya and Sandra who are total opposites, but have known each other since high school. This book is funny, with twists and turns that keep you reading and guessing. I read this book in one day, because I could not put it down. I strongly recommended this book for cozy mystery book fans, and I can't wait for their next adventure.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Let me start by saying I love the books written by Lee Hollis and this series is no exception.
Quirky, interesting and a good plot made this a great read.

I have enjoyed several cozy mysteries by the author, Lee Hollis. This was the first book in the series and has me looking forward to additional books. What a twist at the end! It was a jaw dropping, gasp in shock ending to me.

I enjoyed getting to know the characters…especially Maya, a private investigator, and Sandra, a housewife whose husband is a Senator. In the political climate we live in today, it was interesting to see how Sandra’s life was affected by her husband’s political aspirations and the difficulties in the marriage. Their developing relationship was fun to watch. There were a couple of twists throughout and then a big whammy at the end! I’d say the author has a winner on her hands with the Maya and Sandra team.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

It didn’t take me long to be caught up in this story. I loved it! The characters are great and they made me laugh at times with their remarks and interactions. You have several different stories going along and it’s interesting to see how they connect. That’s what PI’s do, right. Connect all the dots. I think you’ll enjoy tagging along with Maya and Sandra and company as they deal with life and death. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.

Murder at the PTA by Lee Hollis is the debut of A Maya and Sandra Mystery series. This book takes the time to establish the main characters and their families. We get to know Sandra Wallage, the wife of United States Senator Stephen Wallage. She has two teenage sons, Jack and Ryan. Sandra was just elected the PTA president at South Portland High School in Maine. She is used to being in the spotlight, but it is not something that she enjoys. Maya Kendrick is a former police officer turned private investigator after her husband was convicted in a corruption scandal. Maya has a sixteen year old daughter, Vanessa who still believes her father is innocent. Maya has a PI business with friend, Frances Turner who is currently eight months pregnant. This leaves Maya carrying the load at the office. It turns out that Maya and Sandra went to high school together. The story deals with scandals, teenage drama, money problems, a boy with a drug problem, and a death. The mystery is not complex. There are a couple of suspects and good clues. I found it a cinch to solve this whodunit. I would have liked a more challenging mystery. I found the story easy to read, but I wish the pacing had been peppier. I liked seeing the changes in the two women as the story progressed. The ending was humorous. I am curious to see what happens next. Murder at the PTA is a cute cozy with thrilling tittle-tattle, a sexy senator, a pregnant partner, chatting at cooking class, private eye practice, and forming friendships.

Sandra Wallace has just been elected as president of the PTA and as a politicians wife knows all about scandal. When a website called Dirty Laundry posts an article about her husband she knows she must keep a level head. She runs into Maya, an old classmate who is now a P.I. and find sour she has discovered who is behind the website. When the two women go to confront the woman they find her dead a note next to her. Although the police say her death is a suicide Maya saw some clues that say otherwise. With Maya's partner out on maternity leave she gets help from Sandra. The two delve into their own investigation and soon learn that they have quite a few secrets to dig through. Along the way these two woman who weren't friends in school form a bond of friendship. As they work together will they be able to put all the puzzle pieces together and figure out just who the killer is? This was a great start to a new series, the characters were relatable and the plot easy to follow without giving away everything. I look forward to seeing where the author takes the characters to next!

Murder at the PTA is the first in this new series by Lee Hollis. I was already a fan of Hollis and was excited to start a new series. I was not disappointed.
A scandal webpage has started circulating at the local high school unfortunately for the PTA president, it's focused on her senator husband's affair. Sandra knows she needs to get to the bottom of this and fast. When the person behind the webpage is revealed, Sandra goes to the school to confront her but, finds her body in her office. It's ruled a suicide but Sandra feels there's something wrong with that determination. Enter Maya, a former police officer turned PI. Her daughter and Sandra's son has started dating so Sandra enlists Maya to investigate and much to Maya's dismay, Sandra has started her own investigation.
This is an easy to read Cozy with a serious story line. There are plenty of suspects and plot twists. I love the two main characters being strong women and mothers. There is also humor scattered through out.
Overall, this is a great start to this new series with a jaw dropping end!
I was given an ARC by Kensington and NetGalley for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's more involved than most cozies so we get to know the characters better. I loved Maya, the main character, who is a former police officer turned private detective. She's feisty and strong while still being fun. She's raising a teenage daughter on her own as her soon-to-be ex is in prison for police corruption. Not sure if this is the first book in the series but it could be. The mystery was very good with lots of red herrings. There was lots of humor too along with it being very real feeling. Women dealing with teenagers and husbands and all that entails. Really good book!
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher and voluntarily chose to review it.

An excellent Cody mystery. The characters were well drawn and sympathetic, and the storyline flowed seamlessly. Highly recommended!

I really enjoyed this book a lot! I knew I'd like anything this author writes, because I love their other two series. It's great how they can set a different tone for each series they've written. Maya and Sandra were the two most unlikely candidates for sleuthing partners, but they worked together really well once Maya adjusted to Sandra being a senator's wife. She soon found out that Sandra wasn't the typical prissy trophy wife but someone who was very committed to a new friendship and possibly sleuthing partnership. Sandra was pretty smart and able to read people well too.

Someone had offed the vice principal of the high school the night that Sandra had her first PTA meeting as president, and the woman's sister hired Maya's PI firm to prove that it was murder not suicide. What a crazy web of deception and secrets this all led to! I loved it, and the showdown was super exciting, at least to me. The wrap-up was great and whatever wasn't already explained got mentioned as to the outcome. What a fun ending! Now I can't wait for the next book!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

The premise was good, and I was totally fine with the character- and world-building since this is first in the series. But I just couldn't embrace MC Sandra and her entitled, bored housewife persona. And I also didn't get Maya's sudden friendship with Sandra, it just didn't work for me. I do plan on reading at least one more in this series though, as sometimes first impressions can be a bit misleading.

Sandra is PTA president at the high school, her husband is the senator. Shortly after the installation her husband is accused of having an affair by a site called Dirty Laundry. When the vice-principal is found dead in her office, Maya – private detective and hs parent – sees murder. However, it is ruled suicide. Maya is hired by the sister of the vice principal and Broadway star to find what really happened.

Maya and Sandra manage to hook up and work together on this case. And both are surprised by the guilty party.

This is a great start to a new series. I definitely look forward to more. Sandra and Maya are so different but pair well together. Plus, their kids are dating. A lot of good character building that just makes you want more.

4 stars
Murder at the PTA
by Lee Hollis
There is a lot to enjoy regarding this book,
The Good:
I loved this book. It is the first one in a very long time that I had a hard time putting down. I have never read a book by this author before so I was unsure what to expect but I was very pleasantly surprised. The ending was a complete shock to me! I never saw it coming. I loved Sandra and Maya and the friendship they formed. Most of the characters were written very well as relatable real people.
The Bad:
Holy plot hole! Every high school in the world has security cameras, especially in the office! So, why did nobody watch the cameras to see who killed Maisie? Frances is a horrible person. She seems like a caricature of every pissed off woman cop. The inclusion of the teenagers' love scenes was ridiculous and totally unnecessary.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. The views given are my own.

Great start to a new series. Lot of zigs and zags that kept me guessing and surprised. Interesting intertwined relationships. I look forward to the further adventures of these two ladies.

I tried a few times to get into this story but it never happened. I love Ms. Hollis's Haley Powell series and eagerly began this one. I found the character a bit dull.

Absolutely terrific read with believable characters and situations which are resolved in a very well crafted mystery. The reader loses themselves in the writing and has no trouble empathizes with the protagonist along the way.

I really enjoyed this first book in this new cozy Murder mystery series. The characters are compelling and complexed and the storyline was intriguing. Lee Hollis is one of my favorite mystery writers because her stories are more raw and less cutesy then most cozy mysteries. I love that this series has two very strong women as main characters. They come from vastly different backgrounds but complement each other so well. I look forward to reading more in this series to see what direction the authors takes these characters in.

This is the first book in the Mays and Sandra mystery series. Sandra is a senator's wife and president of the PTA at Portland High School. Maya is a recently divorced PI whose cop husband is in jail for corruption. During Sandra's first meeting of the PTA a story in the gossip website for the high school comes out about her husband, Senator Wallage. Sandra does her best to ignore the rumors about her husband. Maya's daughter hires her mother to find out who runs the website and get it shut down. When Maya investigates she traces the website back to Maisie Portman, the assistant principal. Maya goes to confront Maisie and runs into Sandra. Sandra follows her into the office and they both find Maisie hanging from the ceiling. They team up together when Maisie's sister hires Maya to prove her sister was murdered.
I really enjoyed this book. The was a lot of building of the characters and I felt like we really got to know the characters. I like how Maya wasn't really that fond of Sandra at the beginning but grew to like her by the end. They mystery was good. I did not see that twist coming about who the killer was. I never would have guessed the culprit. This was a good first book in the series. I will definitely be on the lookout for more. I received this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.