TROUBLE IN QUEENSTOWN is a riveting noir mystery centered around a 40-something Black female PI taking on a twisty, gritty case. Along with the hard-won clues, Delia C. Pitts presents an unflinching examination of race, power, and privilege in modern-day, small-town America.

3.75⭐️


Forty-seven-year-old Evander “Vandy” Myrick returns to her hometown of Queenstown, New Jersey, after her career in law enforcement ends after a personal tragedy. Now a private investigator, she has a lot on her plate - concerned for the well-being of her ailing father, a retired police officer suffering from dementia and now in a care facility, dealing with her own trauma and trying to do the best for her clients.

Her latest client is Leo Hannah, the Mayor’s nephew, who engages her services to track his wife’s movements. What appears to be a routine surveillance assignment soon evolves into a racially charged murder case. Vandy is convinced that there is more to this case than meets the eye. Complicating matters further is the influential Hannah family’s connection to the case - powerful people with secrets they would do anything to protect. Vandy is determined to get to the truth, even if that means ruffling more than a few feathers and risking her own life in the process.

Trouble in Queenstown by Delia Pitts is a riveting murder mystery. The narrative is presented from Vandy’s first-person POV. I really liked how the novel was structured in keeping with the different threads of the plot. The depiction of small-town dynamics, socioeconomic differences, and power politics made for an intriguing setting. The mystery was complex and well-crafted, with a healthy dose of humor infused into the narrative. I thought that the author expertly wove the different subplots into a consistently paced narrative that kept me engaged until the very end. Vandy is a strong female protagonist, smart and dedicated to her profession, but also with a vulnerable side. I enjoyed getting to know her and I appreciated that at no point did the segments on Vandy’s personal struggles and her backstory distract attention from the primary murder mystery. The supporting characters were well thought out and I especially enjoyed Vandy’s dynamic with Ingrid.

There are a few moments that require suspension of disbelief, but that did not detract from my overall experience. Certain aspects of the final reveal did take me by surprise (perhaps I missed something in between?) and did feel a tad contrived, but I did enjoy the build-up and the twists and turns and thought the author did a great job of dialing up the tension as the narrative progressed.

This was my first time reading this author and I look forward to reading more of her work.

I paired my reading with the audiobook expertly narrated by Bahni Turpin, who breathed life into Vandy’s character, making for an engrossing and entertaining immersion reading experience. I would definitely recommend the audiobook!

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for the digital review copy and Macmillan Audio for ALC via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Trouble in Queenstown: A Mystery by Delia Pitts

I was captivated by Vandy and her friends and the way they look out for each other. I love a book that lifts me out of the troubles of the world and into the company of gutsy, determined problem-solvers, people of courage and compassion standing strong against corruption. We need such heroes in the real world . . and perhaps we need to be them.
I confess that at the beginning I was a bit distracted by what seemed to me odd, “creative” descriptions and word choices, and language a bit rougher than my usual. Those problems fell away as I became immersed in the story and in caring so much for the fate of these wonderful people and their search for justice. It’s worth giving it a longer than usual “test drive.”

Evander “Vandy” Myrick come back to Queenstown, NJ after losing her daughter and becomes a private investigator. When Leo Hannah, son of the local mayor, comes to her to follow his wife Ivy, who he suspects is having an affair, Vandy takes the case. However, when Leo’s wife is murdered and Leo kills her “stalker”, Vandy soon realizes there is much more going on. To complicate matters, Sam Decker, Ivy’s father hires Vandy as well to solve her murder. Racial tensions, family secrets and a small town environment all add to the mystery.

This is my first-time reading Delia Pitts, I enjoyed her writing style, the relationships between the characters, the grittiness and the tenderness of the story. This is a well-crafted mystery, it took me a while before I realized where the plot was headed. The secondary characters add much to the story and keep the mystery moving forward. If you have not read Delia Pitts before, I suggest you pick up this book, it’s worth the read. #NetGalley #DelitaPitts

I am not going to say that I liked this book. It was horrible in my opinion. This story was just more than I bargained for. It was well written in most places but took forever in others. Had to many twists. Took too long in describing some things. It had a political part that didn't really bother me but will others.
A strong female in a small town. She starts right off wanting to pick up a man but got in a fight with one outside the bar. He was a white man who ultimately groped her. Maybe by accident or possibly not. He was very rude and got what he deserved. I liked how she handled that.

This book just didn't wow me at all. It was a slow build then a let down toward the end. I hope it's just me.

Thank you #NetGalley for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this book.

3 stars. Read it for yourself. Or in this case listen to it.

Thanks to NetGalley, Minotaur and the author this arc!

Welp. Dang it. This one coulda been pretty high on the star chart based on the plot & mystery & the introduction of a tough, female PI series … unfortunately, I found this book to be pretty stinkin’ divisive, politically charged & one sided with a definite agenda. Personally I do not care for this in my fiction & entertainment. I use this time for relaxing & escaping … not for being force fed beliefs & dogma on current controversial issues. I realize that this isn’t everyone’s feeling on this matter & please know I am only speaking for my own personal preferences. I can think for myself & don’t need or want arguments from any side to infiltrate my recreational reading. I’m just here for the story, lol!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Trouble in Queenstown an interesting mystery and also a breath of fresh air in the genre. Evander Myrics is definitely not the average main character. She is a strong, far from perfect character, which makes the book only better. The story is far from saccharine, which is a high point for me. The storyline is strong and the mystery is well written. I was pleasantly surprised by Trouble in Queenstown, and I definitely enjoyed the ride.

The main character in Trouble in Queenstown is former cop and now PI, Vandy Myrick. She is a complex character and is the fascinating star of this book. She has lost a daughter, is dealing with her father’s dementia, and her client was found at a murder scene.

This is a complex story with a lot of details and backstory which can pull the reader in different directions and get confusing. There is also a full complement of supporting characters to keep track of throughout the book.

The ending had me scratching my head a bit, but I did like the tough no nonsense female PI who ostensibly doesn’t have to follow the same rules as the cops.

Evander “Vandy'' myrick became the daughter that her father wanted. She, Vandy become a police officer.Vandy decided that being a private patrol decided that eventually she and stayed busy became a private investigator which is what she preferred. Eventually, Vandy moved home to Queenstown, New Jersey. Town of a small population, I lived in a small community,I can easily imagine Queenstown Vandy
Black women would end up following cheating spouses.
I could easily see this story as A Netflix program
Della Pitts, Keyshawn Sayre, and NetGalley for the privilege of reading the novel.

I LOVE a PI procedural and this was a great one. The whole "woman reluctantly returns to her hometown" was done a lot starting with Gillian Flynn, but Vandy is a Black female private investigator who knows the racial and gender politics of her small central New Jersey town in and out. When she's hired for a routine cheating spouse case, she doesn't expect things to get very dark. A new author for me to enjoy!

I liked Vandy’s grit and tenacity and that she was a PI. I used to watch PI shows on tv as a kid and I always thought there was a certain glam to the job although you skulk around in the shadows and collect dirt on people.
Vandy uncovers a huge scandal in Queenstown which I wasn’t expecting.
The action is fast paced and will keep you turning the pages to see what fresh new problems and pitfalls await.
I did wish the ending was different because I would have liked to see Vandy with one particular character.

I'm not sure was I was expecting but now I know this is a sort contemporary noir-mixed-with-hard-boiled story and some humour.
Vandy grew slowly on me as I started to appreciated her brain and her attitude. I think there's a realistic depiction of a small town and the power plays which are the same all over the world.
This novel started making me think of Marlow mixed with a down-on-her-luck-women-PI and went to be an entertaining and twisty suspence.
I enjoyed it even if I found it quite slow at the beginning and I think you have to be patient because it's a lot of twists and surprises.
Goold storytelling and plot.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

A well-written, fast paced mystery that will keep you guessing from the beginning right through to the end.

I was supposed to review this 2 days ago but would have had to rush my reading to accomplish that, and this book was too good to rush.
This book has all the things for me, a strong female lead, who happens to be black. She’s gritty, she’s tough, but she has a heart and she is definitely one tough broad. There was action from beginning to end. A couple twists thrown in to make it more interesting. And it took place in NJ, my old stomping grounds, although a bit to the north but still sounded like familiar territory. I’m very familiar with route 130. The trucking company my father worked for was on the road. And there was a diner, because you can’t have NJ without a diner.
I loved the character of Vandy, in case you haven’t figured it out yet. I’m really hoping this is the start of a series because I will be watching for a next book. The story was compelling and well written. Some parts were tough to read but that was only because I got so invested in Vandy’s wellbeing. It was hard to see her go through the conflicts she encountered.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good story.
I did receive this as a free ARC and am leaving this review voluntarily. I definitely stumbled onto a gem this time. Thank you, NetGalley and Delia Pitts.

Queenstown is a small New Jersey town ruled over by long serving mayor Jo Hannah. She’s been mayor for so long, she has her tentacles everywhere and exerts total control over Queenstown and its citizens. Her nephew’s wife, Ivy, is apparently murdered by Hector Ramirez and the mayor orders the police to wrap the case up ASAP.
Not everyone believes it was Hector and local PI Evander Myrick soon finds herself with several new clients.
This is a murder mystery with a diverse cast of characters.
The protagonist is a complex personality battling her own demons as well as entrenched misogyny and racism. I really liked the alleged murderer’s sister, Ingrid. She’s smart and brave. I think she would make a good sidekick for Vandy in future installments of this new series. The clue that solved it all and made all the pieces fall into place was an unusual one for sure. The Robert Frost poem, “Nothing Gold can Stay,” is a nice addition to the story that I think works. With a stunning conclusion to a very readable story this is a winner for murder mystery enthusiasts. 4.25 stars

Trouble in Queenstown is the first of a new series by Delia Pitts. The series features Evander (“Vandy”) Myrick, a strong Black female PI, who returns to Q-Town after her career as a university police officer collapses.

Burdened with grief involving her father and daughter, Vandy hangs her shingle as a private investigator and is immediately hired by the mayor’s nephew, who believes that his wife Ivy is having an affair with a “dark-haired, swarthy man.” Although Vandy finds no evidence of this, shortly after her report is complete, Ivy and a Hispanic cab driver are murdered. When the why of the crimes does not match the evidence, Vandy is hired by Ivy’s father and the sister of the cab driver to find out the truth.

This is no typical hard-boiled detective story. Delia Pitts can write! The plot is very sophisticated and the characters are well drawn. The novel also takes up socially relevant issues involving race and sexual discrimination, as well as issues of class and family. I’m sold on this series and can hardly wait for the follow-up. 4.5 rounded up to 5.0 stars. Highly recommended.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book.

Unfortunately I DNF this one around the 30% mark. I found the main character to be so funny and loved her but I felt the story was very slow loving and I was bored. This one wasn’t for me

After a rough year, Evander 'Vandy' Myrick, is back in her small hometown of Queenstown. Now as the town's 'best PI', Vandy's newest client, the mayor's nephew Leo Hannah, wants her to follow his wife and find enough evidence for a divorce. What seems like a routine job, quickly becomes a murder case that might just unearth decades of old secrets.

I want to like this story, and I did enjoy parts of it. I love Vandy's tough demeanor, her quick wits, and her dedication to family and friends. I just felt that her character was much younger than she actually was, making it hard to believe a few of the story aspects. I know Pitts is introducing us to Vandy as a long-term PI, but I felt a bit overwhelmed with all the information we learn about her, which doesn't leave room for a ton of character growth for additional books in the series.

Based on the synopsis, I was stoked to read this book and while the narrator on the audiobook was good, the story itself wasn't great. I liked the way Bahni Turpin voiced Vandy, but other character narrations left me wanting more. The pacing of the story was long, and I felt that the plot was being pulled in too many directions.

The ending did surprise me, but it was totally out of left field, and I definitely took a star away for such a farfetched ending. I didn't like it and it felt so forced.

It wasn't a bad read but the overall story could have used some additional editing and there were quite a few things that could have been either saved for a second book or taken out completely with little consequences to this book.


Trouble in Queenstown is out now. Thank you to Minotaur Books for my advanced copy in exchange for my review. If you liked this review, please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting Instagram @speakingof.books.
Tiktok @speakingof.books
Website: SPEAKINGOF.ORG

I enjoyed this easy to read mystery. I appreciated that this felt like a modernized PI story because instead of the racism and sexism being "just how it is" in the older school PI stories, it is better highlighted and dealt with in this story.

I think Vandy is a great character and well developed. The book has good atmosphere. I was surprised it was a debut.

I love a good mystery and thriller. And I really enjoy and appreciate when it is deeply layered - involving questions of class and race in addition to figuring out whodunit.

Delia Pitts did just that! I LOVED the multiple perspectives/cases format - thinking about one crime from a variety of experiences. It felt like such a unique storytelling device, and one that got me quite invested.