I fell in love with this author’s Tish tarragon series. So, when this series, based on Vermont, came out I gave it a read. I’ve been reading ever since!

I came for the mystery, but I keep coming back, not only for the mystery but for the characters on the writing. Each and every single entry is filled with twist curves and red herrings. Take to Mexico for destination wedding? That was a nice change, but I can’t wait to be back in Vermont with the next entry in this series.

Foul Play in La Playa by Amy Patricia Meade is an engaging mystery set at a luxurious resort in Mexico. As a first-time reader of the series, I had no trouble getting into the story. The cast—resort guests and staff—are all hiding something, creating a web of secrets and suspicion. (I received an advance reader copy and all opinions are my own.) A well-paced whodunit with a vivid, sun-soaked setting.

"Foul Play in La Playa (Pret' Near Perfect Mystery #4)" by Amy Patricia Meade is a bit slow going in the first couple chapters to build up all the new characters due to this particular mystery happening at a Mexican tourist resort. There are also some perspective point changes so we know what Stella and Nick's dog is up to while they're away. Unfortunately, some of the perspective switches were a bit too smooth I was more confused than entertained by the dog's side story. It just didn't really add to the mystery aspect.

Once the mystery did get really started the story picked up a bit in pace. I appreciated that because I was on the edge of not finishing it. I was pretty sure of who the culprit was based on a moment I thought be a clue rather than a slip up. Like I said, an enjoyable story once it gets going.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Amy Patricia Meade for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Foul Play in La Playa coming out June 17, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the second book I’ve read by this author, but the first in this series. I think the characters are fun. I enjoyed the getaway trip plot. The title of the book is fun. The mystery was really good. There were some things I didn’t expect, but I enjoyed it. I’ll definitely check out more books by this author!

Stella and Nick have accompanied Alma and Mills to Playa Del Carmen for their wedding! The cabanas on the beach seem like the perfect place to begin a marriage but as they get to know the other tourists staying there, the cracks in the facade begin to show. When one of the guests is found dead in her lounge chair, Stella immediately suspects foul play, but who could have killed this woman? Literally anyone.

I love Stella and Nick and their relationship, it's also really sweet to see Mills and Alma finally tying the knot and starting their life together. They've vowed to relax and enjoy their vacation and the wedding and not get involved in any investigations but how can they help themselves when the infamous busybody who's been terrorizing other guests is offed?

The resort creates a closed room setting for this mystery, which makes investigating easy. All the resort guests have a secret, but they're all pretty open with sharing their history and admitting to their mistakes. As Stella talks to each of the guests she collects little bits and pieces of information, all of which seems completely inconsequential. With each bit of information, Stella is able to put together a picture of what actually happened when one last puzzle piece falls into place.

This is a great series and I have loved everything I've read by this author. If you haven't checked out Meade's books I highly recommend them all.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

Foul Play in La Playa by Amy Patricia Meade is the fourth book in the Vermont Country Living Mystery series, and although the setting is shifted to a Mexican resort, it is still split between the mysteries the main character Stella, her husband, and their best friends find there and the one that her mother has to deal with back in Vermont.
The mysteries are as different as they could be - two deaths at the resort in Mexico balanced off by the more amusing problem of why Stella's dog is acting so strange at home. The back and forth balance the book nicely, between the intrigue and complexity of the main mystery, and the more lighthearted one involving the dog back home.
Well written and a definite page turner, #FoulPlayinLaPlaya is a perfect vacation read. Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC.

Foul Play in La Playa is the next installment of A Vermont Country Living Mystery series. Nick and Stella are accompanying their friends to Mexico for their wedding. What they expect is sun, beach, and relaxation. What they get is sun, beach, and drama. The resort is charmingly small and quite luxurious, and the residents have been visiting it for decades. The community is extremely close - everyone knows everyone's business. The queen of the resort, Georgina, prides herself on knowing everyone's darkest secrets. When not one but two guests are discovered dead, including the queen herself, Stella and Nick are thrust into another investigation. Stella is determined to solve this case before her friend's wedding. Nothing ruins a celebration quite like murder.

Foul Play in La Playa is a fun cozy mystery that takes the main characters out of their normal setting and places them in a new and exotic local. I enjoyed the vacation vibes throughout the book. I always like a look into what Stella's mother is up to, and, in particular, I enjoyed her developing relationship with Bixby in this book. I didn't find the mystery overly exciting and none of the twists were that unexpected or surprising. The pacing was a bit slow in parts and the author did repeat certain words/phrases a bit too much; however, overall, I enjoyed Foul Play in La Playa.

Paradise..?…
The fourth outing in the Vermont Country Living series of mysteries finds Stella and Nick off to Mexico to celebrate the wedding of two of their closest friends. It may appear a paradise when they get there but not everything is quite as it seems. Murder soon rears an ugly head and with death seemingly all around them, they soon find themselves drawn into a reluctant investigation. Another entertaining entry to the series with a well drawn cast of characters, a firm sense of place and a solid mystery at its heart.

This book was such a nice surprise! A fun mystery set in Cancun with a cast of possible suspects, red herrings, and back stories. The writing is very well done!

#FoulPlayinLaPlaya #NetGalley is the first book I've read in this series and I loved it.
Stella and Nick are in Mexico to celebrate the wedding of their friends, Alma & Charlie.
The trip seems like paradise, a beautiful resort, an attentive staff, what more could they ask for?
Murder was not part of the plan, and the soon to be bride & groom are hoping to avoid any investigations during their trip.
When bizarre events begin to happen, the couples cannot help but wonder what is happening at this beautiful place.
I loved this book and I'm excited to read the first in the series to see how it all began.
Lila and her dog sitting capers had me laughing out loud.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.