PTA President Sandra Wallage is delivering her first major speech to the South Portland High School PTA when the local gossip website, Dirty Laundry, posts a new scandalous headline. This headline makes allegations about Sandra’s husband, a current United States Senator. Meanwhile, private investigator, Maya Kendrick, tracks down the owner of the nasty site. There’s just one problem. . . the owner of the website is now dead. The death is ruled a suicide, but Maya has doubts. Maya already has an investigative partner, but Frances is pregnant. Sandra wants to help, but is Maya willing to train her?

MURDER AT THE PTA is the first book in the Maya and Sandra Mystery series. The series names gives away the fact that Maya and Sandra will be working together in some capacity, but it’s still entertaining to watch how their relationship changes. Some of Sandra’s earliest efforts to get involved in sleuthing are just downright hilarious although Lee Hollis does a great job at not making Sandra a laughingstock. In fact, Sandra’s earnestness and determination actually make her more likable than any of the other characters as the reader wants her to succeed.

Lee Hollis keeps readers guessing with the rest of the story, however. The twists and turns in MURDER AT THE PTA keep the reader on his or her toes, wondering what will happen next. Lee Hollis crafts a cozy mystery that is entertaining, filled with realistic characters and one heck of a murder mystery. If you like cozy mysteries, don’t hesitate to give MURDER AT THE PTA a try.