Margaritas and Murder

I’ll admit, I approached *Margaritas and Murder* with skepticism. Tie-in novels can often feel phoned-in, but this one surprises by leaning into Jessica Fletcher’s most underrated trait: her *adaptability*. Darlow’s performance is a revelation—she nails Jessica’s signature poise but adds a layer of weary amusement, like a teacher who’s seen one too many students try to cheat on a test. The way she delivers lines like *“I didn’t come to Mexico to play detective… but here we are”* with a sigh that’s equal parts exasperation and resignation had me laughing out loud. The supporting cast’s voices are distinct, though her Mexican accents occasionally veer into *Dora the Explorer* territory—a rare misstep in an otherwise polished performance. The plot itself is a tight, sun-soaked whodunit with a higher body count than your average *MSW* episode, but the real joy is in the details: the way Jessica navigates a resort where every guest has a motive, the running gag about her publisher’s increasingly desperate attempts to ‘relax,’ and a twist involving a stolen artifact that feels plucked from a classic noir. My only gripe? The pacing drags slightly in the middle during a *very* thorough tequila-tasting scene (funny, but overlong). Still, the audiobook’s production elevates the material—subtle soundscapes of crashing waves and distant music make you feel like you’re poolside with Jessica, which is exactly where you want to be when the margaritas start flowing and the bodies start dropping. If you’re a fan of cozy mysteries but crave a little more spice (and not just in the guacamole), this is your book.