Flyin’ Solo

Peden’s pleasing third Nashville mystery (after Gone Missin’) finds Campbell Hale, the manager of a Nashville travel agency, preparing to go dateless to her 20-year high school reunion. Her friend and casual love interest, homicide detective Sam Davis, has refused to accompany her, citing an ongoing murder investigation. Campbell is not alone for long. Her first love, Fly Young, whom she hasn’t seen in 20 years, appears at the reunion, as attractive as ever, and Campbell remembers those bright days of youthful—decorous—passion and of how Fly broke her heart. Now a millionaire whose healthcare software company dominates the industry, Fly has a gorgeous wife, Erika, who has parlayed her popular diet and fitness plan into breathtaking financial success. When Fly offers Campbell the business travel account for his company, she readily accepts. Subsequently, she learns Sam is investigating the murder of Fly’s chief accountant. When a photo taken during the reunion of Fly giving Campbell a kiss is printed in a local newspaper and Erika is found dead, with Campbell beside the body, the travel agent becomes a suspect in her murder. The book’s wry humor and gentle reflections on love and second chances more than make up a whodunit that’s pretty easy to figure out. Cozy readers will be satisfied. (July)