Private Investigator Liz Talbot has a new client, a perfect Marilyn Monroe lookalike. Born precisely 50 years after Monroe, Calista McQueen (born Norma Jeane Mortenson) has led a life that so closely paralleled that of Marilyn Monroe that now, at 36, she feels sure someone will try to kill her on the anniversary of Marilyn’s death.
Liz is determined to save Calista’s life, but her own life is somewhat distracting. She’s canoodling with her ex-husband’s brother (eeew) who also happens to be her business partner, she’s getting the full court press from a former sweetheart and not completely sure she’s ready to say no, and there’s a ghost in her house.
Actually, the ghost is a distraction from the story rather than an important plot element, though she does jump in and rescue people in deus ex machina style. There’s also a psychic aunt and some family shenanigans. I’m guessing that people who have read the first book in the series, Lowcountry Boil, will recognize these characters and enjoy the cameo appearances. Not having read the series in order, I felt as though these things were unnecessary loose ends introduced into the story for no clear reason. Characters also seem to take extreme actions with far too little motivation — again, reading the books in order might help with this.
With that said, this is a fun summer read. The details of clothing, food, and decor make it easy to visualize the story and I was intrigued enough to go look up the life of Marilyn Monroe.