POISON AND POOCHES

Sarah Kingston’s niece, Arial, introduced in Brew Unto Others (2024), strikes out on her own, settling into the property she inherited from her famous great-grandmother.

Tucked between the California cities of Monterey and Carmel-by-the-Sea, Pacific Grove has a reputation for being a little more laid-back that its tony sister cities. But Pacific Grovers still respect pedigree, and there’s none that gets you more respect than being a descendent of Gretchen Mayes. So when Arial moves into the cottage left to her by the illustrious artist, the villagers welcome her eagerly into the community. Termites, on the other hand, have no respect for lineage, so Arial has to have the infested guest house on the property fumigated, forcing her tenant, Christopher Buck, to share quarters with her in the cottage. Veterinarian Chris and dog-walker Arial share more than a love of animals. Arial’s paternal half sister, Melinda, is also Chris’ maternal half sister. And when they try to move Chris’ furnishings after the fumigation, they end up sharing a puzzle: an unidentified corpse has been concealed beneath the termite-weakened floor. Arial is a charmer, eager to explore her new community and to investigate the puzzle that has turned up quite literally at her feet. She makes mistakes but acknowledges when she’s gone perhaps a bit too far. Her relationship with Chris is intriguing, but not fraught. And the puzzle Balzo gives her to solve is knotty and full of surprises.

A worthy extension to Balzo’s coffeehouse franchise set in an appealing new locale.