Author: Chelsea Thomas Genre: Mystery Digital Book ASIN #: B0C6B5QMWW Independently Published 90 Pages $2.99 Amazon April 30, 2024 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Granny solved a huge mystery in Toluca Lake, and then she disappeared. The woman is gruff, tough, and no nonsense. But it's not like her to vanish like that. Something serious must have happened... ...like murder. Everywhere Granny goes, she's got poker on the brain. In line at the grocery store, she's reading people, trying to figure out who can be trusted. She tests out her bluffing skills on family and friends just to keep everyone sharp. Sometimes she bets on the weather, or how long until the dog barks, or how many minutes until a newscaster clears their throat on air. She is a woman who craves excitement, who lives on her tippy-toes, and who runs toward danger with a determined look in her eye. She's also a woman with secrets. This time, the secrets of Granny's past have come back to haunt her if she doesn't get past all the lies and find the truth, she could end up dead. And so could the people she loves. Will Granny manage to quit while she's ahead? Or is she about to place her last bet? ✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽ Granny Petunia is heading to Florida to see her boyfriend Chip, who owns a riverboat. Along for the ride is her new dog, who saved her from being killed back in California. She thinks she knows why the man was trying to kill her, but not who hired him. So heading on west, she and her new friend are trying to stay under the radar. When she arrives she greets an old friend who also happens to be able to help her disguise herself with a new 'do and other things to make her less recognizable. She also finds out that Chip has been arrested for murder -- right when she arrives at the riverboat. Now she wonders if she'll be able to stay under the radar while trying to find out who the murderer is...and who wants her dead... This is a spin-off novella of the Dog Groomer Mysteries, with Petunia getting her very own story. I honestly have to say that while I love the former mysteries, I was skeptical that Petunia could hold her own on a new series. Mainly because she's snarky and mean-spirited. I know she means well in the long run, but sometimes she runs over the top. Saying that, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this mystery. There's plenty of action, and although we don't get to see a lot of Chip in the book, we do get Petunia in full form solving a mystery without the help of her California crew. It's interesting, fun, and full of plenty of action. There's enough of everything to keep people reading, and Petunia does what she does best -- being full of energy, ideas, and, of course, snark. Recommended. I received a copy from the publisher and Book Sprout but this in no way influenced my review. https://www.amazon.com/Deadly-Dealer-Thrilling-Adventure-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B0C6B5QMWW Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6541137934 More on Chelsea Thomas's Books: https://www.fantasticfiction.com/t/chelsea-thomas/