A Perilous Pal is the second Friend For Hire cozy mystery by Laura Bradford. Released 5th July 2022 by Penguin Random House on their Berkley imprint, it's 288 pages and is available in mass market paperback, audio, and ebook formats. Library binding available in third quarter 2022. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
Protagonist Kim is a friend for hire and will, for a fee, attend whatever function/wedding/concert/or event her clients need. When her new client's ex-husband winds up dead and the evidence points directly back at client Kim, Emma channels her inner amateur sleuth yet again.
The characterizations are well done and believable. I enjoyed the bantering dialogue which is never overwrought or clunky. The pacing is maybe a trifle slow in places, but the author has an above average facility with description and the mystery and resolution are well controlled and satisfying. The clues are well presented and the entire "whodunit" is fair play and cleverly constructed.
The language is squeaky clean and the violence occurs off-scene. Four and a half stars. This is definitely one for fans of modern cozies with cute dogs and plucky female protagonists.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
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