Danny Teakwell is at a shallow point in his life. But when 12-year-old Jessica Jewell, the daughter of the screwball mortuary family who helped him in an investigation five years earlier, shows up on his doorstep looking for his help, despite his initial hesitation, his “good guy” sensibilities kick in. Danny soon finds himself responsible for Jessica, investigating her parents’ disappearance and dodging a Mexican mob boss and his thugs. As the plot details involving Jessica’s parents unfold, Danny realizes he’ll do anything to protect Jessica, but does he have what it takes to save them both?
There are numerous aspects of Funeral Daze that I enjoy. As a fan of Carl Hiaasen and the Flavia de Luce books by Alan Bradley, I love the quirky characters and screwball situations in this story. Of all of the characters, Danny is the most normal. Jessica is incredibly bright, incredibly blunt, and obsessed with mortuary science (think of a pre-teen Temperance Brennan). In the secondary cast, you have Grady, the grumpy bar owner of the Tradewinds; Bennie Finkel, Danny’s crazy longtime friend and attorney with questionable skills; a slew of law enforcement people that Jessica continually upstages; and potential romantic interests that Jessica keeps shoving Danny’s way. The plot moves along at a good pace and keeps you flipping pages. At several points, I found myself giving the author a mental high-five on a particularly clever plot twist. Even with all the wacky characters, the plot twists, and how the author incorporates the Miami/South Florida vibe (complete with a tropical storm) into the mix, what sticks with me the most are the moments of tenderness and camaraderie between Danny and Jessica, as their relationship grows from friends to family.
I give Funeral Daze 4 stars because it’s an exciting and easy read that will keep you engaged to the very end. Even though this is the second book in the series, it is easy to read this book on its own. There are a few hiccups with phrasing and word choices, and a few scenes push the bounds of suspended disbelief, but they aren’t blatant enough to take you out of the story. The author delivers a unique reading experience by elevating what could have been your typical cozy mystery to a story full of clever twists, laugh-out-loud moments, and surprising humanity. The action scenes are gripping and keep you reading, but it’s the characters and how their relationships transform that will stick with you beyond the story’s end. I hope to see more books in this series!
Thank you Discovery Reedsy for providing an advanced copy to read in exchange for an honest review.