Pint of no return A shake shop mystery

Murder offers the heroine a surprisingly fresh start in this charming series kickoff from the prolific Mentink. Trinidad Jones, one of three ex-wives of serial cheater and crook Gabe Bigley, has been second-guessing her decision to move to Upper Sprocket, Oregon, where Gabe's other ex-wives live. She's used every last penny to change the hot dog shop Gabe deeded her to the Shimmy and Shake Shop in hopes of making a living selling her unique treats. With her dog, Noodles, in tow, she rents a tiny home and prepares the shop for a Fourth of July opening. She's put most of her possessions in storage at a unit run by Juliette, another of Gabe's exes. When Trinidad travels to pick up an order of fresh nuts she's splitting with Kevin Heartly, who has a popcorn shop, she meets farmer Quinn Logan and his brother Doug, both of whom she finds congenial. Delivering the nuts, she finds Kevin dead in his popcorn machine. Soon enough, Gabe's sister, Police Chief Cynthia Bigley, arrests Juliette, who had a nasty breakup with Kevin. Determined to help Juliette, Trinidad learns that there are rumors about a hidden treasure among the effects of a rabid collector and that more than one local is searching for it. With help from some of her new friends, she snoops around enough to become a target herself and is glad when her Cuban grandfather arrives from Florida to help out, boost her spirits, matchmake, and keep her alive. Plenty of suspicious-looking new neighbors give spunky Trinidad a chance to add detective to her resume. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.