It's 2007, and Elizabeth Gilbert's book Eat, Pray, Love has swept through the book clubs of Brooklyn-- so much so that travel agent Cyd Redondo's mother books a trip to Bali with a rival agent and sneaks away for her own adventure.
When her mother's trip goes horribly wrong, Cyd grabs her Balenciaga bag and flies to the rescue, little knowing that she'll also be battling songbird smugglers, thieving monkeys, mother-daughter issues, and a killer along the way.
~
If you want to be transported to Bali, book a trip through Redondo Travel and find yourself enjoying the landscape, wildlife, customs, and culture of this marvelous place in Wendall Thomas's Cheap Trills. What Cyd Redondo doesn't know about booking the perfect trips for her clients isn't worth knowing, and if her agency were real, she'd definitely have all my business.
Being broiled alive in a brutal (and seemingly endless) Phoenix summer, I loved sinking into the pages of this book and losing myself in the descriptions of Balinese scenery and wildlife. Speaking of wildlife, it always plays an important role in any Cyd Redondo mystery, and in Cheap Trills, I learned about smuggling songbirds and the fight to protect the endangered Bali Starling. But-- as much as I love learning about wildlife and the customs of other countries-- I wouldn't be a diehard fan of this series if it weren't for Cyd Redondo herself. Cyd is extraordinary, from her knowledge and contacts in the travel business to her smart-alecky view of the world to her ability to kickbox in stilettos to her passionate endeavors to save wildlife. She has a Balenciaga bag that MacGyver would give his right arm for, and one of the highlights of Cheap Trills is discovering that Balinese women also know the importance of a good set of Tupperware.
Cyd Redondo is so very easy to laugh with and to love. I would willingly follow her anywhere. I could even be of assistance in a future adventure. You see, Cyd doesn't have a good relationship with bats, and it just so happens that I was the bat wrangler at a previous place of employment. Think about it, Cyd. I could really help you out!
As you can see, I've fallen head over heels for Cyd and her adventures. If you love mysteries with strong female leads that are light-hearted, visual feasts, let me steer you straight to Redondo Travel. You're going to love Cyd.
Cheap Trills by Wendall Thomas
eISBN: 9781960511195
Beyond the Page Books © 2023
eBook, 302 pages
Humorous Mystery, #4 Cyd Redondo mystery
Rating: A
Source: Net Galley and the Author.
This sounds like a nice balance of wit and a mystery to solve, Cathy. And the setting......ooooh! Sounds like Cyd is a terrific character, too. Yup, yet another series I ought to try, methinks.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Margot! If you give it a try, let me know what you think.
DeleteThere's no doubt about it, Margot-- you need to try this series!
DeleteCathy- thank you so much for reading and reviewing the book. I can't tell you how much Cyd and I appreciate it! And we'll talk about the bat thing...
ReplyDeleteThere's no one I'd rather talk bats with than you, Wendall. ;-)
DeleteHa! We will and I will share my story about crawling around on the floor of my apartment with a towel over my head, Lucy Ricardo style, when one got in the window!
DeleteI'm getting the distinct feeling that you should take some mood-altering drugs before I tell you some of my bat stories...
DeleteHahahaha! Will wine do? That, I have!
DeleteWine will do!
DeleteAnother fun mystery to add to my reading list!
ReplyDeleteYes, indeed!
DeleteThanks so much, Dorothy!
ReplyDeleteIt's that Bali setting that makes me want to read this one! I got to go there once and it's such a lovely and different kind of place.
ReplyDeleteYou'd like Cheap Trills for the setting alone then, Lark, but there's a lot more to love than just Bali!
DeleteIf you read the book, I'll be interested to see if you think I did it justice, Lark!
DeleteI need to remember this series for the times when wanderlust is particularly strong...
ReplyDeleteYes, wanderlust, but also whenever you need a good laugh.
Delete