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Leonora, who goes by Leo, grew up in a small town in Texas. She was quite happy to leave and spread her wings. After earning a doctorate, she tried to achieve her dream of being a professor of literature, but it just didn’t quite happen. And when a few short-term opportunities to teach didn’t lead to more, Leo has had to head back to Blue Oak. Just for the summer.
Her best friend, Emily, and her mom run a real estate business and have asked Leo to help them photograph homes for sale. Leo is happy to be able to spend more time with Emily and her family, but then she also has to see her mom. Her quirky hairdresser mother, Karina, just seems to be snubbing her. And she just doesn’t understand why.
Also back in Blue Oak (or still there) are her high school boyfriend, Mack, and a detective, Jake, the now grown-up little brother of a friend. Both are looking pretty good. But still, no, she does NOT want to stay.
Leo is barely starting to get to work taking photos of a home that’s about to be listed when she discovers a dead body. What’s bad for the people she loves is it’s a wellness influencer and rival real estate agent who has made life difficult not just for Emily and her mom but others. When Emily’s mom is arrested by the incompetent sheriff, Leo knows she’s got to do something to prove she’s not the guilty party.
A Zoom with a View is a cozy mystery with a touch of romance (potential love triangle lining up) and plenty of snark. Leo and Emily have been running a subreddit where thousands of people make fun of the influencer who gets murdered, and there’s a lot of commentary throughout the book about so-called “wellness,” the often-ridiculous world of influencers, and small-town people’s comments on local social media groups. That’s where the book really shines and where I had the most fun.
There’s a whole plot thread running through the story about strange behavior Leo’s mom is engaging in, and a second book is clearly teed up. I may or may not revisit it when that book comes out.
Rated: Mild. Profanity includes about 20 instances of moderate language and about 20 uses of mild language. Violence includes murder with multiple mentions of blood but nothing gory. There is a scene in which a woman is nude for a few minutes.
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*I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
