In McKevett's enjoyable 23rd Savannah Reid mystery (after 2017's Every Body on Deck), Savannah, the proprietor of the Midnight Magnolia Detective Agency, answers a distress call from actor Ethan Malloy, one of Hollywood's hottest hunks. Ethan tells Savannah that his wife, Beth, stormed out of their Malibu house after the couple had an argument the day before, accompanied by their toddler son and the boy's nanny, Pilar Padilla. Ethan admits Beth has temporarily left him before in such circumstances, but she always kept in touch. That he hasn't heard from her in more than 24 hours has him worried. When Pilar is found brutally murdered, Savannah's hubby, San Carmelita, Calif., Det. Sgt. Dirk Coulter, joins the case. In addition to Ethan, the large suspect pool includes Ethan's agent, who has secretly signed Beth as a client, and has more than a business interest in her to boot. Meanwhile, Savannah must cope with fraught family matters related to sister-in-law Tammy. As this inventive entry demonstrates, McKevett knows how to keep a long-running cozy series fresh. Agent: Richard Curtis, Richard Curtis Associates. (May) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Savannah Reid, a former San Carmelita, California, cop and currently a private investigator and owner of the Midnight Magnolia Detective Agency, is hired by Academy Award-winning actor Ethan Malloy to find his wife, Beth, and son, Freddy. Beth stormed out of the house after an argument with Ethan, taking young Freddy and his nanny, Pilar, with her, and now she is not responding to Ethan's calls and texts. Savannah's husband, Detective Sergeant Dirk Coulter, becomes involved when Pilar is found dead in a local park with no sign of Beth and Freddy. Meanwhile, Savannah's good friend and agency computer expert Tammy is worried about her wealthy, critical parents' visit and is not her usual sunny self. Savannah, a strong-willed, opinionated woman, leads a cast of quirky, well-drawn characters in this humorous cozy, which will appeal to fans of Carolyn Haines' Sarah Booth Delaney series.--O'Brien, Sue Copyright 2018 Booklist