According to Wikipedia, “Cozy mysteries, also referred to simply as ‘cozies,’ are a sub-genre of crime fiction in which sex and violence are downplayed or treated humorously, and the crime and detection take place in a small, socially intimate community.” I probably never would have thought of a “cozy” being set in a professional racing background, but Tammy Kaehler has done exactly that. RED FLAGS is the fourth book in her popular Kate Reilly series, and her “socially intimate community” consists of race car drivers, mechanics, moguls who support the classic sport, and a murderer.

"Kaehler has a breezy writing style that is very engaging, and her characters reflect an underlying sense of good humor.... RED FLAGS is a good read that will show you the workings behind one of America's favorite sports."

Another common characteristic of “cozies” is that the crime solvers are not professional law enforcement officers or private investigators. They have regular day jobs such as bakers, caterers, writers, or, in this case, a race car driver. The reason that Kate Reilly gets involved in this particular murder investigation is that, as an insider, she may be able to get information that would not be available to the police. Also, she can look for anything that may be embarrassing to the racing association or to the sponsors so that they can be prepared. This is primarily because bad publicity could keep ticket buyers from turning out for this major event.

In the midst of preparing for the Long Beach Grand Prix, coaching a major movie star to drive in the celebrity race, attending sponsor meetings and running pre-race trials, Kate's cousin, William Reilly-Stinson, turns up dead. When she's called to identify the body, Kate thinks: I stared down at the man's face and tried to care that he was dead. I tried to ignore the bloody dent in his head and focused instead on his relaxed features, which lacked the cunning and malice they'd worn in life. But, despite her reservations about getting involved, she agrees to find out what she can about the events leading up to the untimely death of her least favorite cousin.

Woven into the mystery is the growing relationship that Kate is having with her long-estranged father, who also happens to be an owner of Frame Savings Bank, her newest sponsor. Some romantic threads include the attention that Kate is getting from a dashing hunk of movie star maleness, Lucas Tolani --- not to mention his rival for her affections, handsome FBI agent Ryan Johnston.

Kaehler has a breezy writing style that is very engaging, and her characters reflect an underlying sense of good humor. Except for the bad guys, of course. Kate's PR person and best friend, Holly Wilson, provides a sounding board and easygoing dialogue. Aside from the fact that there are so many characters to keep track of, RED FLAGS is a good read that will show you the workings behind one of America's favorite sports.