Some mystery series lose steam as they go on, but this third
installment in the Bubbles Yablonsky series is a page-turner. The
zany characters and plot are similar to the popular Janet Evanovich
Stephanie Plum series.

Bubbles starts her latest adventure at a planned rendezvous with
hunk Steve Stiletto. Instead, she finds herself deep in the coal
mines of Pennsylvania, where politics, intrigue and even murder
draw her in --- in her pursuit of a scoop to report. When a missing
friend is accused of murder, there is more at stake than her
journalism career. This crazy plot has as many surprises as fun
characters, including her intrepid teen daughter Jane, her mother
with her gun-toting friend, and of course, the mysterious Stiletto.
Even some new characters are added to the mix.

While Bubbles enjoys spandex and makeup, she's no airhead. She
survives attempts on her life in between giving readers recipes for
beauty products, such as homemade glycerin rose soap. This book
also enjoys depth from an author who adds subtle political
commentary throughout the book, including a group of women who form
a semi-militia to stop the mining. An introduction about how the
author's grandfather killed himself when he lost his mining job
during the Great Depression adds interest and history to the
tale.

Many cosy mysteries have heroines solving crime in the midst of
everyday suburban life. This series enjoys a unique narrator,
quality writing and fun plots that skirt the believable, with a
good dose of humor.