At first, the townspeople are delighted at the prospect of all the money being infused into the town by the visitors. But when things like little league baseball and satellite dishes are banned, residents begin to revolt a bit. P.J. thinks everyone will soon settle into the new way of life and isn’t worried until Selma, known locally as the town tart, is found dead on the water wheel after a missed meeting, at her request, with P.J.

Now some of P.J.’s closest friends and neighbors are looking at each other as suspects or worse, they fear the town’s new popularity has brought an undesirable element with all the visitors. As P.J. continues to try to save the town financially and run interference between Max and the residents, she must also solve Selma’s murder so people fell safe once again and the tourist trade continues. In the process, she uncovers some old secrets that someone thought would never be revealed and has killed to keep hidden.

Death of a Tart is an enjoyable start to a new cozy series set in New England. P.J. is a caring neighbor and mayor and though we learn she is a young widow, not much about her past is revealed, leaving something for future episodes. P.J. surrounds herself with friends she can count on and likewise can count on her. Cobb’s Landing continues to have a small town feel even after Max and his minions perform their transformation. Behind the scenes of New England’s newest tourist attraction, the town and its people stay true to themselves. Max soon learns that as anxious as the people are to get their town back on its feet they will not compromise the things that give their town heart.

The loss of Selma doesn’t disturb the town as much as the fact that there is a murderer either among them or near them. P.J. feels compassion for the woman, especially since she was supposed to meet Selma at the time she was murdered. Signs and symbols from New England witchcraft trials are connected with Selma’s murder, making P.J. wonder just how far back the roots of the murder go.

A delightful town and an engaging heroine coupled with a mystery chock full of surprises and secrets, Death of a Tart is a fast, one sitting read that will have readers eager to return to the warm town of Cobb’s Landing.

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry