Ukulele of Death by E. J. Copperman is a contemporary mystery. After losing their parents when they were just babies, private investigators Fran and Ken Stein now specialize in helping adoptees find their birth parents. So when a client asks them for help finding her father, with her only clue a rare ukulele, the case is a little weird, sure, but it's nothing they can't handle. But soon Fran and her brother are plunged into a world where nothing makes sense - and not just the fact that a very short (but very cute) NYPD detective keeps trying to take eternal singleton Fran out on dates. All Fran wants to do is find the ukulele and collect their fee, but it's hard to keep your focus when you're stumbling over corpses and receiving messages that suggest your (dead) parents are very much alive. Ukuleles aside, it's becoming clear that someone knows something they shouldn't - that Fran and Ken Stein weren't so much born, as built.
Ukulele of Death is a mystery that is full of surprises and twists. I loved the tongue in cheek commentary by Fran through the entire book, and that even that characters I thought I had a handle on surprised me more than once. I liked the set up and slow reveal about what makes Fran and Ken so special, and found their relationship with each other and those around them to be well done and engaging. There were some great clues, and some red herrings, that kept me guessing through out the read. There was also a sense of humor and fun to the read, so that even when I was worried about Fran and what twist might be on the next page I never dreaded the danger involved in the reveal. I really enjoyed the read and will be looking for more from the author.
Ukulele of Death is an entertaining and well written mystery. I am hoping to read more about these characters.
