MURDER AT MABEL’S MOTEL

Another retrospective look into the prehistory of the Moonlight Magnolia detective agency.

Someday, Savannah Reid will be the scourge of San Carmelita, California’s underworld, fighting crime alongside her husband, police detective Dirk Coulter. But right now, she’s just one of a pack of unruly young’uns dumped on her granny Stella Reid by their no-account mother, Shirley, currently a guest of the state of Georgia. Stella makes the best of her burden, keeping order in the house and food on the table. But she still has time for a night out at Burger Igloo, McGill, Georgia’s attempt at haute cuisine, with Sheriff Manny Gilford. Their meal is interrupted by eccentric Dolly Browning, who lives alone with even more cats than Stella has kids. Dolly’s found Yolanda Ortez lying in an alley after being assaulted by Billy Ray Sonner, leader of the Lone White Wolf Pack, McGill’s answer to the Proud Boys. Yolanda survives, Billy Ray not so much: He’s found dead a couple of days later at a derelict motel. And Yolanda’s hardworking papa, Raul, is squarely in the frame for his murder. One thing leads to another, and soon enough smitten Manny invites Stella to accompany him on more of his investigation activities than he probably should. Still, Manny’s fondness for Stella gives her a chance to get at the truth—and gives young Savannah a taste for detection that will bloom into a lifelong vocation.

A blast from the past.