MAGNOLIA MOONLIGHT

A quartet of private detectives has their hands full with cases in two different cities.

Natchez private eye Nate Price and his wife, Isabelle (Midnight on the Mississippi, 2015, etc.), are two years behind on a honeymoon until their friends and colleagues chip in and send them to lovely Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, leaving former police officer Beth Kirby and new hire Michael Preston to hold down the office back in Natchez. Beth had wanted to stay as far away from Natchez as possible after falling in love with her former boss earned her a bad reputation in the department. Although she did nothing wrong, her life was made miserable, and her self-esteem is in the cellar. Michael too is suffering after being dumped just before his wedding, and the two get off to a rough start. Beth’s pastor is suspected of stealing money from the church building fund and killing himself when the loss is discovered. His wife, convinced that he’s innocent, hires the agency to prove it. Michael’s accounting expertise comes in handy while tracking down the missing money, and Beth proves that the pastor was murdered despite resistance from the police and ill-will from her former partner. Meanwhile, the Prices’ honeymoon gets derailed when Isabelle sees her ex-husband, Craig, whose gambling ruined their marriage, in Bay St. Louis. Isabelle calls Craig’s second wife, who’s been devastated since Craig told her he was leaving her, a story both women suspect may be false. Isabelle resolves to find out what Craig’s really doing as Beth and Michael slowly begin to trust each other and try to keep their relationship friendly—no more, no less—after their bad experiences while going all out to solve their case.

A pleasant cozy, more romance than mystery, with inspirational overtones.