A satisfying blend of humorous interactions, human connections, historical comeuppance, and heartfelt moments.
Vivienne Rose and Rex Redondo have built something special, an unlikely relationship that extends beyond neighborliness. Where independent Viv thrives in order, Rex lives for chaos. She would be content to live out her later years enjoying a healthy, predictable, and productive routine. But Rex needs constant reassurance and craves the limelight, a performer whenever he gets the chance to shine. They have little in common outside of proximity, yet their chemistry, unique synergy, and recent shared experiences make them a force to be reckoned with in their gated community, Desert Tortoise Estates. Naturally, this middle-aged couple wants to take things to the next level, a desire that has them signing on the dotted line… at a local community college. Rex has a plan to start a PI firm, tackling high-profile cases with the help of his neighbor Viv and his live-in assistant, Sutton. The class at Mojave Mesa is only one part of Rex’s plan, but when the PI professor is found lifeless in his classroom, Rex and Viv get sidetracked solving the mystery. After some not-so-subtle snooping, Viv thinks that compounded medical conditions caused his death, while Rex suspects something more nefarious with the septuagenarian teacher. Rex has impressive skill as a mentalist, Viv’s perceptive nature is an asset, and their mutual curiosity keeps them on their toes, so this case should be easy enough to solve. But with Rex’s home life fraying, will their friendship survive the investigation?
He’s dramatic, she’s direct, and their evolving relationship is a delight to behold in Class Dismissed. The charm of this fourth installment in the Redondo and Rose Neighbors in Crime series isn’t in shocking twists or high-stakes danger. It lies in the warm, witty, and sometimes exasperating interactions between dynamic characters who treat each other like real people. Rex is moody and petulant, but his hunches are good. Viv is wise and generally steady, but when she cuts loose, the fun really begins! As Rex and Viv embody a range of personas to investigate the professor’s death, their quirks, strengths, and charms reveal as much about them as they do about the case. A gut feeling, even from a mentalist with an excellent track record, isn’t the same as evidence, so Viv takes a more grounded approach. They may not always be on the same page, but they try to stay on the same side. Besides a possible murder, Rex and Viv are forced to reckon with the realities of aging, a dynamic readers will find playful, lighthearted, and utterly relatable. A cozy mystery where the crime is the catalyst, but the heart of the story lies in the people solving it, Class Dismissed defies genre expectations while delivering a satisfying blend of humorous interactions, human connections, historical comeuppance, and heartfelt moments.
