Swamp Princess by Tara Lush Book Review with Spoilers/Summary
Tara Lush’s “Swamp Princess” lures us back into the murky waters of the Florida swamps for another delightful cozy mystery. It’s the second book in the “Critters and Criminals” series, but you will be able to follow along if you haven’t read the first one. Gator trapper Maggie Andrews, this time, finds herself knee-deep in another quirky murder mystery, this time at a Bigfoot convention.
Content/Trigger Warnings
Murder
The murder mystery at a Bigfoot convention is a unique setting. The Florida swamp paired with the Big Foot convention just.. fits.. Maggie’s gator-trapping skills even work in her favor in this investigation.
Maggie is a strong, independent female protagonist who’s easy to root for (and she tackles gators for a living!). Her blossoming relationship with Professor Jack Bianchi adds a touch of romance to the story, and their chemistry sizzles amidst the swampy backdrop. The real highlight for me was the focus on Maggie’s relationship with her twin sister, Vera. It was refreshing to see Vera step out of Maggie’s shadow and embark on her own journey of self-discovery. Their sisterly bond, with its blend of teasing and unwavering support, added a heartwarming layer to the narrative.
“Swamp Princess” delivers exactly what you’d expect from a cozy mystery – it’s a light, fun read with endearing characters, a touch of romance, and just enough suspense to keep you turning the pages. I was a little hesitant when I saw it centered around Big Foot, as I’m not into fantastical stuff like that – but it worked in this setting!
Overall, Swamp Princess is a delightful follow-up that delivers a solid 3.5-star reading experience. It’s a quick, breezy escape that’s perfect for a lazy afternoon. If you enjoy cozy mysteries, unique settings, strong female protagonists, and a dash of the fantastical, then this book is for you.
Spoilers/Summary
***Reading below will reveal spoilers, continue at your own risk***
Michelle, one of the booth owners at that conference, was the killer. She murdered Kristi (the Big Foot Influencer) because she was jealous that Kristi was sleeping with Grant (another big name in the Big Foot community). Grant was actually sleeping with Kristi’s assistant and not Kristi..
Michelle dumped visine into Kristi’s water bottle. Kristi had demanded a free blinged out water bottle from Michelle and that pissed her off. She tainted the water and then also poisoned another regular bottle of water with the Visine.