


Cinco de Die-O by Toni Draper
Paperbacks
Editorial Reviews, Awards, and Accolades
~ This was an enjoyable read.
Let us start with the name of this novel as it sets the writer’s tone. Cinco De Die-O is an amusing play on words and will definitely capture your attention. As you find yourself smirking at the title, know that there will be plenty more opportunities to enjoy Draper’s light humour in this cozy mystery.
Bobbi Garza runs a little cantina in the famous San Antonio River Walk area. Her livelihood comes under attack as the body count daily rises. New to the area, Police Officer Paige Turner whose mother obviously has a sense of humour, walks into the cantina seeking a respite from the heat. Who knew that love would walk through Bobbi’s door and dressed in a uniform?
There is all kinds of fun in this mystery romance. Draper keeps the majority of her writing lighthearted with just a few occasional dips into societal issues to spotlight awareness. The characters are appealing with their dedication to solving the mystery and protecting their community. Bobbi and Paige’s romance is adorable with the U-Haul always hovering just out of sight and there are more than enough red herrings to muddy the waters on the mystery side of things.
If you are looking for an entertaining break from reality then Cinco De Die-O should be on the top of your list.
I received an advanced review copy from Desert Palm Press and I am leaving this review voluntarily. ~
Toni Draper was born and lived most of her life in the Mid-Atlantic state of Maryland. These days, home is a cozy casita on a two-acre sprawl that she shares with her wife and their current pack of perros: Kona, Juneau, Tucker, and Ellie, deep in the heart of Texas. She has rescued a number of senior and special needs underdogs over the years and immortalizes them via nods on her pages. A Spanish Teacher, the language siempre seems to find its way into her writing. Her debut novel WILDFIRE, a second-chance lesbian romance, was published in July 2021.