The Naked Truth is Maggie Aldrich’s sequel to her 2018 cozy mystery, It’s All Greek to Me. Naked Truth grabbed me from the start; it is action packed from the first page. This cozy mystery is filled with as many twists and turns as a mountain road to a remote resort!
Emily and Michael’s beautiful wedding ends with a clue that turns their idyllic honeymoon into a bone chilling adventure. Unlike many cozy mysteries, The Naked Truth is filled with strong mystery plot points throughout the story. Ms. Aldrich provides many red herrings and clues that lead the couple and their companions on a perilous path to finding the truth about the disappearance of Emily’s parents. The author’s wry sense of humor is apparent throughout the story. Whether it is a description, banter or internal dialogue, there are plenty of chuckle-worthy moments.
Fritz, the quirky private investigator returns and has a bigger role in The Naked Truth. Darcy, a local reporter, is the perfect foil for the sloppy but affable PI. I loved the cuteness of the newlywed couple during their few minutes alone on their honeymoon at the remote resort in Colorado.
All is revealed by the end of the book, and Michael and Emily’s story is sufficiently wrapped up such that the story is satisfactorily concluded. The parting comment leaves room for a spin-off for Fritz and Darcy or new adventures for Emily and Michael.
The Naked Truth and It’s All Greek to Me are a robust duet that will appeal to lovers of cozy mysteries!
5-star reviewThe Naked Truth is a work of light women’s fiction, romance, and drama penned by author Maggie Aldrich. Written for adults due to its inclusion of some steamy sexual moments, this interesting tale subverts the romance genre by presenting our central heroine as a happy newlywed still in the throes of romance with her new hubby Michael. The only problem for Emily is that the rest of her world is threatening to fall apart, with the revelation that her dead parents may be alive after all. Using her honeymoon as a foil to investigate their supposed reappearance, this is a comedic cozy mystery of a woman trying to keep it all together and search for the truth.Readers seeking a delightful and entertaining work of chick lit are certain to fall in love with Emily’s zany story and the colorful cast of characters whom she meets along the way. I particularly enjoyed Fritz and the chaos and nonsense he causes throughout the tale, and romance fans will enjoy those interludes where Michael takes over the plot for some moments of passion. Author Maggie Aldrich has a compelling and realistic narrative style that really brings Emily to life and is genuinely enjoyable to read for its comedic twists and snappy dialogue. The emotional component is present but not too deep, keeping the mystery light and fun right up to the final moment of truth. Overall, The Naked Truth is a well-written novel sure to please fans looking for an amusing and kooky mystery.