Recent Reads: When Plan A Fails by Diana Corbitt

Source: From the Author for review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

When Plan A Fails by Diana Corbitt 
Series: An Izzy Santos Mystery #2
Publisher: Bedazzled Ink Publishing
Publication Date:  January 16, 2025

 

Format: Ebook


Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

Izzy Santos’ new job as Rocky Harbor’s head detective is off to a rocky start when her Aunt Maggie is struck by a car and is laid up with a broken leg. On that same day, the wife of Officer Gabe Fox is in a coma after falling off a cliff. To top it off, Rocky Harbor has another murder for her to solve—a body with missing hands.

Before Izzy has a chance to process the facts of the murder, a second handless body is found—a teenage girl. When the body of a high school Spanish teacher is discovered with a missing hand, the small coastal community erupts in fear and growing anger.

Kylie, Gabe's teenage daughter, seems to have a motive for all the killings. But something just isn't adding up for Izzy as she scrambles to find the killer before they strike again.

 

Review: 

When Plan A Fails by Diana Corbitt is a fast-paced, twisty murder mystery that pulls readers straight into the chaos of Rocky Harbor. In this installment, Izzy Santos, the town’s newly appointed head detective, faces a crazy amount of chaos: her Aunt Maggie is hospitalized after being struck by a car, Officer Gabe Fox’s wife is in a coma after a mysterious fall, and the town is suddenly gripped by fear as multiple murder victims are discovered — including a teenager and a teacher.

What I really enjoyed about this book is how the focus shifted more deeply onto the cases themselves, compared to the first book, which was more about introducing Izzy’s character. While I missed seeing Aunt Maggie’s psychic gift playing a larger role, I appreciated watching Izzy’s detective work take the focus. Additionally, the multiple  POVs, especially Gabe’s and various other townspeople, kept the tension high and the plot moving quickly.

I will admit that the number of murders in such a small coastal town stretched believability a bit. It felt like Rocky Harbor had more violent crime than a big city. But Corbitt pulls it off, keeping the narrative tight and delivering a satisfying ending that wrapped up the various threads well. Fans of small-town mysteries with a touch of the eerie will definitely enjoy this one.