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My Father Always Finds Corpses
With a wryly witty and assured voice and a vastly entertaining cast of characters, Lee Hollis puts a modern slant on the classic murder mystery as a father-daughter sleuthing duo are drawn into a case close to home . . .
You never forget your first corpse. For former child star Jarrod Jarvis, that discovery was twenty-plus years ago, and a lot has happened since he solved a string of real-life Hollywood murders. Now Jarrod lives in Palm Springs where he writes and directs local theatre, while quietly grieving the loss of his partner, police detective Charlie.
Jarrod hasn’t disclosed much about his sleuthing past to his daughter, Liv, who just earned a degree in criminal justice. There’s been distance between them since Charlie’s death, and Jarrod’s unsure how to bridge the gap. Liv, meanwhile, has put her career on hold in order to help her filmmaker boyfriend, Zel. His new documentary idea is to track down the surrogate who gave birth to Liv. Skeptical and annoyed by Zel’s pressure tactics, Liv goes to confront him at his apartment. But there’s no need to break things off—because someone has bludgeoned Zel to death.
Jarrod rushes to Liv’s aid, surprising his daughter with his ease around a crime scene, firing off questions like a modern-day Columbo with better hair and wardrobe. Another shock is quite how many people had motive to finish Zel off—including a Russian film professor, a former First Lady, and a sexy Secret Service agent. Together, Liv and Jarrod comb for clues across the sun-drenched Coachella valley, growing close again. But while there’s nothing like murder to bring a family together, this father-daughter reunion may be short-lived as long as a killer is on the loose . . .
You never forget your first corpse. For former child star Jarrod Jarvis, that discovery was twenty-plus years ago, and a lot has happened since he solved a string of real-life Hollywood murders. Now Jarrod lives in Palm Springs where he writes and directs local theatre, while quietly grieving the loss of his partner, police detective Charlie.
Jarrod hasn’t disclosed much about his sleuthing past to his daughter, Liv, who just earned a degree in criminal justice. There’s been distance between them since Charlie’s death, and Jarrod’s unsure how to bridge the gap. Liv, meanwhile, has put her career on hold in order to help her filmmaker boyfriend, Zel. His new documentary idea is to track down the surrogate who gave birth to Liv. Skeptical and annoyed by Zel’s pressure tactics, Liv goes to confront him at his apartment. But there’s no need to break things off—because someone has bludgeoned Zel to death.
Jarrod rushes to Liv’s aid, surprising his daughter with his ease around a crime scene, firing off questions like a modern-day Columbo with better hair and wardrobe. Another shock is quite how many people had motive to finish Zel off—including a Russian film professor, a former First Lady, and a sexy Secret Service agent. Together, Liv and Jarrod comb for clues across the sun-drenched Coachella valley, growing close again. But while there’s nothing like murder to bring a family together, this father-daughter reunion may be short-lived as long as a killer is on the loose . . .
288 pages, Hardcover
First published May 27, 2025
47 people are currently reading
6321 people want to read
About the author
Lee Hollis
50 books807 followersLee Hollis is the pen name for Rick Copp and his sister Holly Simason.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews
May 31, 2025
Unexpectedly different than their other series and charming in of itself. I enjoyed the setting and backstory of all the characters and like how it's setting up for future stories already. Good father / daughter moments for the next book. I like the besties and the relationship with the former First Lady. The mystery was missing some connection points for me, as it did feel too out of the blue compared to how/why these characters would actually know one another. But I'm up for the next book!
May 15, 2025
*Thank you to Kensington for an advanced copy of My Father Always Finds Corpses. I received a complimentary copy of this book, and all opinions expressed below are my own. *
I love cozy mysteries because they tend to come in a light, yet fast pace, with a dash of humour in the prose that keep you feeling joyful despite the murder mystery. Personally, I found this story to take a bit of a slower pace than I expected. The death takes a while to occur, and while there were twisty parts that kept it interesting in the meanwhile that kept me from complaining in the lead up to the murder, I'd say the pace maintained the same throughout.
The book is nice, and I enjoyed the plot. It delivered with twists, a diverse set of characters, complicated dynamics and drama. However, I find that it didn't quite stand out that much from other mysteries I've previously read. I felt like it missed a sense of quirky or whimsy I tend to look for in cozy mysteries, and it felt more like a 'light mystery'.
I was expecting the father-daughter duo to be more in focus, yet Liv almost felt like a side-character at times and I didn't feel like I could connect to the character in the same way I could with Jarrod.
Although I didn't quite get the "edge of my seat" feeling while reading, I did find joy in the pages while I went through them, so I'd still tell lovers of cozy mysteries to check this story out.
I love cozy mysteries because they tend to come in a light, yet fast pace, with a dash of humour in the prose that keep you feeling joyful despite the murder mystery. Personally, I found this story to take a bit of a slower pace than I expected. The death takes a while to occur, and while there were twisty parts that kept it interesting in the meanwhile that kept me from complaining in the lead up to the murder, I'd say the pace maintained the same throughout.
The book is nice, and I enjoyed the plot. It delivered with twists, a diverse set of characters, complicated dynamics and drama. However, I find that it didn't quite stand out that much from other mysteries I've previously read. I felt like it missed a sense of quirky or whimsy I tend to look for in cozy mysteries, and it felt more like a 'light mystery'.
I was expecting the father-daughter duo to be more in focus, yet Liv almost felt like a side-character at times and I didn't feel like I could connect to the character in the same way I could with Jarrod.
Although I didn't quite get the "edge of my seat" feeling while reading, I did find joy in the pages while I went through them, so I'd still tell lovers of cozy mysteries to check this story out.
April 18, 2025
My Father Always Finds Corpses by Lee Hollis is the first book in a new series and I cannot wait for the next one. Live is the daughter of director and childhood star, Jared Jarvis in the late detective Charlie who Jared is still morning. So needless to say she was born by a surrogate and when her want to be documentary Boyfriend Zelle pleedse with her for him to reunite her with her mother she doesn’t know if she wants to do it. Unfortunately Zelle, whose comprehension level is low so he takes that as yes please let’s do it immediately and she shows up at his studio to find a woman she’s never met her surrogate mom, Candy. Liv doesn’t want to tell Jared because when it comes to her parents she was much closer to Charlie but when she finds Zelle dead in his studio Jared is the first person she calls. Between her newly found siblings and those at the college there’s many suspects but only one culprit and live and Jared join up to find them. A lot of people say this was a fun read and I am absolutely going to say that and it is 100% the truth. I loved so many aspects of this book that the mystery to me was really secondary from Jared not wanting to date again to his best friend Leo and George not to leave kitty out and Liv was so likable as well as her uncle this was just a ton of fun and I loved it cannot wait for the next book. #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #LeeHollis, #MyFatherAlwaysFindsCorpses,
August 27, 2025
RTCA former child actor is the main character in this light (and a little silly) series opener. He’s Jarrod Jarvis, whose catchphrase as his character is still popular with fans.
Jarrod is still grieving his husband’s passing, even after ten years, and he’s become solitary, and a little estranged from their grown daughter, Liv.
He’s pushed by Kitty Reynolds, a good friend who is also a former First Lady, to meet a new man (one of her Secret Service detail), though Jarrod's too nervous and reluctant, and botches things.
Meanwhile, Liv is in a relationship with a budding director, whose latest idea for a film involves filming a forced meeting between Liv and her surrogate mother. Liv is uncomfortable, and is pushed into the situation. Then, not realizing that the woman has grown children of her own, finds the siblings intruding in her and her father’s life.
When she decides to confront her boyfriend, she finds him murdered. Calling her dad, she finds Jarrod surprisingly comfortable around a police investigation.
They decide to dig into her former boyfriend’s life, and discover various unsavoury facts about him, while the siblings, mostly the brother, begins to become a problem for Jarrod.
Luckily, with the help of his brother-in-law and their investigating, they discover the killer.
The pacing is fast, the tone light and humorous. I enjoyed this, and look forward to Jarrod opening up and moving forward with his life.
Jarrod is still grieving his husband’s passing, even after ten years, and he’s become solitary, and a little estranged from their grown daughter, Liv.
He’s pushed by Kitty Reynolds, a good friend who is also a former First Lady, to meet a new man (one of her Secret Service detail), though Jarrod's too nervous and reluctant, and botches things.
Meanwhile, Liv is in a relationship with a budding director, whose latest idea for a film involves filming a forced meeting between Liv and her surrogate mother. Liv is uncomfortable, and is pushed into the situation. Then, not realizing that the woman has grown children of her own, finds the siblings intruding in her and her father’s life.
When she decides to confront her boyfriend, she finds him murdered. Calling her dad, she finds Jarrod surprisingly comfortable around a police investigation.
They decide to dig into her former boyfriend’s life, and discover various unsavoury facts about him, while the siblings, mostly the brother, begins to become a problem for Jarrod.
Luckily, with the help of his brother-in-law and their investigating, they discover the killer.
The pacing is fast, the tone light and humorous. I enjoyed this, and look forward to Jarrod opening up and moving forward with his life.
May 17, 2025
Jarrod has his hands full. He's a former child star still trying, after all these years, to revive his career. He's putting on a play that he wrote and is directing himself, and things are not going great. After 10 years as a widow, Jarrod is finding that he's become more distant than he had ever wanted to be. He hasn't had a date in over a decade, his daughter Liv hardly speaks to him, and his deceased husband's brother has a sketchy past that may be coming back to haunt them both when Liv's questionable boyfriend turns up dead in a studio that he came by through suspicious circumstances.
I love Lee Hollis's books. The Hayley Powell series is still my favorite, but this series may be a contender. This series is similar to the Poppy Harmon series, former actor in southern California, however it has a male main character. One thing I've always respected about Lee Hollis is that he can write a believable and sympathetic female main character, which is something few men can do. Turns out he can also write a really adorable male main character. Jarrod is so sweet, I loved him so much. Jarrod's daughter, Liv, is also a great character and together they make a team that I really related to. This book doesn't appear to be part of a series but the way it ended gave me the impression that it will be and I can't wait to read the next book.
I could write a longer review of this book but I will sum it up by saying if you enjoy cozy mysteries, this book needs to be on your TBR list. If you haven't read any books by Lee Hollis you should. Like, today.
Thank you to Lee Hollis, Kensington, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
I love Lee Hollis's books. The Hayley Powell series is still my favorite, but this series may be a contender. This series is similar to the Poppy Harmon series, former actor in southern California, however it has a male main character. One thing I've always respected about Lee Hollis is that he can write a believable and sympathetic female main character, which is something few men can do. Turns out he can also write a really adorable male main character. Jarrod is so sweet, I loved him so much. Jarrod's daughter, Liv, is also a great character and together they make a team that I really related to. This book doesn't appear to be part of a series but the way it ended gave me the impression that it will be and I can't wait to read the next book.
I could write a longer review of this book but I will sum it up by saying if you enjoy cozy mysteries, this book needs to be on your TBR list. If you haven't read any books by Lee Hollis you should. Like, today.
Thank you to Lee Hollis, Kensington, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
May 20, 2025
I received an audio ARC through NetGalley for an honest review.
This was an immensely readable light read with a genuinely charming narration Matt Godfrey about a former child actor turned playwright and director with a penchant for amateur sleuthing and the murder of his daughter's insufferable and pushy boyfriend.
I enjoyed how gay and fun the story was and the prose, while not knocking me socks off at any point, was of the perfect for a flight or holiday read nature.
What I didn't enjoy was just how cis white gay liberal it was with a far too favourably a view of cops, secret service, presidents, and first ladies...
Maybe this would have been read very differently in the hayday of The West Wing, but this is the year of our lord 2025 where Republicans are all but goosestepping with Starmer's Labour racing to out fash Reform (the latest incarnation of British Fascism), the Tories, and the best the Democrats have done was still a major war criminal, despite his epic memeing.
Pigs and the ruling elite are the enemy of the people and anything that tries to play that down is crass propaganda, regardless of intentions.
White cis gays get it together and remember First They Came...!
This was an immensely readable light read with a genuinely charming narration Matt Godfrey about a former child actor turned playwright and director with a penchant for amateur sleuthing and the murder of his daughter's insufferable and pushy boyfriend.
I enjoyed how gay and fun the story was and the prose, while not knocking me socks off at any point, was of the perfect for a flight or holiday read nature.
What I didn't enjoy was just how cis white gay liberal it was with a far too favourably a view of cops, secret service, presidents, and first ladies...
Maybe this would have been read very differently in the hayday of The West Wing, but this is the year of our lord 2025 where Republicans are all but goosestepping with Starmer's Labour racing to out fash Reform (the latest incarnation of British Fascism), the Tories, and the best the Democrats have done was still a major war criminal, despite his epic memeing.
Pigs and the ruling elite are the enemy of the people and anything that tries to play that down is crass propaganda, regardless of intentions.
White cis gays get it together and remember First They Came...!
May 27, 2025
Happy publication day 🥳🎉🎧
My Father Always Finds Corpses was a fun cozy mystery, it was farcical in nature and often really funny. Jared is a former child star turned author/playwright with a penchant for super sleuthing, his daughter Liv has just graduated with a degree in criminal justice opening the door perfectly for a father daughter duo.
Jared’s glimpses back to his past gave me spin off vibes, I’m not sure if the character has been around before, if so it still worked perfectly well as a standalone, with plenty of scope for follow ons.
Quick, camp, fun!
The audio narration by Matt Godfrey was great, he leaned right into the humour and it worked well.
Huge thanks to Tantor Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧
My Father Always Finds Corpses was a fun cozy mystery, it was farcical in nature and often really funny. Jared is a former child star turned author/playwright with a penchant for super sleuthing, his daughter Liv has just graduated with a degree in criminal justice opening the door perfectly for a father daughter duo.
Jared’s glimpses back to his past gave me spin off vibes, I’m not sure if the character has been around before, if so it still worked perfectly well as a standalone, with plenty of scope for follow ons.
Quick, camp, fun!
The audio narration by Matt Godfrey was great, he leaned right into the humour and it worked well.
Huge thanks to Tantor Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧
May 13, 2025
I really liked this mystery story featuring an aging actor who lost his husband over 10 years ago but still hasn't entered the dating pool. His daughter and his brother are equally featured. I enjoyed hearing all the kind of hushed voices I think fall behind most Hollywood issues. I also like the way the author dealt with LGBT issues with grace and respect. Especially refreshing in this current political climate. I want to thank the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for giving me an e-copy of this book, in return for an honest review.
June 21, 2025
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Jarrod Jarvis is a former child star who found his first corpse 20+ years ago. He was then able to crack the case on a group of real-life Hollywood murders. He now lives in Palm Springs, where he is still grieving the loss of his husband Charlie, who was a police detective. Jarrod fills his time writing and directing plays for the local theater group. Their daughter, Liv, does not know a lot about her father’s interesting past, but she recently graduated with a degree in criminal justice. She was closer to Charlie than Jarrod, and Jarrod wishes they could be closer now.
Liv hasn’t launched her own career; instead, she is trying to help Zel, her filmmaker boyfriend, launch his own. He has pitched her an idea for a documentary about finding the surrogate her fathers used to facilitate her birth. She doesn’t think she is ready to go there, but he is heavily pressuring her to at least take the first step. Before Liv has any time to think, he blindsides her with a meeting face-to-face with the woman who gave birth to her. Later, when she goes back to call it quits with the project and their relationship, she finds Zel lying on the floor in a pool of blood, his head bashed in. Freaking out she calls her father.
Now, together they will combine his experience with her recently acquired skills to track down the killer. It isn’t long before Liv realizes how little she knew about her boyfriend and that so many people are happy that he’s dead. While this investigation may bring Jerrod and Liv closer, they need to be aware that there is a killer out there who could take great pleasure in getting rid of both of them.
Lee Hollis has introduced a great father-daughter duo with layers who develop strongly throughout the story. It’s been almost 10 years since Jarrod lost Charlie, and his friends are pushing him to put himself out there romantically, and you can feel his struggle. Liv lost Charlie when she was just thirteen, and her dads never talked much about her birth and the woman who helped them. Now, it is forced upon her, and it is much more complicated than she thought. Jarrod’s good friend, a former first lady, has always been there for him. He also has two best friends in George and Leo. They are a huge hit, the favorite gay couple of the older ladies at the local gym’s Forever Fit exercise class. Charlie’s brother Brody, a former WWE wrestler, comes to town, a kind, lost soul down on his luck, as usual, but Jarrod will never turn him away. Liv has been friends with Maude since she and Jarrod moved to Palm Springs after Charlie died. Maude tries to get Liv out to have a good time and willingly volunteers to help Liv with a little sleuthing. All of these characters are unique and cleverly crafted.
The author has penned a very intriguing mystery entwined with unexpected family drama and an abundance of suspects. The victim pushed my buttons from the start, pushy and narcissistic, he was after dirt that could get him noticed and make him famous, and freely stole the ideas of others without a care. Politicians, Hollywood elite, and his girlfriend were fair game for the many projects he was pushing on a daily basis. Well, he pushed someone too far. Jarrod and Liv’s investigation had them questioning a lot of people, even some they were close to, and I was thrilled to tag along. After many twists, turns, and hurt feelings, the culprit is finally revealed, putting Jarrod in desperate circumstances, followed by an exciting chase.
This story is much more than a mystery. It’s a study of family dynamics. Some totally dysfunctional. Some are in flux. Others are finding their way back and moving ahead. Grieving when you lose a loved one is hard, and I appreciated how the author realistically handled this topic. I didn’t expect to get so invested in these characters in what appears to be a standalone novel.
My Father Always Finds Corpses is a complicated and compelling mystery, lighthearted and funny, but it tugs on your emotions. Strong, diverse, eccentric characters pull you into the story, and they don’t let go after the story ends. I hope this book is a huge success and the author and publisher spin it into a series. I have not had enough of Jarrod, Liv, and their friends.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Kensington Cozies and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
Jarrod Jarvis is a former child star who found his first corpse 20+ years ago. He was then able to crack the case on a group of real-life Hollywood murders. He now lives in Palm Springs, where he is still grieving the loss of his husband Charlie, who was a police detective. Jarrod fills his time writing and directing plays for the local theater group. Their daughter, Liv, does not know a lot about her father’s interesting past, but she recently graduated with a degree in criminal justice. She was closer to Charlie than Jarrod, and Jarrod wishes they could be closer now.
Liv hasn’t launched her own career; instead, she is trying to help Zel, her filmmaker boyfriend, launch his own. He has pitched her an idea for a documentary about finding the surrogate her fathers used to facilitate her birth. She doesn’t think she is ready to go there, but he is heavily pressuring her to at least take the first step. Before Liv has any time to think, he blindsides her with a meeting face-to-face with the woman who gave birth to her. Later, when she goes back to call it quits with the project and their relationship, she finds Zel lying on the floor in a pool of blood, his head bashed in. Freaking out she calls her father.
Now, together they will combine his experience with her recently acquired skills to track down the killer. It isn’t long before Liv realizes how little she knew about her boyfriend and that so many people are happy that he’s dead. While this investigation may bring Jerrod and Liv closer, they need to be aware that there is a killer out there who could take great pleasure in getting rid of both of them.
Lee Hollis has introduced a great father-daughter duo with layers who develop strongly throughout the story. It’s been almost 10 years since Jarrod lost Charlie, and his friends are pushing him to put himself out there romantically, and you can feel his struggle. Liv lost Charlie when she was just thirteen, and her dads never talked much about her birth and the woman who helped them. Now, it is forced upon her, and it is much more complicated than she thought. Jarrod’s good friend, a former first lady, has always been there for him. He also has two best friends in George and Leo. They are a huge hit, the favorite gay couple of the older ladies at the local gym’s Forever Fit exercise class. Charlie’s brother Brody, a former WWE wrestler, comes to town, a kind, lost soul down on his luck, as usual, but Jarrod will never turn him away. Liv has been friends with Maude since she and Jarrod moved to Palm Springs after Charlie died. Maude tries to get Liv out to have a good time and willingly volunteers to help Liv with a little sleuthing. All of these characters are unique and cleverly crafted.
The author has penned a very intriguing mystery entwined with unexpected family drama and an abundance of suspects. The victim pushed my buttons from the start, pushy and narcissistic, he was after dirt that could get him noticed and make him famous, and freely stole the ideas of others without a care. Politicians, Hollywood elite, and his girlfriend were fair game for the many projects he was pushing on a daily basis. Well, he pushed someone too far. Jarrod and Liv’s investigation had them questioning a lot of people, even some they were close to, and I was thrilled to tag along. After many twists, turns, and hurt feelings, the culprit is finally revealed, putting Jarrod in desperate circumstances, followed by an exciting chase.
This story is much more than a mystery. It’s a study of family dynamics. Some totally dysfunctional. Some are in flux. Others are finding their way back and moving ahead. Grieving when you lose a loved one is hard, and I appreciated how the author realistically handled this topic. I didn’t expect to get so invested in these characters in what appears to be a standalone novel.
My Father Always Finds Corpses is a complicated and compelling mystery, lighthearted and funny, but it tugs on your emotions. Strong, diverse, eccentric characters pull you into the story, and they don’t let go after the story ends. I hope this book is a huge success and the author and publisher spin it into a series. I have not had enough of Jarrod, Liv, and their friends.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Kensington Cozies and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
January 10, 2025
My Father Always Finds Corpses by Lee Hollis is a unique and creative cozy mystery that is the first in a new series
This is the first on a new series by the awesome Lee Hollis. The classic wit and humor are still there and it is blended with a modern edge to the traditional cozy mystery.
Liv and Jerrod are a father/daughter duo that carry this new series. The interactions, backstory, developing relationships, and murder/mystery kept me interested and has plenty to work with for the future novels.
4/5 stars
Thank you NG and Kensington Publishing | Kensington Cozies for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 5/27/25.
This is the first on a new series by the awesome Lee Hollis. The classic wit and humor are still there and it is blended with a modern edge to the traditional cozy mystery.
Liv and Jerrod are a father/daughter duo that carry this new series. The interactions, backstory, developing relationships, and murder/mystery kept me interested and has plenty to work with for the future novels.
4/5 stars
Thank you NG and Kensington Publishing | Kensington Cozies for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 5/27/25.
May 14, 2025
Big Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the advanced copy! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own
'My Father Always Finds Corpses' is a cozy mystery with a big dose of family drama.
The mystery, first of all, had many twists and turns and I enjoyed the little quantities of glamour and Hollywood. There was a lot of action as well. However, it took the story some time to introduce the mystery. Hence, the family drama was more enhanced, and it was enjoyable and had many sweet and heartwarming as well as sad moments.
Also, the characters were unique and funny, but I would have liked more of the daughter's voice.
Finally, the audiobook was well narrated and produced.
'My Father Always Finds Corpses' is a cozy mystery with a big dose of family drama.
The mystery, first of all, had many twists and turns and I enjoyed the little quantities of glamour and Hollywood. There was a lot of action as well. However, it took the story some time to introduce the mystery. Hence, the family drama was more enhanced, and it was enjoyable and had many sweet and heartwarming as well as sad moments.
Also, the characters were unique and funny, but I would have liked more of the daughter's voice.
Finally, the audiobook was well narrated and produced.
May 21, 2025
My Father Always Finds Corpses by Lee Hollis, is a fantastic mystery. The audiobook by Tantor Audio is narrated by Matt Godfrey and this is one captivating listen. While it took some time to time to reach the corpse, once there, the story picked up momentum and it truly soared. I have a soft spot for cozy mysteries, and this one features a captivating father-daughter duo, with the father, Jarrod Jarvis, being a former child star who has transitioned into a playwright. The film industry adds a rich layer to the backdrop of the story.
To enhance the mix, there's an ex-first lady as a lavishly rich and well connected best friend, a former wrestling star as an uncle, and a strikingly handsome secret service agent; these characters create great story lines. The narrator excels in bringing each character to life, which greatly enriches the experience.
The victim, Zel, is to put it mildly, rather unlikable, providing the listener with a long list of suspects to consider. This unfortunate fella was a documentary filmmaker immersed in various projects, but was unscrupulous in his methods, disregarding the fundamental ethics of his craft. He wasn’t hesitant to delve into political scandals or engage in the theft of creative properties, which significantly broadens the scope of potential motives and suspects for his demise. Toss in a touch of university life, and the intrigue only deepens.
I highly recommend you take a listen to Matt Godfrey's narration of My Father Always Finds Corpses by Lee Hollis. Pre-order your copy today.
Thanks are extended to Tantor Audio and NetGalley for the advance copy of the audiobook.
Here's to New Adventures in our Reading & Journaling Journey!
@thewritingwhisperer &
@shh_imreading Continue to Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, & the Power of the Written Word!✒📖
#readmorebooks📚
#readingjournal
#write
#journaler
#journal
#inspiration
#innerself
#reflection
#life
#digitaljournal
#reading
#readmorebooks
#journaling
#2025
#plannercommunity
#netgalley
#audiobook
#tantoraudio
#review
#leehollis
To enhance the mix, there's an ex-first lady as a lavishly rich and well connected best friend, a former wrestling star as an uncle, and a strikingly handsome secret service agent; these characters create great story lines. The narrator excels in bringing each character to life, which greatly enriches the experience.
The victim, Zel, is to put it mildly, rather unlikable, providing the listener with a long list of suspects to consider. This unfortunate fella was a documentary filmmaker immersed in various projects, but was unscrupulous in his methods, disregarding the fundamental ethics of his craft. He wasn’t hesitant to delve into political scandals or engage in the theft of creative properties, which significantly broadens the scope of potential motives and suspects for his demise. Toss in a touch of university life, and the intrigue only deepens.
I highly recommend you take a listen to Matt Godfrey's narration of My Father Always Finds Corpses by Lee Hollis. Pre-order your copy today.
Thanks are extended to Tantor Audio and NetGalley for the advance copy of the audiobook.
Here's to New Adventures in our Reading & Journaling Journey!
@thewritingwhisperer &
@shh_imreading Continue to Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, & the Power of the Written Word!✒📖
#readmorebooks📚
#readingjournal
#write
#journaler
#journal
#inspiration
#innerself
#reflection
#life
#digitaljournal
#reading
#readmorebooks
#journaling
#2025
#plannercommunity
#netgalley
#audiobook
#tantoraudio
#review
#leehollis
May 30, 2025
Yikes, what a pointless slog.
July 29, 2025
"My Father Always Finds Corpses" by Lee Hollis definitely presents an intriguing premise: a former child star who also happens to be a retired Hollywood murder solver, Jarrod Jarvis, finds himself pulled back into a case when his daughter, Liv, discovers her filmmaker boyfriend bludgeoned to death. The idea of a father-daughter sleuthing duo, especially with Jarrod's mysterious past, sounds like a lot of fun, and it aims for that classic murder mystery feel with a modern, witty slant.
The setup in Palm Springs, with the sun-drenched Coachella Valley as a backdrop, offers a nice change of scenery, and the initial dynamic between Jarrod and Liv is quite interesting. Jarrod's quiet grief over his partner and his hesitant approach to reconnecting with his daughter add some emotional depth. When he unexpectedly shifts into "modern-day Columbo" mode at the crime scene, it's a surprising and engaging twist for Liv, and for the reader too. The book quickly introduces a wide array of potential suspects, from a Russian film professor to a former First Lady, suggesting a complex web of motives.
However, while the concept is clever and the characters have potential, the execution of the mystery itself felt a bit scattered. With so many colorful suspects and side plots, it sometimes felt like the narrative was juggling too much, making it hard for the clues to coalesce into a truly compelling puzzle. The "wryly witty" voice felt a little inconsistent at times, and the pacing occasionally drifted, making the investigation less taut than I'd hoped. While there's plenty going on, the overarching mystery didn't always quite hit its stride.
Overall, "My Father Always Finds Corpses" offers a charming premise and a unique father-daughter dynamic. It's a pleasant enough read if you're looking for a cozy with an unusual twist and some entertaining characters, but the mystery itself didn't quite deliver the tighter plotting or consistent momentum that would have pushed it to a higher rating for me.
★★★☆☆
#MyFatherAlwaysFindsCorpses #LeeHollis #Mystery #BookReview #Bookstagram #FatherDaughterMystery #PalmSprings #CozyMystery #AmateurSleuth #Whodunnit
The setup in Palm Springs, with the sun-drenched Coachella Valley as a backdrop, offers a nice change of scenery, and the initial dynamic between Jarrod and Liv is quite interesting. Jarrod's quiet grief over his partner and his hesitant approach to reconnecting with his daughter add some emotional depth. When he unexpectedly shifts into "modern-day Columbo" mode at the crime scene, it's a surprising and engaging twist for Liv, and for the reader too. The book quickly introduces a wide array of potential suspects, from a Russian film professor to a former First Lady, suggesting a complex web of motives.
However, while the concept is clever and the characters have potential, the execution of the mystery itself felt a bit scattered. With so many colorful suspects and side plots, it sometimes felt like the narrative was juggling too much, making it hard for the clues to coalesce into a truly compelling puzzle. The "wryly witty" voice felt a little inconsistent at times, and the pacing occasionally drifted, making the investigation less taut than I'd hoped. While there's plenty going on, the overarching mystery didn't always quite hit its stride.
Overall, "My Father Always Finds Corpses" offers a charming premise and a unique father-daughter dynamic. It's a pleasant enough read if you're looking for a cozy with an unusual twist and some entertaining characters, but the mystery itself didn't quite deliver the tighter plotting or consistent momentum that would have pushed it to a higher rating for me.
★★★☆☆
#MyFatherAlwaysFindsCorpses #LeeHollis #Mystery #BookReview #Bookstagram #FatherDaughterMystery #PalmSprings #CozyMystery #AmateurSleuth #Whodunnit
did-not-finish
June 5, 2025dnf @ 37%
How can a book with such an easy plot be so tedious to read?? I came into this book expecting an interesting plot about family drama and murder and instead I read a snoozefest.
One of my main issues with this book is that the writing was very weird. It was filled with so much useless exposition that I kept on skimming paragraphs. I genuinely did not care about so much of the book. my eyes would glaze over after reading about how Jarrod was from such a popular sitcom for the hundredth time. The fact that I didn't even know if I was in one pov says a lot about the book. At certain points, it felt like we were in more than the designated perspectives like I thought I was in Liv's perspective and yet I'm seeing her boyfriends thought. It was so jarring.
In certain parts of the book, instead of a character having dialogue, the author would just tell what was happening, sucking away any depth from the plot. This was especially egregious at the part where one of the characters, Liv, is having an emotional argument with her boyfriend about how he was treating her family matter. We didn't get to see that occur instead the book just tells us what she's saying instead of showing us. And that happens constantly in this book. So much telling, not even showing.
The amount of references the this book gives us is genuinely crazy. I hate when a book decides to reference stuff every paragraph and this one was crazy about it. It was maybe the first few times but after a while, I just felt like the characters were mouthpieces for the authors pop culture references
You could tell that the characters were written by people who didn't understand modern slang or pop culture references. One of the characters literally says "She's so rizz"....like that's not even how you would put rizz in a sentence. It was just very noticeable since a few character were in their 20s and yet didn't act like it
I genuinely found the characters to either be very unlikable when they're supposed to be the opposite or plain old boring. One of the characters that I found unlikeable was Kitty who I believe was supposed to be a likeable character. I found her so uncomfortable like the way she was acting was so off putting and yet the characters just slid it off. I found both the main protagonists to be boring and yet Jarrod's pov was worse. I would have rather loved to have seen this book in Liv's perspective as it could've been a much more entertaining take. Seeing Jarrod's pov did nothing for the plot. I just wanted to skip his pov so badly
This book is supposed to be about a father and daughter relationship and yet I felt nothing from their relationship. No tension, no real yearning for a bond, nothing. Everything just felt so forced
The fact that it took 16 chapters for the plot to actually start is crazy. It genuinely made me so mad that we spent 16 basically doing nothing. I get the author wanted to set the stage for the murder but my god was it so tedious. I literally felt no tension when the murder even occured anyways which made me so annoyed because THAT'S THE ACTUAL PLOT. That's when the book is supposed to supposed to start and get all I felt was nothing
Talking about the murder but the fact that Jarrod thought he was entitled to handle the murder scene when he isn't a trained detective/police genuinely irked me. I dnfed around there so I don't know what happened after but the character going on a long diatribe about how "actors are sooo ignored in every field they're in and that Jarrod wasn't going to take that" really made me side eye him. Like you're not trained on this. Just because you apparently helped solve one crime doesn't mean that you're entitled to get into this one. He could literally contaminate it and still think he's done nothing wrong
It just annoys me that I dnfed this book. I love any type of detective media and this book has such an interesting premise and yet it just didn't work for me
Here's some notable quotes that were something..
> "I'm not into younger guys" / "Well you should be. Pretty soon, there are going to be skin pickings ahead of you because they will have all died!"
> They had only been dating a few months, hardly long enough to qualify as a full-blown relationship
> Jarrod even considered calling the police and reporting a prowler, hoping they might sent that same strapping young officer he had hit on
> Her parents had no idea that one day Isis would be the name of a terrorist group that beheads people
> ...an emotional ballad called "Together Til the End," which had come a lot sooner than either of them had expected.
> "She's so rizz" - yeah I keep on remembering this
How can a book with such an easy plot be so tedious to read?? I came into this book expecting an interesting plot about family drama and murder and instead I read a snoozefest.
One of my main issues with this book is that the writing was very weird. It was filled with so much useless exposition that I kept on skimming paragraphs. I genuinely did not care about so much of the book. my eyes would glaze over after reading about how Jarrod was from such a popular sitcom for the hundredth time. The fact that I didn't even know if I was in one pov says a lot about the book. At certain points, it felt like we were in more than the designated perspectives like I thought I was in Liv's perspective and yet I'm seeing her boyfriends thought. It was so jarring.
In certain parts of the book, instead of a character having dialogue, the author would just tell what was happening, sucking away any depth from the plot. This was especially egregious at the part where one of the characters, Liv, is having an emotional argument with her boyfriend about how he was treating her family matter. We didn't get to see that occur instead the book just tells us what she's saying instead of showing us. And that happens constantly in this book. So much telling, not even showing.
The amount of references the this book gives us is genuinely crazy. I hate when a book decides to reference stuff every paragraph and this one was crazy about it. It was maybe the first few times but after a while, I just felt like the characters were mouthpieces for the authors pop culture references
You could tell that the characters were written by people who didn't understand modern slang or pop culture references. One of the characters literally says "She's so rizz"....like that's not even how you would put rizz in a sentence. It was just very noticeable since a few character were in their 20s and yet didn't act like it
I genuinely found the characters to either be very unlikable when they're supposed to be the opposite or plain old boring. One of the characters that I found unlikeable was Kitty who I believe was supposed to be a likeable character. I found her so uncomfortable like the way she was acting was so off putting and yet the characters just slid it off. I found both the main protagonists to be boring and yet Jarrod's pov was worse. I would have rather loved to have seen this book in Liv's perspective as it could've been a much more entertaining take. Seeing Jarrod's pov did nothing for the plot. I just wanted to skip his pov so badly
This book is supposed to be about a father and daughter relationship and yet I felt nothing from their relationship. No tension, no real yearning for a bond, nothing. Everything just felt so forced
The fact that it took 16 chapters for the plot to actually start is crazy. It genuinely made me so mad that we spent 16 basically doing nothing. I get the author wanted to set the stage for the murder but my god was it so tedious. I literally felt no tension when the murder even occured anyways which made me so annoyed because THAT'S THE ACTUAL PLOT. That's when the book is supposed to supposed to start and get all I felt was nothing
Talking about the murder but the fact that Jarrod thought he was entitled to handle the murder scene when he isn't a trained detective/police genuinely irked me. I dnfed around there so I don't know what happened after but the character going on a long diatribe about how "actors are sooo ignored in every field they're in and that Jarrod wasn't going to take that" really made me side eye him. Like you're not trained on this. Just because you apparently helped solve one crime doesn't mean that you're entitled to get into this one. He could literally contaminate it and still think he's done nothing wrong
It just annoys me that I dnfed this book. I love any type of detective media and this book has such an interesting premise and yet it just didn't work for me
Here's some notable quotes that were something..
> "I'm not into younger guys" / "Well you should be. Pretty soon, there are going to be skin pickings ahead of you because they will have all died!"
> They had only been dating a few months, hardly long enough to qualify as a full-blown relationship
> Jarrod even considered calling the police and reporting a prowler, hoping they might sent that same strapping young officer he had hit on
> Her parents had no idea that one day Isis would be the name of a terrorist group that beheads people
> ...an emotional ballad called "Together Til the End," which had come a lot sooner than either of them had expected.
> "She's so rizz" - yeah I keep on remembering this
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 23, 2025
How do books get through editors with missing words and using the word “conservation” when you mean “conversation”?
May 22, 2025
Netgalley read.
Jarrod is a former child star currently working as a theater director, after his husbands death there’s been a distance between him and his daughter but she finds her boyfriends dead body father and daughter are joining forced to solve the case.
I thought this was kind of cute and will continue the series. Dad and daughter work well together and I think their relationship will get better and better. Also nice uncle that pops up, I needed more from him and he better be in the other book.
3,5 rounding up
Jarrod is a former child star currently working as a theater director, after his husbands death there’s been a distance between him and his daughter but she finds her boyfriends dead body father and daughter are joining forced to solve the case.
I thought this was kind of cute and will continue the series. Dad and daughter work well together and I think their relationship will get better and better. Also nice uncle that pops up, I needed more from him and he better be in the other book.
3,5 rounding up
May 14, 2025
This was absurd—but not in the clever, fun, cozy mystery kind of way. The plot felt disjointed and overly silly, with twists that seemed random rather than quirky. Sometimes absurd works; this time, it just didn’t.
May 27, 2025
Lee Hollis has done it again! As a longtime fan of the Hayley Powell and Maya and Sandra Mystery series, I was thrilled to dive into his newest cozy caper—and My Father Always Finds Corpses did not disappoint.
This book introduces a fresh and charming father-daughter duo, Jarrod and Liv, whose chemistry leaps off the page. Jarrod, a former child star turned local theater director, and Liv, a recent criminal justice grad, find themselves at the heart of a murder investigation that hits too close to home. The result? A page-turner packed with witty banter, heartfelt moments, and an irresistible dose of sleuthing fun.
Hollis’s writing is as engaging as ever—sharp, clever, and brimming with personality. The quirky suspects, sunny Coachella Valley setting, and emotionally grounded family dynamic give this mystery a modern twist on the classic whodunit.
Whether you're a longtime fan or new to Hollis’s work, My Father Always Finds Corpses is the perfect blend of humor, heart, and homicide. I’m already counting down the days until the next installment in this promising new series!
This book introduces a fresh and charming father-daughter duo, Jarrod and Liv, whose chemistry leaps off the page. Jarrod, a former child star turned local theater director, and Liv, a recent criminal justice grad, find themselves at the heart of a murder investigation that hits too close to home. The result? A page-turner packed with witty banter, heartfelt moments, and an irresistible dose of sleuthing fun.
Hollis’s writing is as engaging as ever—sharp, clever, and brimming with personality. The quirky suspects, sunny Coachella Valley setting, and emotionally grounded family dynamic give this mystery a modern twist on the classic whodunit.
Whether you're a longtime fan or new to Hollis’s work, My Father Always Finds Corpses is the perfect blend of humor, heart, and homicide. I’m already counting down the days until the next installment in this promising new series!
May 28, 2025
I really loved this one! I wasn't familiar with Lee Hollis but it appears that the authors, who co-write, are predominantly series people - which is fabulous because I'd LOVE to see this set of characters turn into a series! I found everything about this one enjoyable and fun, from the characters to the pacing and plot to the narration. It was clever and wry and I enjoyed watching the mystery - and family dynamics - unfold. This was a great find!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.
July 2, 2025
I found the title intriguing.
Unfortunately the story didn't live up to my expectations.
Unfortunately the story didn't live up to my expectations.
May 28, 2025
Jarrod Jarvis is just trying to stage a play in Palm Springs without falling apart. It’s not his first play — he’s wrangled actors and staged disasters before — but it’s still a cocktail of performance anxiety, clashing egos, and the quiet terror that no one’s going to clap for the right reasons. He’s a former child star with a beloved catchphrase and what feels like it should be a back catalog of trauma — though honestly, he seems suspiciously well-adjusted for someone who nearly trips over a corpse.
Behind the jokes and mid-rehearsal snark, Jarrod’s still dragging around the grief of losing Charlie — his husband, Liv’s dad — ten years ago. It was the kind of loss that cracked the whole house in half, and neither of them ever figured out how to rebuild the walls without stepping on each other’s nerves.
Enter Liv — his daughter, fresh out of her criminal justice program and deeply allergic to drama, which is a problem, because her boyfriend Zel is drama. He’s filming a documentary about Liv’s surrogate mother. She’s hesitant. She asks him to wait. So of course, he ignores her, ambushes her with a surprise reunion, and films the whole thing. Without her consent. For “authenticity.” She’s furious. She goes to confront him. Instead, she finds him dead. And now she’s in shock, grieving, and standing in a crime scene that flipped her entire life upside down.
Jarrod rushes to the rescue — not flailing like a clueless theater dad, but slipping into crime-scene calm like it’s just another Tuesday. Liv’s rattled. And not just by the body — by the realization that her dad might be weirdly good at solving crimes.
And as if a murder wasn’t enough, Liv finds out she has a half-brother and half-sister through her surrogate mother, Candy. They’re suspicious. Defensive. Possibly dangerous. One of them shows up uninvited and immediately gives “I’ve definitely Googled how to frame someone.” The other’s dating a biker with the emotional intelligence of a cinder block. Liv’s entire identity is crumbling, and somewhere in this tangled mess of genetics, grief, and broken trust is a motive for murder.
The suspect pool is a Palm Springs fever dream. A Russian film professor who might be directing his own alibi. A maybe-gay Secret Service agent who flirts like it’s classified. Kitty, a former First Lady who throws celebrity parties and meddles like it’s her second career. Along with a sprinkling of their own family members — including a literal professional wrestler, because apparently this murder investigation doubles as a deleted scene from Clue: Smackdown Edition.
But this isn’t just about murder. It’s about Jarrod and Liv — two people fumbling toward each other through grief, guilt, and the kind of awkward emotional truths that only show up when someone dies. Charlie’s death blew a hole in their lives so wide you could park a grief bus in it, but instead of leaning on each other, they just... sidestepped the crater. Liv grew up watching her dad perform pain like it was blocking rehearsal. Jarrod lost his husband and short-circuited every emotional outlet he had left. And now? A brand-new body on the floor means they’ve got no choice but to open doors they locked a decade ago — and hope they still remember how to talk without setting each other on fire.
The audiobook? Unreasonably good. Matt Godfrey gives Jarrod just the right amount of tired sparkle and accidental wisdom, and makes Kitty sound like she’s been sipping martinis since Reagan left office. Every performance hits. Every voice feels lived-in. You’ll be hearing Jarrod in your head every time someone says the word “rehearsal.”
Four stars. Not because the mystery is shocking (it’s not), but because it knows what it is — a smart, stylish story about complicated people solving chaos with snark, grief, and just enough heart to make you feel it. If this turns into a series? I’ll preorder every single one. I’m emotionally invested and increasingly unwell about it.
Whodunity Award: For Solving a Murder While Emotionally Rebuilding Your Adult Daughter Relationship in Between Theater Rehearsals and Gym Gossip
Huge thanks to Tantor Audio and NetGalley for the early access to the audiobook— and for handing me a theater dad with a flair for crime scenes, emotional repression, and just enough sparkle to ruin my expectations for all future amateur sleuths.
Behind the jokes and mid-rehearsal snark, Jarrod’s still dragging around the grief of losing Charlie — his husband, Liv’s dad — ten years ago. It was the kind of loss that cracked the whole house in half, and neither of them ever figured out how to rebuild the walls without stepping on each other’s nerves.
Enter Liv — his daughter, fresh out of her criminal justice program and deeply allergic to drama, which is a problem, because her boyfriend Zel is drama. He’s filming a documentary about Liv’s surrogate mother. She’s hesitant. She asks him to wait. So of course, he ignores her, ambushes her with a surprise reunion, and films the whole thing. Without her consent. For “authenticity.” She’s furious. She goes to confront him. Instead, she finds him dead. And now she’s in shock, grieving, and standing in a crime scene that flipped her entire life upside down.
Jarrod rushes to the rescue — not flailing like a clueless theater dad, but slipping into crime-scene calm like it’s just another Tuesday. Liv’s rattled. And not just by the body — by the realization that her dad might be weirdly good at solving crimes.
And as if a murder wasn’t enough, Liv finds out she has a half-brother and half-sister through her surrogate mother, Candy. They’re suspicious. Defensive. Possibly dangerous. One of them shows up uninvited and immediately gives “I’ve definitely Googled how to frame someone.” The other’s dating a biker with the emotional intelligence of a cinder block. Liv’s entire identity is crumbling, and somewhere in this tangled mess of genetics, grief, and broken trust is a motive for murder.
The suspect pool is a Palm Springs fever dream. A Russian film professor who might be directing his own alibi. A maybe-gay Secret Service agent who flirts like it’s classified. Kitty, a former First Lady who throws celebrity parties and meddles like it’s her second career. Along with a sprinkling of their own family members — including a literal professional wrestler, because apparently this murder investigation doubles as a deleted scene from Clue: Smackdown Edition.
But this isn’t just about murder. It’s about Jarrod and Liv — two people fumbling toward each other through grief, guilt, and the kind of awkward emotional truths that only show up when someone dies. Charlie’s death blew a hole in their lives so wide you could park a grief bus in it, but instead of leaning on each other, they just... sidestepped the crater. Liv grew up watching her dad perform pain like it was blocking rehearsal. Jarrod lost his husband and short-circuited every emotional outlet he had left. And now? A brand-new body on the floor means they’ve got no choice but to open doors they locked a decade ago — and hope they still remember how to talk without setting each other on fire.
The audiobook? Unreasonably good. Matt Godfrey gives Jarrod just the right amount of tired sparkle and accidental wisdom, and makes Kitty sound like she’s been sipping martinis since Reagan left office. Every performance hits. Every voice feels lived-in. You’ll be hearing Jarrod in your head every time someone says the word “rehearsal.”
Four stars. Not because the mystery is shocking (it’s not), but because it knows what it is — a smart, stylish story about complicated people solving chaos with snark, grief, and just enough heart to make you feel it. If this turns into a series? I’ll preorder every single one. I’m emotionally invested and increasingly unwell about it.
Whodunity Award: For Solving a Murder While Emotionally Rebuilding Your Adult Daughter Relationship in Between Theater Rehearsals and Gym Gossip
Huge thanks to Tantor Audio and NetGalley for the early access to the audiobook— and for handing me a theater dad with a flair for crime scenes, emotional repression, and just enough sparkle to ruin my expectations for all future amateur sleuths.
July 7, 2025
This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 3.5 of 5
Jarrod Jarvis is a former child television star in Hollywood. Now he lives in Palm Springs where he writes and directs for the local community theatre. Every day Jarrod quietly mourns the loss of his partner, a former police detective, Charlie.
Jarrod tries to maintain a positive outlook, especially for his adult daughter, Liv. Liv is working toward a criminal justice degree. Her relationship with Jarrod has been rough, especially since Charlie's death. Liv is currently Zel, a young, ambitious documentary filmmaker. Zel's current project is to track down the surrogate mother who gave birth to Liv. Liv is getting cold feet on the project but Zel is ignoring her.
Liv's life is turned upside when Zel is murdered. Jarrod is at Liv's side as soon as humanly possible to support his daughter. Using her criminal justice skills, Liv begins to investigate Zel's death. She is surprised at her father's history of solving murders in Hollywood some twenty years ago. Together, the father/daughter duo look to solve the mystery of Zel's murder.
There's a lot to like about this Queer cozy. Give me a setting in a theatre or a character who has a theatre career or background, and I'm immediately interested. This isn't the main focus of the story, but this aspect of Jarrod's character is written well and gives some depth to his character rather than rely on a child-star stereotype.
The father/daughter duo as unlikely amateur detectives is nicely handled. There's a sweetness about them working together that is right on target for a cozy mystery. The balance in their skills works well.
Having a gay main character is not something I look for, but it doesn't bother me either. There's nothing here that works or doesn't work because of Jarrod's sexual orientation, with the possible exception of Liv having a surrogate mother (but that could have been with a cis couple who couldn't conceive). It's simply a facet of his character.
There is something interesting about the history of this book. Because of Jarrod's history solving murders, I got the sense there was more to it. This is marked as the first book in a new series, BUT ... I did a little digging and discovered that there is a three book Jerrod Jarvis Mystery series (also published by Kensington) by Rick Copp. Looking at the author page on Goodreads for Lee Hollis, the author of this book, I see that "Lee Hollis" is a pen name used by both Rick Copp and his sister, Holly Simason. Suddenly it makes sense to me - there IS a history to Jarrod Jarvis's murder solving. Clever Hollis/Copp, clever.
Looking for a good book? My Father Always Finds Corpses by Lee Hollis is the first book in a clever, cute, father/daughter amateur detective cozy mystery series.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Jarrod Jarvis is a former child television star in Hollywood. Now he lives in Palm Springs where he writes and directs for the local community theatre. Every day Jarrod quietly mourns the loss of his partner, a former police detective, Charlie.
Jarrod tries to maintain a positive outlook, especially for his adult daughter, Liv. Liv is working toward a criminal justice degree. Her relationship with Jarrod has been rough, especially since Charlie's death. Liv is currently Zel, a young, ambitious documentary filmmaker. Zel's current project is to track down the surrogate mother who gave birth to Liv. Liv is getting cold feet on the project but Zel is ignoring her.
Liv's life is turned upside when Zel is murdered. Jarrod is at Liv's side as soon as humanly possible to support his daughter. Using her criminal justice skills, Liv begins to investigate Zel's death. She is surprised at her father's history of solving murders in Hollywood some twenty years ago. Together, the father/daughter duo look to solve the mystery of Zel's murder.
There's a lot to like about this Queer cozy. Give me a setting in a theatre or a character who has a theatre career or background, and I'm immediately interested. This isn't the main focus of the story, but this aspect of Jarrod's character is written well and gives some depth to his character rather than rely on a child-star stereotype.
The father/daughter duo as unlikely amateur detectives is nicely handled. There's a sweetness about them working together that is right on target for a cozy mystery. The balance in their skills works well.
Having a gay main character is not something I look for, but it doesn't bother me either. There's nothing here that works or doesn't work because of Jarrod's sexual orientation, with the possible exception of Liv having a surrogate mother (but that could have been with a cis couple who couldn't conceive). It's simply a facet of his character.
There is something interesting about the history of this book. Because of Jarrod's history solving murders, I got the sense there was more to it. This is marked as the first book in a new series, BUT ... I did a little digging and discovered that there is a three book Jerrod Jarvis Mystery series (also published by Kensington) by Rick Copp. Looking at the author page on Goodreads for Lee Hollis, the author of this book, I see that "Lee Hollis" is a pen name used by both Rick Copp and his sister, Holly Simason. Suddenly it makes sense to me - there IS a history to Jarrod Jarvis's murder solving. Clever Hollis/Copp, clever.
Looking for a good book? My Father Always Finds Corpses by Lee Hollis is the first book in a clever, cute, father/daughter amateur detective cozy mystery series.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
May 22, 2025
"My Father Always Finds Corpses" by Lee Hollis is a comedic murder mystery featuring a father-daughter duo who would rather do anything but work together to solve a mystery. This book is perfect for readers who need a good laugh, enjoy a fictional dysfunctional family, and an unhinged killer.
Though Liv's finally earned a degree in criminal justice, she's putting her career on hold to help her filmmaker boyfriend Zel with his documentary film. When he chooses to use Liv as inspiration, even going so far as to track down her surrogate mother, Liv feels pressured to partake in something she's not one hundred percent comfortable with. Choosing to confront him, she goes to his apartment only to discover him bludgeoned to death.
Finding corpses runs in the family. Liv's dad, Jarrod Jarvis, is a former child star who is no stranger to finding dead bodies and solving real-life Hollywood murders. A passion his late husband and police detective, Charlie, used to frown upon. Since the death of Charlie, the bond between him and Liv has dimmed. With Liv determined to discover who murdered her boyfriend and why, Jarrod sees the mystery as an opportunity to reconnect with his daughter and protect her from potential harm. The chances of rekindling their relationship may be short-lived as long as the killer is on the loose.
While the beginning was a bit slow going, things started to pick up, and the ball kept rolling. Hollis keeps the reader guessing, drumming up all kinds of characters who have beef with Zel, and for good reason. Everyone seems to have a motive for killing Zel, including Liv's own family. There's no better murder mystery than the one where everyone is a suspect and no one can be trusted. While there's a lot of tension that unfolds due to the murder and family drama, there's also a lot of laughter, making this an enjoyable read.
Some of the characters took time warming up to as the dialogue didn't always feel realistic, and the characters felt like stereotypes. But as the book unravelled, their personalities shone through, and most of them became favourites, including the former first lady and Liv's uncle. I liked that Hollis touched on important topics through his characters, especially grief. Many of these characters have lost someone close and are grappling with how to cope with loss and move on while still honouring their memory.
This is a great book for readers who want a murder mystery that is mostly meant to be light and cozy but has some serious moments and heavy emotions. "My Father Always Finds Corpses" by Lee Hollis is expected to be published on May 27, 2025.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing (Kensington Cozies) for providing me with an e-arc of this book and the opportunity to share my honest opinion in this review.
Though Liv's finally earned a degree in criminal justice, she's putting her career on hold to help her filmmaker boyfriend Zel with his documentary film. When he chooses to use Liv as inspiration, even going so far as to track down her surrogate mother, Liv feels pressured to partake in something she's not one hundred percent comfortable with. Choosing to confront him, she goes to his apartment only to discover him bludgeoned to death.
Finding corpses runs in the family. Liv's dad, Jarrod Jarvis, is a former child star who is no stranger to finding dead bodies and solving real-life Hollywood murders. A passion his late husband and police detective, Charlie, used to frown upon. Since the death of Charlie, the bond between him and Liv has dimmed. With Liv determined to discover who murdered her boyfriend and why, Jarrod sees the mystery as an opportunity to reconnect with his daughter and protect her from potential harm. The chances of rekindling their relationship may be short-lived as long as the killer is on the loose.
While the beginning was a bit slow going, things started to pick up, and the ball kept rolling. Hollis keeps the reader guessing, drumming up all kinds of characters who have beef with Zel, and for good reason. Everyone seems to have a motive for killing Zel, including Liv's own family. There's no better murder mystery than the one where everyone is a suspect and no one can be trusted. While there's a lot of tension that unfolds due to the murder and family drama, there's also a lot of laughter, making this an enjoyable read.
Some of the characters took time warming up to as the dialogue didn't always feel realistic, and the characters felt like stereotypes. But as the book unravelled, their personalities shone through, and most of them became favourites, including the former first lady and Liv's uncle. I liked that Hollis touched on important topics through his characters, especially grief. Many of these characters have lost someone close and are grappling with how to cope with loss and move on while still honouring their memory.
This is a great book for readers who want a murder mystery that is mostly meant to be light and cozy but has some serious moments and heavy emotions. "My Father Always Finds Corpses" by Lee Hollis is expected to be published on May 27, 2025.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing (Kensington Cozies) for providing me with an e-arc of this book and the opportunity to share my honest opinion in this review.
August 10, 2025
"My Father Always Finds Corpses" is a novel by Lee Hollis.
It took me a while to get into this book. Liv has put her life on hold to help her filmmaker boyfriend, Zel work on his newest project - a documentary about the surrogate who gave birth to Liv for her two gay dads.
Liv clearly wasn't comfortable with the whole idea but allowed herself to be guilted into helping the manipulative and narcistic Zel. I wanted to scream at her - where is your spine and why aren't you telling him you aren't ready to do this? He blindsided her with meeting her birth mother and it was awkward on both sides. I wanted to feel bad for both women but there wasn't much point. When both of Candy's other kids eventually entered the picture it got even more cringe worthy - and creepy.
Turned out Zel had a lot of enemies but finding out her dad Jarrod had actually solved a few crimes back in his Hollywood days - before his husband Charlie (a police detective) died of cancer, was just about as much of a shock as finding Zel's body.
Together, father and daughter decide to find the real killer. They do manage to uncover a few things but their were so many clichés, stereotypes and cringe worthy interactions that it took away from the story potential.
Jarrod's friends George and Leo were portrayed as over the top gay men fawning at every male, obsessing on wardrobe and best food/drinks. Another of his besties is Kitty - a former first lady of a two term president (now deceased). She is almost as manipulative at playing matchmaker as Zel was of guilting Liv. Kitty is relentless in trying to fix Jarrod up with her secret service agent Jim.
There were so many references to the role that Jarrod was most famous for as a kid that it was beyond annoying.
Don't get me wrong, I love seeing diversity in books but the stereotypes in this story are so strong that it made it hard to see past it and enjoy the story. The intended humour felt forced and flat.
If the character stereotypes were dialed back to a more believable level, this could have been a really great start to a series but the characters and situations felt more like a cheesy farce. If it does somehow become a series, I'll wait for the deep discount Kindle edition before I consider buying or reading it. JMO 2 1/2 stars
It took me a while to get into this book. Liv has put her life on hold to help her filmmaker boyfriend, Zel work on his newest project - a documentary about the surrogate who gave birth to Liv for her two gay dads.
Liv clearly wasn't comfortable with the whole idea but allowed herself to be guilted into helping the manipulative and narcistic Zel. I wanted to scream at her - where is your spine and why aren't you telling him you aren't ready to do this? He blindsided her with meeting her birth mother and it was awkward on both sides. I wanted to feel bad for both women but there wasn't much point. When both of Candy's other kids eventually entered the picture it got even more cringe worthy - and creepy.
Turned out Zel had a lot of enemies but finding out her dad Jarrod had actually solved a few crimes back in his Hollywood days - before his husband Charlie (a police detective) died of cancer, was just about as much of a shock as finding Zel's body.
Together, father and daughter decide to find the real killer. They do manage to uncover a few things but their were so many clichés, stereotypes and cringe worthy interactions that it took away from the story potential.
Jarrod's friends George and Leo were portrayed as over the top gay men fawning at every male, obsessing on wardrobe and best food/drinks. Another of his besties is Kitty - a former first lady of a two term president (now deceased). She is almost as manipulative at playing matchmaker as Zel was of guilting Liv. Kitty is relentless in trying to fix Jarrod up with her secret service agent Jim.
There were so many references to the role that Jarrod was most famous for as a kid that it was beyond annoying.
Don't get me wrong, I love seeing diversity in books but the stereotypes in this story are so strong that it made it hard to see past it and enjoy the story. The intended humour felt forced and flat.
If the character stereotypes were dialed back to a more believable level, this could have been a really great start to a series but the characters and situations felt more like a cheesy farce. If it does somehow become a series, I'll wait for the deep discount Kindle edition before I consider buying or reading it. JMO 2 1/2 stars
September 3, 2025
Zel clearly only cared about the film and how he could use his girlfriend, Liv. She should have refused to do the film and when he ambushed her if she wanted to talk to her birth mother she should have invited her birth mother to come with her away from the studio (like to a coffee shop) for them to get to know each other, so he got nothing, whilst she learnt about her birth mother. I don’t get why she agreed to be filmed at that point other than that she still had some feelings for him and felt pushed into filming because she’d been given the opportunity, but I thought she really needed to stand up for herself and stop letting him control everything. She absolutely shouldn’t believe him that he thinks his relationship with Liv is more important than the documentary. I wasn’t surprised that Zel turned out to be the dead body Isis predicted. Zel really was a despicable person, paying off Candy and trying to get her to bad-mouth the Dads with no concern for how that would effect them or Liv. Dale and Jewel certainly aren’t nice people and it’s easy to feel sorry for Candy at the halfway point of the book when Dale crashes the party and makes a scene. Brody isn’t wise to hide his being in the vicinity of the murder because it makes him look guilty when it comes to light and he should have been around enough criminal cases after having been to jail already to know that absolute honesty with the cops was going to play better, because he was never going to be able to keep having been in the area hidden for ever given he’d had a loud argument with Zel that evening. I did suspect Butch and I also worked out that he’d changed the clocks but it was an interesting reveal as it wasn’t clear until late on why Butch would kill Zel, although I do find it quite annoying when a murder mystery is impossible to solve until the end because you don’t have the necessary information to solve the murder until the last moment. Brody winds up as the hero having saved his brother-in-law‘s life, which is a nice inclusion in that it shows he‘s serious about protecting his family and trying to do the right thing by his family within the bounds of the law this time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 25, 2025
I want to say I haven't exactly read the book in it's entirety as of right now. So I may do another review once I'm finished but here are my thoughts and feelings for right now. I was actually very excited about this book and went into it expecting to love it. The reason is it's a time skip continuation of a trio of books the author did back in the early 2000s called The Jarrod Jarvis mysteries. I actually only got ahold of the original series fairly recent, not having the chance to experience them in real time. While yes, it's VERY early millennium/aughts to the point of cringe-inducing, the mysteries are more than a bit shallow, and the characters are one-note archetypes that border on stereotypes, I can't lie and say I didn't have a fun time reading these novels and often reread them as sort of guilty pleasure/comfort reading.
With that said, while I went into this book expecting a lot of differences from the earlier entries since they are separated by almost, if not fully over 20 years, I wasn't expecting the story to suffer because of it. At least for me, it did. I feel strongly that the author was definitely trying to tell a story that reflects things have changed in the last two decades, and idk, I feel like this attempt made things such a less interesting, slog fest for me. For all of its faults, the original trilogy was fast-paced and deliciously entertaining with characters that I at least enjoyed reading about. This story here feels like there's only a small attempt to keep what made the first books enjoyable but watering it down so that it can be viewed as more "deep and serious".
As I mentioned, the original trio was very surface level with it's characters, drama, etc., but I guess to try to make everything feel more three dimensional, the author clipped a lot of what worked and could still work from them when writing this one. I don't know, I guess this just didn't hold my interest or investment as much as the early books did, and I definitely don't find myself laughing anymore. I'll try to finish it and see if things start to pick up.
With that said, while I went into this book expecting a lot of differences from the earlier entries since they are separated by almost, if not fully over 20 years, I wasn't expecting the story to suffer because of it. At least for me, it did. I feel strongly that the author was definitely trying to tell a story that reflects things have changed in the last two decades, and idk, I feel like this attempt made things such a less interesting, slog fest for me. For all of its faults, the original trilogy was fast-paced and deliciously entertaining with characters that I at least enjoyed reading about. This story here feels like there's only a small attempt to keep what made the first books enjoyable but watering it down so that it can be viewed as more "deep and serious".
As I mentioned, the original trio was very surface level with it's characters, drama, etc., but I guess to try to make everything feel more three dimensional, the author clipped a lot of what worked and could still work from them when writing this one. I don't know, I guess this just didn't hold my interest or investment as much as the early books did, and I definitely don't find myself laughing anymore. I'll try to finish it and see if things start to pick up.
April 9, 2025
Jarrod Jarvis is a former child star. The story starts with him rehearsing a play that he’s written. Jarrod is a gay man whose husband died ten years earlier. He is reluctant to move on even when his friends start trying to introduce him to possible love interests. He has an eclectic group of friends, one gay couple who go to an exercise class with him. One of them danced with Fosse. A former first lady, Kitty, is also a friend who not only invites him to celebrity parties, but she is also guilty of matchmaking. Jarrod has a reputation as an amateur sleuth. He had some success in the past investigating a few murders.
When Jarrod’s adult daughter, Liv’s boyfriend is murdered, the police think it’s a burglary gone wrong. Liv’s boyfriend was a film maker and at his death had been working on a documentary about Liv and her surrogate mother. Liv knew about her mother, but they had never met. She doesn’t accept the project wholeheartedly and asks Zel, her boyfriend, to give her a little time to think about it. Zel pushes ahead. Candy, her surrogate mother, is a kind person but Candy’s son and daughter are something else. Her son is creepy when he shows up unexpectedly at her apartment and pushes her to meet her father because he has a film project to discuss with him. The daughter is afraid Liv is trying to step in to take something away from Candy that would naturally go to her and her brother. The daughter also dates a scary biker guy.
When Zel is found dead, Liv, suspects Candy’s children. As they discover more clues the suspect list grows, and each new suspect brings Jarrod and Liv closer to danger.
This was a fun read. I loved the name dropping at the parties – George and Amal Clooney for one. Lee Hollis is a good storyteller. I was drawn into the story and found myself staying up too late at night to finish it. I would read more from this author. Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Cozies for an advanced readers copy for my honest review.
When Jarrod’s adult daughter, Liv’s boyfriend is murdered, the police think it’s a burglary gone wrong. Liv’s boyfriend was a film maker and at his death had been working on a documentary about Liv and her surrogate mother. Liv knew about her mother, but they had never met. She doesn’t accept the project wholeheartedly and asks Zel, her boyfriend, to give her a little time to think about it. Zel pushes ahead. Candy, her surrogate mother, is a kind person but Candy’s son and daughter are something else. Her son is creepy when he shows up unexpectedly at her apartment and pushes her to meet her father because he has a film project to discuss with him. The daughter is afraid Liv is trying to step in to take something away from Candy that would naturally go to her and her brother. The daughter also dates a scary biker guy.
When Zel is found dead, Liv, suspects Candy’s children. As they discover more clues the suspect list grows, and each new suspect brings Jarrod and Liv closer to danger.
This was a fun read. I loved the name dropping at the parties – George and Amal Clooney for one. Lee Hollis is a good storyteller. I was drawn into the story and found myself staying up too late at night to finish it. I would read more from this author. Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Cozies for an advanced readers copy for my honest review.
June 7, 2025
I'm really sort of sorry I read this. Not that there's anything really wrong with it. It's exactly what it's intended to be, a perfectly serviceable trashy beach read in a genre called "cozy mystery" which I didn't even know existed.
I'm sorry I read it because Where the Bears Are is a favorite web series of mine, in spite of the fact that I was unaware of it until it was long over. Lee Hollis is the pen name of Rick Copp, one of the writer-producers of that series. I was unaware of the pen name until a news blurb in some magazine said this book was being released and that he had something like 50 other books published under this name. So, because I love Bears, I needed to read it.
This is a novelized episodic TV script for a mediocre series. (It's not a series, but you can tell it wants to be). It's all dialog, stage direction, and hyper-specific description. Each chapter is between 4 and 6 pages (that is, one scene). The plot isn't so much clever as serviceable. Copp has written episodes of Golden Girls and Murder, She Wrote, and this could really fit into any of that. The pop culture references per paragraph of text must set some sort of new record.
It's technically well written, no plot holes that leap out, but it's really simple and somewhat cliche. I can't fault the book in any way on that score. What really disappointed me is that this is just another episode of Bears with different people. Same sort of plot, same not-quite-realistic amateur sleuthing, same sort of personal interactions. So much so, that now, watching Bears again, I can't help but see it as part of a formula. So much so, the specter of AI might show up if all the rest of Copp's work didn't exist. But it does and I have the feeling it's all like this. I won't be finding out.
So, in short, if you need something for the beach that doesn't require a lot of concentration, this will work.
I'm sorry I read it because Where the Bears Are is a favorite web series of mine, in spite of the fact that I was unaware of it until it was long over. Lee Hollis is the pen name of Rick Copp, one of the writer-producers of that series. I was unaware of the pen name until a news blurb in some magazine said this book was being released and that he had something like 50 other books published under this name. So, because I love Bears, I needed to read it.
This is a novelized episodic TV script for a mediocre series. (It's not a series, but you can tell it wants to be). It's all dialog, stage direction, and hyper-specific description. Each chapter is between 4 and 6 pages (that is, one scene). The plot isn't so much clever as serviceable. Copp has written episodes of Golden Girls and Murder, She Wrote, and this could really fit into any of that. The pop culture references per paragraph of text must set some sort of new record.
It's technically well written, no plot holes that leap out, but it's really simple and somewhat cliche. I can't fault the book in any way on that score. What really disappointed me is that this is just another episode of Bears with different people. Same sort of plot, same not-quite-realistic amateur sleuthing, same sort of personal interactions. So much so, that now, watching Bears again, I can't help but see it as part of a formula. So much so, the specter of AI might show up if all the rest of Copp's work didn't exist. But it does and I have the feeling it's all like this. I won't be finding out.
So, in short, if you need something for the beach that doesn't require a lot of concentration, this will work.
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