Bellamy Rose’s Pomona Afton Can So Solve a Murder pairs the perky, fashion-forward heart of Legally Blonde with the cozy wit of Only Murders in the Building as its riches-to-rags protagonist attempts to get to the bottom of her formidable grandmother’s untimely death.
At 28, Pomona Afton hasn’t accomplished much. Then again, she’s heiress to the storied Afton Hotel dynasty and has her own suite overlooking Central Park, with 24/7 service and glamorous friends to party with every night (at stuffy galas and hot clubs, thank you very much). But after Pomona’s grandma is murdered, a new clause in her will comes to light: If Grandmother Afton passes away from unnatural causes, all family assets are frozen. If the death remains unexplained, family assets stay frozen. Forced to work as a barista and move in with Gabe, her ex-nanny’s very handsome but rather grumpy son, Pomona vows to solve the case and return to her once-fabulous life. As she gets closer to finding answers, however, Pomona reckons with the idea of making her own way—and the irritating fact that Gabe is really, really cute.
Bellamy Rose—whose bio stipulates that she “has never solved an actual murder”—is the pseudonym of Amanda Elliot, a USA Today-bestselling romantic comedy author. Rose has created a hilarious, plucky heroine, who’s never before considered her own immense privilege. Besides a mystery that keeps the reader guessing, the book boasts a vibrant cast, from Pomona’s perpetually exasperated accountant brother, Nicholas, to fellow socialite Opal, whose own life has come apart (though her Instagram feed says otherwise). Strap on your Manolos and stay on your toes: Pomona Afton is on the case, and she always gets what she wants.
