While this is #4 in the series, it's the first one I've read, and I think this book can stand alone. Maggie McDonald is an amateur detective, while her day job is a professional organizer. Each chapter begins with tips from her organizing notebook and they often refer to what is happening or going to happen in that chapter.

I enjoyed the fact that the book was quite up-to-date and accurate as it relates to technology and communication. Of course everyone has cell phones, and the references to texting, Next Door, charging phones, Google, Silicon Valley, and building websites kept the story relevant for those trying to solve the mystery along with the characters. Another accurate factor was the depiction of the three teenage boys in this novel and the author adds many realistic details which are both endearing and amusing.

In addition to a murderer on the loose, there are nearby wildfires raging and a ruthless drug cartel protecting illegal marijuana grow sites - a lot to keep the excitement level high.

I only gave the book three stars because it didn't seem like a traditional cozy in that it was more serious and less lighthearted than the usual cozy. It began with a murder but I felt focused too much on the grief of the family. Several chapters dealt with how the family experienced their loss and how the community responded. All realistic, but too "heavy" for this type of book.

I received an advance reader's copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. ( )

This is the fourth in the Maggie McDonald Mystery series, but can be read as a standalone. I have read and/or listened to all of them and I think this one was my favourite so far. Maggie is a professional organizer and this book shows how her skills can be used in other areas besides organizing a house. In this book there are wildfires and each chapter begins with a tip of what you can do in advance of a disaster where evacuation could occur. There are also some great resources at the end of the book. Having shared that, here is my review of the book.

With wildfires ripping through the canyons, Maggie and her family are worried they might have to evacuate. At the same time, Maggie's friend Tess, gets a phone call that her husband has been found dead on the trails he ran on in the canyon. Knowing that he could not have fallen on the familiar trails, his son Teddy is sure someone killed him. Once that is confirmed, Tess is arrested for his death. Maggie calls her lawyer to help with getting Teddy settled with their family as well as helping Tess. As the story unfolds, there are a lot of clues, some red herrings and several suspects. I thought I knew who the murderer was, then changed my mind. Along with the murder, there are also issues with drugs and cartels having several grow-ops hidden around the canyon. Along with the drugs comes some environmental issues and human slavery. Once another law enforcement agency steps in, Jason is left with only an advisory role which he worked to his advantage. There were several twists, new characters and environmental issues all part of the plot. Mary Feliz does a wonderful job with these varying stories all woven together to write a great story. I definitely recommend this one to cozy mystery lovers, especially if you like a different twist on a story. The publisher, Lyrical Underground, generously provided me with a copy of this book upon my request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own. ( )

I really enjoy this series, professional organizer Maggie McDonald seems like someone you would know from your kids' school, except that she has a knack for solving crimes. The wildfire situation is California makes a great backdrop for this story, covering up many crimes in the forests and mountains near Maggie's home. When her friend Tess is the first suspect in her husband's death, Maggie easily steps up, along with her supportive husband and family, to find out what really happened. While some of Maggie's tips at the beginning of each chapter are truly geared to the fire season, many are ones that I feel anyone could utilize in emergency situations. It's good to be prepared. ( )

Wildfires have been in the news a lot lately. They destroy everything in their path and seem to have a mind of their own. How frightening it would be to see the threat of a wildfire close to your home. Maggie is facing that very danger and decides it is time for action. She prepares her family for evacuation and I enjoyed reading how detailed she was about what to bring and how to prepare the home they were leaving behind. There must have been butterflies going their stomachs as they saw the fire rage closer to them.
When a body is found among the area where the fire is , it shakes the town up. Maggie's best friend, Tess is about to get some very upsetting news. I did like how detailed the author was when the body was identified at the morgue. We have all seen those shows where they pull the body out of a slot and the family stares at it. Technology has come a long way and I think it makes more sense to look at the body on a screen to soften the agony the family is going through. I wasn't surprised that Tess was arrested, but I was quite impressed with her son. He is one sharp teenager asking questions that the officers should have been asking others instead of his mom. The big question is why was Patrick up there near the fire and who wanted him dead?
The author gives us several suspects to consider and I tried really hard to figure out who did it and why. I was unsuccessful and pleased that the author had me guessing till the end. There are many twists in the story and I loved how Maggie was determined that her best friend would not be found guilty. It felt like a story that could happen in any neighborhood and of course there is always those gossipy people. I often wonder why people say unkind things when a family is going through a traumatic event. It makes me furious when the media interviews neighbors who want their fifteen minutes of fame.
The story is very well written and brings friends closer together while being able to depend on the truth to come out. Several of the characters were a challenge to like such as Robert Wu. He works with Tess and didn't hide his dislike for Patrick at all. Robert was rude in a way and hinted that Patrick was holding Tess back in her job. I found Robert to be very unpleasant and wanted to slap the smirk off his face. I enjoyed the different people Maggie interviewed to clear her friend's name. Each character seemed to have a reason to kill Patrick so my list of suspects was getting longer. The story gets more intense as Maggie digs further into what happened the day Patrick was killed.
The ending is quite explosive and really intense . I loved learning about the swat team and other law enforcement agencies involved. I didn't expect how in depth the mystery went. I was so engrossed in it, I didn't want it to end. I love how the story started as a murder but turned into so much more. At the end of the book the author has given readers information about emergency preparations. It is filled with helpful websites that readers should look into so they will not be caught off guard in an emergency.
I received a copy of this book from The Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour. The review is my own opinion. ( )

Disorderly Conduct by Mary Feliz is the fourth installment in A Maggie McDonald Mystery series. Devastating wild fires are ravaging through the hills above Silicon Valley close to where Maggie McDonald and her family live on their farm. They are preparing to evacuate when Maggie receives a call from her best friend, Tess Olmos. Tess’s husband, Patrick had not been in touch which is not unusual (he gets caught up in his work). But, then she is contacted by the police stating they believe they found her husband in the hills and they need her identify the body. Tess and her son, Teddy are devastated by the news and have trouble believing Patrick’s death was accidental. They soon discover that Patrick was murdered when the police arrive to search her home and arrest Tess. The evidence the police find in Tess’s house seals her fate. Maggie needs to sort through the clues and question the suspects to pinpoint Patrick’s killer before Teddy loses both of his parents.

I found Disorderly Conduct to be nicely written and to have a quick pace. The mystery becomes complex when it is discovered that criminals are growing marijuana illegally on the public land in the hills above their farm. It happened to be where Patrick ran frequently. However, the mystery takes up a small portion of the book. I wish the author had made Patrick’s murder the focus. The story talks about the fires that are ravaging through the Santa Cruz mountains destroying the vegetation and forcing wildlife along with humans to flee. There are helpful tips at the beginning of each chapter on how people can prepare for emergencies (fires, hurricanes). The items we should have available in our home and car along with planning where you would go. It is important to remember your pets in your plans. There are great characters in A Maggie McDonald Mystery series. Maggie is a smart, strong woman who can handle any situation thrown at her. The kids and the animals add humor to the story (and it makes me very happy that I had a daughter instead of a son). The various families are close and help each other in times of crisis (like Tess taking in the McDonald family). While Disorderly Conduct could be read alone, I recommend reading Address to Die For first. My rating for Disorderly Conduct is 3 out of 5 stars. Disorderly Conduct addresses some tough topics in a different way. Return to Orchard View and join Maggie as she sets out to catch a murderer and save her best friend. ( )