The Two Cinderellas (A Kess Tymons Mystery) by CG McCauley is a murder mystery that would appeal to mature young adults and adults who are murder mystery/crime novel fans and don't mind the inclusion of non-graphic sex and non-gory death. Ex-detective Kess Tymons left police employment shrouded under a dark cloud of suspicion, making her hesitant to heed her friend’s request that she look into the death of a man in Santa Monica. Yet, when Kess learns that the incident is being marked as an accident without any real investigation, she finds herself being pulled into the case. Will Kess manage to solve the case, or will it lead to her death?

The Two Cinderellas by CG McCauley is a well-written story filled with riveting twists and turns, making it particularly hard to put down. The author created a strong female lead in Kess Tymons, and it was Kess who kept me turning page after page, determined not only to find the truth behind an uninvestigated death but to keep following her. The author did an amazing job with character creation and how she managed to capture the feel of Santa Monica and its ambiance. Overall, I greatly enjoyed this book, and as someone who has vacationed in Santa Monica, I simply loved the author’s depiction of it and how she truly brought it alive throughout the pages of her book right alongside Kess.

The Two Cinderellas: A Kess Tymons Mystery by C.G. McCauley begins with the discovery of the body of a black man in his mid-fifties at the bottom of a flight of concrete stairs. He had no reason to be in that building and was not wearing shoes. Kess Tymons’s best friend asks her to look into his death, sensing that something is amiss. Kess cannot let the matter go when she finds out that the victim's death was dismissed as an accident involving a homeless man. As Kess investigates the case, she finds clues that point back to the unsolved deaths of two sisters eighteen years ago and a cover-up inside the police force. There is an attempt on Kess’s life when she finds herself the target of those who will do anything to keep their secrets safe as she pieces the truth together.

C.G. McCauley planned and executed an engaging plot in The Two Cinderellas. The story was fast-paced and jam-packed with action. The suspense kept me on the edge of my seat, turning the pages as fast as I could. There was always a surprise and I never knew what would happen next. The characters were excellently developed, and they were relatable and authentic. Some of the role players were unconventional and strange. Kess was my favorite. She was robust and did not let her circumstances get her down. This mystery was expertly written and I was hooked from the start. The ending was unexpected and fitting after all the twists and turns.