Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Blog Tour: Pearls and Poison by Duffy Brown (Review/Guest Post/Giveaway)


About the Book

Genre: Cozy Mystery, #3 in A Consignment Shop Mystery Series
Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime Mystery
Release Date: March 2014

Synopsis from Goodreads:

It’s election time in Savannah, Georgia, and Judge Guillotine Gloria—aka Reagan Summerside’s mom—is neck and neck in the polls with Kip "Scummy” Seymour.  But the already dirty campaign is about to get downright filthy—with one candidate getting buried six feet under….

With her strong opinions and knack for getting into trouble, Reagan is not an ideal volunteer for her mother’s alderman campaign. Plus, she’d rather be running her consignment shop, the Prissy Fox, and eating doughnuts with her dog, Bruce Willis. But when her mother’s opponent, Kip, is found poisoned and her mother is pegged as a suspect, Reagan nominates herself as lead murder investigator.

Reagan is intent on finding Kip’s killer and clearing her mother’s good name, but she soon finds herself on the bad side of Kip’s enemies-turned-suspects. This time, no amount of costumes and makeup can keep her inconspicuous and out of danger. Because the closer Reagan gets to the truth, the hotter things get….


My Review

Reagan Summerside’s Mamma, Judge “Guillotine” Gloria, is running for alderman of Savannah and the election is getting nasty. Her opponent, Kip “Scummy” Seymour is fighting dirty and Reagan is very protective of her Mamma.

Ready to give Kip a piece of her mind, Reagan goes to his office with her Auntie Kiki but when they get there they find him dead as a doornail. To make everything more complicated, all the evidence points to Gloria as his killer. Reagan is convinced someone is framing her Mamma and she intends to find out who and why. With the help of her Auntie, Mamma, and a host of other town friends, the women find themselves getting deeper and deeper into trouble and danger.

Attorney Walker Boone is determined to keep his eye on Reagan and protect her from herself, but she’s not about to let anyone stop her from clearing her Mamma’s good name - least of all the attorney who destroyed her during her divorce proceedings. However, she must admit, despite her own misgivings she does find the man attractive.

What a fun ride this series is! It will keep you laughing and cheering for Reagan and her cohorts through the entire book. Duffy Brown keeps her readers on their toes with so many twists and turns, your head will spin. The author has a true flair for writing snappy dialogue and bringing the reader right into her story. Her characters aren’t just characters in a book, they become friends. I know I felt as if I was visiting with old friends.

Duffy Brown splashes Southern charm and coziness throughout the entire book. Nobody does it better than she does.



For reading challenges:
2014 ARC Reading Challenge
Where are you reading? challenge (Georgia)
Cruisin’ thru the Cozies
2014 My Kind of Mystery Reading Challenge

FTC Disclosure: The author provided me with a copy of this book to review for this blog tour. This did not influence my thoughts and opinions in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.





Author Bio
 
 

Duffy Brown loves anything with a mystery. While others girls dreamed of dating Brad Pitt, Duffy longed to take Sherlock Holmes to the prom. She has two cats, Spooky and Dr. Watson, her license plate is Sherlock and she conjures up who-done-it stories of her very own for Berkley Prime Crime. Duffy’s national bestselling Consignment Shop Mystery series is set in Savannah and the Cyclepath Mysteries are set on Mackinac Island. Duffy writes romance as Dianne Castell and is a USA Today bestselling author.

Guest Post

A title like Pearls and Poison doesn’t leave much to the imagination on the murder weapon of choice but the question is how to get the job done.

With a gun you pull the trigger and bam it’s over. With a knife it’s slash and dash, but with poison the possibilities are endless. Where do you get it? You just don’t walk into Walgreens and ask which aisle has the cyanide. How much do you need? Which ones work the best? What do you mix it in?
So, like I always do when I have a question, I hit the Google and there it was…plants! With Pearls and Poison set in Savannah there are lots and lots of plants year round. All I had to do was pick one…decisions, decisions.

Everyone knows Poinsettia berries are a big no-no but I bet you didn’t know those lovely spring daffodils you adore can cause big problems. You may not die; you’ll just be so sick you wish you were dead.

I have a whole hedge of oleander in my back yard and one plant could probably wipe out my neighborhood. Good thing we never used the sticks to roast marshmallows!

Rhododendron, jasmine azaleas and wisteria, foxglove is so beautiful, they are the focal point of spring and toxic to extreme. The victim gets deathly ill then a coma and then he kisses his butt goodbye. ( I used one of these in Pearls and Poison)

Yew is fatal and has no symptoms you just keel right over. Up minute dead the next.

And then there’s Lantana, buttercups, foxglove, periwinkle Vinci rose. These are in every summer garden and pot and totally lethal. How can thing be so lovely and so deadly?

Never feed your dogs onions. Chokecherry is death to horses.

I did a ton of research for Pearls and Poison to get the right poison and figure out how to get the victim…who deserves to die…to drink it.

When doing this research I was invited to a dinner party and asked to bring ice cream instead of the salad. Wonder why?

I had a cleaning lady. All my poisonous plant books along with Deadly Doses, Armed and Dangerous and Intent to Kill were on my desk. She never came back. Life is not easy for a mystery writer.

Have a wonderful summer, enjoy your flowers...just don’t eat them.

Hugs,
Duffy

GIVEAWAYS!!!!

I have two giveaways going on here!

One is for  a paperback copy of  Pearls and Poison by Duffy Brown. Thanks to Berkley, I have one paperback to giveaway to one lucky winner.

The second is for a tote bag from Duffy.  I have two bags for two lucky winners.  Thanks to Duffy for this great prize!  Check it out...



Just a few simple rules...

1) You must fill out the rafflecopter form below.

2) Contest is open to anyone over 18 years old

3) US Residents Only

4) For an one extra entry: Tweet about this giveaway.

5) For an one extra entry: Leave a comment for the author.

No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited.

The giveaway begins on March 4th (midnight est) and ends on March 11th (midnight est).

The winner will be chosen randomly by Rafflecopter. The winner will be notified by email and has 48 hours to respond, otherwise a new winner will be chosen. I will announce the winner here on my blog.

Good luck!

Giveaway #1
Paperback of Pearls and Poison by Duffy Brown

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Giveaway #2
Two Winners for Two Totebags

a Rafflecopter giveaway

51 comments:

  1. I love some good old southern charm

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    1. Nothing better than Southern food, weather and lots of talk on the back porch. :-)

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  2. I'm looking forward to reading more in this series

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    1. Thanks Alicia. You never know what KiKi and Reagan are up to next and now they have a new gal in town to stir the pot...Mercedes.

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  3. I'm looking forward to reading this

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  4. WOW! Thanks tons for the amazing review. That you had a good time with Reagan, Auntie KiKi, Walker Boone and the gang sure makes my day. You never know what they're up to next. And now they have Mercedes to pal around with and cause more craziness.

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  5. this book is captivating and unique. Best wishes. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Thanks for that, Traveler. I really appreciate it. I'm a belle at heart and have the baton and pearls to prove it. LOL

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  6. Thanks for having me. Nothing more fun than taking mystery and mayhem.

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  7. Hi Duffy, you know I love your books. At this point I'm waiting either for my local library to get a copy or some loving friend to gift me with one... No I'm not talking about you. LOL

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    1. Hi, Nora. Pester the library. The more requests they have the more they buy! So glad you're enjoying the series. You never know what Reagan and Auntie KiKi and now Hellion the cat are up to. ;-)

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  8. I'm looking forward to reading this series from Duffy. It's on my reading list for this year.

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    1. Hi, Kim!
      Thanks so much. Have fun with the Savannah gang. Now there's a new gal in town...Mercedes.

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  9. Duffy, your book sounds so exciting. Looking forward to reading it.
    barbmaci61(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. Hi, Barbara. There's always something going on in Savannah and usually there's a martini in there somewhere...or maybe a sprinkle doughnut.

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  10. I have just started this series and am finishing the first book, I love it so far and wish that I had started it sooner. I'm trying to catch up so that I can read this one.

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  11. I love this series!! Big yellow cracks me up;) I have several of my own!

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    1. YES! Old Yeller is Reagan's purse...her Target special yellow pleather purse...where she keeps her life. I have several of these too. LOL Duffy

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  12. Great review, sounds like a good read.

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    1. Thanks tons, Rita. If you looking for laughs and fun this should work. If you are into guts and gritty not here. That stuff scared the heck out of me.

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  13. I am a Duffy fan!
    And thanks to FB I now find out more quickly when new books are being released.
    I will admit I also have a Berkley crime addiction. They have nver done me wrong.

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    1. Hi, DogsMom! Wonderful hearing from you. Thank you so very very much for being a fan. You sure make my day. I feel honored to be part of the Berkley Prime Crime family. A dream come true for me. So glad you're enjoying the series. Hugs, Duffy.

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  14. congrats & continued success, Duffy!!!

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    1. Hi, Cyn. Thanks so much for the kind thoughts. I really appreciate it. Hugs, Duffy

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  15. I know one character that really feels like an old friend!

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    1. Hi, Rachelle!!! Since Rachelle Lerner is in the book and it's YOU, you should feel right at home! So much fun naming a character after you.

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  16. I can't wait to read about Aunt Kiki again---she is just so much fun!!
    suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

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    1. Hi, Sue!
      Thanks so much. Yes, Auntie KiKi is always fun and I never know what she's up to and now she's found Precious...the cat from hell. Poor KiKi. :-)

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  17. Eager to read the latest in this series. Had to let my consignment shopping buddy know about this one. She is searching Indianapolis for your books.

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    1. Hi, Barbara!
      Yes, a consignment shop series for sure. It's the Prissy Fox and in P&P Mamma is trying to help out and she has no fashion sense...good thing she's a judge and dresses in black and white. LOL

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  18. Interesting post really, I did not know much about some flowers. I just know I had to be careful what I got for my little flower beds last season because of my animals.

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    1. I think half my garden is poisonous! Scared the heck out of me when doing the research. Lordy.

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  19. OHHHHHHHHHHH, this sounds like an interesting read!!! Can't wait to read it!!!

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    1. Hi Char. The Savannah gang is always up to something and Auntie KiKi is always in the mix with a martini in hand and dance in her step as she's the local dance teacher.

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  20. It sounds like a wonderful book, and I love that it is set in Georgia. This is a must read for me. Thanks for having the giveaway.

    ayancey1974(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Hi, Anita. I loooooove Savannah. My daughter went to school there and I fell in love with the beautiful city, the food the people. You can park your car and eat your way across the city. We need to meet for a road trip!

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  21. Whenever I have a chance to let people know how much I love Duffy's Consignment Shop series, I try to post. This has been such a delightful cozy mystery series; I am a Northerner and so the Southern terms, foods and traditions really are very interesting to me. I would love to have a consignment shop such as Reagan and Kiki but without all of the troubles and grief that they have to go through. God bless their little hearts!!!!!

    Hugs,
    Cynthia

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    1. Hi, Cynthia you are soooo sweet to help spread the word. I appreciate this more than you know. Are you on my Street Team? If not you should be. You're doing all the work, you deserve some perks. :-)
      Hugs and thanks.

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  22. Sure sounds like a fun read!
    I LOVE the names of Reagan's consignment shop and dog!

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    1. Thanks so much Vicki. Bruce Willis...the other BW is such a sweet dog. The Prissy Fox is named after the consignment shop where I work...the Snooty Fox.

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  23. Love the idea of your Cyclepath Mysteries! Books and bikes are my f#2 & #3 favorite things. Going to the beach is #1.

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    1. Oops, forgot to say that l think it's neat that your license plate says "Sherlock"!

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    2. Thanks!! And now I have a frame for it that says: Come Watson come The game is afoot!!!

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  24. This sounds like a great series! I'm looking forward to reading it!

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  25. I hope to be able to read this novel, looks great :)

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  26. I am looking forward to catching up with Reagan and Aunt Kiki!

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  27. Since I love consignment shopping, I am so happy to learn about this series! I am definitely going to have to go look for books 1 and 2!! Thanks for the chance to win the book or the Bag!

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  28. I love this series! I'm currently reading "Pearls and Poison", I entered the drawing for one of the Tote Bags!
    Thanks for the chance to win!

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  29. Duffy is great! I have one of the totes, but would really love another for my sister.

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  30. First, I would never find poison plants in my house or yard -- the plant would already be dead if I have it. - lol
    Second, my daughter says I could run a consignment shop with just the excess stuff I have in my house -- don't think that was meant as a compliment - :) .
    Third, can't wait to read Pearls and Poison -- or the first two in the series. And the tote bag would be a wonderful way to carry my books, as I always have at least one, and usually more, with me.

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  31. I love books that make you feel at home, among friends.
    I usually hate to see those end.

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