Murder Wears a Little Black Dress (A Resale Boutique Mystery)
by Debra Sennefelder
About the Book
Murder Wears a Little Black Dress (A Resale Boutique Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Lyrical Underground (January 22, 2019)
Paperback: 200 pages
ISBN-10: 1516108965
ISBN-13: 978-1516108961
Digital ASIN: B07CR2CG63
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Lyrical Underground (January 22, 2019)
Paperback: 200 pages
ISBN-10: 1516108965
ISBN-13: 978-1516108961
Digital ASIN: B07CR2CG63
Manhattan fashionista Kelly Quinn thought she’d left her upstate New York town far behind . . . until the Seventh Avenue expat returns home to revamp her grandmother’s consignment shop into an upscale boutique—and unwittingly sets a trend for murder . . .
After her rising career as a Manhattan buyer is derailed, Kelly has mixed feelings about relocating back to Lucky Cove, in spite of her big plans for the soon-to-be-renamed Curated by Kelly Resale Boutique. What’s left of her luck starts running out when a customer puts on a black lace dress that triggers visions of someone being murdered. As if the haunted “Murder Dress” isn’t enough to kill business, the psychic’s doppelganger cousin has just been found bludgeoned to death.
Was Maxine LeMoyne the real target or was it a case of mistaken murder? With some creepy pre-Halloween bargain hunters walking the night and Kelly suddenly a person of interest, a second murder rocks the close-knit town. Now Kelly could be the one who ends up talking to dead people when she’s stalked by a killer determined to take her out in high style . . .
My Review
Kelly Quinn’s job as a fashion buyer in New York City comes to an abrupt nasty end. Then, her grandmother passes away, leaving Kelly a consignment shop in the suburbs of New York. Kelly isn’t thrilled to return to her hometown of Lucky Cove, but this could turn out to be a huge opportunity. She plans to renovate the store and make it her own.
Things immediately take a turn for the worst when a customer, who happens to be a psychic, tries on a black dress and has visions of a murder. It doesn’t take long for the town gossips to call it a “murder dress” and claim the shop is haunted. Kelly’s own visions for success take a nosedive and she fears she will have to sell her grandmother’s shop and return to the big city.
It gets worse when the psychic’s lookalike cousin is found murdered. Unfortunately, Kelly is the one who finds the body. The cops are convinced she killed the woman thinking it was her cousin the psychic. Kelly vows to find the real killer regardless of how many risks she has to take.
This is chick lit meets cozy mystery…I loved it. It’s a fun, lively, delightful cozy mystery and the first in a brand new series.
Kelly Quinn won me over immediately. Sure, she makes some risky decisions and I was often shaking my head at her choices, but she’s young and doing whatever she can to protect herself and her grandmother’s legacy.
She has a couple of good friends, but not much in the way of helpful family members. The characters are well-developed and not stiff, which sometimes happens with first books of a series. Not in this book…the characters jump right off the pages, filled with their own personalities.
The plot kept me on my toes and guessing until the end. I never saw the big finale coming and it really took me by surprise. I so enjoy when that happens. I’m looking forward to reading the next in this captivating series.
For reading challenges:
Literary Escapes Reading Challenge 2019 (New York)
Cloak & Dagger Reading Challenge 2019
Cruisin’ thru the Cozies Reading Challenge 2019
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
About the Author
Debra Sennefelder, the author of the Food Blogger Mystery series and the Resale Boutique Mystery series, is an avid reader who reads across a range of genres, but mystery fiction is her obsession. Her interest in people and relationships is channeled into her novels against a backdrop of crime and mystery. When she’s not reading, she enjoys cooking and baking and as a former food blogger, she is constantly taking photographs of her food. Yeah, she’s that person.
Born and raised in New York City, she now lives and writes in Connecticut with her family. She’s worked in pre-hospital care, retail and publishing. Her writing companions are her adorable and slightly spoiled Shih-Tzus, Susie and Billy.
She is a member of Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, Women's Fiction Writers Association and Romance Writers of America.
Author Links
Purchase Links
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
January 21 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW
January 21 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT
January 22 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
January 22 – Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews – REVIEW
January 23 – My Reading Journey – REVIEW
January 23 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
January 24 – The Book Decoder – REVIEW
January 24 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
January 25 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW
January 25 – Readeropolis – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
January 26 – Mallory Heart's Cozies – REVIEW
January 26 - Lisa Ks Book Reviews – REVIEW
January 27 – Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
January 27 – Carla Loves To Read – REVIEW
January 28 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW
January 28 – A Wytch's Book Review Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
January 29 – Rosepoint Publishing – REVIEW
January 29 – I'm All About Books – SPOTLIGHT
January 30 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT
January 31 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
January 31 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
February 1 – A Blue Million Books – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
February 1 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
February 2 – Socrates Book Reviews – REVIEW
February 3 – Laura`s Interests – REVIEW
February 3 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
Have you signed up to be a Tour Host?
This sounds intense! A murder dress, then being accused of murder -- wow. How does she take risks when everyone thinks she's killed the psychic? Interesting! Also, there's a cat on the cover -- is that significant?
ReplyDeleteLindsi @ Do You Dog-ear? 💬
This sounds like a lot of fun. I don't read too many books on the cozy end of mysteries, but I might just pick this one up. I like the murder dress storyline. :-)
ReplyDeleteI like psychics. That sounds good.
ReplyDeleteThis looks good! I just read a book from an Annette Blair about a psychic with a vintage clothing shop and I loved it so this really appeals to me.
ReplyDelete