Hung Up to Die

Mandy Dyer #2

by Dolores Johnson

Mandy Dyer, owner of Dyer's Cleaners, has a spotless reputation for taking care of customers clothes until lipstick marks begin appearing on the freshly pressed garments. She's afraid one of her employees is trying to ruin her business, and she wonders if the employee could be working for a competitor, Lonnie "The Sleezeball" Mills, who has opened a discount cleaners in the neighborhood. Lonnie has been bombarding her customers with cut-rate coupons for his store.



When Mandy sees what she thinks is a mannequin suspended from the overhead conveyor inside the front window, she thinks it's another dirty trick, but when she gets inside, Mandy finds it's Lonnie's body, hanging from the conveyor. Mandy becomes a suspect because she had threatened to put a permanent end to his career if he didn't stop hanging around her plant. Adding to Mandy's problems is the arrival of her mother from Phoenix.



With humor, charm, and an exciting mystery at its core, Hung Up to Die promises an exciting ride for cozy lovers everywhere.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy, Cozy Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Dolores Johnson is a journalist who has worked on newspapers in Oregon, California, Wyoming and Colorado, but she always wanted to write and sell a murder mystery. She tried writing books about an investigative reporter and a newspaper editor, but it wasn't until she wrote a book about a dry cleaner, using her background as a free-lance writer and field reporter for American Drycleaner, that she met with success.

Series:
* Mandy Dyer Mystery

Reviews

[Jessica Gayle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this audiobook. It kept me on my toes the entire time and was a very engaging listen. The structure and pace of the story was great. I did have a hard time understanding the time the book was set as the main character didn’t have a cell phone until I looked into the original publication date that was in 1997. This was my first book by this author and I would definitely read another book from the series after listening to this one.

Thank you to Net Galley for providing me with a free audio copy of this book in exchange for my review.

[Holly Stone · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book this is the paperback edition I have and read the hardcover. Mandy Dyer owes a dry clean service and when things start happening at the plant she is determined to find who is doing it and why...then people start dying and disappearing can she get to the bottom of things and still keep her business a float?

[Julie Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The author has created a real unusual little community at Dryer dry cleaners and I loved my time hanging out with them. Mandy is great boss (and main character) that cares about her workers and they come across as more of a family than employees. Of course the difficult relationship she has with her own mother adds humour and most certainly drama to her life, as if she needs more. The mystery was interesting and was taken down lots of different paths, as Mandy tried to work out who was responsible. Of course it wasn't easy and there is a lot going on, all.of which helped to keep me hooked until the very end. Good job Mandy was investigating because I had no clue who was responsible. Think this is a series that I'll prove to be a lot of fun and I can't wait for the next book.
Being the boss of struggling dry cleaners isn't easy but it proves to be even harder for Mandy Fryer when the dead body of her biggest competitor is discovered in her shop. Especially when it proves the only possible suspects are all Mandy's employees and people she calls friends. She will have to uncover a number of secrets if she wants to keep her reputation clean and more importantly her life. The killer might be closer than she thinks. As if finding a killer wasn't hard enough, Mandy also has to deal with her mother trying to help. Can she survive both crisis?
I liked the narrator. This is the first book I have heard her read but it definitely won't be my last, especially if she sticks with this series. I pleasure to listen too.
I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[SD · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5 rolled up to 4
Dyer Cleaners is under attack and Mandy is going to get the bottom of why. She believes she knows who and to her chagrin (and horror) he is found hanging on her conveyor belt. As the investigation unfolds we are treated lots of tidbits about Mandy’s friend, chef spot cleaner, and stand-in uncle Mackenzie Rivers’ past. Described as a big black man with a booming voice that can be heard at the back of an auditorium, the story touches on how he came to be at Dyer Dry Cleaners.

We’re also treated to more of Mandy’s background, with the entrance of her mother, stepfather and ex-husband. By the time the story was done, I felt like she needed a long vacation away from them.

What about the murder? Well, in the middle of life’s other dramas, Mandy is sleuthing while trying to keep her business afloat. She is trying to be there for her employees, her mom, Mackenzie, and find the killer. Again, Mandy needs a vacation - LOL.

I liked the pace and structure of the story. I didn’t have a clue how it would end up even after the second murder. I didn’t have to remind myself that this story was set in a time when landlines, pay phones and answering machines were the norm. There were a couple of car phones but Mandy didn’t have one.

I am looking forward to the next audiobook in this series to continue to follow the adventures of Mandy and crew of Dyer Dry Cleaners.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #BrillanceAudio for the opportunity to share my thoughts on the story.

Happy Reading!

[Cindi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the author, narrator, publisher and Net Galley for providing a free e-audio copy of this title in exchange for my review.

I guess this is a reprint, because it shows as originally published in 1997. The lack of cell phones was a surprise - which caused me to look up the publication date. Overall this is a cute cozy mystery about a woman who inherited a dry cleaner business from her uncle when he passed away. And one day - dead body in with the clean clothes! Leave it to the police? Nah, she decided to play Nancy Drew and solve it on her own. In other words, a typical cozy mystery!

This is book 2 in a series, and I haven't read book 1 or anything else by the author. Overall, I did enjoy this book and I would consider reading another by the author.

The narrator, I didn't care for. She was fine for the MC, but then she tried to do male voices and it really didn't work.

3 stars for it was good.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy this cozy mystery series that includes all you want to know about cleaning clothes. Yes, Mandy Dyer, the protagonist of this series, owns a clothes cleaning business in Denver. As in most cozy mystery series, she is a amateur sleuth who gets herself into situations mostly through nosiness. And those situations are often amusing. In this book, as you might have guessed, a body is found hanging on the conveyor with the newly cleaned clothing. The man has been undercutting her business with unfair practices. Many of Mandy's employees seems to have a past with this man. So who dunnit? I'm also amused by the situations Mandy gets herself in when she is trying to impress the cop on the case.

Luckily, this is an older series and I can keep reading without waiting for another book to be released.

[Myprivatebookclub · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like Mandy and, strangely, but I find this series comforting, easy to read, easy to follow, not over exaggerated. I guess it meets my expectations of a cozy mystery. So, we have an interesting murder, involving Mandy's dry cleaners, which directly twirls Mandy into the spotlight by both pointing at her (or her employees) and at her workplace.
All the side happenings are nice to have as they add to the coziness of the mystery and to getting to know the real Mandy, like her relationship with her mother or her reaction to her ex husband Larry. Mandy's mother's personality is well developed and the narrator was extremely successful.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was extremely skeptical that a light mystery set at a dry cleaner in Denver would be anything of interest to me, but this turned out to be loads of fun.

The setting was more interesting than I expected, and it’s a well-plotted mystery with a sense of humor, good structure, and decent characters.

I suppose ideally I would love more of Denver in general and less time spent literally at the cleaners, but there’s some fun to learning the ins and outs of the business too, and the story move smoothly and keeps your attention.

An odd premise to be sure, but also a surprisingly good one. I’ll read more of this series.

*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

[JoAnn Plant · Rating 5 out of 5]

After Mom Cecilia calls to declare that she is divorcing husband number five due to a dry-cleaning trick that helped prove his adultery, a competitor tries to undercut the dry-cleaning business, which is unfortunate for Mandy. When her mother gets to town after he's found dead on her conveyor belt, trouble starts. Mandy is attacked, she discovers that her van was borrowed, and a gas can is discovered on the property! She soon discovers that her personnel files have been stolen, one of her employees has been killed, and another has vanished! After she is nearly murdered by an employee who lied on her initial application, Mandy, Mack, Nat, and Foster will solve the crime!

[JenJenReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hung Up To Die was a fantastic follow-up in the Mandy Dyer series! The suspense kept me on the edge of my seat, while the cozy atmosphere made it the perfect read for those who enjoy a mix of mystery and warmth. I loved how the characters continued to develop, giving me more to connect with. I’m already looking forward to diving into the third book and can’t wait to see where the story goes next!

Thank you NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for the chance to listen to this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Tara Bawdon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and cozy mystery series! Mandy Dyer is a character you want to follow and keep up with. Mandy is determined to solve the mysteries surrounding her business while also navigating her employees and cops on the case.
Highly recommend if you're looking for a fun, easy and light hearted mystery! Best part … It’s a series!

[Carole Casuras · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book written by Dolores Johnson and I really enjoyed it.

Dolores created a wonderful character named Mandy Dyer who inherited the family dry cleaning business. She is a very well liked character in her busy little neighborhood.

Plot is finding a dead body in her dry cleaning business of her competitor.
The fun starts there!

I had the audio version and the narrator did a great job.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to receive this ARC.

[A. Lorna Warren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

I read the first three of these out of order but still enjoyed it! Never thought a murder in a dry cleaners would be interesting, but these work. I would consider reading more in this series.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never trust a Kansas City Chiefs fan!

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I like the characters and the story itself is good. I'm off to read another book by Dolores Johnson!!

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the second outing about Mandy and her cleaners. I didn't really enjoy how Larry and Mandy's mom showed up, but at least they weren't around too much.

I did have a hard time believing that one person would kill three people, all because of money. I guess Ingrid having a gambling addiction and being in debt is a decent reason for it all, and that's a better motive than that someone had it in for Mandy's dry cleaners, but after the last body was found, I have a hard time believing that six months later, she is the site of another dead body.

I like that they addressed Mack's reluctance to be around police (he was suspected of arson back in the south, and he knew Mandy's uncle back there, too).

After reading this, I want cinnamon rolls (Sarah's neighbor bakes them when she discovers that Sarah and her kids were on a "missing" flyer.)

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cozy, Mandy Dyer Mystery. I really enjoy these because they take place in Denver, CO and I am familiar with some of the places Johnson talks about. It was quite fun yesterday while returning from a trip to Leadville with my son and daughter in law. I was reading in the car and "Mandy" was describing a love triangle that is very famous in Leadville. We had just toured the mine and Mandy was eating in a restaurant that was named for one of the people in this tragic story, Baby Doe's where I have also eaten. Thought it was fun.

"Hung Up to Die" is about a competitor who is trying to steal business away from Mandy's business. He hands out discount coupons in front of her store, she finds marks on clean clothing that someone has put there. It all reaches a climax when Farley Mills is found dead and hung on the conveyor belt inside Mandy's cleaners. All signs point to her, but she is on the trail of someone else who could have been the culprit.

[Vicky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another cozy series. I enjoyed this series … the characters are fun, and funny…. the plot has a lot of twists… I really read this series and devoured it a few years ago… have to get back to see if there are new books…. I definitely recommend Mandy for fun - and excitement.. and hopefully many new books.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't like this one quite as much as the other in the series, but it was still fun. The annoying characters - the ex-husband, the mom, the stepdad - were a little too annoying for me. I felt like there wasn't as much focus in this one, just a lot of stuff thrown in.

[Iamabibliophile · Rating 3 out of 5]

As always, a fun read.

[Kathy Warren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is a fun quick read.