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Hat Shop Mystery #1
Cloche and Dagger
An all-new series from New York Times bestselling author Jenn McKinlay
Not only is Scarlett Parker’s love life in the loo—as her British cousin Vivian Tremont would say—it’s also gone viral with an embarrassing video. So when Viv suggests Scarlett leave Florida to lay low in London, she hops on the next plane across the pond. Viv is the proprietor of Mims’s Whims, a ladies’ hat shop on Portobello Road bequeathed to both cousins by their beloved grandmother, and she wants Scarlett to finally join her in the millinery business.
But a few surprises await Scarlett in London. First, she is met at the airport not by Viv, but by her handsome business manager, Harrison Wentworth. Second, Viv—who has some whims of her own—seems to be missing. No one is too concerned about the unpredictable Viv until one of her posh clients is found dead wearing the cloche hat Viv made for her—and nothing else. Is Scarlett’s cousin in trouble? Or is she in hiding?
Not only is Scarlett Parker’s love life in the loo—as her British cousin Vivian Tremont would say—it’s also gone viral with an embarrassing video. So when Viv suggests Scarlett leave Florida to lay low in London, she hops on the next plane across the pond. Viv is the proprietor of Mims’s Whims, a ladies’ hat shop on Portobello Road bequeathed to both cousins by their beloved grandmother, and she wants Scarlett to finally join her in the millinery business.
But a few surprises await Scarlett in London. First, she is met at the airport not by Viv, but by her handsome business manager, Harrison Wentworth. Second, Viv—who has some whims of her own—seems to be missing. No one is too concerned about the unpredictable Viv until one of her posh clients is found dead wearing the cloche hat Viv made for her—and nothing else. Is Scarlett’s cousin in trouble? Or is she in hiding?
281 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 6, 2013
374 people are currently reading
4770 people want to read
About the author
Jenn McKinlay
74 books5,198 followersJenn is the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of several mystery and romance series. She is also the winner of the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award for romantic comedy and the Fresh Fiction award for best cozy mystery. A TEDx speaker, she is always happy to talk books, writing, reading, and the creative process to anyone who cares to listen. She lives in sunny Arizona in a house that is overrun with books, pets, and her husband’s guitars.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 674 reviews
March 26, 2018
4 stars to Jenn McKinlay's Cloche and Dagger, the first in the "Hat Shop Mystery" series. I'm fond of the author's other series (Library Lovers) and bought her first issues of all other series. The Hat Shop series has potential and I look forward to learning more as I travel through the remainder.
Story
After a disastrous relationship awkwardly made public, Scarlett takes up her cousin's offer and moves to London to help manage their jointly owned inheritance, a hat shop from their late grandmother. When she arrives, her cousin has disappeared and sent the business manager, a handsome Harrison, in her place. Scarlett later recalls meeting "Harry" over seventeen years ago, but their relationship has definitely changed this time around. When she delivers a hat to a difficult client, Scarlett finds the woman has been stabbed to death and is naked on the floor. What happened? Scarlett is later almost strangled and then the hat shop is robbed. She decides to investigate several customers who had a connection to the late woman and learns their is a lot of adultery going on in London! But she of course escapes with only a few bruises, eventually finding her cousin back from a trip to Africa on a mysterious mission. But how is it all connected to hats???
Strengths
Scarlett is very likable, as are many of the other characters supporting her into the hat shop-owning foray. Characters are well drawn, quite humorous on many occasions.
The concept of a transplant from southern US to London, where she once visited, is a good one. You don't want to know anything about her former life in Florida, which is a good achievement by the author as you are already completely absorbed into her new life in the hat shop.
Suggestions
The setting was good, but not extensive. I'd like more descriptions of the street where the hat shop resides, the parts of London they visit, etc. The actual hat shop is well-described but I want more!
The plot on this was a little too simple. It felt like it should have started sooner than it did, as the characters to suspect don't show up until almost 2/3 into the novel. The wrap up was therefore too quick at the end.
Final Thoughts
While the book felt a little weak, it has the promise of good characters, strong relationships and interesting drama. Hopefully book two doubles down and brings on the depth!
About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I read A LOT. I write A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll also find TV & Film reviews, the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge and lots of blogging about places I've visited all over the world. And you can find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Vote in the poll and ratings. Thanks for stopping by.
Story
After a disastrous relationship awkwardly made public, Scarlett takes up her cousin's offer and moves to London to help manage their jointly owned inheritance, a hat shop from their late grandmother. When she arrives, her cousin has disappeared and sent the business manager, a handsome Harrison, in her place. Scarlett later recalls meeting "Harry" over seventeen years ago, but their relationship has definitely changed this time around. When she delivers a hat to a difficult client, Scarlett finds the woman has been stabbed to death and is naked on the floor. What happened? Scarlett is later almost strangled and then the hat shop is robbed. She decides to investigate several customers who had a connection to the late woman and learns their is a lot of adultery going on in London! But she of course escapes with only a few bruises, eventually finding her cousin back from a trip to Africa on a mysterious mission. But how is it all connected to hats???
Strengths
Scarlett is very likable, as are many of the other characters supporting her into the hat shop-owning foray. Characters are well drawn, quite humorous on many occasions.
The concept of a transplant from southern US to London, where she once visited, is a good one. You don't want to know anything about her former life in Florida, which is a good achievement by the author as you are already completely absorbed into her new life in the hat shop.
Suggestions
The setting was good, but not extensive. I'd like more descriptions of the street where the hat shop resides, the parts of London they visit, etc. The actual hat shop is well-described but I want more!
The plot on this was a little too simple. It felt like it should have started sooner than it did, as the characters to suspect don't show up until almost 2/3 into the novel. The wrap up was therefore too quick at the end.
Final Thoughts
While the book felt a little weak, it has the promise of good characters, strong relationships and interesting drama. Hopefully book two doubles down and brings on the depth!
About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I read A LOT. I write A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll also find TV & Film reviews, the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge and lots of blogging about places I've visited all over the world. And you can find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Vote in the poll and ratings. Thanks for stopping by.
October 3, 2021
Cloche and Dagger had a bland taste and passed through my system without any ill effects, but also without anything meaningful occurring. I knew midway through the book that it would score 1 star, but the mystery's solvency, plus the efforts of Scarlett to solve it were beneath contempt. This book is so, so, so shallow in its content and depth and texture and feel. It has no soul. Maybe I'm being flippant, because if I'd read this one after having attempted a voluminous Victorian novel, then maybe I'd be so grateful as to forget Cloche and Dagger's faults. But you know what, this book, professionally written with no ambiguity and with a kind, sincere, beautiful and clean character, is one star material. I have nothing more to add.
July 8, 2017
This was a really fun read, lots of suspense and I had no idea who the killer was. I like how Scarlett was half British and not just a newcomer to the UK. I'll be reading the rest of the series. I'm anxious to see if anything ever happens with Harrison and Scarlett and also the little suspicion she had at the end, not going to say what but it's a fun thought.
May 24, 2018
This crossed my status feed and with a title like that, how could I not at least take a look? Also, it's part of the Audible Romance subscription, though I'm not sure why (as it's clearly a mystery, possibly of the cozy variety). Unfortunately, I just couldn't engage with this.
Part of that may be the narrator who had an odd cadence with random word emphasis in each sentence. I found it distracting, though not really off-putting.
But I think I'd still bounce on this story even with a more-engaging narrator. I had two problems that don't work in a mystery story. First, Scarlett is an idiot. She spent parts of her childhood in London but doesn't know some pretty obvious aspects of the culture? Someone invades her home and tries to smother her to death and she's not sure if she should dial 999? Because it might not be an emergency (because the perp fled)? Seriously? Oh, and suspecting Harrison beyond all reason and without any evidence isn't helping, either. Although, to be fair, he's a jerkface and obviously has his own agenda. Still, he's not a moron and an actual villain wouldn't be going so far out of his way to antagonize Scarlett (at least, not in such petty ways). I don't know if the author was aiming for banter and landing on bicker but I really didn't like either of these two characters when they were together.
But the second problem, and the one that had me closing the Audible app, is that the narration is clunky and bogs down in the pedestrian and tedious. Example: after Scarlett is attacked, we get a step-by-step rundown of her going through the apartment room by room. I think the author was going for tense, or, in the case of the shower curtain, humor. It doesn't work. The whole time I'm actually rooting for the bad guy to do something dramatic just to pump the pacing up past this glacial non-action.
So cute title. I wish it had anything else going for it...
Part of that may be the narrator who had an odd cadence with random word emphasis in each sentence. I found it distracting, though not really off-putting.
But I think I'd still bounce on this story even with a more-engaging narrator. I had two problems that don't work in a mystery story. First, Scarlett is an idiot. She spent parts of her childhood in London but doesn't know some pretty obvious aspects of the culture? Someone invades her home and tries to smother her to death and she's not sure if she should dial 999? Because it might not be an emergency (because the perp fled)? Seriously? Oh, and suspecting Harrison beyond all reason and without any evidence isn't helping, either. Although, to be fair, he's a jerkface and obviously has his own agenda. Still, he's not a moron and an actual villain wouldn't be going so far out of his way to antagonize Scarlett (at least, not in such petty ways). I don't know if the author was aiming for banter and landing on bicker but I really didn't like either of these two characters when they were together.
But the second problem, and the one that had me closing the Audible app, is that the narration is clunky and bogs down in the pedestrian and tedious. Example: after Scarlett is attacked, we get a step-by-step rundown of her going through the apartment room by room. I think the author was going for tense, or, in the case of the shower curtain, humor. It doesn't work. The whole time I'm actually rooting for the bad guy to do something dramatic just to pump the pacing up past this glacial non-action.
So cute title. I wish it had anything else going for it...
August 19, 2015
You got a hat shop, a mystery and what's to be another fun cozy series.
I think I'm having fun with these books. The setting is interesting, the characters are likable, and you want to keep reading wondering what will happen at the end of the mystery.
That and the writing style and pacing were really good. I hadn't realized I was already halfway into the book and lost track of time and just kept reading because I was liking the story and characters.
Anyway, this sounded pretty good, with hints of character development and well, found Fee, Nick, Andre and Scarlet's new found friendship adorable. Then there's Harry, I mean Harrison. Couldn't help but think of Darcy for some reason.
A good start to a new series from one of my new favorite authors right now. Looking forward to keeping up with this series.
I think I'm having fun with these books. The setting is interesting, the characters are likable, and you want to keep reading wondering what will happen at the end of the mystery.
That and the writing style and pacing were really good. I hadn't realized I was already halfway into the book and lost track of time and just kept reading because I was liking the story and characters.
Anyway, this sounded pretty good, with hints of character development and well, found Fee, Nick, Andre and Scarlet's new found friendship adorable. Then there's Harry, I mean Harrison. Couldn't help but think of Darcy for some reason.
A good start to a new series from one of my new favorite authors right now. Looking forward to keeping up with this series.
August 17, 2013
Usually I save my 5 star ratings for cozies that are a joy to read *and* offer something a bit different - unique (or not often used) plot devices, a deeper level of writing, really creative twists or settings. Cloche and Dagger didn't really offer any of these pluses, but it was such an outstandingly fun read with such likeable characters, I couldn't possibly have given it anything less.
For me, Ms. McKinlay wasn't going to go wrong with a setting in Notting Hill, London. Consider that box ticked. The characters were each written so well, that they immediately presented themselves in my minds eye so almost never struggled keeping characters/suspects straight in my mind (about 10 seconds asking 'which one's Andre and which one's Nick was about it). I am already crushing on Harrison - if Scarlett doesn't want him, I'll take him. We don't get much time with Viv, but it's clear she'll be quirky and fun and I really like Fee. And thank you, thank you, thank you, for NOT introducing some awful, hateful caricature of some nasty cow put there to make everyone's lives miserable.
The plot was nicely done - the first mystery presents itself on page 3(?) with Viv's disappearance. The actual murder doesn't come along until about 1/3 of the way through the book, which allows the author to introduce the setting, the people, etc. with the backdrop of Viv's absence keeping things interesting. Once the murder does occur, it's a good one. I had a suspicion throughout, but was never sure, until the end.
Ms. McKinlay has yet to write a series I don't love (we won't bring Josie Bell into this) and I think my rankings are going to need a reshuffling - Hat Shop, Library, Cupcakes. I was genuinely disappointed to have come to the end of this book and I can't wait to read more.
For me, Ms. McKinlay wasn't going to go wrong with a setting in Notting Hill, London. Consider that box ticked. The characters were each written so well, that they immediately presented themselves in my minds eye so almost never struggled keeping characters/suspects straight in my mind (about 10 seconds asking 'which one's Andre and which one's Nick was about it). I am already crushing on Harrison - if Scarlett doesn't want him, I'll take him. We don't get much time with Viv, but it's clear she'll be quirky and fun and I really like Fee. And thank you, thank you, thank you, for NOT introducing some awful, hateful caricature of some nasty cow put there to make everyone's lives miserable.
The plot was nicely done - the first mystery presents itself on page 3(?) with Viv's disappearance. The actual murder doesn't come along until about 1/3 of the way through the book, which allows the author to introduce the setting, the people, etc. with the backdrop of Viv's absence keeping things interesting. Once the murder does occur, it's a good one. I had a suspicion throughout, but was never sure, until the end.
Ms. McKinlay has yet to write a series I don't love (we won't bring Josie Bell into this) and I think my rankings are going to need a reshuffling - Hat Shop, Library, Cupcakes. I was genuinely disappointed to have come to the end of this book and I can't wait to read more.
January 5, 2023
A cute start to this series. I'm a fan of this author's other cozy series, especially the Fairy Tale Cupcakes books, as well as a few stand alone books that I've read.
Scarlett travels to England to join cousin Viv at their hat shop, left to the girls by their late grandmother. The only problem is that Viv isn't there and seems to have disappeared. To top it off, Scarlett finds one of their clients murdered and missing Viv is the investigators' main suspect.
Likeable characters were more engaging than the mystery. I am going to try the next one in the series to see what happens with Scarlett, Viv, and a potential romance in the works.
Scarlett travels to England to join cousin Viv at their hat shop, left to the girls by their late grandmother. The only problem is that Viv isn't there and seems to have disappeared. To top it off, Scarlett finds one of their clients murdered and missing Viv is the investigators' main suspect.
Likeable characters were more engaging than the mystery. I am going to try the next one in the series to see what happens with Scarlett, Viv, and a potential romance in the works.
October 20, 2014
Three stars. I read this on a little vacation and it was a quick read. It's very light on the mystery (to be clear, if you blink, you'll miss it & the wrap up is lightening fast too) but I enjoyed the setting and the characters were more enjoyable than irritating, so it's all good. I've enjoyed reading McKinlay's Book Lover's series and decided to give this one a try. I'll likely continue reading more in the series. Definitely recommended for fans of the author and anyone looking for a cozy mystery to while away a weekend.
August 6, 2013
Cloche and Dagger is the first book in the A Hat Shop Mystery series.
Another exciting series from one of my favorite authors. Even though the series will center around a millinery shop, the first book just covers the basics. Don't worry about getting bogged down by the detailed workings of the shop.
Scarlett Parker and her cousin Vivian Tremont are joint owners of a millinery shop given to them on the death of their grandmother. After an embarrassing breakup with what she thought was her soul-mate, Scarlett agrees to head to England and work in their little shop.
But when Scarlett arrives, Viv is not there to meet her and a gentleman, Harrison Wentworth, who the business manager for the shop, is and informs her that Viv is missing. But then it is not unheard of for Viv to disappear for a few days. There is bantering between them and Scarlett is not so sure that Harrison is not somehow involved.
A couple days later, just as Scarlett is starting to learn about the shop from Fee, an apprentice, Lady Ellis arrives to pick up a hat Viv was making for her. Scarlett has a hard time finding the hat and finally finds which she thinks is the one. To make for the confusion, Scarlett offers to have Lady Ellis' picture taken wearing the hat and post it on the shop's website. She engages Andre, a photographer down the street to take the picture at Lady Ellis' home. When they arrive for the photo op, they learn that Lady Ellis is dead. Scarlett enters her room and finds Lady Ellis wearing only the hat she had given her.
It is soon learned that Viv had been romantically involved with Lord Ellis while they were at university and evidently Lord Ellis was still infatuated with Viv. With no one knowing for sure where Viv is, she immediately becomes a person of interest.
With someone breaking into the shop and someone attemping to suffocate Scarlett starts her own investigation, with the help of Harrison and Andre and his partner.
A wonderful story and I particularly got a kick out of Scarlett and Harrison trying to top the other. All the characters fun and believable.
Looking forward to the next book, Death Of A Mad Hatter, to see if Scarlett is for real on no men for 6 months.
Another exciting series from one of my favorite authors. Even though the series will center around a millinery shop, the first book just covers the basics. Don't worry about getting bogged down by the detailed workings of the shop.
Scarlett Parker and her cousin Vivian Tremont are joint owners of a millinery shop given to them on the death of their grandmother. After an embarrassing breakup with what she thought was her soul-mate, Scarlett agrees to head to England and work in their little shop.
But when Scarlett arrives, Viv is not there to meet her and a gentleman, Harrison Wentworth, who the business manager for the shop, is and informs her that Viv is missing. But then it is not unheard of for Viv to disappear for a few days. There is bantering between them and Scarlett is not so sure that Harrison is not somehow involved.
A couple days later, just as Scarlett is starting to learn about the shop from Fee, an apprentice, Lady Ellis arrives to pick up a hat Viv was making for her. Scarlett has a hard time finding the hat and finally finds which she thinks is the one. To make for the confusion, Scarlett offers to have Lady Ellis' picture taken wearing the hat and post it on the shop's website. She engages Andre, a photographer down the street to take the picture at Lady Ellis' home. When they arrive for the photo op, they learn that Lady Ellis is dead. Scarlett enters her room and finds Lady Ellis wearing only the hat she had given her.
It is soon learned that Viv had been romantically involved with Lord Ellis while they were at university and evidently Lord Ellis was still infatuated with Viv. With no one knowing for sure where Viv is, she immediately becomes a person of interest.
With someone breaking into the shop and someone attemping to suffocate Scarlett starts her own investigation, with the help of Harrison and Andre and his partner.
A wonderful story and I particularly got a kick out of Scarlett and Harrison trying to top the other. All the characters fun and believable.
Looking forward to the next book, Death Of A Mad Hatter, to see if Scarlett is for real on no men for 6 months.
August 4, 2017
Loved my first visit to Mim's Whim's and I will be a repeat shopper! A smart, fun book! I liked the characters and can't wait to see what happens next. This book was easy to read, fun and fast paced. Loved the London setting.
February 8, 2015
Very fun first cozy! How does Jenn M. keep coming up with these great new series? She is awesome.
May 18, 2020
I really enjoyed this one. Listening to the audio had me laughing and enjoying the characters and their quirks a lot. Definitely looking forward to the next book!
April 17, 2017
Thought I'd try a cozy mystery. I love murder mysteries. I watch a ton of them on Netflix, especially the British ones so this one seemed just my cup of tea, so to speak. Feel free to give that a big eye roll, because that's exactly what I was doing through this whole book. What's good about a cozy: romance without explicit sex, minor if any bad language, and fairly gore-free murder. What's bad: they are dripping with cliches, predictability and bad jokes. I'm pretty sure I won't be continuing on with the series. It was just like one of those badly done Hallmark movies which I enjoy watching with my daughter because we find them so ridiculous. But I couldn't make any MST3K-like comments because I was "enjoying" this one on my own. The books in the series seemed to get great reviews and high ratings on Goodreads, which makes me think that this is one of the better cozy mystery series so maybe I'd better stick to Agatha Christie.
September 17, 2020
I found this book delightful from start to ending! Karyn Bryant does a wonderful job narrating, as well!
July 3, 2017
I'm giving this book a 4 because it left me wanting to read the next book in the series because I'm very unsure about where the series is going. The characters are very interesting and the idea is different than what I'm use to. I'm curious to say the least.
July 24, 2020
Loved this book! Characters are diverse and interesting, the mystery is intriguing, and I totally had no idea "who dun it". Thoroughly enjoyed the story and the relationships ... the hint of a ghost ... and of course, it's all in England, so that makes it all the better. Anxious to continue this series.
October 1, 2020
I really enjoyed reading the series so far. This first book caught my attention and held me spellbound. I like to spunkiness of the main character, actually, I like all the crucial characters in this series.
November 9, 2024
After a terrible breakup, Scarlett travels to England to help at her co-owned hat shop. The other owner seems to be missing when she gets there. When a frenemy of the other owner comes for a hat, there is some difficulty finding it, and the customer is murdered, wearing nothing but the hat a few hours later. Fearing her partner is a suspect, she investigates, and finds that not everything in England is so staid.
Pretty good for a first book in a series.
Pretty good for a first book in a series.
April 20, 2021
Cozy mysteries are some of my favorite books to listen to on audio--just enough excitement to not be boring, but not so much that on audio they're terrifying, and no steamy scenes to worry about the neighbors hearing! I was looking specifically for recommendations of cozy mysteries on audio and a friend threw out this one, and I'm so glad she did! I enjoyed it immensely.
The protagonist is a dual American and British citizen raised in America, so she has an American accent and the narration is in an American accent, but the story takes place in England, so all the other characters have charming British accents! And the narrator does a FANTASTIC job with all of them--men's and women's voices! Scarlett loses her job after a scandal in her love life goes viral, so she travels to England to help run a hat shop with her cousin that her grandmother had left them. But when she arrives in England her cousin is missing and everything seems to be going wrong!
I just genuinely enjoyed this story and the narration. Scarlett's two new friends--Andre and Nick--may be my favorite side characters ever, and I truly didn't see the ending coming until we were almost upon it! The story is definitely on the shorter side (8 hours nearly exactly for audio), but that's a plus for me for audiobooks! I get bored if they're too long, and no one needs a 12-hour audiobook. I would definitely recommend this one and can't wait to try out more in the series!
5 stars - 9/10
The protagonist is a dual American and British citizen raised in America, so she has an American accent and the narration is in an American accent, but the story takes place in England, so all the other characters have charming British accents! And the narrator does a FANTASTIC job with all of them--men's and women's voices! Scarlett loses her job after a scandal in her love life goes viral, so she travels to England to help run a hat shop with her cousin that her grandmother had left them. But when she arrives in England her cousin is missing and everything seems to be going wrong!
I just genuinely enjoyed this story and the narration. Scarlett's two new friends--Andre and Nick--may be my favorite side characters ever, and I truly didn't see the ending coming until we were almost upon it! The story is definitely on the shorter side (8 hours nearly exactly for audio), but that's a plus for me for audiobooks! I get bored if they're too long, and no one needs a 12-hour audiobook. I would definitely recommend this one and can't wait to try out more in the series!
5 stars - 9/10
March 18, 2015
Scarlett Parker's life is in turmoil so she decides to escape to Notting Hill in England to a millinary shop, Mim's Whims named for her grandmother, that has since passed away that she shares ownership with her cousin, Vivian. Scarlett is welcomed to the shop and to England surprisingly not by Viv but by Viv's BUSINESS MANAGER, Harrison (aka Harry) Wentworth.
Viv seems to have vanished it seems out of thin air and no one else seems to be as concerned about it as Scarlett, with everyone saying this is typical behavior of Viv. Scarlett is then left to handle the shop and await Viv's return....if she ever returns that is.
She is bewildered as she is left to run the shop but she has the helping hand of a apprentice, Fee. Lady Ellis then ventures into Mim's Whim's to pick up a hat that Viv has made for her and Scarlet has a hard time finding it and then gives her what she thinks may be the right match so to make up for it she offers Lady Ellis a photo shoot to have her picture taken with the hat for the Mim's Whims Website.
Scarlet befriends Nick and Andre, a couple and Andre happens to be a photographer, she asks him to photograph Lady Ellis and he agrees. Together the go to the Lady's manor to photograph her when Scarlet find her stabbed to death only wearing the hat that Scarlett sold her that fateful day.
Suspicions of Viv start to surface because of Lord Ellis's passionate love for Viv that has lasted for years. Scarlet steps up to protect her missing cousin claiming there's no possible way she could have been involved, the shop is ransacked and an assailant attempting to suffocate Scarlet. Scarlet then with Harrison and her new friends Andre and Nick's help need to find a killer before Scarlet is next and the tea and crumpets go cold.
This was my first time listening and completing an AUDIO BOOK. The narrator's attempts at the British accents left me feeling truly entertained . Rich with romantic tension. I knew I wanted to start reading this series when I discovered it was set in England. The author, Jenn's McKinlay's words transported me there as I am a fan of England but I have never been there. I am also a fan of her other series and I knew this series would be great too. Scarlet is a likely heroine, very spunky and there were true heartfelt moments for Scarlet that I felt were heart warming. I drank tea most of the time while listening immersing myself in this first in a what is sure to be a ace of a series.
Viv seems to have vanished it seems out of thin air and no one else seems to be as concerned about it as Scarlett, with everyone saying this is typical behavior of Viv. Scarlett is then left to handle the shop and await Viv's return....if she ever returns that is.
She is bewildered as she is left to run the shop but she has the helping hand of a apprentice, Fee. Lady Ellis then ventures into Mim's Whim's to pick up a hat that Viv has made for her and Scarlet has a hard time finding it and then gives her what she thinks may be the right match so to make up for it she offers Lady Ellis a photo shoot to have her picture taken with the hat for the Mim's Whims Website.
Scarlet befriends Nick and Andre, a couple and Andre happens to be a photographer, she asks him to photograph Lady Ellis and he agrees. Together the go to the Lady's manor to photograph her when Scarlet find her stabbed to death only wearing the hat that Scarlett sold her that fateful day.
Suspicions of Viv start to surface because of Lord Ellis's passionate love for Viv that has lasted for years. Scarlet steps up to protect her missing cousin claiming there's no possible way she could have been involved, the shop is ransacked and an assailant attempting to suffocate Scarlet. Scarlet then with Harrison and her new friends Andre and Nick's help need to find a killer before Scarlet is next and the tea and crumpets go cold.
This was my first time listening and completing an AUDIO BOOK. The narrator's attempts at the British accents left me feeling truly entertained . Rich with romantic tension. I knew I wanted to start reading this series when I discovered it was set in England. The author, Jenn's McKinlay's words transported me there as I am a fan of England but I have never been there. I am also a fan of her other series and I knew this series would be great too. Scarlet is a likely heroine, very spunky and there were true heartfelt moments for Scarlet that I felt were heart warming. I drank tea most of the time while listening immersing myself in this first in a what is sure to be a ace of a series.
February 3, 2014
Scarlett Parker's life is falling apart between loosing her job and a breakup gone viral, so she moves to London to help run the hat shop she and her cousin inherited from their grandmother. However, when she arrives, her cousin is missing. Her bad feeling about everything only grows with one of their customers is murdered.
The book is very engaging with delightful characters who feel fully formed from the moment they step on to the page. In fact, it took me a little while to realize the plot was moving rather slowly. That's my only complaint with the book, however, and I'm certainly looking forward to the next book when it comes out in May.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
The book is very engaging with delightful characters who feel fully formed from the moment they step on to the page. In fact, it took me a little while to realize the plot was moving rather slowly. That's my only complaint with the book, however, and I'm certainly looking forward to the next book when it comes out in May.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
July 15, 2014
What a great first book to a series. The characters were bright, loud, and very fun to read about. I love how everything starts and finish with a lot of drama, and it never really lets up during the book. I still don't know how about Harry and his feelings toward Scarlet, which is sort of frustrating. A great first mystery for this hat shop crew. I love how the mystery of where Viv has disappeared to is tied into the mystery of Vick's murder. It was also a really fun setting of London that I don't see much of in the cozies i read. I cannot wait to continue with this series,
March 7, 2016
I really wanted to like this book, but after being seriously annoyed by most of the characters, the over-the-top drama, and the serious lack of progress on the mystery, I gave up about 2/3rds of the way through. Scarlett is a shallow character who gets more arrogant and less competent as the story goes on. Harrison is an asshole who apparently gets away with it because he's so dreamy. Ugh! No thanks.
December 6, 2015
Very good, I'll be looking for the next one.
August 21, 2017
This is the first book in the Hat Shop Mystery series by Jenn McKinlay. I discovered it while browsing for audiobooks in my library's online catalog.
It's a fun, cozy mystery that includes colorful characters in a modern London setting. The mystery isn't overly complicated although I wasn't a big fan of the ending
Overall, it has all the components de rigueur in the first book in a cozy mystery series: it has a punny title, does a decent job of introducing the reader to the main characters, and creates romantic tension between two of them (in this case, Scarlett and Harrison).
I enjoyed listening to Karyn O'Bryant narrate the story; she transitions between characters and accents very skillfully.
I am not hooked on the series, but would certainly listen to the next book if it's available, especially if I'm looking for a bit of brain candy to entertain me.
And as I write this review, I see that the author has a Library Lover's Mystery series as well, and that looks like it would be right up my alley.
It's a fun, cozy mystery that includes colorful characters in a modern London setting. The mystery isn't overly complicated although I wasn't a big fan of the ending
Overall, it has all the components de rigueur in the first book in a cozy mystery series: it has a punny title, does a decent job of introducing the reader to the main characters, and creates romantic tension between two of them (in this case, Scarlett and Harrison).
I enjoyed listening to Karyn O'Bryant narrate the story; she transitions between characters and accents very skillfully.
I am not hooked on the series, but would certainly listen to the next book if it's available, especially if I'm looking for a bit of brain candy to entertain me.
And as I write this review, I see that the author has a Library Lover's Mystery series as well, and that looks like it would be right up my alley.
October 7, 2017
In Cloche and Dagger by Jenn McKinlay, Scarlett needs to be able to move past a meltdown that turned into a YouTube sensation. This leads her cousin Vivian to order Scarlett to move from her home in Florida to England and help with the hat boutique that the two cousins inherited from their grandmother and which Viv manages. But when Scarlett arrives in London, she gets surprised not to find Viv waiting for her, but instead the handsome Harrison, the shop’s business manager, is there. Scarlett notices that he seems to run hot and cold towards her and learns that when she was 10, she stood up Harrison when he asked her for ice cream to chase after an athlete of some sort. He still holds this against her to some degree.
Read the rest of this review and other fun, geeky articles at Fangirl Nation
Read the rest of this review and other fun, geeky articles at Fangirl Nation
July 10, 2017
Nice beginning to a series and incredibly fast-paced! Kept me very interested, and I read it in almost one sitting (which is a rarity for me!). Scarlett Parker has moved to London to help her cousin, Vivian Tremont, run the hat shop left to them both by their late grandmother, affectionately known as "Mim". When Scarlett arrives (running from a BIG scandal in the States!!!), Viv is nowhere to be found, hunky Harrison meets her at the tube station, and one of the hat shop's most influential clients is swiftly murdered wearing nothing but her newest hat! Highly recommended for anyone looking for an enjoyable cozy mystery to read. :-)
April 25, 2017
WOW WOW WOW!!! I have not loved a "first book" cozy like this in a VERY long time. This was fabulous from beginning to end and I was as shocked as the characters at who the murderer was.
GREAT beginning to a new series; I cannot wait to read the next one!!!
August 30, 2022
This was cute. I loved how Scarlett somewhat grew up in the area so she was familiar with the hat shop and didn’t just come there randomly. Harrison the love interest I’m still trying to figure out as he seems stand-off ish at times and other times not but I still loved the main characters.
There were 2 mysteries going on one for the death and the other for Scarlett’s cousin Viv as no one has seen her in awhile. I loved all of the side characters in this book and I’m interested in reading the next one to see how they all progress. I listened to this on audio and the narrator did a great job at distinguishing the different character voices.
There were 2 mysteries going on one for the death and the other for Scarlett’s cousin Viv as no one has seen her in awhile. I loved all of the side characters in this book and I’m interested in reading the next one to see how they all progress. I listened to this on audio and the narrator did a great job at distinguishing the different character voices.
June 11, 2018
This was such a fun cute cozy mystery! I loved the sassy character Scarlett and liked the potential love interest (possibly in future books) with Harrison/Harry. I hope to read more in this series soon!
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