The Case of the Missing Blahnik

Laura Carnegie Murder Mysteries #0.5

by Christine DeMaio-Rice

This is a prequel to Dead is the New Black.

After a crazy night of club-hopping and who-knows-what-else, Laura's sister Ruby shows up Sunday morning with one Manolo Blahnik - a disappointing turn of events, considering her boss loaned her a full pair that she expects back first thing Monday. The right shoe has to be somewhere! The hipster bar? The smelly restaurant? The club that doesn't exist?

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Mystery Thriller

133 pages, ebook

First published February 10, 2012

About the author

I moved to Los Angeles to study screenwriting at USC, and even though you couldn't drag me back into the screenwriting business with the promise of money or candy, I love screenplay structure. Use it all the time. It is the crowbar that removes my head from my rectum when such a procedure is required.

I love all types of speculative fiction, and yes I admit to reading vampire books and YA. However, I have not yet met a vampire that inspired me enough to write about him, which is probably the only barrier between myself and a bathtub full of royalty checks.

People (meaning, my friends) have begged me for years to write about the fashion industry, so I'm doing that in the form of a cozy mystery. It's a funny story, which it had to be because the fashion industry can't be taken seriously.

On that, I bid you a fond farewell. Thanks for reading this little bio.

Reviews

[Bridget · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an odd little book. Ruby (the cuter sister) borrows a pair of Blahniks from her boss, for a special night. After multiple clubs and drinks, Ruby ends up with two different shows, only one of which is the expensive Blahnik. Laura (the less cute sister) is enlisted to help. Entertaining but an obvious lead into the Fashion Avenue Mysteries. The only reason I got this was it was included in a list of books by my favorite author, C.D. Reiss. Apparently two authors. Disappointing but life goes on.

[Donna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not at all interesting.

[Brandi Aquino · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good concept, a little dry, but very descriptive and original. The characters are not hooking me like I would like them to and I am trudging through the storyline, but I can't figure out where this blasted shoe is--I have one theory!-- so that is keeping me moving.

That was my original impression of this story and I have to stand by it. The characters fell pretty flat for me. They were well-developed and it is clear to me that the author is very good with descriptions and dialogue, but I just couldn't connect. Maybe it was a fluke, wrong time of day, wrong mood, I can't really say for sure. My initial guess at where the missing Blahnik was, turned out to be pretty on point. Maybe not the exact location, but with whom it ended up. Personally, I think the minor characters were the most interesting. In the end, I can't give this story the glowing review I would have liked to. It just wasn't that great for me.

[Katherine Hayward Pérez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't sure about this at first, as I saw it was short, but downloaded it from Amazon as soon as I read a review that said Sex and The City fans will love it. It was fun reading about Ruby and Laura's escapades looking for Ruby's lost Manolo Blahnik shoe, and there were some funny parts. The humour was the dry, SATC style humour that works well in these kinds of books with this subject matter, and it was a quick, easy and light read, although it had a pace that kept things interesting on what could otherwise have been a boring plot, but the idea, the atmosphere, descriptions, and characters instead made for a great read. As it ended I found myself wanting the story to go on. I was pleased to find an excerpt of Dead is the New Black, a full length novel by the same author. I have added that to my to-read list already!

[Alisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like one of those tasty little cake pops from that corporate coffee place, The Case of the Missing Blahnik is a delicious sample of what is to come from the Fashion Avenue Mystery series. A prequel to Dead Is The New Black, the cast of characters is introduced, a dilemma presents itself, and hilarity ensues over blackout hangovers, dumpster dives and a very expensive missing shoe. Take a bite. You'll enjoy.

[P.J. Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like that snarky Sex and the City humor, then this book is for you. I absolutely loved the characters and their antics were hilarious as they tried to locate a very expensive shoe lost sometime during a drunken stupor. The writing was tight and the pacing fast, making for a quick, enjoyable read. After reading the sample of the author's full-length novel in the back of this book, I can't wait to start on Dead is the New Black next.

[D · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you have ever club hopped, this book is for you. Its the story of the morning after when you try to remember just what it was you did exactly while retracing your steps. It is a very short read (about 90 pages) so it doesn't really develop into any story. It was a bit like "Sex in the City".

[Jenny T. · Rating 2 out of 5]

A short story about 2 sisters in NYC tracing their club hopping activities from the night before in search of a missing fashion shoe. This was a "brain candy" type of book - quick, but not fulfilling.

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not much into chick-lit but it was interesting. Very Sex and the City. Very short. Not much development just a little something between books. Characters seem funny and charming.

[Sherry · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute short story book as the ladies retrace their steps to find the shoe

[Diann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as her other novel, but it's only an in-betweener. Fun, but don't expect much.