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Consignment Shop Mystery #2
Killer in Crinolines
It’s August in Savannah, Georgia—hardly the season for a traditional Southern wedding with hoopskirts and crinolines. One could die from the heat—or from a cake knife in the back...
Reagan Summerside should be devoting all her energy to her consignment shop the Prissy Fox. But when her dear friend Chantilly Parker is arrested for murder, Reagan vows to clear her name. The victim is Simon Ambrose, who’s found lying in his own wedding cake with a knife in his back.
Chantilly has motive (Simon broke her heart to marry wealthy Waynetta Waverly) and opportunity (crashing the wedding in her UPS delivery truck). And she has cake on her face, and the stolen bridesmaid dress the killer wore is in her truck. But Chantilly would never wear crinoline to kill a man!
With the help of her flamboyant auntie, KiKi, and vexing but attractive attorney Walker Boone, Reagan is determined to save her friend—before she’s forced to turn in her brown uniform for an orange jumpsuit…
Reagan Summerside should be devoting all her energy to her consignment shop the Prissy Fox. But when her dear friend Chantilly Parker is arrested for murder, Reagan vows to clear her name. The victim is Simon Ambrose, who’s found lying in his own wedding cake with a knife in his back.
Chantilly has motive (Simon broke her heart to marry wealthy Waynetta Waverly) and opportunity (crashing the wedding in her UPS delivery truck). And she has cake on her face, and the stolen bridesmaid dress the killer wore is in her truck. But Chantilly would never wear crinoline to kill a man!
With the help of her flamboyant auntie, KiKi, and vexing but attractive attorney Walker Boone, Reagan is determined to save her friend—before she’s forced to turn in her brown uniform for an orange jumpsuit…
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 7, 2013
67 people are currently reading
1400 people want to read
About the author
Duffy Brown
13 books729 followersDuffy 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 Sherlok 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 Cycle Path Mysteries are set on Mackinac Island.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 178 reviews
did-not-finish
June 27, 2013There's nothing terribly wrong with this cozy mystery, and the main character is likeable enough, but the slangy dialog and unlikely situations aren't quite my cup of tea.
May 9, 2013
It’s August in Georgia and things are heating up, but not just the weather! Tempers are flaring and the victim is Simon Ambrose who is found with a knife in his back – at his own wedding in his own wedding cake! Who could have done such a thing? Well, most of the town had a reason to want to see this man dead.
Reagan Summerside is desperately trying to make a success out of her consignment shop, The Prissy Fox, but she gets sidetracked when one of her friends, Chantilly Parker is accused of Simon’s murder. Not only is Reagan forced to take Chantilly’s UPS delivery runs so Chantilly doesn’t lose her job, but she throws herself into the investigation.
This is the second book in the “Consignment Shop Mystery” series and it’s as much fun as the first book. Reagan and her adorable auntie KiKi make me laugh. There is even some romance thrown in the mystery as Reagan finds herself more and more attracted to attorney Walker Boone. She just needs to find a way to get past the fact that Walker was her ex-husband’s attorney and helped him get a huge portion of Reagan’s money. Not something that’s easily forgivable.
There’s a huge cast of quirky and eccentric characters to keep readers laughing for hours on end. Basically, this is a story that gave me many hours of fun away from my real life. A true escapism of the best kind and Southern coziness at its finest! A most enjoyable read – mystery fans will love this one. It's the kind of book that makes a bad day good!
FTC Disclosure: The author provided me with a copy of this book to review. This did not influence my thoughts and opinions in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.
Reagan Summerside is desperately trying to make a success out of her consignment shop, The Prissy Fox, but she gets sidetracked when one of her friends, Chantilly Parker is accused of Simon’s murder. Not only is Reagan forced to take Chantilly’s UPS delivery runs so Chantilly doesn’t lose her job, but she throws herself into the investigation.
This is the second book in the “Consignment Shop Mystery” series and it’s as much fun as the first book. Reagan and her adorable auntie KiKi make me laugh. There is even some romance thrown in the mystery as Reagan finds herself more and more attracted to attorney Walker Boone. She just needs to find a way to get past the fact that Walker was her ex-husband’s attorney and helped him get a huge portion of Reagan’s money. Not something that’s easily forgivable.
There’s a huge cast of quirky and eccentric characters to keep readers laughing for hours on end. Basically, this is a story that gave me many hours of fun away from my real life. A true escapism of the best kind and Southern coziness at its finest! A most enjoyable read – mystery fans will love this one. It's the kind of book that makes a bad day good!
FTC Disclosure: The author provided me with a copy of this book to review. This did not influence my thoughts and opinions in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.
May 7, 2018
Killer in Crinolines by Duffy Brown was another fun mystery in this series. I laughed, I chased red herrings and I never guessed who was behind it all until the reveal. I love this series!
October 20, 2022
I hadn't made any notes about why I gave the first book in the series a low rating. It only took me a few pages into this one to remember. Duffy Brown overdoes being southern - the names, the expressions, etc. It rubs me the wrong way. This is not series I enjoy so I'm moving on to something else.
May 19, 2013
A much better book than the first in this series. Fun, quirky characters and a much more plausible reason for investigating: clearing her friend of murder charges. I love the inclusion of the 17th street gang and I hope they become permanent cast members - they're a hoot! Cloud computing and HMO plans... lol. Very little of the ex-husband in this book, but his appearances are as stupid and asinine as ever and I really don't understand why the author feels he's necessary to the story line at all. I liked the scene at the pizza place, but him coming by to threaten her about selling her house? What the hell is the point?
Kudos to the author though, for a plot most excellently crafted. I was as much a spectator at the denouement as I could be and certainly didn't see the end coming at all.
As is usual anymore with books, I saw quite a few editing errors - the kind where someone relies on spell check and not on an eagle-eyed proof-reader. But Ms. Brown's book gets the award for most humorous editing error for this description of the hotter-than-hades-every-woman-wants-him lawyer and possible love interest, Walker Boone:
"He was a head taller than me with perpetual scruff, buzz-length back hair , black eyes, a hard lean body...." (pg. 30, 2nd para..)
At least, I certainly hope that's an error.... ;)
Kudos to the author though, for a plot most excellently crafted. I was as much a spectator at the denouement as I could be and certainly didn't see the end coming at all.
As is usual anymore with books, I saw quite a few editing errors - the kind where someone relies on spell check and not on an eagle-eyed proof-reader. But Ms. Brown's book gets the award for most humorous editing error for this description of the hotter-than-hades-every-woman-wants-him lawyer and possible love interest, Walker Boone:
"He was a head taller than me with perpetual scruff, buzz-length back hair , black eyes, a hard lean body...." (pg. 30, 2nd para..)
At least, I certainly hope that's an error.... ;)
March 10, 2015
A Killer in Crinolines is the second book in the A Consignment Shop Mystery series. I thought this was a little better than the first book, Iced Chiffon.
Reagan Summerside is at the wedding of Waynetta Wayerly's wedding to deliver a bow tie for the groom, Simon Ambrose. whose has gone missing, too. But the groom is soon found, face down in the wedding cake with a knife in his back. When it learned that Chantilly, Reagan's UPS driver and who was engaged to Simon at one time, is also at the wedding, having arrived at the party with her UPS truck. Having made threats in the past, Chantilly is arrested.
There is a long list of people who are happy to see Simon deceased. There are two or three other young ladies who he has been engaged to. It is also learned that he was a loan shark and Reagan feels that is where the police should be looking, but aren't. So with the help of her Aunt Kiki they set off to do some sleuthing on their own.
Most of the characters from the first book are back to help, in their own way, Reagan stay safe and the right path. It will certainly be interesting to see if anything develops between Walker Boone, her ex's divorce lawyer and the one who she blames for keeping her from getting anything in her divorce settlement.
Looking forward to book 3.
Reagan Summerside is at the wedding of Waynetta Wayerly's wedding to deliver a bow tie for the groom, Simon Ambrose. whose has gone missing, too. But the groom is soon found, face down in the wedding cake with a knife in his back. When it learned that Chantilly, Reagan's UPS driver and who was engaged to Simon at one time, is also at the wedding, having arrived at the party with her UPS truck. Having made threats in the past, Chantilly is arrested.
There is a long list of people who are happy to see Simon deceased. There are two or three other young ladies who he has been engaged to. It is also learned that he was a loan shark and Reagan feels that is where the police should be looking, but aren't. So with the help of her Aunt Kiki they set off to do some sleuthing on their own.
Most of the characters from the first book are back to help, in their own way, Reagan stay safe and the right path. It will certainly be interesting to see if anything develops between Walker Boone, her ex's divorce lawyer and the one who she blames for keeping her from getting anything in her divorce settlement.
Looking forward to book 3.
June 19, 2019
Such a fun book. I like the characters and the messes that Reagan gets herself into are so funny. I love the dynamic between her and Walker Boone. This one definitely kept me guessing as to who was behind everything too.
November 30, 2018
I loved this book!
January 16, 2016
Reagan Summerside should be devoting all her energy to her consignment shop the Prissy Fox. But when her dear friend Chantilly Parker is arrested for murder, Reagan vows to clear her name. The victim is Simon Ambrose, who’s found lying in his own wedding cake with a knife in his back.
Chantilly has motive (Simon broke her heart to marry wealthy Waynetta Waverly) and opportunity (crashing the wedding in her UPS delivery truck). And she has cake on her face, and the stolen bridesmaid dress the killer wore is in her truck. But Chantilly would never wear crinoline to kill a man!
With the help of her flamboyant auntie, KiKi, and vexing but attractive attorney Walker Boone, Reagan is determined to save her friend—before she’s forced to turn in her brown uniform for an orange jumpsuit…
Dollycas’s Thoughts
August is hot in Savannah, Georgia and the perfect temperature for MURDER!!! Duffy Brown has topped herself with the sequel to Iced Chiffon.
All of favorite characters are back and will have your sides hurting from laughter. From Aunt Kiki’s Cher quotes like “Men aren’t necessities, they are luxuries” to Chantilly’s misguided reasoning and Reagan’s adventures taking over Chantilly’s parcel deliveries, this book is plum full of Southern charm and humor. Can anyone have worse luck than Reagan? Wherever she goes trouble follows close behind.
Walker Boone is starting grow on me and Bruce Willis has stolen my heart. But Waynetta Waverly, the bride to be, brings the drama to the story. Shouldn’t she be more upset over the death of her groom?
This was such a fun story but be prepared once you start reading you will not be able to stop. I was so caught up in the story I missed supper
Pour yourself a sweet tea or martini, find a comfy chair and sit back and enjoy the mystery, humor and a dash of romance that fill these pages. A perfect escape!
Chantilly has motive (Simon broke her heart to marry wealthy Waynetta Waverly) and opportunity (crashing the wedding in her UPS delivery truck). And she has cake on her face, and the stolen bridesmaid dress the killer wore is in her truck. But Chantilly would never wear crinoline to kill a man!
With the help of her flamboyant auntie, KiKi, and vexing but attractive attorney Walker Boone, Reagan is determined to save her friend—before she’s forced to turn in her brown uniform for an orange jumpsuit…
Dollycas’s Thoughts
August is hot in Savannah, Georgia and the perfect temperature for MURDER!!! Duffy Brown has topped herself with the sequel to Iced Chiffon.
All of favorite characters are back and will have your sides hurting from laughter. From Aunt Kiki’s Cher quotes like “Men aren’t necessities, they are luxuries” to Chantilly’s misguided reasoning and Reagan’s adventures taking over Chantilly’s parcel deliveries, this book is plum full of Southern charm and humor. Can anyone have worse luck than Reagan? Wherever she goes trouble follows close behind.
Walker Boone is starting grow on me and Bruce Willis has stolen my heart. But Waynetta Waverly, the bride to be, brings the drama to the story. Shouldn’t she be more upset over the death of her groom?
This was such a fun story but be prepared once you start reading you will not be able to stop. I was so caught up in the story I missed supper
Pour yourself a sweet tea or martini, find a comfy chair and sit back and enjoy the mystery, humor and a dash of romance that fill these pages. A perfect escape!
June 28, 2013
The first book in this new series had some serious holes in it, so I hoped this one would improve on that. Well, it delivered! The great characters had me laughing out loud I don't know how many times. WAY more than the most recent Stephanie Plum book! Reagan's a good friend, the kind willing to go the extra mile to help a friend who's been wrongfully accused and her sidekick, Aunt Kiki, is a hoot! Boone's becoming quite the interesting character and I'll be looking forward to seeing what happens on that front. The Seventeenth Street gang is an excellent addition, too, and I hope they stay around. I definitely didn't see the ending coming. I like a book that has me guessing right up until the big reveal! RECOMMEND!!
June 2, 2013
This is the second book in the Consignment Shop Mystery series (first book was Iced Chiffon). Loved it as much as the first one! I can totally relate to the heroine (Reagan – divorced and down her luck) and the Savannah setting can’t be beat. The story line focuses on the heroine trying to find the real murderer since her friend has been arrested and is innocent. Hunk Walker Boone always seems to be there to see Reagan at her worst and helps her out when he stumbles across her in her latest jam trying to find the real killer.
This was my summer vacation beach read and it was perfect.
If you enjoy lots of laughs and quirky characters, this book and series is for you! The only downside is I now have to wait until the next one comes out!!! Hurry, Duffy, I need my next fix!
This was my summer vacation beach read and it was perfect.
If you enjoy lots of laughs and quirky characters, this book and series is for you! The only downside is I now have to wait until the next one comes out!!! Hurry, Duffy, I need my next fix!
March 14, 2015
This was another fun read by Duffy Brown. The mystery was a lot better and seemed more possible than the mystery from book one. I love these characters, Reagan and her Aunt KiKi are just as hilarious and fun as they were in book one. Walker Boone is still as mysterious and handsome. Reagan's and Walker's annoyance for one another, is starting to move more into a romance. I think Boone, is starting to have feelings for Reagan, but, its going to take Reagan some time, to figure out her own feelings towards Boone. Their relationship is something to look forward to in the third book.
July 26, 2013
I just finished Killer in Crinolines and I totally loved it! It's the second one in the Consignment Shop Mystery series and was a real joy to read! I love the cast of characters..and they are "characters" and trying to figure out who the "killer" was! ( I did figure it out about the middle of the book). Can NOT wait for the next book Pearls and Poison!! Handing the book over to my Mama this afternoon! Woot WooT
July 12, 2014
I really enjoyed this cozy mystery. True, somethings are a little too fantastic to happen in real life, but then that is a part of cozy mysteries, so we don't lay awake at night fearing that these things could happen. The characters in the book were quite fun and I will look forward to reading more about them in future books.
May 18, 2016
I really enjoy this series!
This book kept me guessing all the way thru the story!
The antics of Reagan, Aunt Kiki and Boone will have you smiling as you read this book.
I'm looking forward to reading more books in this series!
This book kept me guessing all the way thru the story!
The antics of Reagan, Aunt Kiki and Boone will have you smiling as you read this book.
I'm looking forward to reading more books in this series!
September 30, 2021
Super cute! I am enjoying this series. Oh the shenanigans. I did not guess the killer, there were so many that wanted Simon dead. There is some tension between Reagan and Boone, I am curious to see how that pans out.. I will definitely be continuing this series.
May 10, 2013
I loved this book. Review at: http://raesrumblings.blogspot.com/201...
April 28, 2022
I didn’t enjoy this 2nd book as much as the first one. Not sure if I am going to continue with this series.
June 16, 2013
I love all books written by this author.
June 10, 2017
I love this series! It is so goofy, yet manages a plausible mystery without feeling forced. The main characters are absolutely amazing and I wish they were real. This series is on my must-read list.
May 20, 2013
Killer in Crinolines, the second installment in Duffy Brown’s Consignment Shop Mystery series, was just as fantabulous and fun as her debut novel, Iced Chiffon. And, once again, Brown has proven herself a strong leader in the Cozy Mystery Authors Who Don’t Insult Your Intelligence Club.
Okay, maybe that’s not a real club. But it should be.
After clearing the name of her jerk ex-husband in Iced Chiffon, Reagan is put back in the (self-promoted) role of amateur private investigator when her friend and UPS delivery driver, Chantilly, is accused of murdering her shyster ex boyfriend – at his wedding to a wealthy (twerpy) socialite, Waynetta. Chantilly may be guilty of some post-breakup craziness and, yeah, maybe she was found sitting in her UPS truck outside the wedding eating wedding cake and crying that it should have been hers, but Reagan knows she couldn’t have done it.
Just like in Iced Chiffon, Reagan’s investigation leads her to a number of suspects, all of which have a pretty solid motive for wanting him six feet under. As she gets closer to the truth, it’s clear whomever did it will stop at nothing to keep their secret and it goes without saying, Reagan must catch the killer before the killer catches on to her.
Without a doubt, Brown is a talented writer who gracefully balances her stories between the outrageous and the totally believable. Her fearless female lead, Reagan, is smart, funny, down-to-earth and could be anyone’s next door neighbor (if your neighbor happens to have a consignment shop running out of her house and solve crimes in her spare time). The rest of the characters (and there are quite a few of them – only a few reoccurring from the first book – so get ready to memorize some new names), tend to sway more into over-the-top category (especially the self-centered debutante Waynetta), but they are what make the books so freaking entertaining.
And I have to give kudos to Brown’s endings. When I read mysteries, I HAVE TO obsessively guess the “who did it” part and, unfortunately, with a lot of mysteries (especially cozy mysteries), they are written in one of two ways. No. 1: The killer is totally obvious, but the characters are completely nitwits and ignore blatant clues making me, the reader, want to beat them with a logic stick. No 2: It’s a surprise ending that no one saw coming, including the author. You know, those books with endings where it seems they were thrown in there last minute and don’t really reflect any “clues” leading up to them?
I admit, I’ve guessed the killer in both Consignment Shop books (I believe it was about the 30% mark in this book), but it’s not obvious. When it comes to her mystery plots, Brown is like a magician: she keeps you so entertained with all her kooky characters and their humorous-yet-suspenseful antics that you get distracted and can easily miss the subtle clues that lead you to the villain.
There were just so many things about this book I enjoyed, it would take entirely too long to list them. Plus, there are better ways to spend that time. Like going out and buying this book RIGHT NOW.
April 14, 2013
It's August in Savannah, Georgia---hardly the season for a traditional Southern wedding with hoopskirts and crinolines. One could die from the heat--or from a cake knife in the back..
Reagan Summerside should be devoting all her energy to her consignment shop the Prissy Fox. But when her dear friend Chantilly Parker is arrested for murder, Reagan vows to clear her name. The victim is Simon Ambrose, who's found with his face in his own wedding cake with a knife in his back.
Chantilly has motive (Simon broke her heart to marry wealthy drama queen Waynetta Waverly) and opportunity (crashing the wedding in her UPS delivery truck). And she has cake on her face, and the stolen bridesmaid dress the killer wore is in her truck. But Chantilly would never wear crinoline to kill a man!
With the help of her flamboyant auntie Kiki, and vexing but attractive attorney Walker Boone, Reagan is determined to save her friend--before she's forced to turn in her brown uniform for an orange jumpsuit...
My Thoughts...
This is the second book I've read by this author, Duffy Brown, (the first one being "Iced Chiffon"). When I received this book this past week, I got all twitterpated just thinking about reading it. (I just had to use the fun word "twitterpated" since I ran across it in this book.) And what a fun Southern comfort cozy mystery filled with charm and humor this book was....
Auntie Kiki, and Walker Boone are back with all their fun high jinks. And what would a Southern comfort cozy mystery be without a drama queen involved in the mix, this time around we have Waynetta Waverly, the bride-to-be...not only that...but an alligator appears, then there is all the sweet tea and Southern comfort Martinis one can drink along the way to solving a few murders scattered throughout the story right up to the surprise ending!
This book was provided to me by the author, Duffy Brown, to read and give an honest review. The only complain I have is...I found it difficult to put the book down once I started reading it, therefore, no cooking, housework done at this house for a few days. We ate a lot of meals out this week...just sayin' if you start to read this book have a lot of food, sweet tea and martinis on hand, because otherwise you may have to eat out as well...
Thanks Duffy for a few fun-filled days visiting old friends in Savannah, Georgia, and for the fun and bumpy ride through the streets of Savannah. I enjoyed reading this book and therefore I awarded it 5*****
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading and reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers and authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review.
Reagan Summerside should be devoting all her energy to her consignment shop the Prissy Fox. But when her dear friend Chantilly Parker is arrested for murder, Reagan vows to clear her name. The victim is Simon Ambrose, who's found with his face in his own wedding cake with a knife in his back.
Chantilly has motive (Simon broke her heart to marry wealthy drama queen Waynetta Waverly) and opportunity (crashing the wedding in her UPS delivery truck). And she has cake on her face, and the stolen bridesmaid dress the killer wore is in her truck. But Chantilly would never wear crinoline to kill a man!
With the help of her flamboyant auntie Kiki, and vexing but attractive attorney Walker Boone, Reagan is determined to save her friend--before she's forced to turn in her brown uniform for an orange jumpsuit...
My Thoughts...
This is the second book I've read by this author, Duffy Brown, (the first one being "Iced Chiffon"). When I received this book this past week, I got all twitterpated just thinking about reading it. (I just had to use the fun word "twitterpated" since I ran across it in this book.) And what a fun Southern comfort cozy mystery filled with charm and humor this book was....
Auntie Kiki, and Walker Boone are back with all their fun high jinks. And what would a Southern comfort cozy mystery be without a drama queen involved in the mix, this time around we have Waynetta Waverly, the bride-to-be...not only that...but an alligator appears, then there is all the sweet tea and Southern comfort Martinis one can drink along the way to solving a few murders scattered throughout the story right up to the surprise ending!
This book was provided to me by the author, Duffy Brown, to read and give an honest review. The only complain I have is...I found it difficult to put the book down once I started reading it, therefore, no cooking, housework done at this house for a few days. We ate a lot of meals out this week...just sayin' if you start to read this book have a lot of food, sweet tea and martinis on hand, because otherwise you may have to eat out as well...
Thanks Duffy for a few fun-filled days visiting old friends in Savannah, Georgia, and for the fun and bumpy ride through the streets of Savannah. I enjoyed reading this book and therefore I awarded it 5*****
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading and reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers and authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review.
April 16, 2013
First Line: Magnolia Plantation wasn't really a Southern plantation, the guests milling about the wide verandahs and lush green lawn weren't really extras from Gone with the Wind, and that wasn't Scarlett O'Hara descending the curved staircase but my auntie KiKi in a green flouncy dress with enough crinolines to cover all of Savannah.
Reagan Summerside should be devoting her time to her consignment shop, The Prissy Fox. Instead, she's raced to Magnolia Plantation on an errand of mercy, delivering a black bow tie so the wedding can get started. Since Reagan's luck is no better than mine, she manages to trip over a dead body. The groom has had a fatal encounter with a cake knife and now lies draped over his own wedding cake.
Unfortunately Reagan's best friend, UPS driver Chantilly Parker, is the prime suspect, since the groom jilted her to wed rich Waynetta Waverly. Chantilly even had plans to crash the wedding in her UPS truck. But even though Chantilly has both motive, means and attitude, Reagan knows her friend didn't commit murder and sets out to prove it. Little does she know that she's going to have two shadows throughout her sleuthing: her eccentric Auntie KiKi and Walker Boone, the lawyer Reagan loves to hate.
I enjoyed the first book in this series, Iced Chiffon, and I'm happy to say that the seeds author Duffy Brown planted in that first book have flowered beautifully in this second installment. The plot is filled with red herrings and humor, and I have to admit that I was enjoying myself so much that I forgot to put the clues together until just before the reveal. But the plot isn't the best part of Killer in Crinolines.
No, the prize for that would definitely go to Duffy Brown's cast of characters. From Reagan Summerside, a woman who can get more miles out of a huge yellow Target purse than anyone else I know, to her auntie KiKi, former roadie for Cher, dance instructor, and head gossip tweeter on the local kudzu vine, to Reagan's emotional best friend Chantilly, and on down to a pair of professional mourners, this is one group of characters to fall in love with and to laugh with. I think I had a big smile on my face almost the entire time I was reading.
Duffy Brown also has a light touch. This book is Pure-D Southern with a capital S without drowning in the vernacular speech that can turn some readers away. If you're looking for a cozy series that's light and fun, one with sparks of romance, a cast of characters you want to sit and gossip on the front porch with, and enough humor to keep you smiling for days, I have a recommendation for you: Duffy Brown's Consignment Shop mysteries!
Reagan Summerside should be devoting her time to her consignment shop, The Prissy Fox. Instead, she's raced to Magnolia Plantation on an errand of mercy, delivering a black bow tie so the wedding can get started. Since Reagan's luck is no better than mine, she manages to trip over a dead body. The groom has had a fatal encounter with a cake knife and now lies draped over his own wedding cake.
Unfortunately Reagan's best friend, UPS driver Chantilly Parker, is the prime suspect, since the groom jilted her to wed rich Waynetta Waverly. Chantilly even had plans to crash the wedding in her UPS truck. But even though Chantilly has both motive, means and attitude, Reagan knows her friend didn't commit murder and sets out to prove it. Little does she know that she's going to have two shadows throughout her sleuthing: her eccentric Auntie KiKi and Walker Boone, the lawyer Reagan loves to hate.
I enjoyed the first book in this series, Iced Chiffon, and I'm happy to say that the seeds author Duffy Brown planted in that first book have flowered beautifully in this second installment. The plot is filled with red herrings and humor, and I have to admit that I was enjoying myself so much that I forgot to put the clues together until just before the reveal. But the plot isn't the best part of Killer in Crinolines.
No, the prize for that would definitely go to Duffy Brown's cast of characters. From Reagan Summerside, a woman who can get more miles out of a huge yellow Target purse than anyone else I know, to her auntie KiKi, former roadie for Cher, dance instructor, and head gossip tweeter on the local kudzu vine, to Reagan's emotional best friend Chantilly, and on down to a pair of professional mourners, this is one group of characters to fall in love with and to laugh with. I think I had a big smile on my face almost the entire time I was reading.
Duffy Brown also has a light touch. This book is Pure-D Southern with a capital S without drowning in the vernacular speech that can turn some readers away. If you're looking for a cozy series that's light and fun, one with sparks of romance, a cast of characters you want to sit and gossip on the front porch with, and enough humor to keep you smiling for days, I have a recommendation for you: Duffy Brown's Consignment Shop mysteries!
June 3, 2013
When the groom seems to have arrived at his own wedding without a bow tie, Reagan Summerside gets called to deliver one at the fancy wedding pronto. Of course she is not a guest there, ever since her divorce from the smarmy realtor she is no longer persona grata in Savannah’s society. Reagan is trying to make ends meet with her new consignment shop, selling other peoples clothes and stuff, and restoring her old Victorian House. In the evenings, she gives ghost tours to tourists.
Unfortunately, the groom is nowhere to be found, the wedding planner is getting desperate as this wedding will certainly ruin her good name. So Reagan agrees to go find him, but when she does, she is not happy. Simon is lying face down in his own wedding cake, with the cake knife stuck in his back! What a waste of a great cake! The bride doesn’t seem to be all that upset with the grooms demise either, was there trouble in paradise already?
But when Reagan’s best friend is arrested for the murder of Simon, Reagan has no choice but to find the real killer. And when diving into Simon’s past, she finds out more than she could have anticipated. Simon was not a choir boy, he had a habit of seducing women for their money and moving on to greener pastures … So there is no lack of victims or suspects.
With some help from Walker Boone and her aunt KiKi, Reagan will keep searching for the truth, to keep her friend out of trouble. Even going as far as to do her job as an UPS package driver for her … which is more dangerous than it seems.
I really enjoyed this fun cozy mystery. The characters are certainly eccentric and what I imagine old fashioned southern. Now, I confess, I did not guess the killer at all. I had my mind set on someone else completely. And I do love it when I am wrong, which means the author did a great job.
Reagan is determined to help her friend, and even when she is almost alligator bait, she doesn’t give up. Her sleazy ex husband doesn’t make live any easier either, when he wants to sell her beloved Cherry House from underneath her, for a hefty fee of course. I do love her Aunt KiKi, who reluctantly helps Reagan with whatever scheme she hatches up. There is such a close connection between them, I love it.
If you want a fun cozy mystery series, you really should try this one. I recommend it.
9 stars.
Full review on my blog, www.boeklogboek.blogspot.com
Unfortunately, the groom is nowhere to be found, the wedding planner is getting desperate as this wedding will certainly ruin her good name. So Reagan agrees to go find him, but when she does, she is not happy. Simon is lying face down in his own wedding cake, with the cake knife stuck in his back! What a waste of a great cake! The bride doesn’t seem to be all that upset with the grooms demise either, was there trouble in paradise already?
But when Reagan’s best friend is arrested for the murder of Simon, Reagan has no choice but to find the real killer. And when diving into Simon’s past, she finds out more than she could have anticipated. Simon was not a choir boy, he had a habit of seducing women for their money and moving on to greener pastures … So there is no lack of victims or suspects.
With some help from Walker Boone and her aunt KiKi, Reagan will keep searching for the truth, to keep her friend out of trouble. Even going as far as to do her job as an UPS package driver for her … which is more dangerous than it seems.
I really enjoyed this fun cozy mystery. The characters are certainly eccentric and what I imagine old fashioned southern. Now, I confess, I did not guess the killer at all. I had my mind set on someone else completely. And I do love it when I am wrong, which means the author did a great job.
Reagan is determined to help her friend, and even when she is almost alligator bait, she doesn’t give up. Her sleazy ex husband doesn’t make live any easier either, when he wants to sell her beloved Cherry House from underneath her, for a hefty fee of course. I do love her Aunt KiKi, who reluctantly helps Reagan with whatever scheme she hatches up. There is such a close connection between them, I love it.
If you want a fun cozy mystery series, you really should try this one. I recommend it.
9 stars.
© 2013 Reviews by Aurian
Full review on my blog, www.boeklogboek.blogspot.com
May 21, 2013
Well, author, Duffy Brown has done it again...made me laugh out loud as I envisioned the scene being described and then...shocked by the murder. I mean we know that this is a murder mystery by the title, 'Killer in Crinolines,' we know that it is going to happen right off the bat, by the opening scene, but, still I was not prepared. Excellent writing.
Reagan Summerside, owner of a consignment store in Savannah, Georgia is rushing to the groom's aid when he manages to lose his bow-tie for his wedding that is happening as the book opens up. Reagan is diverted by seeing her best friend, Chantilly, sitting in her UPS truck and smeared with wedding cake. What? Now, you see...you have to laugh and it gets better when the crinolines show up.
Reagan is aided by her Auntie Kiki, the Seventeenth Street gang members, lawyers undercover, and more as she works (and hard too,) at saving her friend from living in unflattering orange at the jail.
This second novel in the series, has the same humor, unique suspense-filled attacks, and surprise culprits, as the first novel did. Also, the author has a wonderful ability to described Savannah, where you actually can feel the heat of the days, sense the moisture on your Martini glass, and smell the 'dead-people cookies.' What? Did I just write...? Well, you must get a copy of this novel and read for yourselves. You won't be disappointed. I wasn't!
Reagan Summerside, owner of a consignment store in Savannah, Georgia is rushing to the groom's aid when he manages to lose his bow-tie for his wedding that is happening as the book opens up. Reagan is diverted by seeing her best friend, Chantilly, sitting in her UPS truck and smeared with wedding cake. What? Now, you see...you have to laugh and it gets better when the crinolines show up.
Reagan is aided by her Auntie Kiki, the Seventeenth Street gang members, lawyers undercover, and more as she works (and hard too,) at saving her friend from living in unflattering orange at the jail.
This second novel in the series, has the same humor, unique suspense-filled attacks, and surprise culprits, as the first novel did. Also, the author has a wonderful ability to described Savannah, where you actually can feel the heat of the days, sense the moisture on your Martini glass, and smell the 'dead-people cookies.' What? Did I just write...? Well, you must get a copy of this novel and read for yourselves. You won't be disappointed. I wasn't!
March 8, 2014
Book two in the Prissy Fox Consignment Store mysteries comes with a large dose of blackmail, broken hearts, humid summer tight spots, and loads of southern charm and humor, as store owner, Reagan Summerside, gets mixed up in another twisted mystery. Wealthy Waynette is supposed to be marring Simon, but a flash of peach crinolines and a cake knife end with Simon face down in the wedding cake, dead as a door nail. Simon's ex lover, and Reagan's good friend seems the most likely suspect, but Reagan sets out to prove she's not the murderer.
The cast of characters in this mystery thrills my southern desires. Reagan is continually fighting to keep her ex from selling her beautiful Victorian home out from under her. She's completely house poor, with an almost empty house that also houses her consignment shop. Reagan's Aunt KiKi follows southern etiquette right down to her always matching nighty, flowing robe, slippers, and even matching hair cullers. Though hunky lawyer, Walter Boone squeezed everything away from Reagan representing her husband in their divorce settlement, he seems to be always around when Reagan gets into dangerous situations. His connections with the shady 17th Street Gang can definitely come in handy at times too.
This mystery has won my heart and I'm ready to read book three, PEARLS AND POISON! Any Savannah, Georgia fan should consider these book must reads for brightening up your day!
The cast of characters in this mystery thrills my southern desires. Reagan is continually fighting to keep her ex from selling her beautiful Victorian home out from under her. She's completely house poor, with an almost empty house that also houses her consignment shop. Reagan's Aunt KiKi follows southern etiquette right down to her always matching nighty, flowing robe, slippers, and even matching hair cullers. Though hunky lawyer, Walter Boone squeezed everything away from Reagan representing her husband in their divorce settlement, he seems to be always around when Reagan gets into dangerous situations. His connections with the shady 17th Street Gang can definitely come in handy at times too.
This mystery has won my heart and I'm ready to read book three, PEARLS AND POISON! Any Savannah, Georgia fan should consider these book must reads for brightening up your day!
July 21, 2016
Reagan Summerside is at the Waverly/Ambrose wedding to deliver a bow tie. She's expecting to find excitement and love in the air over the exuberant occasion. However, that quickly changes when a bridesmaid's dress goes missing, her best friend starts eating the wedding cake and the groom is found murdered before the ceremony. With many jilted exes, several feuds, shady business dealings and one fiancée whose not heartbroken over the death, it's going to be tough for Reagan to sort out all the clues and find the true culprit.
This cozy is such a fun, light hearted series. It had me smiling and laughing out loud several times. The mystery was great and definitley kept me stumped until the very end. However, the cast of quirky characters is the true gem of this book. Reagan is the Stephanie Plum of the south. She doesn't take life too seriously and gets herself mixed up in some really hilarious circumstances. I love Bruce Willis the hot dog loving dog, Cher quoting Auntie Kiki, the Seventeenth Street guys, Dr. Hunky and Walker Boone. Goodness the scenes and chemistry between Reagan and Boone are so fun. I look forward to watching their story play out. The author has a magical ability to transport you to Savannah especially with her descriptions of the hot, humid August weather. This is the perfect series to grab when you just need to kick back and relax with some good laughs.
This cozy is such a fun, light hearted series. It had me smiling and laughing out loud several times. The mystery was great and definitley kept me stumped until the very end. However, the cast of quirky characters is the true gem of this book. Reagan is the Stephanie Plum of the south. She doesn't take life too seriously and gets herself mixed up in some really hilarious circumstances. I love Bruce Willis the hot dog loving dog, Cher quoting Auntie Kiki, the Seventeenth Street guys, Dr. Hunky and Walker Boone. Goodness the scenes and chemistry between Reagan and Boone are so fun. I look forward to watching their story play out. The author has a magical ability to transport you to Savannah especially with her descriptions of the hot, humid August weather. This is the perfect series to grab when you just need to kick back and relax with some good laughs.
May 12, 2015
This was a fun book. Please note, I said fun. If you are looking for 'serious mysterious' this will not be your cup of tea. But since I like fun mystery stories, this was right up my alley. This is the second book in the series. Reagan's friend Chantilly, has been arrested for the murder of her ex-fiancee - a murder that takes place at his wedding to his new fiancee. We find out he was quite the slime ball, so the list of potential suspects is long. Reagan gets help from her 'friend', Boone, who comes to her rescue when she needs it most. Aunt Kiki joins her again in her hunt for the killer. The two of them together has me rolling with laughter and kind of reminds me of my own favorite Aunt. While the list of potential suspects is long, the killer was a surprise to me in the end. It was a very simplistic motive, but still had it's own twist. Reagan has some unusual aquaintances including some very nice gang members from 'the wrong side of town'. I enjoy her comic flaws and the way she goes about getting what she wants. She and her aunt have spunk and make a terrific pair. I wonder if Reagan and Boone will ever get together. I enjoy their bantering. Even as I read the last sentences of the book with them bickering, I was smiling and chuckling out loud.
June 10, 2013
Killer in Crinolines by Duffy Brown had me laughing and kept me intrigued from the beginning of the book all the way to the end. There were so many possible suspects, Simon Ambrose had ticked off so many people a lot were happy to see him dead. I'm not going to give away the ending but oh my goodness I never guessed who actually did kill him.
Duffy Brown has created a cast of characters that are interesting, humorous, quirky, and just plain a whole lot of fun to read about.
Reagan Summerside kept finding herself in some of the worst situations but oh my, reading about how she got out of those situations was so much fun! I really liked Reagan and I loved Aunt Kiki! Aunt Kiki can get herself into trouble without trying, and Reagan does her best to keep Kiki safe. I loved the relationship between these two. They really are a mischievous dynamic duo.
If you enjoy a fun mystery, you should really check out Duffy Brown's Consignment Shop Mystery series. This is the second book in the series and I can not wait to see what Ms. Brown comes up with next. I know I'll anxiously be awaiting her next release.
Duffy Brown has created a cast of characters that are interesting, humorous, quirky, and just plain a whole lot of fun to read about.
Reagan Summerside kept finding herself in some of the worst situations but oh my, reading about how she got out of those situations was so much fun! I really liked Reagan and I loved Aunt Kiki! Aunt Kiki can get herself into trouble without trying, and Reagan does her best to keep Kiki safe. I loved the relationship between these two. They really are a mischievous dynamic duo.
If you enjoy a fun mystery, you should really check out Duffy Brown's Consignment Shop Mystery series. This is the second book in the series and I can not wait to see what Ms. Brown comes up with next. I know I'll anxiously be awaiting her next release.
September 25, 2013
5 Stars!! I love Duffy Brown's writing style! Book 2, A Consignment Shop Mystery, has lots of humor, the great Character's of Reagan Summerside, her Aunt Kiki & Uncle Putter, and Chantilly, and, of course, the handsome, but somewhat shady lawyer, Walker Boone. And, cute little BW (Bruce Willis), Reagan's dog. In this mystery, Reagan & Aunt Kiki are at a wedding for bridezilla, Waynetta, and cheating groom, Simon; when said groom is discovered face down in the wedding cake with the cake knife embedded in his back!! Chantilly's fingerprints are on the knife, so she's the prime suspect. Fortunately, Pillsbury (one of the Seventeenth Street gang) is hot for Chantilly, so the gang members start helping Reagan find out who really killed Simon. Simon slept around, plus he was into some top secret deal involving a golf course on-the-side, too. Someone wanted him dead. Bad.
As the list of suspects grow, some are discarded while others are pulling the wool over their eyes. You may be shocked to discover who the killer really is!!!! Enjoy!!
As the list of suspects grow, some are discarded while others are pulling the wool over their eyes. You may be shocked to discover who the killer really is!!!! Enjoy!!
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