The Lanvin Murders

Vintage Clothing Mysteries #1

by Angela M. Sanders

All Portland vintage clothing store owner Joanna Hayworth wants to do is turn her back on the modern world and retreat into a carefully curated life of satin cocktail gowns, icy martinis, and old movies.

But when Joanna finds a key in a 1930s Lanvin coat cast off by an ex-showgirl, everything changes. The elderly woman turns up dead, and Joanna is pulled into a long-ago drama of back room deals, blackmail, and lost love. She must find a very real—and present day—killer before she becomes his next victim.

“As you dive into this intriguing mystery novel featuring vintage clothing dealer/sleuth Joanna Hayworth and a quirky cast of characters, prepare for an entertaining ride through long-buried crimes and Portland lore to solve the mystery of 'the woman in the Lanvin coat.' A truly enjoyable read!" --Christine Finlayson, author of Tip of a Bone, a Pacific Northwest mystery

"Slip on a pair of pink mules and a silk robe, mix up a shaker of martinis, and relax with this delightful mystery set in a Portland vintage clothing store. Populated by a charming heroine and a flock of odd characters, this engaging tale will satisfy the sleuth in you as well as the fashionista." --Ann Littlewood, author of Endangered, a zoo-dunnit

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Fashion, Ebooks, Cozy, Crime

293 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 12, 2014

About the author

Angela M. Sanders is the author of the Witch Way Librarian cozy mysteries and the Joanna Hayworth vintage clothing mysteries . As Clover Tate, she wrote the Kite Shop cozy mysteries.

Before turning author, spent more than a decade as a congressional investigator and also wrote magazine articles on perfume, food, and local personalities. When Angela isn’t at her laptop, she’s often rummaging in thrift shops, lounging with a vintage crime novel with her shelter cats Squeaky and Bitsy.

Sign up for her newsletter at www.angelamsanders.com and follow her on Instagram at @angela.m.sanders

Reviews

[Jenn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Joanna is a pretentious snob, eschewing microwaves and cell phones and bookkeeping software and "getting through law school on just a typewriter she found at Goodwill", somehow cooking gourmet meals with steaks that are still frozen after work and a garden she never seems to tend, apparently paying for an Internet connection she never uses and does not know how to access.

The police are either extraordinarily stupid and incompetent or else the author just knows nothing about suspicious death investigation, evidence collection, and chain of custody.

Every single character, of which there are many, had some sort of hook -- no one in the book is an average everyday person. I am not fully on board with the principle of Chekov's gun, but this book would have been well served with some of the flavour toned down.

This was almost an enjoyable book with the charm of the vintage shop, but the unlikeable and unrelatable protagonist and the amount of disbelief suspension required when it comes to the incomprehensibly stupid detective really took away from what should have been a quick and cozy murder mystery.

[Janet Mahlum · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay. What happened to the dogs? Do we never learn more about Marnie and grandmother? What are jojos?

[Kristen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I expected to like this. I find vintage clothes very interesting, and fashion in general so that being the theme of this book seemed like it would be a good fit, but it didn't turn out that way, unfortunately.

My problem was the main character, Joanna. I know main characters in cozies like this always have a back-story and reasons why they have their quirks, which is fine. But Joanna came across as judgey to me and I really couldn't connect with her. It may be a small thing, but when she goes to the local dive bar with the cute handy-man who fixed her store's door lock and was thinking about the people there and how the wine they had on offer wasn't ritzy enough for her, and was then surprised when the bartender was able to make her a good martini, I was just over her and knew this wasn't going to be a good book for me.

I'll be moving on to something else.

[Monty Bates · Rating 5 out of 5]

Too Much

Ok, right up front I gotta say sometimes while reading this I felt as if I was out shopping with the wife and that can drive me insane. Know what I mean? Having said that I'm still giving this 5 stars because it is written well and has a great plot! You will NOT figure out who the bad guy (or girl) is until maybe the very end! Maybe.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

The heroine runs a vintage clothing shop in Portland. She occasionally buys nice old clothes belonging to a favorite customer, an old lady who was once a showgirl. When the old lady brings in a Lanvin coat, Joanna is thrilled. Then she finds a key sewn into the lining. And the old lady is murdered. And the coat is stolen...

It's easy to feel Joanna's love for the old clothes she sells. Scattered throughout the story are fabrics, styles, and designer names. The plot itself is a little confusing, and the police seem extraordinarily stupid. Joanna herself is slow to connect clues the reader picks up on right away.

But it wouldn't be a story if she put everything together right away, would it?

A nice cozy with lots of vintage clothing.

[Gordon Long · Rating 4 out of 5]

It isn’t unusual for writers of detective fiction to add a kick to their stories by setting them in a very specific mileiu. The Dick Francis Horseracing series is a great example. This new series is aimed at a smaller audience: those interested in vintage clothing. But even if you’re not a retro freak, this novel is still worth the read.

It is the story of Joanna Hayworth, owner of Telulah’s Closet, a vintage clothing store in Portland, Oregon. She is the usual innocent busybody who gets dragged, partly by mistake but mostly by personality, into mysteries that need solving. The stories all have something to do with antique clothing, leading us smoothly into the past problems of the people who wore it.

I found Joanna endearing for her quirkiness and her loyalty to her friends. Her blockheaded stubbornness is one of those things that you put up with in someone you like. And it makes for good conflict. The suspense is well written, the clothing references add depth, and the supporting characters are quirky and fun.

Unfortunately the whole plot revolves around a not-stupid police detective making a stupid decision, leaving our heroine in charge of the only true solution. The ability to write watertight plots is a given in detective fiction these days. One can’t help but compare this series to the Corrina Chapman mysteries (bakery stories) by Kerry Greenwood. “Lanavin Murders” isn’t quite up to that standard, but it’s a good read nonetheless.

The author herself typifies this series as “good, smart, trashy reading.” I heartily concur.

[Kitty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came to Angela M. Sanders' writing through her lush, lyrical columns in Now Smell This. She's a fan favorite among perfume blog readers, and for good reason. Her posts are always graceful, evocative, and engaging-- she could probably easily sway a non-perfume lover to the Dark Side easily enough. She's just that enchanting. I started her mystery series with high expectations, and they did not disappoint. Whether you're a mystery fan or a fan of all things vintage, you will love the Joanna Hayworth books. The characters are endearing, and the settings are charming and quaint. Like any good series, the only disappointment is finding out that there aren't dozens more to come. But hopefully that will change soon. For now I will try to be content with a trilogy.

[Ericka N.Blackwell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh

The twists and turns were annoying. There were several underlying stories going on that were not wrapped up - mentioned and then abandoned. Some of those notions were more interesting than the main issue. Not a satisfying ending.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this cozy mystery set in Portland. Main character is the owner of a vintage clothing store and a key found hidden in a jacket in her shop leads to decades of mystery.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this book had it's fair share of death and shady dealings it was pretty light in other ways and it's great for someone into twentieth century fashion.

The author did, however, have a serious message to impart as can be seen in the afterword:

"Although I avoided naming the tribe in the novel, it could stand in for a number of Native American tribes in the Pacific Northwest that go without federal recognition as legitimate nations. They have rich histories and have endured discrimination and indignity we might have assumed never takes place in the United States. Think again."

I really enjoyed this book (it probably deserved four and a half stars) and hope to read more by this author.

[Katie Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous Series

Love, love, loved the Lanvin Murders. Fun book, a heroine who's different and interesting, and a series I definitely plan to finish. Highly recommended!

[Eden · Rating 3 out of 5]

2023 bk 39. A decent mystery - cozy but with things that didn't quite jive with me. I normally love books with a vintage/mid-century feel to them, but other than the descriptions of the clothing it just didn't really draw me in.

[Eileen Ptacek · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the fashion bits, but the “mystery” was contrived and the protagonist made many poor choices in her attempts to solve the crime

[Tamara L. Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good first novel. The last third seems a bit rushed and jumbled. I loved the setting and the vintage clothing touches. I'll read the next in the series.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed all the vintage fashion references, and the mystery was well set-up. Like some other reviewers, I agree that the main character's lifestyle didn't seem super realistic... cocooned in a world of no computers, gourmet dinners for one (with fresh garden veggies), and other time consuming affectations, she somehow has time to almost singlehandedly run a small business.

[Candace · Rating 4 out of 5]

5 Reasons you should read The Lanvin Murders by Angela M. Sanders
- It's cozy! This is a cozy mystery so while there are tense moments they aren't TOO tense, to where you are literally falling off your seat. At the same time, it delivers enough intensity that you are eager to find out more. And there's still plenty of creep factor as the main character is definitely being pursued, it's just hard to tell how serious it will get.

- Fabulous main character! Joanna is an adult but I don't believe her age is said. I found myself picturing her in mid to late 30's though. I'm not sure why, but that was what I got. She's mature but this book shows that it doesn't matter your age, you can still have insecurities. And Joanna has some big ones regarding romance. This isn't a big focus, but more of a minor one and one that should carry over into the next book. I like that Joanna is strong in her beliefs and refusal to back down in figuring out what is going on. She doesn't let people scare her away, even though it's clear she's very scared. She's persistent, and doesn't let anyone blow her off. I'm very anxious to get to know her better.

-Great secondary characters! Even though it's not actually a small town it has a small town feel since we see the same characters over and over and actually get to know them. I guess this is the neighborhood setting too, where everyone knows everyone. But her BFF Apple is one character I really loved. And she's into things I'm into so... yeah, really liked that. I also really liked Paul but really want to get to know him a little bit better.

-Setting! This book takes place in Portland Oregon (near where I live) and Portland is a quirky place full of quirky people. And that is brought alive in this book. We definitely see the quirkiness. A vintage clothing store is also not only the perfect setting for seeing these various characters of all walks of life, but also the perfect place because I happen to love vintage clothing!

- Mystery! The book starts with one mystery almost right away but additional things are added to that and it ends up being much bigger than one body being found. This is never too much because it's all related for the most part. Trying to unravel it all was impossible but the right clues were planted at the right time. It was done really well so while I partially guessed some things, there was much more I didn't.

Negatives: It was a tad slow in the beginning for me. I also was a bit disappointed about not getting a few answers on some things. The big mysteries are wrapped up though, it's just some smaller details that are bothering me. However, this is the first in a series and it might be those little things that carry over into the next book and we may learn more.

Overall this was an excellent read!

You can find this review, and others like it, on my blog at http://www.candacesbookblog.com

[Judie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joanna Hayworth’s vintage shop in Portland, Oregon, was a popular destination for people who liked to wear clothes from previous eras. Her stock ranged from more expensive evening gowns and major designer names to more casual everyday dress .
One day, Marnie Evans one of her regular suppliers, brought in a magnificent fur coat with a Jeanne Lanvin label. Marnie was in her eighties and had been a dancer in a somewhat questionable hall at one time. After Marnie left and as Joanna was arranging the coat on a mannequin in the window, a small key from a safe deposit box dropped out of the lining. A few hours later, Marnie called and frantically said she needed the coat back immediately. Joanna was unable to do so that day so Marnie said she would come back first thing the next morning. Marnie didn’t show up the next day and didn’t answer her phone. She did turn up in the shop the following day, lying under the coat and definitely dead when Joanna opened the shop.
In an attempt to learn more about Marnie, Joanna tries to locate some of the people who knew her and set up a memorial service to honor her memory.
When there are more deaths and Joanna’s home is broken into, she tries to get the police to follow up on her theory of the key being the key to the crimes. They aren’t interested in her ideas.
She also has to deal with politics, a potential rival business that will likely force her out, and her relationship with a locksmith.
Knowledge of and appreciation for vintage clothing is not a prerequisite for enjoying this book. Readers will learn about it as the story moves along.
The book is an easy-read and has several twists. There is also some repetition.
It has some inconsistencies: In one place, Andrew, Joanne’s ex-husband, introduce her to someone by saying “I’d like you to meet my friend, Joanna. Joanna, this is Mrs. Porter.” One character has a first name, the second, a last name. In another situation, she got into a truck: “The seat was pushed back to accommodate Paul’s height, and she had to stretch her legs to reach the pedals.” Why didn’t she just readjust the seat?
In the Afterward, she briefly discusses the way Native American tribes have been cheated in the United States.
This book was a free Amazon download.

[Christy · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were parts of this book that I loved and parts that I was really disappointed by.

The story focuses on Joanna Hayward, a woman who eschews anything modern and owns a vintage clothing story. I have seen many reviewers complain about how pretentious Joanna is for the way she goes on about how much she hates modern technology, but that wasn't the worst part of this book. In the beginning of the story, an elderly customer brings a beautiful old jacket to the shop to sell and has a bit of a mysterious conversation with Joanna. She calls back later that day to beg for the jacket back and Joanna offers to drop it off the next day. When Joanna arrives at the story the next morning, she finds the woman dead underneath the jacket. What unravels is a mystery of who might have been involved.

I liked that Joanna and I seemed to be on the same page with our suspect list and why we thought certain events were happening. But I hated that there were SO MANY red herrings. Most of them were easy enough to recognize as a red herring, but it still felt like there were so many of them. And there were so many unanswered questions at the end of the story! Why bring up certain plot points if you are NEVER going to mention them again? Especially with how abruptly the story ended!

If I thought that the next book in the series would answer these questions, I might be less annoyed by the book. But the blurb for the next story seems to focus simply on the next mystery and I highly doubt that the questions left unanswered are important enough for the author to answer them in the next novel. But those unanswered questions are exactly why I won't pick up this book again.

[Sam · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really liked the mystery aspect of this, especially as all the different strands started coming together and past secrets were uncovered, even where they had nothing to do with the main events. The writing is engrossing and has a real feel of a Miss Marple style murder mystery. But I really could not grow to like Joanna all that much, every time she did something that endeared me to her she then managed to do something else that was patronising, inappropriate or rude. I think for me her absolute obsession with days of old was just a little too much, particularly the utter refusal to use any form of modern technology including mobile phones and the internet. Now I love the Victorian era but I still have a mobile and a laptop, pretty essential in modern life, especially for those running small businesses as she is. Not to mention the fact that she constantly looked down on those who used these things while wearing vintage, what happened to live and let live. I'll probably try the next in the series but I really hope she develops a bit more depth and flexibility with life.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is fantastic fun to read. To start with, the twists and turns of the plot are completely unexpected and unusual, and I could never have predicted the ultimate resolution, which is something I always appreciate. The characters are Portland quirky, and I like the heroine's reluctant, thoughtful venture into solving murders - she's not one to seek out adventure, but she knows what's right and she is unstoppable when she feels she has to right a wrong and see that justice is done. I love love love the description of vintage dresses and accessories, to the point that sometimes I read with my laptop beside me so I could look up photos of what was being described. In short, this book is exactly what the author promises: smart trashy reading, and I can't wait for the next one!

[Pamela Shropshire · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this book as a free Kindle download. I was completely unfamiliar with the author, but was drawn in by the title because I enjoy fashion. I enjoyed the book especially the bits regarding the vintage clothing. The mystery was fairly well plotted. Definitely got my moneys worth of enjoyment from it. LOL

[Jeane · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a nice combination of ideas! Vintage clotes, murder, secrets..... I had never heard of the book or writer but it are really good stories which don't give everything away immediately and don't feel too light or too heavy.

[Cary Osborne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a light and fun mystery read. I learned quite a bit about vintage clothes, too, which made the story even more interesting. The characters were well drawn and they behaved appropriately. The mystery and its solution satisfied me as a reader. I will read more of Sanders' novels.
'

[Anna Amato · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author says that crafting smart trashy reading is not a solitary venture. Trust me she needed more help.

[Michele bookloverforever · Rating 2 out of 5]

just not my thing..found it hard to stay interested. I didn't find the characters all that fascinating.

[Jean Roth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable, light mystery reading.

[Ashley Lambert-Maberly · Rating 2 out of 5]

If after five years I can't be bothered to finish it, and remember nothing about it except it didn't grab me and was vaguely annoying, I should bite the bullet and realise I'm not going to read it.

[Jennifer Kuchenbecker Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

A perfect jury selection book. I could pop in and out and still know what was going on.

[Susan Barton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Joanna Hayworth owns a vintage clothing store in Portland Oregon. She enjoys a simple, uncomplicated life and loves what she does. Joanna forms a friendship with one of her regular customers, Marnie, and when Marnie turns up dead in Joanna’s shop, Joanna is determined to find justice for Marnie – even if it means putting herself in danger.

I liked the idea of this story. I love vintage clothing and I love murder mysteries. Downloading it wasn’t even a question for me. I was all in. Until I became immersed in the story.

There’s no denying that the author is intelligent and adept at laying down a compelling plot. It was the execution that I had difficulty with. There were a lot of side elements, branching out every which way. I thought this weighed the story down too much, which made the book seem far longer than just 298 pages.

Some of the elements were quite silly. For example, Joanna tells the police that she’s found a mysterious safe deposit box key that might have very well been the reason why Marnie was killed and the detective couldn’t have cared any less. He leaves the key in Joanna’s possession and continues to go bumbling about. I found this far too formulaic – police officers who insist on ignoring what witnesses and victims are telling them – way overdone in too many murder mysteries in my opinion.

I kept asking myself, why is Joanna so determined to find the killer of someone she didn’t know all that well. Sure, Marnie was a quirky customer who sold Joanna clothes over a period of what… a year? Yet Joanna can’t let it go, even if it meant she too could be killed. Just seemed too thin to me. And, everyone knew everyone. Even Joanna’s deceased grandmother had known some of the people involved – something that was never explained.

This book wasn’t terrible, but I just really didn’t enjoy it nearly as much I thought I would.

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book was really well put together and wasn't predictable, which is saying a lot because I find most mysteries predictable. It was a light read, despite being a murder mystery, and would have been easier to read if not for the main character.

I found Joanna to be pretentious, unrealistic for our time, unreasonable and frankly she read like an entitled "Karen" type with nothing better to do than to stick her nose into other people's business. I feel like her busybody tendencies did more harm than good half the time. Her relentless insistence on involving herself in everything that ended up having nothing to do with her made her hard to like and made her come off as lacking wisdom or intelligence in places where she could have seemed charming. I like a book that invokes emotion but prefer if the emotion isn't pure irritability.

I liked the setting and feel of this book but Joanna made it hard which was frustrating because I might otherwise have liked her personality. I was left with a few questions, and I understand that this is a series but I feel the questions I was left with were the type that should've been answered in book one. What was with the creepy guy that kept lingering around the store? What was the deal with Marnie and Joanna's grandmother? And more of the sort. Overall a solid 3.