At the Drop of a Hat

Hat Shop Mystery #3

by Jenn McKinlay

Cousins Scarlett Parker and Vivian Tremont's fashionable London hat shop, Mim's Whims, is visited by a new customer bearing an old hat box. Ariana Jackson is getting married and wants to restore her mother's bridal hat and veil for the occasion. The elegant item was made by Scarlett and Vivian's grandmother over thirty years ago, so Viv is delighted to take the job. When Scarlett goes to Ariana's office to consult about the restoration cost, she finds her outside, standing over her boss's dead body. Though Ariana claims to know nothing about his demise, the investigation unveils a motive for murder. Now, with the bride-to-be in custody and the wedding on hold, Scarlett and Viv must find the real killer before Ariana's future is boxed up for good.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Fiction, Audiobook, British Literature, Romance

292 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published February 3, 2015

About the author

Jenn 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.

Reviews

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 out of 5 stars to At the Drop of a Hat, the third book in the "Hat Shop" cozy mystery series, written in 2015 by Jenn McKinlay. Another good book by this lovely author... serves as a model cozy with light humor, romance and mystery.

Why This Book
I'd purchased a few of these paperbacks on Amazon earlier this year, wanting to have a few cozy mysteries to include in between my NetGalley Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) books. Jenn McKinlay is a fun writer and the books take place in my favorite place, England. I had just finished the second book in this series last week and wasn't ready to give up the characters, so I read this one back-to-back.

Plot, Characters & Setting
Cousins Scarlett (American) and Vivian (British) are at it again in this whodunit caper set in London. A young bride-to-be, Ariana, wanders into their hat store, asking for her mother's hat to be repaired so that she can wear it on her own wedding day. Vivian recognizes the hat as one their late grandmother made years ago, suddenly feeling nostalgic and eager to help Ariana. Once she has the repair costs, Scarlett tries to contact Ariana, but she can't reach her. Scarlett heads to Ariana's office, where she is an assistant to a difficult and womanizing barrister (attorney). When she arrives, Scarlett finds Ariana screaming while standing over the dead body of the attorney, who either fell or was pushed off the roof of his building. Scarlett and Vivian want to help Ariana, as they don't believe she is guilty. Harrison, Scarlett's pseudo love-interest tries to stop her, but agrees to help find the real culprit. Scarlett and gang (including her assistant hat maker Fee, and her best friends, gay couple Andre and Nick) try to avoid being caught by the cops while checking out the attorney's background. Between former girlfriends and models who hated him and the shady men he was in debt to, the attorney had no chance! But which one off'd him? Scarlett figures it out and uses herself as bait to catch the criminal, and this time, the answers are a layer deeper than she realizes. Add in some romance with Harrison, some questions about Vivian's lack of a boyfriend and a bet between all the friends, this book has its normal dose of humor.

Approach & Style
I read the paperback version, which was about 280 pages, broken up into 27 chapters. Each one is short and a quick-read. The book is told from Scarlett's point of view in the first-person perspective. She's funny and direct, which is a good contrast against her reserved British friends.

Strengths
Scarlett is a great character. Her personality is spunky. Her dialogue with Harrison is on point. She has a lot of charm. You care about what happens to her. I like the supporting cast with the best friends Nick and Andre, and learning about their life together as a couple is fun. The references to Scarlett's grandmother Mim are always enjoyable, too. The plot in this book had lots of potential. The police are often helpful and open to Scarlet's help, rather than the usual angry and pushy when the main character tries to get involved. I look forward to seeing this series grow stronger.

Concerns
While its intended to be a light and fun cozy with some humor and romance, the point is that it's a mystery... and I would expect a certain amount of complexity in the plot with multiple suspects. This one was very simple and had a short list of suspects. Several potential people were considered, but it was over 50% into the book before Scarlet even did any research. And when she did, she only looked at two people. It needed at least another 50 pages with some investigation and research into the victim's past and the people he spent most of his time with. It makes me a little concerned to continue with the series, but I do enjoy the characters and the setting. So if you think of it more as a light romance and humor book with some mystery thrown in, then you might be totally fine with it.

Final Thoughts
McKinlay is my new Evanovich. She's a great character-writer, and I love all the antics and banter. It's worth sampling one of her books, purely from that perspective. The series focus on the hat industry is kinda cool and provides a lot of backdrop to meet new characters and people to kill off for the mysteries. Hope you enjoy them.

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. Note: All written content is my original creation and copyrighted to me, but the graphics and images were linked from other sites and belong to them. Many thanks to their original creators.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great read by Jenn McKinlay. London, as the background and setting in this series, mixed with the British sayings and mannerisms, makes for an enjoyable, almost there experience for anyone who hasn’t been to London. I include myself in that group.

The British characters, Viv, Fee, Andre, Nick, and Harrison, are wonderful. Nick and Andre especially, I sometimes find myself laughing out loud at their dialogue during the parts they play a role in the story. The main character, Scarlett, I'm still warming up to her annoying moods and actions. I liked her more here in this story than I did in book 2. There are still moments where I just don't care that much for her though. The constant man craze she goes through is over bearing at times, I sometimes find myself reading past those moments with no real feeling or caring.

The mystery and story was fast paced and had an interesting and in some ways, a surprising ending which, makes for the next installment a very much looked forward read.

[Liz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmmm, where to start.

I genuinely like these characters. They're interesting and I want to know more about them. Also, the setting—both in the different country and the vocation of choice for their ladies—is a nice break from the usual suspects you see in cozies.

But the problem with this entry in the series was first that the tie to the case felt tenuous, at best, and that the repetition is getting to be too much. That Scarlett is 100% dedicated to her dating plan. That she feels isolated from Viv. That Harrison prefers to be called by his full name and not Harry (the sheer amount of times the "Harry" "It's Harrison" exchange occurs is mind numbing). Enough already.

I might try the next one just because it is a promising series set up, but we'll see.

[Roxanne (The Novel Sanctuary) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really wish these authors would stop being so stereotypical with regards to fat=bad and how women hate other attractive women 😒

[Carlymor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another cute entry in this series. I like these characters very much. New client Ariana has come into their shop to have a hat refurbished that was created by their grandmother Mim back in 1983, creating a feeling of nostalgia for the cousins. Arianna wants to wear her mother's hat for her upcoming wedding. But when Ariana's boss is found dead, she's arrested for his death, prompting Scarlett and Viv to help prove her innocence. During the investigation, there is an advancement of the romantic relationships of both girls. There's even a surprise announcement by Viv at the end that is definitely a cliffhanger. On to the next one!

[Amy L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series, and we were left with quite a cliffhanger at the end!

[Amy the book-bat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am really enjoying this series. I especially love Andre and Nick, the neighbors. The romance between Scarlet & Harrison is fun and I hope the tension doesn't get ruined too soon.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Jenn McKinlay books. This one is particularly appealing as it in an awesome setting with great characters. That being said, there's something odd about both Viv and Scarlett. Scarlett's internal dialogue (I love Harrison but I can't be with him because of my self-imposed celibacy) and Viv's well, sort of attitude problem both kind of get on my nerves. Coupled with Scarlett's relentless pursuit of why Viv doesn't date and you can see how these things might frustrate a reader. I have been on the receiving end of NOT getting a 'secret' told to me and I can understand Scarlett's anger. In the darkest parts of my mind, I still recall that and get angry at those involved. Say it to all or say nothing. I am in favor of the latter.

The cast of characters that surround Scarlett and Viv are awesome. Of course I want Harrison and Scarlett to get together. Of course I want to find out Viv's secret. I feel that once some of these small matters are taken care of, I will be able to relax more as I'm reading the series. The setting is perfect too. I love reading books set in London/England and this one doesn't disappoint. McKinlay also throws in some British terminology which lends authenticity to the book.

In this installment, Scarlett has calmed down quite a bit from the last. She and Viv meet Ariana, a bride to be who wants them to restore her mother's wedding hat, which Mim, their aunt, had designed years ago. Both felt strongly that they must help Ariana. Little did they know, they would become involved in a murder which Ariana is wrongly accused of committing. I don't know why but it bothered me that Scarlett and then Viv, immediately jumped right into trying to help Ariana. Usually the protagonist tries to avoid getting involved, especially because they have other things they need to do, like tend to their work/business. They barely know this girl but are drawn to her because of the hat. I guess I can understand it but it seemed odd.

In the end of course, everything works out. There was a twist in this one that I didn't see coming but definitely appreciated from McKinlay. You read enough of this type of book and they all start to meld together. I love the series and hope to continue to read it. I think the characters need to be toned down a bit because they seem a bit overly emotional at times but all in all, a great series.

[Mark Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Ariana brings one of Mim’s hats in and asks if it can be repaired for her upcoming wedding, Scarlett and Viv are thrilled to take on the challenge. When Scarlett goes to talk to her about it, she finds Ariana kneeling beside a dead body. With the evidence saying Ariana killed the person, Scarlett and Viv step in to prove their new friend is innocent.

While the motive to get involved with the mystery might be a little weak, I’m glad that Scarlett and Viv poked around because this book is lots of fun. A dash of humor enlivens scenes as we weave through clues and suspects before we reach a logical ending. The characters are continuing to grow. A cliffhanger left me wanting the next to know what happens next.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[Kirsti · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love that this author has three distinct series, each with marvelous settings and characters. I did feel a little dropped in to this one, but I soon caught up and adored Scarlett/Harrison as if I'd been reading their story all along. I adore their scenes, the back and forth and Scarlett's determination not to feel anything for him when it is super obvious she DOES. Such a cute couple! I ship it! hehe.

Plus it's a cozy series set in London! Most of the books I've read before were small American towns, so this was a total breath of fresh air. I know absolutely nothing about hat making, but even that seems different and unique. Love it!

A great series, in a day where I've finished three books this was the stand out for me. Definitely five stars!

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in the hat shop series. Viv and Scarlett are commissioned by Ariana Jackson to restore a bridal hat that their grandmother, Mim had made years earlier. The hat belonged to Ariana's mother and she wants to wear on her wedding day. When Scarlett goes to Adriana's place of business to talk about the cost of restoring the hat, she finds Adriana kneeling over her boss's dead body. The police take Adriana into custody as there is a lot of evidence suggesting she killed her boss. Scarlett and Viv investigate since they don't believe she is guilty.

I really enjoyed this book. I love the chemistry between the characters. Jenn McKinlay writes really great characters that are well developed and very likable and relatable. This has become one of my new favorite series.

[Dawn Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am really enjoying this series; I am a huge fan of both Scarlett and Vivian and when they work together it is just pure hilarity. Add the tensions of Harrison and Scarlett, the additional players of Fee, Andre, and Nick, and the crazy mysteries that Scarlett gets them all dragged into and you have a most excellent read.

I never saw the end of this one coming; it was a total surprise. And that is how I enjoy my cozies [when you have read as many as I have, you tend to figure stuff out early on, unless the author is eally good, as Jenn McKinlay is] and I hope this trend continues with all of her books.

[Lea Day · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like this series but in this particular book Scarlett discusses porn. This is a cozy- that subject matter should never be in a cozy. I will read next one but if the next one in series is like this I will have to cut this series loose and not finish it.

[Dennis Fischman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much better than I thought it would be. Much better than it had any right to be! I'm still skeptical about the solution, but the humor and the characters made this a great palate cleanser between more serious books.

[Lisa Ks Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must start this review out by saying, Jenn McKinlay is one of my very favorite authors. It was her Cupcake Bakery Mystery series that started me on this long glorious road of cozy mysteries. After I read every book to date in that series, I quickly bought and read every book she had published at the time under all of her pen names. And all of that lead to me becoming a reviewer with my very own blog. So thank you, Jenn McKinlay. (And to be fair, thank you to my sister who handed me that first delightful book and said, “Read it.”)

Book three in Ms. McKinlay’s Hat Shop Mystery series, AT THE DROP OF A HAT, is another stellar offering from the author. She always has me on a rollercoaster ride of emotions when I read her books, and this title is no different. I literally laughed out loud, gasped, and even cried a little.

Her characters in this series are wonderful. I love American, Scarlett Parker and the fact that she is still trying to figure out the ways of the British. It makes for a fun balance with her very British cousin, Vivian Tremont and equally British Harrison Wentworth. I’m loving watching Scarlett’s and Harrison’s relationship progress.

As for the mystery aspect of the story, it was excellent. Ms. McKinlay is wonderful with throwing misleading clues the reader’s way. She had me going down one road when I should have been going up another. As a result, I had no idea who the killer was until the author wanted me to know.

Hats off to you Jenn McKinlay for this superb book and series!

[Kristen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm so torn about how to review this book. I pretty much liked everything EXCEPT main character Scarlett, so hard to decide, but it's hard to give a book a rave when you spent a good portion of it wanting to smack the MC.

Scarlett really pushed the boundaries of a cozy heroine for me. I know that cozy MCs are busybodies, and that they do foolish things and get themselves in situations that turn dangerous. I know all that. But Scarlett just annoyed me while she was doing those things. The closest I can put my finger on why a key aspect of cozies bugged me with this is that Scarlett seems to KNOW she is doing pushy or stupid things, and that they could endanger not only her, but other people she professes to care about, and she blithely goes ahead and does them anyway. And then, when she or others ARE endangered, she doesn't think she should have to deal with the consequences of that. It really bugged me, and I couldn't like her even though I want to believe she meant well at heart.

I probably won't go after others in this series. With so many cozy series' available, reading ones where I dislike the MC doesn't make sense.

[Melodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 star read, but today is a good day, so rounding up instead of down. Of the 3 books so far in this series, this is the weakest. The solution to the mystery was a bit out there and was actually rather silly. Because I love the characters in this series I'll overlook that this time. However, if the whole not dating for a year thing with Scarlett doesn't end, VERY soon, I will end up throwing these books across the room! To call that a STUPID plot point is an understatement! The little twist at the end involving Viv was a bit unexpected and has me eagerly awaiting the next one. If you like the series, you'll want to be in for this one! Recommend!

[Nell · Rating 3 out of 5]

2 1/2 stars. The mystery wasn't bad but the MC's internal dialogue was tiresome. She spent at least a third of the book obsessing about and/or resisting her attraction to another recurring character. Her insistence on the innocence of a client she had only briefly encountered seemed implausible as did the dogged determination to clear her name despite mounting evidence. And there was too much sneaking around confronting murder suspects with little or no back-up. The book is salvaged by a resolution that was clever and unexpected. I like this series and the recurring characters but this one is pretty weak. I'm looking forward to the next one especially after the teaser at the end.

[April Schilling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book in this series! I have a lot of British friends and it makes me giggle to read this series with the way Scarlet describes living in England. I wasn't sure how a series about milliners was going to be but, I've really enjoyed not only the characters but, learning different things about the millinery business. I am really looking forward to the next book!

[Amanda McGill · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light cozy mystery that was the perfect beach read!

I got a bit fed up with Scarlett, but I love the secondary characters in this novel. A huge cliff hanger at the end of novel, which I didn't love, but I will definitely be tuning into the next novel!

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am loving this series. This story was a lot of fun and the mystery kept me guessing. I enjoy the characters and the way they play off of each other. Can't wait to read the next installment! #readforkimberly

[Ruth Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book. The characters are amusing and surprises pop up at the end. I laughed at the British wit and humor of characters.

[Ed · Rating 3 out of 5]

#3 in the Hat Shop mystery series. This 2015 entry from prolific author McKinlay has the obligatory murder with a wrongfully accused who our amateur sleuths will have to exonerate. That part goes well enough but the sleuth's love life has become overly cloying. After Harrison pays for Scarlett's lunch, Scarlett in her year of self-imposed celibacy agonizes that the lunch might be considered a date and goes so far as to poll her gay friends for their take on the issue. Too over the top for my taste.

Cousins Scarlett Parker and Vivian Tremont are owners of Mim's Whims millenary on Portobello Road in London. They are happy to be hired to restore a wedding hat their beloved grandmother made. But when the bride, Ariana, can't be reached for a confirmation, Scarlett visits Ariana's office to find her screaming over the body of her solicitor boss, who fell from the roof moments before Scarlett arrived. The police like Ariana for the crime, especially since some fabric from Ariana's blouse is found in the victim's hand. Scarlett disagrees, of course, and she, Vivian, and their friends talk to a colorful cast of the deceased's shady acquaintances in an effort to find the real killer.

[Christine (KizzieReads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it, but that cliffhanger ending has me wanting to run to the library to get the next installment. A new customer of theirs ends up right beside a body outside of her work and it happens to be her boss after falling off the roof. Clutched in his hands is a piece of her blouse. Scarlett and Viv are working on her wedding hat and try to help to solve the mystery of what happened to Ariana's boss and get her out of jail before her wedding.

I love all the characters and the friendships in these. It's a slow burn between Scarlett and Harrison due to the reason she moved to London. I honestly wish she'd forgo the reason and just give in, but that's me. Romantic at heart. LOL

[Stephanie (read_with_steph) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic installment in the Hat Shop mysteries. I'm going through these so fast, and the ending of this one makes me want to dive right into the next one! I'm enjoying these so much on audiobook--the narrator is fantastic and all the accents are charming. The mysteries are also all so intriguing, where they pull the wool over my eyes all the way until the very end, but they also don't seem implausible, which is miraculous! Check out my review of the first in this series for a more fulsome picture of my thoughts.

TW/CW: suicide

5 stars - 9/10

[Regan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I haven't been a fan of this series but this entry was pretty good. I could have done without the spurious romance. And I'm not a fan of cliffhangers. It was okay in terms of the one about Viv because I didn't really care about her romance issues...had it been whether or not she committed a crime, that would have been different. The mystery in this one was a good one with a nice twist at the end.

[Marion · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book #3 in the Hat Shop Mystery series. Story flowed well, but was a bit unbelievable. Why would a woman arrested for murder look to two unknowns (the hat shop owners) to help solve the mystery? Did she not have any friends other than her fiancé? Very surprise ending worth reading thru for though!

[Tanya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ah, Harrison. I'm sure his character is a big part of why this series is so fun for me. Another entertaining one - Ariana takes her mother's wedding hat in to Mim's Whims for repair and a redo for her own wedding and thus the murder storyline emerges thereafter. The murder is almost secondary to the story but it balances out fairly well in the end.

[Nanette Williamson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect, cozy, contemporary mysteries. Set in London, Portobello Rd, with an American protagonist, learning local customs from her British cousin and their friends. A little romnce, a little humor, a little mystery, very cheerful and entertaining.

[Kav · Rating 4 out of 5]

More quirky fun with a cast of eclectic characters and a clever mystery to solve. Love the London hat shop setting and that the romance is s-l-o-w-l-y heating up (please, no love triangles, please!) I listened to the audible edition narrated by Karyn O'Bryant which made it that much more fun.