Masking for Trouble

Costume Shop Mystery #2

by Diane Vallere

Halloween brings more tricks than treats for costume shop owner Margo Tamblyn in the second in a new cozy series from the national bestselling author of the Material Witness Mysteries.
 
Halloween conjures up big business for Margo Tamblyn’s costume shop, Disguise DeLimit, but this year, the holiday comes knocking with serious trouble. Venture capitalist Paul Haverford plans to rezone historic downtown into a glitzy commercial area which would push out local business. Margo is set on saving her family’s store, especially after a nasty run-in with the chain-store tycoon, but after Haverford’s body is discovered during a spooky party at the derelict Alexandria Hotel, Margo finds herself dressed as the police’s prime suspect.
 
Anxious to clear her name, Margo begins hunting down anyone who might have wanted Haverford dead. Between all of his malicious maneuverings, the murdered mogul had buckets of people anxious to see him gone. Now, Margo will have to use every trick in the book to find a cloaked killer—before someone else winds up wearing a death shroud...

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Halloween, Cozy, Holiday, Fiction, Adult Fiction

304 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published October 1, 2016

About the author

✨ I use Goodreads to track my reading and TBR list. For that reason, my rating scale is less important. I don't force myself to finish books, and I don't rate books I DNF. Each year I choose my own BOTY from my have-read list. ✨

AUTHOR BIO: Diane Vallere is the national bestselling author of several mystery series. She edited the Agatha Award-winning essay collection Promophobia: Taking the Mystery out of Promoting Crime Fiction. Diane majored in art history at the College of William and Mary and worked in luxury retailing before reigniting her love of fiction. She currently lives in Pennsylvania. Find out more at: www.dianevallere.com.

Amazon: http://bit.ly/DianeVallere
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3nGyOGZ:
Instagram: https://bit.ly/3aVXczm
YouTube: https://bit.ly/2RfiyAE

Reviews

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm jumping into the Costume Shop Mystery series here at book two. What's the best time of year for someone in the costume business? Halloween, of course!

Actually, Halloween is not only a big deal for Margo at Disguise DeLimit, it's a major social event for the whole town. Unfortunately, this year a greedy venture capitalist has ripped through town threatening small businesses, including Margo's. Things continue to go south for Margo when she finds the man dead at his own Halloween gala, and police put her at the top of the list of suspects.

MASKING FOR TROUBLE was a fun read, especially since I adore Halloween. It was nice to "meet" a group of people who appreciate it as much as I do! The cast of characters was delightful, and the mystery itself was pretty good. Margo did a great job coming up with potential culprits, though she had some not-so-smart moves that kept pointing the finger back at her.

Maybe this was addressed in the first book, but I didn't understand the need for Margo and her boyfriend to keep their relationship a secret. First of all, they're adults, and second, their families and friends seem like reasonable, understanding people, so what gives?

Overall, I thought this was a cute cozy mystery with a dash of romance and lots of Halloween fun. I give it 3.75 stars.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Halloween in Proper City, Nevada is a huge deal. It is a week long event all leading up to a big party. This year Proper City has its own version of the Grim Reaper. Paul Haverford has come to town and has been buying up land, homes and businesses all to put his grand plan in motion to kill all of the downtown shops. He wants everything rezoned so he can bring in chain stories, restaurants and gambling. Something the founder of the town and most of the current residents are against.

Margo becomes involved when she learns Haverford is buying the Alexandria Hotel that has been uninhabited for years and the place where the Halloween festivities are scheduled to take place. He also informs her that the costumes from Disguise DeLimit are not allowed in the costume contest. This could majorly affect her bottom line. She doesn’t allow this man to ruin her plans to attend the first night party. She shows up the Alexandria Hotel in costume, but she should have stayed home. She is the one that finds Haverford’s dead body and becomes the prime suspect in his murder.

We were introduced to Margo, her dad, her cat, Soot, Ebony and her dog Ivory, Tak Hoshiyama, Bobbie Kay and Kirby in A Disguise To Die For. They are all back in this story and I grew to love them even more. Margo always makes me smile with her daily attire. The woman is most comfortable in a costume almost 365 days a year. Kirby plays a major role in this story as he gets his whole swim team, in costume, to help at the store at the busiest time of the year. One costume involving sheets had me laughing out loud and telling my family all about it. Margo depends on him so she can check things out to find a better suspect than herself. There turns out to be quite a few.

Diane Vallere has whipped up quite a mystery. Red herrings galore led me way astray. I was completely off when it came to pinning down the real killer.

I enjoyed realistic dialogue and relationships. The relationship between Margo and her dad really warms my heart. They have been through a lot over the years and it has made them and their relationship strong. I was concerned about the relationship between Margo and Tak but by the end they and I came around.

If you like you cozies to tickle your funny bone, this is a story for you. Ms. Vallere has balanced the mystery with plenty of humor. A Perfect Escape Read!

I can’t wait for Dressed to Confess, to visit all these characters again.

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won an assortment of books from another series by this author,so when I saw this, I picked it up. Goodreads drawings DO pay off!

This one features a sleuth that moved back to her home town to take over her father's costume store after he had a heart attack. Costumes are a big deal in this small Nevada desert town.

When a billionaire wants to shut her down, and take over the town, somebody kills him at a costume party. Of course, our sleuth is the prime suspect. She starts poking around, and finds out billionaires have a lot of enemies. The cop in charge, however, has already zoomed in on a suspect...

I thought the "secret romance" stuff was ridiculous from two grown people, but the rest of the novel was fine.

[Tari · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun Halloween book. Margo lives life like Halloween every day by wearing an unusual outfit to work at her costume shop. At Halloween, the whole town of Proper City went all out. I was cracking up at Ebony who was beyond spooked at having to find a new venue for the big Halloween party. Margo and Tak's complicated relationship got a little more complicated when a friend of his rode into the picture and became interested in Margo.

Just picturing Kirby and his whole swim team wearing group costumes to come to work at the costume shop was really funny! The first day they came as fried eggs. (There are some ideas at the end of the book for making some of the costumes mentioned in the story.) Margo was the prime suspect in this murder and was very anxious to get Det. Nichols off her back. There were plenty of possible suspects, but I was totally surprised by the killer. I should have seen it coming, but the writer did a great job fooling me. I'm not sure when I'll get to the next book, but I definitely want to. This book has some awesome characters, and I'm always happy to spend some time visiting in Proper City, Nevada.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s Halloween in Proper City! It was fun getting to see Disguise DeLimit at its peak. I enjoyed reading about all the different costumes. I like Margo and the other characters. The mystery kept me guessing and the culprit came out of left field. There were recipes and costume ideas at the back. Bummed there is only one book left but looking forward to it.

[Mark Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a town that loves costume parties, Halloween is a huge deal, which means things are very busy for Margo Tamblyn in her family’s costume shop, Disguise DeLimit. However, this year things are looking grim thanks to Paul Haverford, who has grand designs for the city, plans that include closing down small shops like Disguise DeLimit. However, when Margo finds Paul’s body at the opening party, she finds herself as the prime suspect. Can she find the killer and clear her name?

I loved the first book in this series because the characters are so wonderful. It was great to see them again and watch their relationships grow and change. The plot was fun and unique, and I enjoyed that as well. Plus the book made great use of the Halloween time frame.

NOTE: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[Lola · Rating 3 out of 5]

As it is almost Halloween I decided this was the perfect moment to finally read Masking for Trouble. Masking for Trouble is the second book in the Costume Shop Mystery series and it takes place around Halloween. I really enjoyed the first book in this series and while this was a great sequel, in my opinion book 1 was better.

What I enjoyed about this book was the focus on the costumes, the costume shop and the Halloween feel. The author really focuses on the costume thing and with the timing around Halloween that was even more prominent. I enjoyed reading about the different costumes and it really brings me in the mood for Halloween. For the most part if was an enjoyable read, it was well written and I easily got into the story.

What I enjoyed less about this book was the mystery and the romance. The mystery started off well, with a dead body and the main character being the main suspect. Sadly after that it felt like it progressed very slowly. I also had trouble keeping two side character separate for some reason. While the book progressed I had no idea who the murder was, I did enjoy the book, but for a long time it felt like the mystery didn't go anywhere. And the police didn't seem to do much other than interview our main character a few times.

My main issue with the mystery was the murderer. It was a good surprise and I didn't predict who the murderer was, but that's also the issue I had as looking back I was unable to find many if any hints toward this person being the murderer. It just felt a bit off as there were no well placed hints about who the murderer was. I also felt like at the end there were some things that could've been wrapped up a bit more. There were a few plot lines that could've been explained/ tied to the murder a bit more at the end in my opinion as now I was left with some questions.

I liked the main character of this book. She's a bit quirky, dressing in costume every day and has her strong points and flaws as well. She is a bit too curious for her own good and gets involved into another murder mystery because of that. I also liked her bond with her father and their dynamic. And I liked we got to see more of familiar side characters as well.

In my review for the first book in this series I remarked how for a chance I actually found a cozy mystery were I liked the romance. Well this book completely turned that around. Margo turned into a doubting mess and the romance was filled with miscommunication, lack of communication and secrets. And there was a lame attempt to turn it into a love triangle. At the end of the book I feel like most of the things got resolved luckily and we got one sweet scene involving the two of them. But for the main part of the book the romance really bothered me.

To summarize: This is a fun cozy mystery set around Halloween. I really enjoyed the focus on the costumes, the costume shop and the Halloween touches. Main character Margo is fun to read about with how she is a bit quirky and dresses in costume, I also liked how it felt pretty natural how she got involved in the mystery. Sadly the mystery didn't quite work for me, I felt like the mystery didn't progress forward a lot, until the end. I hadn't figured out who the murderer was, so that was good. But it felt like there weren't enough hints to point to this person, so that felt a bit off. I didn't care for the romance in this book. I really liked Tak and Margo in book 1, but this book was full with miscommunication, lack of communication and secrets. I do hope the romance will be better in book 3 as most of it got resolved by the end of the book. All in all it was a fun Halloween themed read.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had not read any of the previous books in this series so this was a stand alone for me and it did just fine that way. The author gave enough info here and there to help understand anything you were unclear about in previous books.
Very well thought out book. Loved the Halloween theme which is why I bought the book to begin with. I would deff read more in the series.
Likable characters(though the main character does something in this book that is highly improbable and ridiculous) Great setting, loved the town, the people and their situations.

[Sapphyria · Rating 5 out of 5]

From My Review of Book 1, A Disguise to Die For ~~

On the edge of Las Vegas sits the small town of Proper, Nevada. A sleepy little town, Proper doesn't have much to pull in tourists. In the heart of the town sits Disguise DeLimit Costume Shop, made famous when the residents decided that costume parties were the way to go.

Review of Book 2, Masking for Trouble ~~

For a costume shop and a small town that thrives on costume parties, Halloween is THE social event. As the town prepares a week of festivities, Margo is running Desguise DeLimit while her father is travelling. Busy is an understatement and Margo informally employs local guys from the swim team to help out. As day one of the festivities approaches, Margo is served with paperwork from a business tycoon indicating that, legally, her shop and its costumes are not eligible for entry into this year's costume contest. Companies not on the tycoon's payroll are being shunned from Halloween activities.

The week started off with a party in the Alexandria Hotel to kick off Halloween week. Although, technically not allowed to enter the contests, Margo and her friends attend the party anyway. When the tycoon is found dead by Margo all of Margo's actions are scrutinized and she becomes suspect number one. Now, Margo must juggle the shop, the festivities, and finding a murderer before she winds up in jail or dead, herself.

The author, just as in book 1, does an excellent job taking the reader on wild goose chases throughout the novel. Many characters, new and familiar, are developed in ways that certainly could point toward being the murder. The characters have the means and motives to want Haverford extinguished permanently. With the police honed in only on Margo, she fears that she'll end up in jail while the real murderer goes free. So, our amateur sleuth does what she must to clear her name and out the real killer.

Diane Vallere has done a wonderful job continuing the world building in the second Costume Shop Mystery. Margo has settled back into Proper and now manages the shop. She still uses the costumes in her family's shop to become other people but her personality shines through them all. She is determined to successfully run the shop and clear her name, showing a strength that is admirable. Her amateur sleuthing does cause tensions to run high. She's smart and doesn't intentionally put herself in harm's way.

The book has depth and the plot is solid. The dialogue between the characters is fluid and the story is fast paced. The murderer(s) is hidden among a myriad of potential suspects and isn't easily figured out. I was actually a bit surprised in who the murdered ended up being. Masking for Trouble is a fantastic 2nd book in the Costume Shop Mystery series by Diane Vallere.

ARC review copy courtesy of the publisher, at no cost, in exchange for an honest review.

[Debbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

If all you want is a nice character and lots of costumes (the cozy aspect) and don't need a coherent mystery, then you might enjoy this book. I appreciate that there was no sex and only a very minor amount of bad language. However, I read the book because of a cover quote saying that Margo was savvy and smart. She didn't strike me that way in this book.

She's a major suspect for good reasons, so what does she do? Randomly poke around the crime scene and victim's office...like this will make her less suspicious? While she discovered several people with motives so she could divert the detective's attention, Margo did very little in terms of finding actual clues/evidence that would point to whodunit. Hitting my top pet peeve, she only discovers whodunit by being attacked by the murder. How is that smart and savvy?

Margo's reasoning at the end is really, really forced to create the suspenseful ending. The victim is killed in a crowded event, and no one but the victim is hurt. Near the end, Margo thinks she might be in danger. Rather than stay surrounded by her friends at a crowded event, she tells them she doesn't want to put anyone else in danger and is going off to be alone. They barely protest. What friends! And why does she think they'd be in danger?

There were several things about the mystery that were never explained and really needed to be in order for it to work. The author apparently hoped no one would question what she says, but it just didn't hold together in my mind. I was pretty disappointed.

I received this book as a review copy from the publisher.

[3 no 7 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book centers around a murder, greedy land development, and double crossing business partners and yet it is a funny book. How can one not enjoy a book about a whole town dressing up in costumes and having a Halloween Party?

If you want plot details, read another review, but i will tell you that it is a fun book to read. The premise of the whole town is absurd, and that is what makes it enjoyable to read. The characters are light and funny, and one forgets that someone was killed.

You don't have to over-tax your brain, but you do have to laugh a lot.
Quick, easy, and fun.

[Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first 2/3 of this book. The main character was quirky in an interesting way, as were all of her friends (some of the side characters are really delightful). there are lots of Halloween details, which is awesome, because a lot of cozies will just briefly touch on Halloween and then it's like, what's the point. but in this one, there are parties, costumes, decorating etc.

In the last third of the book, there were a lot of issues with a lack of communication (ex/between Margo and Tak, her secret boyfriend), where a simple conversation could have removed all of the tension. It always seems so contrived to me when characters refuse to exchange like 2 clarifying sentences, even when they're in a car together for an hour. also, every time the police questioned Margo, her response was to say, "what about this person? and this person? why are you investigating me when they're so suspicious?" she's like a little rat! and this is a small town, you could ruin pretty much all your relationships by continuously accusing friends and acquaintances of murder. plus, it seems like a terrible tactic to tell the police that you're not guilty because other people are more suspicious; of course the police should investigate her, and if it's so upsetting, stop putting yourself in these ridiculously suspicious situations.

those little gripes aside, this is a fun fall/Halloween cozy.

[Katreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

MASKING FOR TROUBLE by Diane Vallere
The Second Costume Shop Mystery

It's closing in on Halloween in Proper City and Margo Tamblyn is in charge of Disguise De-Limit, the family costume shop, while her dad is living his dream of traveling the country looking for unique costumes. A nasty surprise comes in the form of newcomer Paul Haverford who is planning to buy up the town and turn it into a cookie cutter conglomerate of strip malls and box stores. His first step is blocking any company he doesn't own from winning the town's costume contest, thus Disguise De-Limit and its customers, and secondly teaching the town a lesson by making an example of Margo and her business. Discovering his plan too late, Margo goes to the costume party, but will she be able to save Halloween and her store?!

Have you ever neglected to do something, perhaps you didn't even know you had to do, and a whole mountain of misfortune follows? Or have you ever done something childish and silly only to find the ramifications somewhat dire? In MASKING FOR TROUBLE Margo does both and finds herself prime suspect in the murder of Paul Haverford! What with trying to keep up during her store's busiest season, dealing with her secret relationship with Tak and the interest of another man, and helping Ebony host the new Halloween event, Margo hardly has time to look into the murder herself. Yet she still finds time to poke around and put herself in danger when she least suspects it!

Margo Tamblyn is one of the most unique characters in cozy novels today. She endlessly recreates who she is by wearing different costumes each day. Yet she is able to be likeable, vulnerable yet strong, dependable and fun yet somehow fragile. She's a woman who is able to take care of herself, but is faced with doubts, even about herself. She continues to hide who she really is and hiding proves to be a main theme in this book. Margo and Tak are hiding their relationship. Margo's dad is hiding his plans. Several other people are hiding things too, which result in some unexpected results.

Diane Vallere continues her Costume Shop Mystery series with a super Halloween entry. What a perfect backdrop for this series. The writing is crisp, the plot complex with multiple motives and interesting characters. With recipes and costume tips this book is a great read at any time of year, but extra special in October.

FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a copy of this book in the hopes I would review it.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the perfect seasonal cozy to read in October. It takes place right before Halloween and Margo, the main character, runs a family owned costume shop. Talk about a fun setting! Margo not only dresses up every single day, but she helps all of the locals frantically find their perfect Halloween costumes. I enjoyed seeing her ideas and got a good laugh figuring out what the swim team was going to dress up as each day.

The mystery kicks off with a murder at a Halloween party. This was another entertaining setting with lots of action and festive descriptions. There were several plausible suspects and a few quirky red herrings along the way. I was happy for correctly picking out the culprit half way through the story, but still had to piece together the reasoning behind the crime.

What really made this cozy was all of the wonderful side characters. I absolutely adored Margo’s dad and their relationship. His story of coping with his wife’s passing was very touching. I also was intrigued by this new, secretive relationship with Tak. Loved seeing an Asian love interest! I also liked his family and the way they incorporated their heritage into the Halloween festival. This is the first book I’ve read in the series. I had no problem jumping right in, but I’m definitely going back to read book 1 to learn how Tak and Margo met!

The book includes some Halloween themed recipes and a few, easy costume ideas!

[Once Upon a Romance Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewed by Wendy
Sexual Content: None
Language (Profanity/Slang) Content: None
Violent Content: Minimal

Masking for Trouble is the second book in the “Costume Shop” Mystery Series by Diane Vallere.

Margo Tamblyn runs a costume shop business known as Disguise DeLimit. While getting ready for Halloween and her shops busiest time of year, Margo gets an unwelcome visit from Paul Haverford, a man determined to turn Halloween and the town into a bigger, glitzier affair As luck would have it, Margo finds Haverford’s body at the town’s Halloween party and immediately becomes the chief suspect in his murder.

Masking for Trouble has a little bit of everything; mystery, a hint of romance and plenty of humor. Margo is a smart, strong heroine who works hard to run her shop, keep her budding romance with Tak a secret , fend off Cooper, Tak’s friend and solve a murder.

Masking for Trouble is a well developed mystery with interesting characters and plenty of suspects to keep the reader guessing. The pace is a little slow at times, but overall, a good read.

-- WENDY

[Stormi (StormReads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first book in this series so I knew I would like this one! What is not to love about a Halloween themed cozy mystery set in a costume shop! :)

Margo is still getting used to running the costume shop on her own now that her dad has decided to travel around looking for cool things to bring back to the shop. She wants him to be proud of her so she doesn't want anything to go wrong. Of course, it does and in spades.

Halloween is very popular and taken very serious in Proper City and Disguise DeLimit has always had a bit hand in that. There is always a kick-off party and a costume contest, which they win every year. This time, though someone has bought the hotel that it was going to be at and has stated that only business bought up by this man can be eligible to enter a contest. They are not one of those stores.

She didn't learn about it until the day of the party so she goes and gets all mad at the man, then goes to the party anyway. So of course, he is going to end up dead and Margo is going to be the prime suspect. There are plenty of people that might want to see Paul dead but it seems like Nancy (Margo's secret boyfriend's ex-girlfriend) isn't very willing to look for another suspect, so of course, Margo must find out who the killer is.

I like Margo but at times she really drives me a bit crazy as she is a little whiny when it comes to her relationship with Tak. They are adults and secret relationships just don't work and it drove me crazy. I like Tak but at times I was like speak up, tell him you're in a relationship with Margo, don't just let her go hang out with the guy...err.

I love the secondary characters, Kirby the young man who works with her, her father, and best friend Bobby are all a lot of fun.

It has a good mystery as I was really hopping around on who I thought might have done it. I did kind of have my suspicions on who it was but had to wait and see if I was right. :)

Overall, it was a lot of fun and if you like cozies then you need to give it a try!!

[Shawna Shaheen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2. It is Halloween. This series is about Margo and her dad that own a Costume Shop. Deguise DeLimit .Any costumes imaginable for any kinda events. Well Margo was secretly dating Tak . Margo thought that Tak father would not approve of them. But she heard that Tak went to a rival shop with no other then his ex cop girlfriend so Margo was hurt. A guy Cooper was acting interested in her. A man came into Margo Costume Shop and he withdrew some papers and told her that she will not be participating in the Costume contest at a hotel that he owned. and neither will her costumers and if they did then they would be sued. So it was the rivals that the costumes were allowed to participate in. Well Margo and her friend Bobbie ( Margo friend) went to Contest but we're not going to participate. Margo found the man dead.so she was the number 1 suspect. Something was fishy about the man. Loved all the different costumes they carry on Deguise DeLimit. Even Margo dresses up everyday with new costumes just like she did when she was young. Loved the Halloween Party that Tak threw for her at end of bookso she could watch it since she was distracted by a murderer while it was going on

[Nina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really cute story idea, Disguise DeLimit, a costume shop. Funny laugh out loud entertaining read, loved the characters and the setting the author Diane Vallere created in this cozy mystery.

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick and fun read.

[OpenBookSociety.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

http://openbooksociety.com/article/ma...

Masking for Trouble
Costume Shop Mystery, Book #2
By Diane Vallere
ISBN: 9780425278291
Author website: http://www.dianevallere.com
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Kayt

Synopsis:

Halloween brings more tricks than treats for costume shop owner Margo Tamblyn in the second in a new cozy series from the national bestselling author of the Material Witness Mysteries.

Halloween conjures up big business for Margo Tamblyn’s costume shop, Disguise DeLimit, but this year, the holiday comes knocking with serious trouble. Venture capitalist Paul Haverford plans to rezone historic downtown into a glitzy commercial area which would push out local business. Margo is set on saving her family’s store, especially after a nasty run-in with the chain-store tycoon, but after Haverford’s body is discovered during a spooky party at the derelict Alexandria Hotel, Margo finds herself dressed as the police’s prime suspect.

Anxious to clear her name, Margo begins hunting down anyone who might have wanted Haverford dead. Between all of his malicious maneuverings, the murdered mogul had buckets of people anxious to see him gone. Now, Margo will have to use every trick in the book to find a cloaked killer—before someone else winds up wearing a death shroud… (Goodreads)

Review:

Masking for Trouble is the perfect cozy Halloween reading. What better setting for the witchy season than a costume shop. Author Diane Vallere has already proven the costume shop can fit into any season or occasion in Proper City. She hits it out of the park with this one set at the perfect time of the year. Protagonist Margo Tamblyn is hitting her stride running and owning the family costume shop Disguise DeLimit. Business is booming in the time leading up to the week long celebration for Halloween. Everything is going well until evil incarnate walks through the shop door in the guise of venture capitalist Paul Haverford.

Mr. Haverford presents Margo with legalize telling her only costumes from his businesses are eligible for the contest held every year at the party thrown to start the big week of Halloween celebrations. Her store has a tradition of winning. Not only that but he owns the old abandoned Alexander Hotel where the party is being held. Margo and the store assistant Kirby try to call their customers to let them know the news. Then she decides to pay the scoundrel a visit and ends up tearing the legal document into shreds and leaving. Nothing is going to stop her from going to the party. Although Margo wishes she had not when she discovers Paul Haverford murdered and herself as the prime suspect.

With all of the shady dealings Haverford had going, it is not hard for Margo to find other suspects, but the police do not seem interested. He had planned on turning their quaint town into a small Vegas and there was no stopping him, until someone murdered him. City leaders, a wild seismologist, other townsfolk all had reason to want him gone and his plan stopped. All the while Margo searches to clear her name, she also has other problems to deal with and not enough time. Her father is stuck out of town at the beginning of the week and her and Kirby are ran off their feet. When he does arrive home, Margo worries he may finally be dating and want his privacy. Her secret relationship with Tak is going nowhere and she gets information that leads her to worry about his feelings for her. Time is running out and she is one busy bee.

I really enjoyed Masking for Trouble. I love Margo, her intelligence, quirky conversations and her eclectic friends. The characters are well developed and very likable. The mystery is well plotted. I thought I knew whodunit, then thought I was all wrong and it all eventually came back around. The only thing I did not truly enjoy is the abundance of descriptive information, but I am just weird that way. Margo is the queen of costume design and author Diane Vallere has written another delightful read that does not disguise her prowess in the cozy mystery genre.

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*

[Bree · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how Diane Vallere writes, there is wit, humor and a great thrill in each book. I felt that reading Masking for Trouble, was like revisiting an old friend and helping her keep the town in one piece. I truly, though was eager to read this book and have had my mourning time of finishing it.

I think that readers will find this book to hit home for the Halloween season. And I hope you find yourselves in a the thick of this new investigation, and hopefully help Margo clear her name!

For full review please check out : https://bibliophile.reviews/book-revi...

[Silvara Wilde · Rating 3 out of 5]

Check out my other reviews, discussions and link ups at Fantasy of the Silver Dragon.

I received this book for free from Berkley Prime Crime in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

I really liked Tak in the first book. But for a lot of this one I wanted to smack him. His and Margo's relationship was a fairly big plot point in the book, and all of it seemed like it was heading towards bad news. I guess it was fairly realistic in some ways, that neither one really talked to the other about the issues until towards the end of the book. But it didn't add anything to the main mystery for me, it just annoyed me.

I had no idea who the killer was, until a chapter or so before the reveal. It made sense, but I never would have figured it out on my own. There were a few other people I was suspecting, but they didn't end up linked in the plot.

I liked getting to know the secondary characters from the first book better, and a few of the new characters were interesting as well. I especially liked Margo's interactions with her father. It was both believable, as well as funny at times. All the characters are developed enough that they feel real, and each one has their own distinct quirks.

I think I liked the first book better, but not by much. If you're looking for a fun and unique setting for a cozy mystery series, you need to give this a try!


Recipes Included: Margo's Gangster Blueberry Smoothie, Mummy Dogs, Halloween-Themed Tortilla Chips, Halloween Pico De Gallo.

Costume Ideas & Instructions Included: Eggs Sunny Side Up Costume, Easy (and Inexpensive) Mummy Costume, Group Costume Idea: M&M's.

This review was originally posted on Fantasy of the Silver Dragon

[Brooke Banks · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Good
+Liked Margo, her pathology
+Positive therapy rep
+Didn’t see the culprit or ending coming
+Liked the details & intricacies of the relationships, town,
+Unique protag and setting There is a loose end...
+Plan to continue the series

The Bad & The Other
=Lots of em dashes mid-sentence to clarify who Margo was talking about, e.g., “I waited until she left—the waitress, not Bobbie—before resuming the conversation.”
-Info dumps sprinkled throughout for details on the relationships, businesses, and city
- “Didn’t realize we were going for a couple’s costume” MY FAT ASS! Makes 0 sense.
-Ebony and Tak feel like stereotypes


As you can see, I agree with the all the praise listed above and don’t have much to add besides the less than stellar aspects.

It’s exactly what I look for in a cozy mystery. It’s all about the people, the relationships surrounding the crime and Margo’s an amateur snooping around. It doesn’t take over her life since she has to run her shop and there’s reasons why law enforcement isn’t getting it done.

My favorite thing about Margo is her pathology. She has issues and reasons for those issues. It’s a life-long problem that she’s aware of and dealing with. I adore the fact she takes about coping mechanisms and therapy is a positive experience.

Her and her dad are so cute. Hell, cute is a great way to describe most of her relationships. Though her romantic life is messy. And I cannot forget her adorbs kitty, Soot.

I can’t say much about the mystery besides the fact I didn’t see that coming. The villainous exposition was a requirement because of the oh what factor. Unfortunately, there is a loose end that I’d love the answer to. I’m not quite sure how they would’ve pulled it off, TBH.

[Karen B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

started during Dewey 24 hour Readathon
I recently read the first book in this series and liked it so much that I knew I wanted to read the next in the series. What a better season to set a mystery in the costume shop than on Halloween! Once again the author gives us a good list of suspects that kept me guessing throughout and it turned out ... well I can't give away a spoiler but the author kept me guessing right to the end. Of course Margo gets herself in dangerous situations, not once, but several times and once again she is one of the suspects for the murder because she found the body. Will the city of Proper still be able to carry on its annual Halloween party now that a murder was committed at the scheduled site and site is off-limits? I am glad Margo's dad played a more active part in this novel than in the first. I've come to look forward the humor of Ebony's character. She reminds me a little of Lula in the Stephanie Plum series. A great cozy series; can't wait for the next one.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Halloween is the second most loved holiday in the US for decorations but the TOP holiday for costumes. What better place to celebrate than in a small town where people dress up for all occasions. Can Margo really go home again? She's trying to take care of her father's costume shop at the busiest time of the year and trying to figure out her own life. When she finds out someone wants her to fail, perhaps at both, she has to get her act together.
Author Diane Vallere keeps us guessing, not only about the who dunnit but also about the actions and motivations of a whole host of other characters.Poor Margo is always at the center of the conflicts.
Even the people she believes she can depend upon and trust the most have surprises for her.

I enjoyed the spookiness and the strong characters and all the tips I got about pulling together a wonderful haunted celebration of my own!

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review but also because I love this author!

[Leslie aka StoreyBook Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so loving this series! This is only the 2nd book but I hope there are many more to come. I love the costume shop and that Margo dresses in costumes every day. Just adds a quirky flair to the story line, but that is something the author is good at as I have seen this in her other books.

The mystery itself threw me for a loop and my jaw dropped when the killer was revealed. Totally did not see that one coming. I don't even think I had a clue as to who to even suspect.

Margo has a secret romance going with Tak that she met in the first book. They are keeping the relationship on the down-lo, and this is not necessarily a good thing because it causes a lot of miscommunication between them. Hopefully they figure it out!

[Erika · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think it would be great to live in a town that loves costume parties and Halloween this much! Margo is such a quirky character – whether she is working in her family’s costume shop or just running errands, she’s always in costume. When a business man interested in developing the small town into something more modern and profitable threatens to run Margo’s shop out of business, she is understandably angry. When she finds his dead body at a Halloween party she wasn’t invited to, she becomes the prime suspect. Rather than trust the police to find the real killer, Margo decides to investigate on her own. This was a unique story, and a perfect read for this time of year.

NOTE: I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review – all opinions expressed are my own.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Masking for Trouble by Diane Vallere, this is the second book in her A Costume Shop Mystery series and it was a very fun Halloween Read. I love the idea of a town that goes all out for Halloween, I think I could find myself quite welcome and comfortable there. Costume shop owners daughter/ general manager Margo has her hands full the week before Halloween when a large corporation threatens the daily life of not only her shop at her busiest time of year but also the way of life in Proper City! This was a very enjoyable read and perfect for this time of year!

[Charlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Glad I won this free book from Goodreads.com.
This is a young adult book (that's not me anymore) that caught my interest from the beginning to the end. A murder mystery that keeps you guessing all the way thru the story with multiple suspects. AND that's how the story goes. Is it her - the story-teller - is it him or the other guy - is it the cop - is it the boyfriend and there you have it.
The story revolves around the murder at a Halloween party that just happened and the next Halloween party that will take place on Halloween night in a few days.
A well-written book.

[Jane Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Masking for Trouble is the second book in the Costume Shop Mysteries starring Margo Tamblyn, and takes place about six months after the action of Book #1, A Disguise to Die For (my review here). Masking for Trouble can be read as a standalone, because Author Diane Vallere adds enough backstory from A Disguise to Die For so that readers new to the series can keep up.

The costume shop mentioned above is Disguise deLimit, the family shop of Margo and her father Jerry, located in Proper City, Nevada. Proper City was founded by Pete Proper to be a sort of anti-Las Vegas, with gambling, casinos, and factories outlawed. Instead, the town is renowned for their costume parties, because the residents love to dress up for any and all occasions (and sometimes for no reason at all). Even cats dress up.

Soot, my cranky smoke-gray cat, swarmed around my ankles and meowed at me. Perhaps a dog would have been willing to wear a costume around the shop, but the most I'd been able to get Soot to wear was a tiny necktie that hung from his collar.

Margo dresses up year-round, a habit which began in early childhood. Instead of shopping for school clothes at a mall, she chose her clothes from the vast array (5,000+) of costumes in the shop.

"Costume shop? Is that why you're dressed up?"
I looked down at my gangster outfit. "I'm not dressed up. What's wrong with what I'm wearing?"
"It's — nothing. It's unique."


"Because you were dressed like a park ranger. But seriously, a park ranger?" He looked at me like he didn't really believe me.
"The rest of the year it's more like an accessory here and there, but it's our busy season at the store so I step things up a bit."
"Why aren't you in a costume tonight?"
"I am." I glanced at my suit again. "This is my Normal Woman costume."
"Do you wear that one often?"
"I've never worn it before in my life."

In Proper City, Halloween is a very big deal. It lasts a week, not a day, and is launched with the annual kickoff party, held this year at the Alexandria Hotel.

...October was to our costume shop what April was to tax accountants.... Our whole town of Proper City went a little crazy around Halloween, and somewhere in the eighties the Proper City High School had adjusted their curriculum to include a weeklong break.

At the end of Masking for Trouble, Author Diane Vallere has included recipes perfect for a Halloween party, as well as instructions for three costumes and ideas for ten more.

Many cast members from the previous book are present in Masking for Trouble, including Margo's dad Jerry, her good friend Ebony, her special friend Tak, BFF Bobbie Kay, part-time shop employee Kirby, and Detective Nichols. Some of the new characters are Paul Haverford, his silent partner Bill Perth, Tak's friend and former co-worker Cooper Price, seismologist Francine Wheeler, and Annette Crowley from the Clark County Conservancy.

Masking for Trouble is a fun, quick read that I didn't want to put down. I had to finish it in two days, to discover whodunit. Author Diane Vallere has included several likely suspects, and I suspected all of them — except the actual perpetrator. Can you figure it out before Margo does?

Author Diane Vallere made me LOL many times, between the witty dialogue and humorous situations in Masking for Trouble. I am looking forward to reading Book #3 in the Costume Shop Mystery series!

I recommend Masking for Trouble to all fans of cozy mysteries, particularly fans of Diane's other series. I think it will have special appeal to fans who love to dress up, costume parties, and Halloween.

I really enjoyed Masking for Trouble, and bestow upon it Four Stars!


Note: I received a complimentary copy of Masking for Trouble from the author,in exchange for my honest review. All opinions shared are 100% my own.

Originally published on my blog at Jane Reads