Murder in Crimson Velvet

Bridal Shop Mystery #2

by Karen Sue Walker

What's worse than a demanding diva? A dead one! Max Walters has her hands full with her job in a bridal salon when she's called upon to help with the costumes at Crystal Shores Playhouse. When an actress confides she's afraid for her life, Max doesn't take her seriously until the actress ends up dead. Is it a tragic accident as everyone is meant to believe, or is it really murder? With her friend and assistant Keiko, Max searches for the truth. Will she find it? Or will a murderer go free?

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Contemporary, Cozy, Mystery Thriller, Amazon

212 pages, ebook

Published July 9, 2017

About the author

Karen Sue Walker is a lover of cozy mysteries, from Agatha Christie to Joanne Fluke. When not working or writing, she spends time with her very talented daughter and ever so fun granddaughter.

Reviews

[Tari · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a quick and fun read, kind of lighter mystery but still a good story and I didn't figure out the killer until the author chose to reveal it. I had my suspicions but wasn't sure why.

Max Walters works in a bridal shop called Wedding Belles and loves her job most of the time, especially because her co-worker Keiko is such a fun and creative person to be around. Working for her boss Darlene isn't always wedding cake and candy though so when Max's friend Eric offers to financially back her in her own wedding shop venture, Max starts dreaming of the day when she can leave Wedding Belles.

In the meantime, Darlene's husband manages the local theater productions and needs someone to fill in as seamstress because his pregnant costume maker is now home on bed rest. Max and Keiko take on the challenge which includes a diva of a lead actress playing Juliet falling to her death from a balcony that doesn't look like it would kill someone to take the fall. When it's ruled accidental, handsome Detective Cruz as much as tells Max that it's ok with him if Max continues to look into things as long as she reports back to him. He remembers her first case even though he won't let her forget that he saved her skin despite the fact that she did solve it.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this second book but I definitely want to go back and read the first one. It was easy to get to know the characters even though I hadn't read the first book though. Keiko was such a likable person that I can see why Max enjoys going to work. The author does a great job of fleshing out the characters and I thought the addition of a little old woman who brought tea to the girls at the theater was very cute. You'll have to read and see who she turns out to be. A very enjoyable lighter mystery!

[Linda Langford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m enjoying this well-written cozy series. I enjoy reading about wedding dresses and bridal shops. This second book in the series deals more with making costumes for a theatre production of Romeo and Juliet. The eclectic cast is interesting and provides a lot of suspects who might be murderers. It is a lighter read and moves fast.

[Sandee · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this second book in the series, Max's boss at the Bridal shop volunteers her to finish the costumes for a play her husband is producing. Max takes the new role seriously. She loves designing and creating. But when an accident on set results in death, Max just can't accept that it was an accident. A touch of romance, best friends, a well-plotted murder and an adorable cat. I enjoyed this read and immediately picked up the next book.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. The story flowed very well and was very enjoyable. This book will keep you reading long into the night and you will not want to put this book down until you finish. This was such a great read and full of surprises. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader’s copy of this book. The free book held no determination on my personal review.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

I really loved this book. What a relaxing read. Max is a great character, and Keiko her assistant. I hope there is many stories to come.

[Jeanie Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second in a fun cozy series. I enjoy Murder in Crimson Velvet as much as I did the first book of the series and can't wait for the next one. Although it was the fact that the series revolves around a bridal shop that first drew me to the series, for most of this book, Max is mostly working on costumes for Romeo and Juliet after the regular costume designer had to drop out. The bride for whom Keiko designed the "fairy" wedding dress in the last book, loves the the finished product as much as Max though she would. Max's friend Eric has offered to invest in her dream of owning a bridal store. There an many things to consider but what a wonderful chance it could be! Especially now that her boss is being more of a pain than usual. This second book is over all a great visit with a fairly new friend.

[Cozybooklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder in Crimson Velvet by Karen Sue Walker is the second book in this series.
I really connected with the characters in the first book and I was even more enamored in this one.
Max is a strong, confident woman who is a talented dress maker.
Max fills her time working in a bridal salon, even though her dream is to open her own shop.
Her shop assistant is Keiko, an up and coming fashion designer. Max and Keiko develop a fast friendship and they make me laugh with their crazy sleuthing antics.
I can't wait to read book three!

I voluntarily read an ARC of this book provided by the publisher and NetGalley.

[DelAnne Frazee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Murder in Crimson Velvet - Bridal Shop Mystery Book 2
Author: Karen Sue Walker
Publisher: Karen Sue Walker
Published: 1-28-2017
Pages: 181
Genre: Mystery, Thrillers & Suspense
Sub-Genre: Women Sleuths; Crafts, Hobbies, Cozy Mystery, Amateur Sleuths;
ISBN: 9781548171599
ASIN: B073V63GXC
Reviewed For NetGalley and Karen Sue Walker
Reviewer: DelAnne
Rating: 4.75 Stars


Max Walters can't believe Celeste Budieman, leading lady in Romeo and Juliette and her arch nemesis from middle school, really believes what she is saying. That she believes that she is about to die because some "Madam Giana" has a vision of it. It has to be trick , right? Then Celeste is found dead and everyone believes it is an accident. Max doesn't buy it and begins to investigate. With a wide range of suspects with the cast and crew will Max find a killer before the last call and the final curtain falls on her?


From the very start you are fascinated with the wide range of eccentric characters and the action taking place on the page. Follow Max as she searches for answers in her investigation into Celeste's death and why someone wanted her dead. Max is a strong character with a talent for ferreting out the truth. Touches of humor and a whole lot of suspense make this a fun read.


My rating of "Murder in Crimson Velvet - Bridal Shop Mystery Book 2" is 4.75 out of 5 stars.


Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073V63GXC/...

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Twitter Link: https://twitter.com/DelAnne531/status...

[Marsha Keeper Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed at Keeper Bookshelf

Max and friends have another murder mystery on their hands in Murder in Crimson Velvet. There’s nothing quite like a former “mean girl” to get everyone riled up, even long after school is far behind them all. This time it looks like the actress’ death wasn’t as accidental as people thought. Now there’s a murder to solve and keeping out of trouble has never been Max or Keiko’s specialty.

I’ve read both stories (so far) in this series and with established characters now familiar to me, Murder in Crimson Velvet flowed very smoothly. There are twists and turns, a bit of a romance brewing and as always the crazy antics that Max gets herself into while solving this newest mystery. The story is engaging, the dead person had not always been very nice and the villain will take a while to reveal. I enjoyed myself and would recommend this story and the previous to any reader who enjoys a good Cozy Mystery.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

[Nadine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed it!!!

Max, the very likeable amateur sleuth, has a new case. Celeste was her arch nemesis in middle school, making Max’s life miserable. Now she’s dead. Was it an accident? Or murder? Max, smart, curious and persistent as she is, cannot help but investigate the suspicious death. Meanwhile she has to work in the bridal salon and as costumer at the theater and… no, I’m not gonna give everything away, just read for yourself! Throw in a hunky police detective and a former high school classmate who has his eye on Max, and you just know you’re in for a treat!

The writing has definitely improved compared to book #1! Especially the conversations, they flow much, much better. Good plot, pleasant read. A lot of the book has to do with sewing costumes and I really liked it. Fashion meets murder mystery! I would definitely recommend this book.

I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy of this book.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unexpected Culprit
"What's worse than a demanding diva? A dead one! Max Walters has her hands full with her job in a bridal salon when she's called upon to help with the costumes at Crystal Shores Playhouse. When an actress confides she's afraid for her life, Max doesn't take her seriously until the actress ends up dead. Is it a tragic accident as everyone is meant to believe, or is it really murder? With her friend and assistant Keiko, Max searches for the truth. Will she find it? Or will a murderer go free?"
The culprit was unexpected. It was a little bit too easy to be a bad person. I borrowed this book from Kindle Unlimited. This in no way affects my opinion of this book.

[Hanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

For such a short read it's surprisingly well developed. Both in terms of character development as well as story telling.
It kept you guessing throughout, might've had my suspicions, but it was by no means obvious.
Gotta love Keiko, Eric, Fiona, Teresa, Evelyn, River, Richard and the handsome detective. Max still hasn't fully grown on me. Of course, the whole Bryan thing didn't help matters either. One date, one kiss and she completely looses her head, even though she's supposedly been crushing on someone else for awhile now.
Still the rest of the gang more than make up for her and the story keeps reading well into the night. :)

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this a fun read. I enjoyed the characters and the storyline was interesting with enough red herrings to keep me guessing.

One criticism - the author did explain Max's mistaken soul mate from high school and the circumstances around it once too often, I feel. I appreciated her explaining how and why in the first instance, especially as I had not read book 1 but any further mention of Andy shouldn't require further elaboration. However, it did not majorly mar my enjoyment of the story and I look forward to book 3. I received a free copy of this book for review

[Stewart Hoffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the author’s second mystery and another solid piece of work. Karen Sue Walker’s little coastal world is fun to visit, and her characters are a pleasure to spend time with. The mystery elements are handled well, and details connecting the dots are delivered at a steady fun pace. I also like the author’s delicate sense of humor, and while this cosy tale isn’t designed to be a laugh riot, when the jokes do arrive, they nearly always hit their mark. Recommended.

[MARY JANE CLARK · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another cozy mystery

Every once in a while I need to take a break from "serious" reading and this author provides the opportunity. Second in this series, I really didn't guess the culprit until revealed....that's a good thing! Lovely bit of escapism with characters that continue to be developed.
The plot is straightforward, the locale is well described, the characters interesting.

[Debbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Playing Juliet

Max is thinking about opening her own bridal shop. But in the meantime, there's a murder to solve. Celeste, a girl she knew in school, used to bully her alot. Now she playing Juliet at the community theater. Standing on a balcony, rehearsing a scene from the play, she falls to her death. As is Max's habit, she tries to solve the murder while fawning over the officer on the case, Detective Cruz. Fun little story! I give it 2 1/2 stars.

[Krystyna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Accident or murder - that is the question?

Good read. Helping the theatre group with their costumes was stressful but a murder was really too much. Was the death an accident gone wrong? Can she clear up the details before opening night? Will she ever find the premises for her store? A good read but not spectacular. It is however better than the first book.
I got a free copy of this book for a honest review.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Stitch in Time can Solve a Crime

Not again could it possibly be true another murder so soon I mean twice in less than a year or was it an accident as it looked to be?Time to enjoy the second Bridle Shop Mystery,I know you think the first was a wanderfull read but this one has outdone the first. So pick up a copy and start enjoying the fabulous caracters and mystery of Murder in Crimson Velvet. Kat

[Celest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Great Mystery

I really enjoyed reading this book by Karen Sue Walker, she knows how to weave an intriguing mystery. The characters are all so much fun, I especially love Max and Keiko. We're finally getting to know a little bit about Detective Jason Cruz. Solving this mystery was not easy, but as usual Max kept digging until all of the clues fell into place. Now I'm on to book number 3.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great story. It will keep you guessing until the end. Cozy mysteries are light and fun, but full of intrigue and suspense.

The characters and the plot are well developed. This is a great book to read while sitting by the pool, on the beach or in front of a fire place - or anywhere else for that matter.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great story. It will keep you guessing until the end. Cozy mysteries are light and fun, but full of intrigue and suspense.

The characters and the plot are well developed. This is a great book to read while sitting by the pool, on the beach or in front of a fire place - or anywhere else for that matter.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another thoroughly enjoyable, cozy mystery from Ms Walker. Parts of it were a bit more predictable, but then she did surprise me with who actually "done it" (the murder). I love these mysteries as they aren't graphically gory, they are loaded with food and friends, and they're just the right size for an enjoyable afternoon read.

I received an ARC; this review is my own.

[Nancy Vega · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not Again! An accident or murder?

Another death & mystery for Max to take upon herself to solve at the community theatre. It's all work and no play but Detective Crus is keeping a close watch.

[Penny · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not very cozy

Disappointed in the plot and in the lack of depth in use of the English language – limited vocabulary and not imaginative. The characters weren't very interesting either.

[Trevenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. Loved the characters and although I had a few guesses I didn't know who the murderer was until the story finally revealed it. Good easy read . Would recommend it to those who like cozy murder mysteries! Enjoy!

[Sandra Olson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute

The idea for this story was good and I liked the characters, but the story dragged in several places with Max repeatedly going over and over the same thoughts.
It would be great if some of the fluff that distracted from the story was removed.

[Beth Fischer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun who done it.

If you want to get a young teenager to read mysterious books. This is the author to follow. NOTHING NASTY and very respectful. She keeps you ready and growing close to her characters. So glad I came across her.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun cozy mystery set near Newport Beach CA. I recently went on vacation and stayed at Newport Coast. Several of the restaurants mentioned are places I went so that’s fun. The characters are eclectic and entertaining.

[Melissa Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder at a Shakespeare play

The actress playing Juliet has a fetal fall from the balcony. It is ruled an accident (political pressure) but Max disagrees and wants to solve the murder.

[Bill Jakobsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book

I enjoyed this book as well as the first in the series. Love the continuity from the first to the second. Hopefully, there are more in this series. Cindy