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Vintage Clothing Mysteries #5
Head Case
"The Vintage Clothing mysteries offer a compelling blend of suspense and style. In every book, the memorable characters, twisty plots, and delectable fashions are beyond fabulous. Highly recommended, especially for those who like a little couture with their crime." - Cynthia Kuhn, Agatha award-winning author of the Lila Maclean Academic Mysteries and co-editor of Styling Dress and Fashion in Literature When Joanna Hayworth visits Bradley Stroden, a onetime protégé of legendary costume designer Edith Head, she expects to find closets bulging with drool-worthy gowns to stock her Portland, Oregon, vintage clothing store. Instead, she finds a corpse. With movie costumes as bait, Joanna investigates why Stroden was murdered. Could it be tied to the tell-all Hollywood memoir he was writing? Or to a midcentury film noir that was mysteriously yanked before it was released? Or to his “adoring” sister? At the same time, Joanna stumbles upon a priceless pair of emerald earrings hidden on her laundry shelf. Her houseguest has some explaining to do. To unravel these crimes, Joanna enlists the help of the Book Bunnies, an oddball group of middle school girls. Joanna’s new marriage—and, possibly, her life itself—depend on figuring out who is acting and who is for real.
- GenresMysteryCozy Mystery
237 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 13, 2018
23 people are currently reading
85 people want to read
About the author
Angela M. Sanders
19 books559 followersAngela 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
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
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 5, 2022
Wonderful Joanna Hayworth mystery! Edith Head wardrobes, a gorgeous Victorian home, a mysterious murder, intriguing murder victim, a retro life in modern Portland and of course, purple pastilles - what's not to like in this latest Sanders offering? I liked it all, except for Apple's marriage woes. I even liked the problematic relative.
It was great to include the recently retired detective- he's a great link between Joanna's past and present sleuthing. The lovely domestic scenes between Joanna and her husband really anchor this story well, with descriptions of their meals, housewares and little rituals. I thought these provided a great contrast with the terrible happenings in the gorgeous Victorian. I enjoyed the plot and the pacing, knowledgeable description of vintage clothing, Joanna's life at the shop, at home and as a sleuth.
This has been one of my favorite series for awhile because Joanne is a singular character- more accessible to the reader than she used to be, but still just a tad remote enough to be a woman wholly herself, even though now married. I really like her sovereign femininity, which is a core component of her glamour. She's a woman navigating modern life with the understanding that she's not fully suited for it and so she's created a hybrid life that works well. I find this captivating and it always draws me deeper into the story. I find Joanna to be similar in many ways to The Booster Club character Claudine - self-possesed, mysterious, complete unto herself, a bit not of this world, each with fascinating sets of expertise. I find Joanna a great guide through a thoughtfully "retrofied" life in Portland, now a deux instead of solo. I look forward to more in this series (and hopefully more Claudine, too!).
It was great to include the recently retired detective- he's a great link between Joanna's past and present sleuthing. The lovely domestic scenes between Joanna and her husband really anchor this story well, with descriptions of their meals, housewares and little rituals. I thought these provided a great contrast with the terrible happenings in the gorgeous Victorian. I enjoyed the plot and the pacing, knowledgeable description of vintage clothing, Joanna's life at the shop, at home and as a sleuth.
This has been one of my favorite series for awhile because Joanne is a singular character- more accessible to the reader than she used to be, but still just a tad remote enough to be a woman wholly herself, even though now married. I really like her sovereign femininity, which is a core component of her glamour. She's a woman navigating modern life with the understanding that she's not fully suited for it and so she's created a hybrid life that works well. I find this captivating and it always draws me deeper into the story. I find Joanna to be similar in many ways to The Booster Club character Claudine - self-possesed, mysterious, complete unto herself, a bit not of this world, each with fascinating sets of expertise. I find Joanna a great guide through a thoughtfully "retrofied" life in Portland, now a deux instead of solo. I look forward to more in this series (and hopefully more Claudine, too!).
May 24, 2018
Joanna's pursuit of vintage clothing leads her to a gentleman who has worked with Edith Head in the film industry. As she talks to the gentleman, he collapses and quickly dies. Joanna's first instinct is that his death is a murder proves correct. Disappointed that she has to leave without the clothing she coveted, she is happy when the gentleman's secretary contacts her about picking up part of the clothing. She goes back to the home to pick up part of the collection, but after she loads it, she returns to the house and finds the secretary dead. Sensing a mystery around the movie from which the Edith Head clothing came, Joanna involves herself in finding out the reason for the two murders and who the murderer is. Paralleling her investigation is the discovery of stolen jewelry in her home--jewelry she is sure her husband's uncle--a reformed thief living with them--must have stolen. The jewelry is from a theft forty-five years ago. Joanna meets with a retired detective for help with both the stolen jewelry and the murders linked to a movie from the same era. A good mystery especially for those who have an interest in vintage clothing. Joanna's Luddite tendencies necessitate her getting some help for some tech-savvy kids in this mystery.
July 18, 2018
Head Case is Angela Sanders's best yet in her Joanna Hayworth series. Joanna owns a vintage clothing shop in Portland, Oregon. She is a sucker for designer clothes of a certain age, and in Head Case she is invited to see the costumes renowned costume designer Edith Head made for a never-released movie.
The owner of the costumes, who worked with Ms. Head in Hollywood's heyday, lives in a mansion well known to us Portlanders. That got my mouth watering. Just prior to viewing the costumes, Joanna and their owner are having coffee when the gentleman keels over dead.
Joanna knows a murder when she sees one. Her husband Paul tells her to leave it alone. If she listened to him there wouldn't be a book. So she pops a martini, and soldiers into the world of crime.
And then there is Uncle Gene the jewel thief living in their basement, putting further strains on the newlyweds. Sanders uses this sub-plot to do some serious thinking about what people owe one another in a good marriage. I find her stories fascinating and fun, and her deep knowledge of vintage fashion gives them serious cachet.
Head Case is a delightful romp of a cozy. Behind every costume there is a story, and this is a good one!
The owner of the costumes, who worked with Ms. Head in Hollywood's heyday, lives in a mansion well known to us Portlanders. That got my mouth watering. Just prior to viewing the costumes, Joanna and their owner are having coffee when the gentleman keels over dead.
Joanna knows a murder when she sees one. Her husband Paul tells her to leave it alone. If she listened to him there wouldn't be a book. So she pops a martini, and soldiers into the world of crime.
And then there is Uncle Gene the jewel thief living in their basement, putting further strains on the newlyweds. Sanders uses this sub-plot to do some serious thinking about what people owe one another in a good marriage. I find her stories fascinating and fun, and her deep knowledge of vintage fashion gives them serious cachet.
Head Case is a delightful romp of a cozy. Behind every costume there is a story, and this is a good one!
June 21, 2018
Once again Angela Sanders has written a great mystery peopled by interesting characters and tied it up all of its plot lines with a neat little bow.
I would’ve finished it sooner - as usual it was hard to put it down - but a lost Kindle really cut into my reading! I sometimes wish these books were published the old fashioned way (the only way her main character would read them!), but this time I was glad to get my books back when I got my new reader.
I would’ve finished it sooner - as usual it was hard to put it down - but a lost Kindle really cut into my reading! I sometimes wish these books were published the old fashioned way (the only way her main character would read them!), but this time I was glad to get my books back when I got my new reader.
April 25, 2022
Joanna gets a call from a former assistant to Edith Head, the movie costume designer, to come and look at some vintage clothes he has. Naturally there is a murder right while Joanna is in the room and she MUST investigate to save her good name. Not as much about designer clothes as some others in the series but still interesting.
October 1, 2018
Head case
Easy book to read with good descriptions of clothes, and a murder to boot. Joanna is a very likeable character.
Easy book to read with good descriptions of clothes, and a murder to boot. Joanna is a very likeable character.
January 7, 2020
Very good story and I loved the vintage clothing aspect!
January 4, 2021
A quick read, typical of the series, with a real twist at the end.
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June 2, 2018Loved it
This is a great series with fun characters. I love the vintage clothing and history. Looking forward to joannas next adventure
This is a great series with fun characters. I love the vintage clothing and history. Looking forward to joannas next adventure
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews