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Resale Boutique Mystery #1
Murder Wears a Little Black Dress
Every woman would kill for one . . . Manhattan fashionista Kelly Quinn thought she'd left her upstate New York town far behind . . . until the Seventh Avenue expat returns home to revamp her grandmother's consignment shop into an upscale boutique-and unwittingly sets a trend for murder . . . After her rising career as a Manhattan buyer is derailed, Kelly has mixed feelings about relocating back to Lucky Cove, in spite of her big plans for the soon-to-be-renamed Curated by Kelly Resale Boutique. What's left of her luck starts running out when a customer puts on a black lace dress that triggers visions of someone being murdered. As if the haunted "Murder Dress" isn't enough to kill business, the psychic's doppelganger cousin has just been found bludgeoned to death. Was Maxine LeMoyne the real target or was it a case of mistaken murder? With some creepy pre-Halloween bargain hunters walking the night and Kelly suddenly a person of interest, a second murder rocks the close-knit town. Now Kelly could be the one who ends up talking to dead people when she's stalked by a killer determined to take her out in high style . . .
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First published January 22, 2019
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About the author
Debra Sennefelder
15 books627 followersDebra Sennefelder is an avid reader who reads across a range of genres, but mystery fiction is her obsession. Her interest in people and relationships is channeled into her novels against a backdrop of crime and mystery. When she’s not reading, she enjoys cooking and baking and as a former food blogger, she is constantly taking photographs of her food. Yeah, she’s that person.
Born and raised in New York City, she now lives and Connecticut with her family. She’s worked in pre-hospital care, retail and publishing. Her writing companion is her adorable and slightly spoiled Shih-Tzu, Connie.
She is a member of Sisters in Crime and Romance Writers of America.
She can be reached at Debra@DebraSennefelder.com
Born and raised in New York City, she now lives and Connecticut with her family. She’s worked in pre-hospital care, retail and publishing. Her writing companion is her adorable and slightly spoiled Shih-Tzu, Connie.
She is a member of Sisters in Crime and Romance Writers of America.
She can be reached at Debra@DebraSennefelder.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
November 7, 2020
Murder Wears a Little Black Dress by Debra Sennefelder is a 2019 Lyrical Underground publication.
Cute, fun and zany!
With her dream job as a Manhattan buyer circling the drain, Kelly Quinn relocates to Lucky Cove to take over her grandmother’s consignment shop. Her plans for the shop are in jeopardy, however, when a customer tries on a ‘little black dress’ and claims the dress triggered visions of a murder.
Desperate to salvage the shop’s reputation, Kelly is determined to find out what is going on- but things turn deadly serious when the psychic’s look alike cousin is found dead, and Kelly becomes a suspect. But it also looks like Kelly might be in the killer’s line of fire…
A fast-paced cozy mystery, with a mild paranormal element, presented with a chick-lit format is a winning combination for this first in a series novel.
This is a very light, easy, quick read- and a very nice way to de-stress, and have a little fun while you are reading!
Cute, fun and zany!
With her dream job as a Manhattan buyer circling the drain, Kelly Quinn relocates to Lucky Cove to take over her grandmother’s consignment shop. Her plans for the shop are in jeopardy, however, when a customer tries on a ‘little black dress’ and claims the dress triggered visions of a murder.
Desperate to salvage the shop’s reputation, Kelly is determined to find out what is going on- but things turn deadly serious when the psychic’s look alike cousin is found dead, and Kelly becomes a suspect. But it also looks like Kelly might be in the killer’s line of fire…
A fast-paced cozy mystery, with a mild paranormal element, presented with a chick-lit format is a winning combination for this first in a series novel.
This is a very light, easy, quick read- and a very nice way to de-stress, and have a little fun while you are reading!
December 12, 2018
The start of a new series and new author for me. I will read this author again. It has been a while since I have read any Chic Lit but this book has traces of it along with a mystery and possible paranormal element. The cover is attractive and leads you into the tale.
Kelly Quinn has inherited her Grandmother consignment shop and has plans to change it an upscale boutique. There is some disagreement with the present staff. Kelly has planned a big sale to remove merchandise and bring new items. A stranger walks into the shop and tries on the black dress and has a vision that a woman was wearing the dress when she committed a MURDER. Before long rumors that the shop there is a MURDER DRESS and the building is haunted. This stops the business and Kelly Lee to see the Physic and finds a MURDER victim. Kelly needs answers to several questions in order to save her shop. She does some silly things as Kelly tries to find her answers. It there a MURDER DRESS? Is the woman a physic or a fraud?
Disclosure: Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for a review The opinions expressed are my own.
Kelly Quinn has inherited her Grandmother consignment shop and has plans to change it an upscale boutique. There is some disagreement with the present staff. Kelly has planned a big sale to remove merchandise and bring new items. A stranger walks into the shop and tries on the black dress and has a vision that a woman was wearing the dress when she committed a MURDER. Before long rumors that the shop there is a MURDER DRESS and the building is haunted. This stops the business and Kelly Lee to see the Physic and finds a MURDER victim. Kelly needs answers to several questions in order to save her shop. She does some silly things as Kelly tries to find her answers. It there a MURDER DRESS? Is the woman a physic or a fraud?
Disclosure: Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for a review The opinions expressed are my own.
December 9, 2023
Kelly Quinn inherited her grandmother's consignment shop in her hometown of Lucky Cove, NY. She always dreamed of owning her own upscale boutique in Manhattan, but this is the next best thing. While having a sale to get rid of older merchandise at the shop, a local psychic tries on a little black dress and has a vision of a man being murdered. Suddenly everyone in town is talking about the haunted dress and business has dwindled down to nothing. Kelly decides to use her sleuthing skills to see if the psychic's gift is real and there was a murder attached to the dress.
This cozy mystery started off well, but lost steam. I found the heroine annoying, especially when she decided that harboring a fugitive from the police was a good idea. She made a few too many dumb moves for me. As far as the mystery, I thought I had it figured out but it turned out I was wrong. The identity of the villain was a surprise. My rating: 3.5 Stars.
This cozy mystery started off well, but lost steam. I found the heroine annoying, especially when she decided that harboring a fugitive from the police was a good idea. She made a few too many dumb moves for me. As far as the mystery, I thought I had it figured out but it turned out I was wrong. The identity of the villain was a surprise. My rating: 3.5 Stars.
November 23, 2018
Murder Wears a Little Black Dress by Debra Sennefelder is the first book in a new cozy mystery series that seemed to be a little bit cozy mystery, little bit of chic lit and a slight nod to psychic abilities.
Kelly Quinn has moved home to Lucky Cove to take over her grandmother's resale shop after her career in New York as an assistant buyer crashed. She's is second guessing her decisions about her move, her life and the shop as she tries to begin her life all over again. Then a psychic visits her shop on the first day, tries on a little black dress and has a vision of a man being murdered. Rumors fly and so do customers. Kelly is desparate to save the shop so begins to investigate.
Ms. Sennefelder has written an intricate plot that is smoothly paced with enough twists to keep readers guessing and several suspects that all could be guilty. The reveal was dramatic and surprising and the final chapter was a happy grand opening for the shop and a new beginning for Kelly.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Lyrical Underground via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.
Kelly Quinn has moved home to Lucky Cove to take over her grandmother's resale shop after her career in New York as an assistant buyer crashed. She's is second guessing her decisions about her move, her life and the shop as she tries to begin her life all over again. Then a psychic visits her shop on the first day, tries on a little black dress and has a vision of a man being murdered. Rumors fly and so do customers. Kelly is desparate to save the shop so begins to investigate.
Ms. Sennefelder has written an intricate plot that is smoothly paced with enough twists to keep readers guessing and several suspects that all could be guilty. The reveal was dramatic and surprising and the final chapter was a happy grand opening for the shop and a new beginning for Kelly.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Lyrical Underground via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.
February 7, 2019
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Kelly Quinn has returned to Lucky Cove to take over the consignment store left to her by her grandmother. She hopes with her fashion education and experience she can take the shop in another direction. She is holding a 3-day sale to get rid of the old so she can reopen with her new ideas. Everything starts to fall apart when a customer claims to have a vision of a murder when she tries on a little black dress. Faster than you can say “consignment” the public assumes Kelly’s shop and merchandise is haunted.
When the cousin of the vision seeing customer is murdered, Kelly is ready to pack her bags and head back to the city. But she has so many questions. Questions that could end up with her being the next person knocking on the pearly gates. Is her shop doomed before she even starts or will catching the killer give her another chance at making her dreams come true?
What a great debut for this new series!
Debra Sennfelder has created some wonderful characters to kick off this series. Kelly Quinn has big ideas for her grandmother’s shop, but Pepper, her grandmother’s and now her employee, and also her grandmother’s best friend, isn’t on board with all the changes. Her uncle is just waiting for her to fail so he can sell the property and line his own pockets. Her friend, Liv, is behind her all the way. She even brings baked goods to the store from her family’s bakery every day and stays to help Kelly in any way she can. We meet for friend Ariel. Their relationship has been rocky due to a past event. Bernadette Rydel is a local psychic, the woman that tries on the LBD and starts all the commotion. Her life becomes entangled with Kelly’s when her cousin and doppelganger Maxine Lemoyne is killed.
The author has written a complex mystery with a lot of moving parts. The paranormal elements of the story are very light but play a big part. The character’s interactions drive the story with several twists and a surprising reveal. Humor is liberally sprinkled throughout making the story very entertaining.
I enjoyed the Ariel/Kelly subplot a lot. It hit me in a personal way. I love reading about characters I truly can identify with. I was so happy with the way the author presented their story and that is was not kept secret and dragged out over a number of books. Ariel surprised me, she gave me hope and warmed my heart.
The story ends with a happy ending and me with a smile on my face. I am looking forward to many books in this series and getting to know the characters in depth. This was a very enjoyable read.
Kelly Quinn has returned to Lucky Cove to take over the consignment store left to her by her grandmother. She hopes with her fashion education and experience she can take the shop in another direction. She is holding a 3-day sale to get rid of the old so she can reopen with her new ideas. Everything starts to fall apart when a customer claims to have a vision of a murder when she tries on a little black dress. Faster than you can say “consignment” the public assumes Kelly’s shop and merchandise is haunted.
When the cousin of the vision seeing customer is murdered, Kelly is ready to pack her bags and head back to the city. But she has so many questions. Questions that could end up with her being the next person knocking on the pearly gates. Is her shop doomed before she even starts or will catching the killer give her another chance at making her dreams come true?
What a great debut for this new series!
Debra Sennfelder has created some wonderful characters to kick off this series. Kelly Quinn has big ideas for her grandmother’s shop, but Pepper, her grandmother’s and now her employee, and also her grandmother’s best friend, isn’t on board with all the changes. Her uncle is just waiting for her to fail so he can sell the property and line his own pockets. Her friend, Liv, is behind her all the way. She even brings baked goods to the store from her family’s bakery every day and stays to help Kelly in any way she can. We meet for friend Ariel. Their relationship has been rocky due to a past event. Bernadette Rydel is a local psychic, the woman that tries on the LBD and starts all the commotion. Her life becomes entangled with Kelly’s when her cousin and doppelganger Maxine Lemoyne is killed.
The author has written a complex mystery with a lot of moving parts. The paranormal elements of the story are very light but play a big part. The character’s interactions drive the story with several twists and a surprising reveal. Humor is liberally sprinkled throughout making the story very entertaining.
I enjoyed the Ariel/Kelly subplot a lot. It hit me in a personal way. I love reading about characters I truly can identify with. I was so happy with the way the author presented their story and that is was not kept secret and dragged out over a number of books. Ariel surprised me, she gave me hope and warmed my heart.
The story ends with a happy ending and me with a smile on my face. I am looking forward to many books in this series and getting to know the characters in depth. This was a very enjoyable read.
October 28, 2018
I had the pleasure of reading an early ARC of MURDER WEARS A LITTLE BLACK DRESS—the debut story in the new Resale Boutique Mysteries. It’s trendy and fast-paced with plenty of suspects, entertaining characters, and home and hearth details to appeal to cozy fans. I enjoyed this story from cover to cover. The author plotted the scenes much like you put together a chic ensemble with accessories. At the end, the reveal is well pulled together and appealing.
Kelly Quinn’s granny left her a consignment shop that was her pride and joy. Located in Lucky Cove, NY, the shop is rundown and Kelly’s vision is to update and revamp the space into an upscale boutique. Her granny’s best friend, Pepper, works there and is wary about the changes Kelly is making. When a customer tries on a black lace dress and has a vision of murder, business slacks off and Kelly fears the financial strain will be too much to stay afloat amid rumors she’s selling haunted clothing. To keep the shop open, Kelly begins to piece clues together and figure out how the black dress was involved in a murder. This cozy is a clever whodunnit! Enjoy!
I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Kensington Lyrical Press. Thank you.
January 15, 2019
This was a fun little mystery. Centered around a resale boutique, it was a bit about family and friends as Kelly came back to her hometown to take possession of her grandmother's boutique.
After trying on a black dress, the local psychic has a vision of a murder. This story revolves around this and other murders that take place. Kelly tries to clear her name as a suspect and gets entangled a bit deep.
It's a fun cozy mystery that was easy and enjoyable to read. I enjoyed the characters and the story. It was a nice little twist at the end that kept it interesting. Good read!
After trying on a black dress, the local psychic has a vision of a murder. This story revolves around this and other murders that take place. Kelly tries to clear her name as a suspect and gets entangled a bit deep.
It's a fun cozy mystery that was easy and enjoyable to read. I enjoyed the characters and the story. It was a nice little twist at the end that kept it interesting. Good read!
November 10, 2019
Can life get any worse than getting canned from your big city job and then running home to take over your dead grandma's dying thrift shop? Apparently so, as Kelly finds herself not only embroiled in drama over "haunted" items in the shop, but also a murder suspect! A great new series that really draws you in and has you reading rapidly to attempt to unravel the mysteries that surround Kelly and the store. Added bonus, this book is available on audiobook.
October 2, 2021
Fashion is not my thing, but I loved this book! Debra Sennefelder is a great author and this book is the beginning of a fun new series! I am looking forward to reading the next one.
February 3, 2019
Kelly Quinn’s job as a fashion buyer in New York City comes to an abrupt nasty end. Then, her grandmother passes away, leaving Kelly a consignment shop in the suburbs of New York. Kelly isn’t thrilled to return to her hometown of Lucky Cove, but this could turn out to be a huge opportunity. She plans to renovate the store and make it her own.
Things immediately take a turn for the worst when a customer, who happens to be a psychic, tries on a black dress and has visions of a murder. It doesn’t take long for the town gossips to call it a “murder dress” and claim the shop is haunted. Kelly’s own visions for success take a nosedive and she fears she will have to sell her grandmother’s shop and return to the big city.
It gets worse when the psychic’s lookalike cousin is found murdered. Unfortunately, Kelly is the one who finds the body. The cops are convinced she killed the woman thinking it was her cousin the psychic. Kelly vows to find the real killer regardless of how many risks she has to take.
This is chick lit meets cozy mystery…I loved it. It’s a fun, lively, delightful cozy mystery and the first in a brand new series.
Kelly Quinn won me over immediately. Sure, she makes some risky decisions and I was often shaking my head at her choices, but she’s young and doing whatever she can to protect herself and her grandmother’s legacy.
She has a couple of good friends, but not much in the way of helpful family members. The characters are well-developed and not stiff, which sometimes happens with first books of a series. Not in this book…the characters jump right off the pages, filled with their own personalities.
The plot kept me on my toes and guessing until the end. I never saw the big finale coming and it really took me by surprise. I so enjoy when that happens. I’m looking forward to reading the next in this captivating series.
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Things immediately take a turn for the worst when a customer, who happens to be a psychic, tries on a black dress and has visions of a murder. It doesn’t take long for the town gossips to call it a “murder dress” and claim the shop is haunted. Kelly’s own visions for success take a nosedive and she fears she will have to sell her grandmother’s shop and return to the big city.
It gets worse when the psychic’s lookalike cousin is found murdered. Unfortunately, Kelly is the one who finds the body. The cops are convinced she killed the woman thinking it was her cousin the psychic. Kelly vows to find the real killer regardless of how many risks she has to take.
This is chick lit meets cozy mystery…I loved it. It’s a fun, lively, delightful cozy mystery and the first in a brand new series.
Kelly Quinn won me over immediately. Sure, she makes some risky decisions and I was often shaking my head at her choices, but she’s young and doing whatever she can to protect herself and her grandmother’s legacy.
She has a couple of good friends, but not much in the way of helpful family members. The characters are well-developed and not stiff, which sometimes happens with first books of a series. Not in this book…the characters jump right off the pages, filled with their own personalities.
The plot kept me on my toes and guessing until the end. I never saw the big finale coming and it really took me by surprise. I so enjoy when that happens. I’m looking forward to reading the next in this captivating series.
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
February 20, 2019
I was so excited when I heard author Debra Sennefelder had started a new series! Already in love with the first book in her Food Blogger Mysteries (can’t wait for the second), I knew I was in for a good read. I was wrong. It was a GREAT read!
Hooked from page one with an unhappy customer/consigner, and a do-we-have-to-have-this-talk-again moment between protagonist Kelly and her store employee, I was reminded of my twenty plus years in retail. I felt like I was standing in the store watching it all play out. That is until the next scene when the action hit the fan and MURDER WEARS A LITTLE BLACK DRESS went into high gear! Read in one sitting, I was out of breath by the last sentence.
Fantastic storytelling, wonderfully written characters, and a first-class mystery with a reveal that left me totally surprised, there wasn’t a thing I didn’t enjoy about this book. Readers, clear a day on your schedule because you’re in for ten times more than what you bargained for.
MURDER WEARS A LITTLE BLACK DRESS is officially one of my favorite books of 2019!
Hooked from page one with an unhappy customer/consigner, and a do-we-have-to-have-this-talk-again moment between protagonist Kelly and her store employee, I was reminded of my twenty plus years in retail. I felt like I was standing in the store watching it all play out. That is until the next scene when the action hit the fan and MURDER WEARS A LITTLE BLACK DRESS went into high gear! Read in one sitting, I was out of breath by the last sentence.
Fantastic storytelling, wonderfully written characters, and a first-class mystery with a reveal that left me totally surprised, there wasn’t a thing I didn’t enjoy about this book. Readers, clear a day on your schedule because you’re in for ten times more than what you bargained for.
MURDER WEARS A LITTLE BLACK DRESS is officially one of my favorite books of 2019!
January 27, 2019
4.5 stars rounded up. This is the first book in the new Resale Boutique Mysteries. I really enjoyed reading this smart, sassy, fast-paced mystery. Kelly Quinn has returned to her hometown of Lucky Cover after losing her job in New York City, attending her granny's funeral and finding out that her granny left her the consignment shop that was her pride and joy. Kelly, who has a degree in fashion, plans to take the rundown shop and revamp it into her own fashion boutique. All does not go as planned when a local psychic has a vision after trying on a Black Lace Dress and blacking out. Business dies off, Kelly stumbles on a dead body, she is being sued and is now a suspect in at least one murder. With her uncle hounding her to sell him the store, is she going to leave town with her tail between her legs or stick it out and try to find the murderer?
I enjoyed this book, the characters, the plot and the various side stories. The setting is different from any of the other cozy series that I read, so that was also very appealing. Pepper, her granny's friend and her employee is her mother figure. She tries to keep her on the straight and narrow and does not mince words when she thinks Kelly needs to hear them. There are a lot of interesting secondary characters, many with a past involving Kelly that I hope we learn more about. She and her family are estranged, so again, I hope there is more to come in future additions to the series. As Kelly begins to piece clues together and figure out how the black dress was involved in a murder, I followed along trying to solve the mystery. I figured out some of what was going on, but the ending was fantastic. There were plenty of suspects, many clues and some red herrings that all added to the entertainment value of this clever cozy mystery. I recommend this one to lovers of cozy mysteries with a bit of a chick-lit feel. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book to read upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.
I enjoyed this book, the characters, the plot and the various side stories. The setting is different from any of the other cozy series that I read, so that was also very appealing. Pepper, her granny's friend and her employee is her mother figure. She tries to keep her on the straight and narrow and does not mince words when she thinks Kelly needs to hear them. There are a lot of interesting secondary characters, many with a past involving Kelly that I hope we learn more about. She and her family are estranged, so again, I hope there is more to come in future additions to the series. As Kelly begins to piece clues together and figure out how the black dress was involved in a murder, I followed along trying to solve the mystery. I figured out some of what was going on, but the ending was fantastic. There were plenty of suspects, many clues and some red herrings that all added to the entertainment value of this clever cozy mystery. I recommend this one to lovers of cozy mysteries with a bit of a chick-lit feel. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book to read upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.
January 16, 2019
Murders Wears a Little Black Dress by Debra Sennefelder takes readers on a journey to Lucky Cove, New York. Kelly Quinn has inherited her grandmother’s consignment shop, Lucky Cove consignment Shop much to her Uncle Ralph’s disappointment. Kelly has big plans to make the shop profitable and change it into an upscale boutique. She is having a three day sale to help clear out the unwanted items. Bernadette Rydell, the local psychic, comes in and tries on a little black dress. While wearing the dress, Bernadette has a vision of a man being murdered. The shop quickly clears of customers while rumors of the “haunted dress” swirl about town keeping shoppers at bay. Kelly needs to get her sale back on track and starts by visiting the dresses consignee. She then gets a call from Bernadette asking her to stop by right away. Kelly arrives at Bernadette’s cottage and finds her dead on the floor. She is shocked when Bernadette walks through the door. The victim is Maxine Lemoyne, Bernadette’s cousin, who could pass for her twin sister. Which cousin was the intended target? Detective Nora Wolman is on the case, and she has Kelly at the top of her suspect list. The situation at her shop deteriorates when Valerie Leigh holds an impromptu séance and claims a chair is haunted which results in a customer filing a lawsuit. Kelly is determined to clear her name and the shop’s. However, someone is not happy with her sleuthing and tries to discourage her. When a second person connected to the case is murdered, Kelly knows she must be getting close to the truth. Kelly needs to work quickly, or she could end up the subject of the séance.
Murder Wears a Little Black Dress is the debut novel in A Resale Boutique Mystery series. Kelly Quinn has inherited her grandmother’s consignment boutique and she is determined to make it work. Kelly lost her job as an assistant buyer in New York and her old boss has had her blackballed in the fashion industry. She wants to make changes to the shop to feature clothing and accessories only (getting rid of furniture and tchotchkes). Pepper Donovan, her grandmother’s friend and employee does not like the changes Kelly plans to make to the shop (I want to know how a shop making no profit can afford an employee). I thought Murder Wears a Little Black Dress was a quick, easy to read cozy mystery. It is fashion oriented with detailed clothing descriptions. The mystery was straightforward and avid mystery readers will find it a piece of cake pinpointing the killer. I wish the author had provided more details on Kelly’s past. Some information is imparted throughout the book and details on how she lost her job is slowly revealed. Kelly has tension with Ariel Barnes over an incident that occurred back in high school. Again, the information is slowly provided as the story progresses (very drawn out). To me it should have been an emotional part of the story, but the feelings were not there. There is a smidgeon of paranormal in the story and a hint of romance. Murder Wears a Little Black Dress is a lively cozy mystery with fashionable clothes, personable characters, murder, mystical forces, and mayhem.
Murder Wears a Little Black Dress is the debut novel in A Resale Boutique Mystery series. Kelly Quinn has inherited her grandmother’s consignment boutique and she is determined to make it work. Kelly lost her job as an assistant buyer in New York and her old boss has had her blackballed in the fashion industry. She wants to make changes to the shop to feature clothing and accessories only (getting rid of furniture and tchotchkes). Pepper Donovan, her grandmother’s friend and employee does not like the changes Kelly plans to make to the shop (I want to know how a shop making no profit can afford an employee). I thought Murder Wears a Little Black Dress was a quick, easy to read cozy mystery. It is fashion oriented with detailed clothing descriptions. The mystery was straightforward and avid mystery readers will find it a piece of cake pinpointing the killer. I wish the author had provided more details on Kelly’s past. Some information is imparted throughout the book and details on how she lost her job is slowly revealed. Kelly has tension with Ariel Barnes over an incident that occurred back in high school. Again, the information is slowly provided as the story progresses (very drawn out). To me it should have been an emotional part of the story, but the feelings were not there. There is a smidgeon of paranormal in the story and a hint of romance. Murder Wears a Little Black Dress is a lively cozy mystery with fashionable clothes, personable characters, murder, mystical forces, and mayhem.
February 2, 2019
Murder Wears a Little Black Dress, the first in the Resale Boutique Mystery series, was an absolute delight to read. Protagonist Kelly Quinn wasted no time stitching her way into a permanent place in my heart. She’s young and makes mistakes, but she values her friends and she’s devoted to her grandma’s memory. The psychic element was tremendous fun! The setting and the characters were so perfectly described that by the end, I was joining in the merriment and wishing I could be there in person. I’m anxious to read the second entry in this charming new cozy series.
January 7, 2019
I am going to start with what I DID NOT like about this book and then move on to the rest of my review:
1. PLEASE, whom do I need to speak to to stop authors from using the premise of the main character being seen as guilty when the murder occurs? Especially in almost ALL new, first book cozies? Please, please, P L E A S E stop this. It is old, overdone and is driving me [and quite a few other people from what I have read] crazy. It has been done to death [seriously, no pun intended there] and it needs to stop. Now. Please. And in case you couldn't tell, that is how this book opens. Girl moves back home because her beloved Granny has died and left her a store and she had just been [conveniently] fired from her "big city job" and is able to take over and a person is murdered and she is the main suspect.
AND, while we are at it...
2. WHY do we have to have a MC who is heartbroken, jobless, only back home because someone died etc etc. to have a story? Cannot it be someone who is already established in the community they grew up in? There is only one series that I know of that has done that and even in that one, the people were opening a new business because their other job failed. Okay, there are two [because another one popped into my mind as I was typing that], but that is all. Does everyone need to have an issue, heartbreak or a dead relative to have a good story? Sigh.
3. WHY are all the cops either hard-nose [and if they are women, they have massive attitude and dress poorly] and mean or they are so stupid that you cannot help but roll your eyes every time they open their mouths or try and solve the murder? OR they have to be awesome so the MC will fall in love with them and they can be their big, bad protectors. PLEASE. Stop this as well. PLEASE.
This book has two of the above and it was annoying. And WHY does the "hard nose" cop have to have tunnel vision? Really? I am pretty sure that there are good cops out there that are NOT like that. Ugh.
Now that that is out of the way, let's move on to what I did like about this book.
1. The length. This was almost the perfect length for a cozy. It could have been a touch longer so the reveal wouldn't have felt so rushed, but for the most part [and for a first book] it was a good length and the pacing was really good as well.
2. The characters. I really, really like these characters quite a bit. Usually it takes me a couple of books to settle in with the characters, but these grabbed me right from the first and that was cool [perhaps because I lived in NY and loved the city like the MC does and i now live in a small town and I know the gossip and crap that goes on in that arena as well]. The characters work well together and have a good rapport and flow with each other and that made easing into a new book relatively easy. I do with the accident with Ariel was more fleshed out and the reasoning behind Kelly and Caroline's estrangement was also more fleshed out, but perhaps we will see more of that should this series [and I for one certainly hope it does] continue.
3. I like the idea of this book. A boutique resale shop is VERY NY and very en-vogue there and is a perfect setting for a cozy series. I like how the MC faced dilemma's of having to take over her Grandmother's shop and the resistance she faced - it was the perfect amount mixed in with the encouragement from her best friend; just like it would be in real life.
4. The smarmy uncle and step-aunt. Been there, done that. And they are perfectly done.
Overall, I liked this book very much - I had to give it three stars because of the reasons stated at the beginning of the review, but I will absolutely read the next one and have a feeling they will get better with each book. I look forward to finding out if I am correct!
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing the ARC for this book in exchange for an honest review.
1. PLEASE, whom do I need to speak to to stop authors from using the premise of the main character being seen as guilty when the murder occurs? Especially in almost ALL new, first book cozies? Please, please, P L E A S E stop this. It is old, overdone and is driving me [and quite a few other people from what I have read] crazy. It has been done to death [seriously, no pun intended there] and it needs to stop. Now. Please. And in case you couldn't tell, that is how this book opens. Girl moves back home because her beloved Granny has died and left her a store and she had just been [conveniently] fired from her "big city job" and is able to take over and a person is murdered and she is the main suspect.
AND, while we are at it...
2. WHY do we have to have a MC who is heartbroken, jobless, only back home because someone died etc etc. to have a story? Cannot it be someone who is already established in the community they grew up in? There is only one series that I know of that has done that and even in that one, the people were opening a new business because their other job failed. Okay, there are two [because another one popped into my mind as I was typing that], but that is all. Does everyone need to have an issue, heartbreak or a dead relative to have a good story? Sigh.
3. WHY are all the cops either hard-nose [and if they are women, they have massive attitude and dress poorly] and mean or they are so stupid that you cannot help but roll your eyes every time they open their mouths or try and solve the murder? OR they have to be awesome so the MC will fall in love with them and they can be their big, bad protectors. PLEASE. Stop this as well. PLEASE.
This book has two of the above and it was annoying. And WHY does the "hard nose" cop have to have tunnel vision? Really? I am pretty sure that there are good cops out there that are NOT like that. Ugh.
Now that that is out of the way, let's move on to what I did like about this book.
1. The length. This was almost the perfect length for a cozy. It could have been a touch longer so the reveal wouldn't have felt so rushed, but for the most part [and for a first book] it was a good length and the pacing was really good as well.
2. The characters. I really, really like these characters quite a bit. Usually it takes me a couple of books to settle in with the characters, but these grabbed me right from the first and that was cool [perhaps because I lived in NY and loved the city like the MC does and i now live in a small town and I know the gossip and crap that goes on in that arena as well]. The characters work well together and have a good rapport and flow with each other and that made easing into a new book relatively easy. I do with the accident with Ariel was more fleshed out and the reasoning behind Kelly and Caroline's estrangement was also more fleshed out, but perhaps we will see more of that should this series [and I for one certainly hope it does] continue.
3. I like the idea of this book. A boutique resale shop is VERY NY and very en-vogue there and is a perfect setting for a cozy series. I like how the MC faced dilemma's of having to take over her Grandmother's shop and the resistance she faced - it was the perfect amount mixed in with the encouragement from her best friend; just like it would be in real life.
4. The smarmy uncle and step-aunt. Been there, done that. And they are perfectly done.
Overall, I liked this book very much - I had to give it three stars because of the reasons stated at the beginning of the review, but I will absolutely read the next one and have a feeling they will get better with each book. I look forward to finding out if I am correct!
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing the ARC for this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 27, 2019
The first book in a new series and it was very enjoyable! I love cozies anyway and this one checked off all the boxes of what I expect - a protagonist that inserts themselves into an investigation while not being a detective/police officer, red herrings, twists in the plot and with the characters, multiple suspects..the list goes on.
I have not read many series that center around a thrift/consignment store and so I found this one quite interesting since Kelly took over this store when her grandmother died and they have different objectives to make the store a success. Kelly has a background in fashion so it makes her the perfect person to run the shop. Granted she wants to put her own stamp on the shop but comes across resistance from her grandmother's best friend and employee, Pepper. Change is hard but eventually, both Pepper and Kelly come to a mutual understanding.
The mystery itself was hidden well and I did not expect the twist at the end. I supposed I should have seen it coming because there are some subtle clues hidden in the text.
There is another mystery that isn't revealed yet - who is Lulu that runs a blog and is spilling some information about Kelly's shop that may or may not help? I can't wait to find out how long the identity of this blogger remains a secret.
I have not read many series that center around a thrift/consignment store and so I found this one quite interesting since Kelly took over this store when her grandmother died and they have different objectives to make the store a success. Kelly has a background in fashion so it makes her the perfect person to run the shop. Granted she wants to put her own stamp on the shop but comes across resistance from her grandmother's best friend and employee, Pepper. Change is hard but eventually, both Pepper and Kelly come to a mutual understanding.
The mystery itself was hidden well and I did not expect the twist at the end. I supposed I should have seen it coming because there are some subtle clues hidden in the text.
There is another mystery that isn't revealed yet - who is Lulu that runs a blog and is spilling some information about Kelly's shop that may or may not help? I can't wait to find out how long the identity of this blogger remains a secret.
November 12, 2020
2.5 stars? Maybe? I think this main character and setting has potential, but it wasn’t the best start. Everyone was a bit overly dramatic, and the mystery was a bit lame? I also think Kelly can use some lessons on how to talk to customers, because sometimes she came across as needlessly antagonistic. I like her friends though, so there’s that. I think I’ll read more of this series because I didn’t hate it as much as I hate other first in series.
January 15, 2019
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This is a first book in a new series but I'm not sure how I feel about it. I feel the plot is like many other cozy mysteries and, of course, the main character is a suspect. The writing was a little wordy, the characters a little blah, and the plot was "gray".
March 10, 2019
This is the first book in the Resale Boutique Mystery series. It was a fun paranormal cozy mystery that has potential. I didn't like all the name brand dropping, I thought it got a little old after a while.
Kelly Quinn's grandmother left her a consignment shop in her will, great timing since Kelly just lost her job as a fashion buyer. One of the first customers is a psychic who tries on a dress and screams that someone murdered somebody in it! That doesn't help the reputation of the shop, and it gets worse when the psychic's cousin is found murdered. Kelly needs to solve the crime to clear the reputation of her shop. The characters were fun and quirky and I'm interested in seeing how they develop in future books.
Thanks to Lyrical Underground and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Kelly Quinn's grandmother left her a consignment shop in her will, great timing since Kelly just lost her job as a fashion buyer. One of the first customers is a psychic who tries on a dress and screams that someone murdered somebody in it! That doesn't help the reputation of the shop, and it gets worse when the psychic's cousin is found murdered. Kelly needs to solve the crime to clear the reputation of her shop. The characters were fun and quirky and I'm interested in seeing how they develop in future books.
Thanks to Lyrical Underground and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 1, 2019
Having read Ms. Sennefelder's Food Blogger mystery series, which I enjoy, I decided to give the Resale Boutique Mystery a try. I found this book to be an fast paced, entertaining read. Kelly Quinn is an enjoyable protagonist. She is fun, feisty, determined and can get herself in trouble quickly. The cast of secondary characters are interesting and enjoyable as well. The mystery is woven throughout the story nicely, and the author throws in some nice twists that surprised me and made for a good reveal. There is a bit of the paranormal with one of the secondary characters being a psychic but it wasn't a lot and I'm not sure she will be a regular.
This was good start to a new series and I will be on the lookout for more books in the series.
This was good start to a new series and I will be on the lookout for more books in the series.
February 7, 2019
Murder Wears a Little Black Dress
Resale Boutique Mystery, Book #1
Debra Sennefelder
5 Stars
Synopsis:
Every woman would kill for one . . .
Manhattan fashionista Kelly Quinn thought she’d left her upstate New York town far behind . . . until the Seventh Avenue expat returns home to revamp her grandmother’s consignment shop into an upscale boutique—and unwittingly sets a trend for murder . . .
After her rising career as a Manhattan buyer is derailed, Kelly has mixed feelings about relocating back to Lucky Cove, in spite of her big plans for the soon-to-be-renamed Curated by Kelly Resale Boutique. What’s left of her luck starts running out when a customer puts on a black lace dress that triggers visions of someone being murdered. As if the haunted “Murder Dress” isn’t enough to kill business, the psychic’s doppelganger cousin has just been found bludgeoned to death.
Was Maxine LeMoyne the real target or was it a case of mistaken murder? With some creepy pre-Halloween bargain hunters walking the night and Kelly suddenly a person of interest, a second murder rocks the close-knit town. Now Kelly could be the one who ends up talking to dead people when she’s stalked by a killer determined to take her out in high style . . . (Goodreads)
Review:
This is the first book in the series and I found it very entertaining. It had everything that I look for in a cozy: great characters, a charming setting, a complex mystery, a little paranormal and intrigue.
The characters are well developed and well rounded. Kelly is a smart, feisty woman who has had a lot of changes in her life. She is willing to make a go of keeping her grandmother’s resale shop, but she does not know if she can be successful. When she is accused of a murder, she know she has to figure out who the real killer is. It was great getting to know Kelly and her friends and I cannot wait to spend more time with them in future books.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. I thought that the mystery was well plotted and moved along at a nice pace. There were a lot of clues to sift through and suspects to consider and I did not figure out the culprit until it was revealed at the end. I really liked the ending, it totally took me by surprise.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading the nest one in the series when it is released.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
Resale Boutique Mystery, Book #1
Debra Sennefelder
5 Stars
Synopsis:
Every woman would kill for one . . .
Manhattan fashionista Kelly Quinn thought she’d left her upstate New York town far behind . . . until the Seventh Avenue expat returns home to revamp her grandmother’s consignment shop into an upscale boutique—and unwittingly sets a trend for murder . . .
After her rising career as a Manhattan buyer is derailed, Kelly has mixed feelings about relocating back to Lucky Cove, in spite of her big plans for the soon-to-be-renamed Curated by Kelly Resale Boutique. What’s left of her luck starts running out when a customer puts on a black lace dress that triggers visions of someone being murdered. As if the haunted “Murder Dress” isn’t enough to kill business, the psychic’s doppelganger cousin has just been found bludgeoned to death.
Was Maxine LeMoyne the real target or was it a case of mistaken murder? With some creepy pre-Halloween bargain hunters walking the night and Kelly suddenly a person of interest, a second murder rocks the close-knit town. Now Kelly could be the one who ends up talking to dead people when she’s stalked by a killer determined to take her out in high style . . . (Goodreads)
Review:
This is the first book in the series and I found it very entertaining. It had everything that I look for in a cozy: great characters, a charming setting, a complex mystery, a little paranormal and intrigue.
The characters are well developed and well rounded. Kelly is a smart, feisty woman who has had a lot of changes in her life. She is willing to make a go of keeping her grandmother’s resale shop, but she does not know if she can be successful. When she is accused of a murder, she know she has to figure out who the real killer is. It was great getting to know Kelly and her friends and I cannot wait to spend more time with them in future books.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. I thought that the mystery was well plotted and moved along at a nice pace. There were a lot of clues to sift through and suspects to consider and I did not figure out the culprit until it was revealed at the end. I really liked the ending, it totally took me by surprise.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading the nest one in the series when it is released.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
January 27, 2019
This was another book that I wished didn't have to end. Although I'm happy that once the showdown happened and the killer was arrested, the book didn't end there. The actual ending chapter was so heartwarming in many ways! The book was well-written and plotted with a cool twist at the end.
Kelly Quinn had lost her job as an assistant buyer for a NYC store, but her Granny had willed her the consignment shop she owned, which Kelly was going to revamp into a stylish resale boutique. Pepper, her granny's best friend and employee was skeptical about all these changes Kelly wanted to make and wasn't shy about giving her opinion. After a local psychic had a vision of a murder while wearing a dress that was consigned, Kelly couldn't leave it alone and started investigating here and there. When Kelly ended up being a possible suspect in two different murders, she knew she had to step up her snooping game. The killer didn't like that at all and had Kelly next in their radar.
I really liked the variety of quirky characters in this book. My one favorite character was Pepper, who was more like a mom to Kelly, since she used tough love to show Kelly the error of her ways. Pepper was the mom of Gabe, a local police officer that Kelly's bestie, Liv, had a crush on. I didn't care much for Uncle Ralph or his third wife, Summer, but hey every good cozy has to have some sort of ongoing conflict right? We get to root for Kelly that way. Her cousin Frankie was a hoot and so was Gabe--Gabe had been like a brother to Kelly when they were growing up.
I liked the side story of Kelly's friend Ariel who had been her sister's bestie in high school, but due to an accident that Kelly feels responsible for, Ariel ended up in a wheelchair. She was absolutely awesome and ranks with Pepper as my other favorite character. I mean, who knew that a friend in a motorized wheelchair could come in handy like she did at one point in the book. You'll have to read and find out what happened, but I thought the showdown was pretty epic. The last chapter really summed everything up well, had a couple of small tissue moments (good ones though) and Kelly may just have a guy to date!
Kelly Quinn had lost her job as an assistant buyer for a NYC store, but her Granny had willed her the consignment shop she owned, which Kelly was going to revamp into a stylish resale boutique. Pepper, her granny's best friend and employee was skeptical about all these changes Kelly wanted to make and wasn't shy about giving her opinion. After a local psychic had a vision of a murder while wearing a dress that was consigned, Kelly couldn't leave it alone and started investigating here and there. When Kelly ended up being a possible suspect in two different murders, she knew she had to step up her snooping game. The killer didn't like that at all and had Kelly next in their radar.
I really liked the variety of quirky characters in this book. My one favorite character was Pepper, who was more like a mom to Kelly, since she used tough love to show Kelly the error of her ways. Pepper was the mom of Gabe, a local police officer that Kelly's bestie, Liv, had a crush on. I didn't care much for Uncle Ralph or his third wife, Summer, but hey every good cozy has to have some sort of ongoing conflict right? We get to root for Kelly that way. Her cousin Frankie was a hoot and so was Gabe--Gabe had been like a brother to Kelly when they were growing up.
I liked the side story of Kelly's friend Ariel who had been her sister's bestie in high school, but due to an accident that Kelly feels responsible for, Ariel ended up in a wheelchair. She was absolutely awesome and ranks with Pepper as my other favorite character. I mean, who knew that a friend in a motorized wheelchair could come in handy like she did at one point in the book. You'll have to read and find out what happened, but I thought the showdown was pretty epic. The last chapter really summed everything up well, had a couple of small tissue moments (good ones though) and Kelly may just have a guy to date!
January 5, 2021
I really, really wanted to like this book. The title, the cover, the premise - they all just spoke to me.
But the content did not persuade me. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either.
There was too much focus on what everyone was wearing, even for a book with a main character who lives and breathes clothes. I have read and listened to other books where the main character name drops designer brands through out the book and it can be done in really fun and creative ways. In this book, it felt mostly bland and often unimpressive - like filler content that could have been skipped except for that scene with Pepper and the snake skin leggings.
I never quite understood why Kelly was fired from her previous job. I had to back-track and re-listen and even then I didn't understand why or how on Earth something like that would make her totally unemployable in New York (not a small place). But, hell, what do I know, out in the Swedish countryside... 🤷🏻♀️
Anyway, I got an over-all shallow impression of almost everyone and everything and it wasn't all that appealing. Kelly's frequently mentioned tote bag seemed to have more depth than everyone portrayed, combined together.
I had this constant feeling of "first book syndrome" straight through, but I've read up on the author and it doesn't seem like this is her first book. There's anyhow room to grow and evolve in terms of storytelling.
To make things a little bit worse I also got the feeling that this was the narrator's first audiobook. It likely wasn't, but her sometimes stilted reading made me want to cringe so badly, especially in the beginning, it sort of ruined the experience. I really can't separate her reading from the story so my rating reflects that. They were both on the "not great" side of the scale.
I will probably give the second book a chance in the future in hope of improvements on all fronts.
But the content did not persuade me. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either.
There was too much focus on what everyone was wearing, even for a book with a main character who lives and breathes clothes. I have read and listened to other books where the main character name drops designer brands through out the book and it can be done in really fun and creative ways. In this book, it felt mostly bland and often unimpressive - like filler content that could have been skipped except for that scene with Pepper and the snake skin leggings.
I never quite understood why Kelly was fired from her previous job. I had to back-track and re-listen and even then I didn't understand why or how on Earth something like that would make her totally unemployable in New York (not a small place). But, hell, what do I know, out in the Swedish countryside... 🤷🏻♀️
Anyway, I got an over-all shallow impression of almost everyone and everything and it wasn't all that appealing. Kelly's frequently mentioned tote bag seemed to have more depth than everyone portrayed, combined together.
I had this constant feeling of "first book syndrome" straight through, but I've read up on the author and it doesn't seem like this is her first book. There's anyhow room to grow and evolve in terms of storytelling.
To make things a little bit worse I also got the feeling that this was the narrator's first audiobook. It likely wasn't, but her sometimes stilted reading made me want to cringe so badly, especially in the beginning, it sort of ruined the experience. I really can't separate her reading from the story so my rating reflects that. They were both on the "not great" side of the scale.
I will probably give the second book a chance in the future in hope of improvements on all fronts.
January 8, 2019
Murder Wears a Little Black Dress is the first book in the Resale Boutique Mystery Series.
This book is half cozy mystery and half chic-lit, in my opinion, which is a great mix.
There is a little romance but not enough to distract from the mystery.
I very much enjoyed the story here. I think the author did a great job with character development as well as a complex story line. I like the premise of a consignment shop as a setting for a mystery.
I did think I had it all figured out half way through, but I was TOTALLY wrong, which makes for a great mystery when you cannot figure it out.
I am looking forward to the next book in this series.
This book is half cozy mystery and half chic-lit, in my opinion, which is a great mix.
There is a little romance but not enough to distract from the mystery.
I very much enjoyed the story here. I think the author did a great job with character development as well as a complex story line. I like the premise of a consignment shop as a setting for a mystery.
I did think I had it all figured out half way through, but I was TOTALLY wrong, which makes for a great mystery when you cannot figure it out.
I am looking forward to the next book in this series.
January 23, 2019
Now I am hooked on two series from Debra Sennefelder. The new Resale Boutique Mystery series hits all the points I love about cozy mysteries. Murder Wears a Little Black Dress provides a challenge for the protagonist Kelly Quinn, it offers her a strong support system of people that we can love, and it offers an intriguing mystery with an unusual slant, not to mention a really great title. For some reason I am attracted to books with resale/consignment shops so that one hit just right, too. Kelly needs a little smoothing out but for the most part that is in reaction from the changes in her life and we see a bit of that smoothing later in the novel. I look forward to spending more time with Kelly and her friends in the next book in the Resale Boutique Mystery series!
I was excited to receive a copy of the ARC from the publisher via Goodreads Giveaway. It was already on my must-buy list and I got to read it early!
#Goodreads #MurderWearsaLittleBlackDress
I was excited to receive a copy of the ARC from the publisher via Goodreads Giveaway. It was already on my must-buy list and I got to read it early!
#Goodreads #MurderWearsaLittleBlackDress
January 25, 2019
Murder Wears a Little Black Dress by Debra Sennefelder is the 1st book of the Resale Boutique Mystery series, and a good start. Kelly Quinn lost her job in the fashion industry in New York City, but she inherited her grandmother's consignment shop in Lucky Cove, in upstate New York. Kelly has been using her talents to turn the store into an upscale boutique. During a big three day sale, the local psychic tries on a dress, then she has a vision of a man being murdered. Kelly is determined to get to the bottom of the vision because customers don't want to buy haunted clothing. There are many twists and turns in this book. I enjoyed reading this book and am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
I was given a copy of this book for a fair and honest review.
I was given a copy of this book for a fair and honest review.
December 27, 2019
I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. I am not usually a fan of fashion/consignment cozies but this one really grabbed me.
I found the characters entertaining and the whodunit kept me enthralled and guessing.
I look forward to reading the next in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of the book.
I found the characters entertaining and the whodunit kept me enthralled and guessing.
I look forward to reading the next in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of the book.
May 6, 2020
Liked the story line but couldn't take some of the characters. Kelly and Bernadette especially. All Bernadette did was whine the whole book and Kelley's stupidity made me want to smack her in her head. It was ok.
February 25, 2019
I was initially introduced to this book by my friend Tiffany's review over at Read All the Crime. It sounded fun and I was in the mood for a new cozy series, so it seemed like a perfect fit.
I liked this one a lot, but I didn't love it. My biggest disconnect with it was that the entire premise of the book was based on a psychic vision, and I didn't think the author leaned into that heavily enough. When Maxine, a psychic, tries on a dress in Kelly's new boutique, she has a vision of a man being murdered by a woman wearing the dress. Because this is a very small town, that's all it takes for the business at Kelly's newly-inherited store to drop off dramatically, endangering her livelihood. But... that's sort of the end of the psychic part of the story. Once Maxine has that vision, Kelly decides she needs to try to solve the mystery in order to save her business, but there's no more paranormal, magical, or mystical part of this book. I really wish Debra Sennefelder would have gone further with that.
But even with that, I really liked this. Kelly Quinn lost her job as an assistant fashion buyer in Manhattan, so she moves home to take on the running of her grandmothers resale shop (boutique!) after her grandmother dies. Debra Sennedfelder did a great job with this. Kelly is struggling to remake the shop and turn a profit. Her grandmother's store was a fixture in their small town, and no one wants her to make the changes she's determined to make.
But that isn't going to stop Kelly. She knows that her ideas are good, and that she can make the boutique a success, but she's going to have to fight everyone every step of the way, including Pepper, her grandmother's best friend, still working at the boutique, and hates to see Kelly come in and change everything. This is where Kelly really shone. She listened to what Pepper had to say, but she didn't let herself be swayed from her plans. She knew what she was doing, and she stuck to it, while still being kind to Pepper. She had her moments of self-doubt, like we all do, but she got through them.
The supporting characters won't be a surprise to anyone who reads cozies. There's the cop who may or may not become a love interest, the best friend who has a crush on that cop and constantly supplies the baked goods that everyone eats all day every day without worrying about their health or gaining any weight. There's the cop's partner, a woman who is sure from the very first minute that Kelly is involved with the murders even though there's absolutely no evidence to support that, and won't be swayed from her opinion no matter what. And there's Kelly's uncle, a shady lawyer who is the executor of the estate, and desperately wants Kelly to sell the shop. I wasn't sure exactly how this would benefit him, because I know pretty much nothing about inheritance law, or property law, or any of the other legal issues at stake here, but it was clear that somehow, Kelly selling the shop would somehow make him money, which is all that he cares about.
The weakest side character was the uncle's new wife. There's nothing wrong with her, she's just stock character, a mean girl who's become a mean woman who makes snarky comments and tries to make Kelly feel bad about herself and her shop. She's uninteresting and didn't add anything to the story.
The mystery was engaging, even if it did get convoluted from time to time. There were a lot of moving parts to it, and some of the side pieces didn't seem to quite fit. But overall, this was an engaging start to a new cozy series.This review was originally posted on [Crime Mattters]
I liked this one a lot, but I didn't love it. My biggest disconnect with it was that the entire premise of the book was based on a psychic vision, and I didn't think the author leaned into that heavily enough. When Maxine, a psychic, tries on a dress in Kelly's new boutique, she has a vision of a man being murdered by a woman wearing the dress. Because this is a very small town, that's all it takes for the business at Kelly's newly-inherited store to drop off dramatically, endangering her livelihood. But... that's sort of the end of the psychic part of the story. Once Maxine has that vision, Kelly decides she needs to try to solve the mystery in order to save her business, but there's no more paranormal, magical, or mystical part of this book. I really wish Debra Sennefelder would have gone further with that.
But even with that, I really liked this. Kelly Quinn lost her job as an assistant fashion buyer in Manhattan, so she moves home to take on the running of her grandmothers resale shop (boutique!) after her grandmother dies. Debra Sennedfelder did a great job with this. Kelly is struggling to remake the shop and turn a profit. Her grandmother's store was a fixture in their small town, and no one wants her to make the changes she's determined to make.
But that isn't going to stop Kelly. She knows that her ideas are good, and that she can make the boutique a success, but she's going to have to fight everyone every step of the way, including Pepper, her grandmother's best friend, still working at the boutique, and hates to see Kelly come in and change everything. This is where Kelly really shone. She listened to what Pepper had to say, but she didn't let herself be swayed from her plans. She knew what she was doing, and she stuck to it, while still being kind to Pepper. She had her moments of self-doubt, like we all do, but she got through them.
The supporting characters won't be a surprise to anyone who reads cozies. There's the cop who may or may not become a love interest, the best friend who has a crush on that cop and constantly supplies the baked goods that everyone eats all day every day without worrying about their health or gaining any weight. There's the cop's partner, a woman who is sure from the very first minute that Kelly is involved with the murders even though there's absolutely no evidence to support that, and won't be swayed from her opinion no matter what. And there's Kelly's uncle, a shady lawyer who is the executor of the estate, and desperately wants Kelly to sell the shop. I wasn't sure exactly how this would benefit him, because I know pretty much nothing about inheritance law, or property law, or any of the other legal issues at stake here, but it was clear that somehow, Kelly selling the shop would somehow make him money, which is all that he cares about.
The weakest side character was the uncle's new wife. There's nothing wrong with her, she's just stock character, a mean girl who's become a mean woman who makes snarky comments and tries to make Kelly feel bad about herself and her shop. She's uninteresting and didn't add anything to the story.
The mystery was engaging, even if it did get convoluted from time to time. There were a lot of moving parts to it, and some of the side pieces didn't seem to quite fit. But overall, this was an engaging start to a new cozy series.This review was originally posted on [Crime Mattters]
January 17, 2019
Formula for murder: Take one former Manhattan fashionista who now runs her late Granny’s consignment shop, add a local psychic, a difficult customer, the psychic’s lookalike psychic cousin, and one little black dress.
Kelly Quinn’s life is not the way she hoped it would be when she left for fashion school several years ago. First, she was fired – fired! from her job at a top-notch fashion boutique in NYC with her career seriously derailed. Granny, Martha Quinn, passed away, leaving Kelly the consignment shop that she and close friend Pepper had nurtured for many years. While going through the rooms and inventory that includes clothing, home furnishings, and tchotchkes, she determines what must “go” during a huge, 3-day sale to clear out home furnishings, décor, and out-of-season clothing. After working for Granny all these years, Pepper finds it a hard to see what Kelly is doing to Lucky Cove Consignment Shop, including changing the name to Curated by Kelly Resale Boutique.
Day One of the sale brings in many customers until Bernadette, a willowy blonde psychic, tries on a little black, lacy dress. Kelly saw how wonderful Bernadette looked in it, but the local psychic had a vision of someone wearing the dress and being responsible for a murder, then collapses. In the door ran a woman who looked just like the psychic, stating that she is Maxine, Bernadette’s cousin. Just like that, the shop began to clear out and the 3-day sale crashed.
The woman who consigned the lacy dress is the most challenging customer of the shop, Irene Singer. Her husband had recently died in an accident while returning from a spur-of-the-moment fishing trip. Irene was wearing the dress when getting the call that her husband died in a fiery inferno. After seriously annoying Irene, Kelly had a call from the shop that Bernadette wanted her to go to her home immediately. Arriving, the door was ajar, and the psychic did not answer when Kelly called her. Kelly found a body with a head wound and Bernadette entered the room; her lookalike cousin has been murdered. The prime suspects are Kelly and Bernadette.
The characters are defined well. I like Pepper and Ariel the best. I didn’t like Kelly very much. She seemed too stuck up, ungrateful, and made many rash decisions, such as visiting the lady who had owned the little black dress. She and Pepper change the most throughout the novel, however, making Kelly more likable by the end. Pepper changed quite a bit throughout, also. She wanted to protect what Granny had built over the years, but her love for Kelly and Granny saw her through to become someone who fit beautifully into the boutique. Ariel was someone who Kelly hadn’t hoped to see again, but they complement each other well. Ariel has learned much through adversity and is a huge help and encouragement to Kelly.
The mystery outweighed my lack of affinity with Kelly. There seemed to be such good suspects but one by one they fell away. Threats against Kelly proved that folks were not who they appeared to be. I was quite surprised with the resolution to the murder and the little black dress. All loose ends were tied up, and the end was satisfying. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys fashion and accessories, cozy mysteries, and seeing how even the unhappiest circumstances can lead to rewarding new choices.
From a grateful heart: I received an e-Arc of this from the publisher and NetGalley, and this is my honest review.
Kelly Quinn’s life is not the way she hoped it would be when she left for fashion school several years ago. First, she was fired – fired! from her job at a top-notch fashion boutique in NYC with her career seriously derailed. Granny, Martha Quinn, passed away, leaving Kelly the consignment shop that she and close friend Pepper had nurtured for many years. While going through the rooms and inventory that includes clothing, home furnishings, and tchotchkes, she determines what must “go” during a huge, 3-day sale to clear out home furnishings, décor, and out-of-season clothing. After working for Granny all these years, Pepper finds it a hard to see what Kelly is doing to Lucky Cove Consignment Shop, including changing the name to Curated by Kelly Resale Boutique.
Day One of the sale brings in many customers until Bernadette, a willowy blonde psychic, tries on a little black, lacy dress. Kelly saw how wonderful Bernadette looked in it, but the local psychic had a vision of someone wearing the dress and being responsible for a murder, then collapses. In the door ran a woman who looked just like the psychic, stating that she is Maxine, Bernadette’s cousin. Just like that, the shop began to clear out and the 3-day sale crashed.
The woman who consigned the lacy dress is the most challenging customer of the shop, Irene Singer. Her husband had recently died in an accident while returning from a spur-of-the-moment fishing trip. Irene was wearing the dress when getting the call that her husband died in a fiery inferno. After seriously annoying Irene, Kelly had a call from the shop that Bernadette wanted her to go to her home immediately. Arriving, the door was ajar, and the psychic did not answer when Kelly called her. Kelly found a body with a head wound and Bernadette entered the room; her lookalike cousin has been murdered. The prime suspects are Kelly and Bernadette.
The characters are defined well. I like Pepper and Ariel the best. I didn’t like Kelly very much. She seemed too stuck up, ungrateful, and made many rash decisions, such as visiting the lady who had owned the little black dress. She and Pepper change the most throughout the novel, however, making Kelly more likable by the end. Pepper changed quite a bit throughout, also. She wanted to protect what Granny had built over the years, but her love for Kelly and Granny saw her through to become someone who fit beautifully into the boutique. Ariel was someone who Kelly hadn’t hoped to see again, but they complement each other well. Ariel has learned much through adversity and is a huge help and encouragement to Kelly.
The mystery outweighed my lack of affinity with Kelly. There seemed to be such good suspects but one by one they fell away. Threats against Kelly proved that folks were not who they appeared to be. I was quite surprised with the resolution to the murder and the little black dress. All loose ends were tied up, and the end was satisfying. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys fashion and accessories, cozy mysteries, and seeing how even the unhappiest circumstances can lead to rewarding new choices.
From a grateful heart: I received an e-Arc of this from the publisher and NetGalley, and this is my honest review.
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