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Hat Shop Mystery #6
Buried to the Brim
London's most refined canines and their humans are gearing up for the Pets and Wellness Society's annual dog show--and Betty Wentworth, favorite aunt to Scarlett's fiancé Harrison and proud owner of corgi front-runner Freddy, knows that this could be their year with the right edge. Never one to turn away a corgi in need, Scarlett convinces her milliner cousin, Vivian, to design matching hats for dream team Betty and Freddy as they compete for Best in Show.
It's a tail wagging good time until the dog-food sponsor of the event is found dead and Betty is the prime suspect. Vivian and Scarlett agree to enter the competition in Betty's place and help Harrison catch the real killer before Betty is collared for a crime she didn't commit.
It's a tail wagging good time until the dog-food sponsor of the event is found dead and Betty is the prime suspect. Vivian and Scarlett agree to enter the competition in Betty's place and help Harrison catch the real killer before Betty is collared for a crime she didn't commit.
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 28, 2020
267 people are currently reading
1081 people want to read
About the author
Jenn McKinlay
70 books5,283 followersJenn is the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of several mystery and romance series. She is also the winner of the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award for romantic comedy and the Fresh Fiction award for best cozy mystery. A TEDx speaker, she is always happy to talk books, writing, reading, and the creative process to anyone who cares to listen. She lives in sunny Arizona in a house that is overrun with books, pets, and her husband’s guitars.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 280 reviews
March 8, 2020
Buried to the Brim is the 6th book in the Hat Shop Mystery series written by Jenn McKinlay and published in January 2020. I've been a fan of this series from the beginning, and I was super excited to get a copy last month. Since I am caught up on the series, I couldn't resist reading it this week once I had some free time. What a great edition, and I'm already sad I have to wait for the next one.
Scarlett (what a gorgeous name) and Harrison are finally engaged. When his aunt visits, she's preparing for an upcoming dog show. Her little Freddy seems to always come in second place, but this year, she's determined to win. The first place winner has a bit of an attitude toward her, and we can't tell if it's hate or love sometimes... but when Aunt Betty accuses one of the sponsors of poisoning dogs with their bad food products, all craziness breaks loose... and Betty is thrown out of the dog show. Naturally, Scarlett enters on her behalf and competes to win first prize. Too bad she finds another dead body and almost gets kicked out herself.
McKinlay's books are simply awesome. I love reading them because the writing is clear and direct, the characters are vibrant, and the plots are delicious. I loved the Agatha Christie feel to this one (more than normal) and especially when the way the book ended. There were a lot of female characters to keep track of, so you have to pay attention to the details of who knows what. Aunt Betty is a hoot, and she does what she wants. The new investigator is also a little eclectic, and I like how he ended up supporting Scarlett's involvement in a few ways.
When Scarlett's friends help out with the investigation, you know it'll get solved quicker. Especially when Viv agrees to create special hats for the dogs (against her better judgment). Will it end up launching a new side business for her? As a mystery, it was strong and kept me on my toes. It had a full cast of suspects. It had lots of side plots. I had a great time guessing. Overall, I think it was a great book, and I give it 4.5 stars. I look forward to more antics from these characters.
Scarlett (what a gorgeous name) and Harrison are finally engaged. When his aunt visits, she's preparing for an upcoming dog show. Her little Freddy seems to always come in second place, but this year, she's determined to win. The first place winner has a bit of an attitude toward her, and we can't tell if it's hate or love sometimes... but when Aunt Betty accuses one of the sponsors of poisoning dogs with their bad food products, all craziness breaks loose... and Betty is thrown out of the dog show. Naturally, Scarlett enters on her behalf and competes to win first prize. Too bad she finds another dead body and almost gets kicked out herself.
McKinlay's books are simply awesome. I love reading them because the writing is clear and direct, the characters are vibrant, and the plots are delicious. I loved the Agatha Christie feel to this one (more than normal) and especially when the way the book ended. There were a lot of female characters to keep track of, so you have to pay attention to the details of who knows what. Aunt Betty is a hoot, and she does what she wants. The new investigator is also a little eclectic, and I like how he ended up supporting Scarlett's involvement in a few ways.
When Scarlett's friends help out with the investigation, you know it'll get solved quicker. Especially when Viv agrees to create special hats for the dogs (against her better judgment). Will it end up launching a new side business for her? As a mystery, it was strong and kept me on my toes. It had a full cast of suspects. It had lots of side plots. I had a great time guessing. Overall, I think it was a great book, and I give it 4.5 stars. I look forward to more antics from these characters.
January 29, 2020
Cousins Scarlett and Viv have an unusual new client for their hat shop. Betty Wentworth, Scarlett’s fiancé Harrison’s aunt, is about to enter a dog show with her dog, Freddy, and she is hoping that a top hat will launch him from second place to first place this year. At first Viv, who designs the hats, is reluctant, but soon she is on board, and everyone is delighted with the results. However, the contest weekend gets off to a rocky start during the cocktail party that kicks things off when Betty gets into an argument with Gerry Swendson, the owner of the dog food company that sponsors the show. The next morning, Freddy is the one to find Gerry’s very dead body. With the police looking at Betty, Scarlett begins digging in, trying to figure out who else had motive. It quickly becomes apparent that this dog show is far from cute. But who committed murder?
It’s been a couple of years since the last book in this series came out, and it was wonderful to catch up with these old friends. Some time has passed for them as well, but the relationships were as great as ever. We saw plenty of the supporting characters and I loved every minute of it. The mystery was just as strong, with plenty of suspects and a fantastic ending. I did find one thing near the climax pushed me out of the book and I didn’t remember a few instances of very mild swearing in earlier books, but both are worth noting only in passing. The running gags involving puns were always one of my favorite things in the series, and it is as delightful as ever here. And the dogs! There are some very cute moments with the dogs here. Fans of the series will be delighted to get to revisit these characters.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
It’s been a couple of years since the last book in this series came out, and it was wonderful to catch up with these old friends. Some time has passed for them as well, but the relationships were as great as ever. We saw plenty of the supporting characters and I loved every minute of it. The mystery was just as strong, with plenty of suspects and a fantastic ending. I did find one thing near the climax pushed me out of the book and I didn’t remember a few instances of very mild swearing in earlier books, but both are worth noting only in passing. The running gags involving puns were always one of my favorite things in the series, and it is as delightful as ever here. And the dogs! There are some very cute moments with the dogs here. Fans of the series will be delighted to get to revisit these characters.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
February 2, 2020
Buried to the Brim is the sixth novel in A Hat Shop Mystery. I love A Hat Shop Mystery series with its quirky characters and English setting. Scarlett Parker and her cousin Vivian Tremont own Min’s Whims in Notting Hill on Portobello Road. Vivian creates the hats with the aid of her assistant, Fee Felton while Scarlett deals with customers and publicity. Scarlett is recently engaged to Harrison “Harry” Wentworth and she is viewing the world through love colored glasses. Harry’s Aunt Betty along with her corgi, Freddy are entering the annual PAWS charity dog show and she wants to win this year. Aunt Betty asks Vivian to create a hat for Freddy. Aunt Betty is upset with the shows sponsor, Gerry Swenson over the quality of his dog food because it made Freddy sick last year. After a run in with Gerry at the kickoff cocktail party for PAWS, Aunt Betty finds her paperwork “misplaced” for the competition. Vivian enters Scarlett as Freddy’s handler much to Scarlett’s dismay. Things go from bad to worse when Gerry is found dead next to the agility course by Freddy. One person is quick to point the blame at Aunt Betty. Scarlett begins listening in on conversations and searching for suspects so she can clear Aunt Betty of any wrongdoing. I found Buried to the Brim to be a delightful book to read. It can be read on its own if you have not read the other five books in A Hat Shop Mystery series. It contains good writing and the story moves along as fast as Freddy on the agility course. Scarlett is a fun character. I like that she is an American in England. There are fabulous British expressions. I enjoyed the puns even Scarlett’s who seem to miss the mark. There is plenty of tea along with various food items to keep the group up to snuff (must keep up their strength). It was interesting to learn more about the game of rugby. The explanations were easy to understand. The mystery had several suspects with good clues. It depends on your sleuthing level on whether you solve it completely or are surprised when Scarlett has a Miss Fletcher moment. I loved the hat descriptions including the adorable ones made for Freddy. Bella, a rescued corgi, was an loveable addition. I look forward to the next A Hat Shop Mystery featuring Scarlett, Vivian, Fee, Harry and their friends. I am hoping for a wedding with a gorgeous headpiece for Scarlett. Buried to the Brim is an irresistible cozy mystery with pitiful puns, cute corgis, a succumbed sponsor, charming chapeaus, and a gobsmacked gumshoe.
March 24, 2020
I was super excited to see that the Hat Shop mysteries had a new novel. It was so much fun catching up with Scarlett, Vivian and Harrison. I love the trouble that they get into and their relationship together. Not the greatest mystery, but I still enjoyed the novel.
March 19, 2020
I find Scarlet and her pals in the London hat shop irresistible. Add corgies in top hats and a dog show--this is a perfectly charming and funny read for anxious times.
September 25, 2020
BURIED TO THE BRIM is Jenn McKinlay’s sixth book in the Hat Shop Mystery series. When it comes to her Mysteries, I think that this series might be one of her most unique ones. Not only do you have an interesting backdrop as the setting, but the characters in this series offer something a little special for reader, especially if you live in North America. The European city vibe permeates through this entire book and I think the dog show only added to that allure. As a dog lover, this book definitely fit my interests and became one of the more memorable books of the series for me.
I really love the dynamic between Scarlett and Vivian. McKinlay did a really great job of creating a relationship that continues to grow and change throughout the series and so with each book, we get a different side of them.
I also enjoyed the mystery aspect of this book, which for most readers is the most important of course. So I definitely felt like this book had it all. The premise and mystery was fun and I liked all the different characters too, making this one of my favorite books in the series for sure.
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May 18, 2020
Scarlett convinces her hatmaker cousin to make a hat for a dog Freddy. Freddy’s owner has him entered in a dog contest and she wants to win best of show. The dog-food sponsor is found dead and under Betty is the prime suspect. Scarlett has her fiancé help her find the real killer. This book wasn’t as good as others in the series.
June 27, 2020
The Hat Shop Mystery series was my first introduction to the writing of author Jenn McKinlay and I was hooked from the first book. When it was unclear whether there would be any more books in the series after book #5, I was unhappy, to say the least. That is why as soon as Buried to the Brim was available for pre-order, I snatched it up. Unfortunately, I was overcommitted on ARC reading during the first part of the year and this was the first chance I had to dive into the books I purchased earlier in the year.
Buried to the Brim is worth the wait. Ms. McKinlay has a wonderful writing style. It pulls the reader in with a strong plot, rich characters with distinct personalities, and a mystery that requires the reader to stay on her/his toes. The character development is spot on. In this book, Scarlett and Harrison are engaged an planning a wedding. They get pulled into a dog show when Harrison's Aunt Betty needs help because she has come in second for the past three years straight. Through a series of "mix-ups" Scarlett ends up showing Aunt Betty's dog Freddy in the charity show. Of course, once Scarlett becomes involved a murder is not far off. The victim is the co-owner of the dog food company that sponsor's the show. It's at this point the reader has to focus because Ms. McKinlay introduces a number of suspects, each of whom has a plausible motive for wanting the victim dead - including Harrison's Aunt Betty. The reveal is well done and I liked that the Inspector involved in the case did not automatically dismiss Scarlett's theory's out of hand, but listed and supported them when they made sense.
This book is a terrific addition to an already wonderful series. Ms. McKinlay knows how to write a cozy mystery that keeps her readers involved and entertained. I will definitely be back for future books in the series.
Buried to the Brim is worth the wait. Ms. McKinlay has a wonderful writing style. It pulls the reader in with a strong plot, rich characters with distinct personalities, and a mystery that requires the reader to stay on her/his toes. The character development is spot on. In this book, Scarlett and Harrison are engaged an planning a wedding. They get pulled into a dog show when Harrison's Aunt Betty needs help because she has come in second for the past three years straight. Through a series of "mix-ups" Scarlett ends up showing Aunt Betty's dog Freddy in the charity show. Of course, once Scarlett becomes involved a murder is not far off. The victim is the co-owner of the dog food company that sponsor's the show. It's at this point the reader has to focus because Ms. McKinlay introduces a number of suspects, each of whom has a plausible motive for wanting the victim dead - including Harrison's Aunt Betty. The reveal is well done and I liked that the Inspector involved in the case did not automatically dismiss Scarlett's theory's out of hand, but listed and supported them when they made sense.
This book is a terrific addition to an already wonderful series. Ms. McKinlay knows how to write a cozy mystery that keeps her readers involved and entertained. I will definitely be back for future books in the series.
August 27, 2020
BURIED TO THE BRIM is Jenn McKinlay’s sixth book in the Hat Shop Mystery series. When it comes to her Mysteries, I think that this series might be one of her most unique ones. Not only do you have an interesting backdrop as the setting, but the characters in this series offer something a little special for reader, especially if you live in North America. The European city vibe permeates through this entire book and I think the dog show only added to that allure. As a dog lover, this book definitely fit my interests and became one of the more memorable books of the series for me.
I really love the dynamic between Scarlett and Vivian. McKinlay did a really great job of creating a relationship that continues to grow and change throughout the series and so with each book, we get a different side of them.
I also enjoyed the mystery aspect of this book, which for most readers is the most important of course. So I definitely felt like this book had it all. The premise and mystery was fun and I liked all the different characters too, making this one of my favorite books in the series for sure.
April 24, 2020
The Hatshop Girls and sidekicks are back in action as something sinister lurks at the dog show when Harry's sweet Aunt Betty gets the boot from the competition and all the powers that be seem to be determined to keep her shut out from the win! Excellent plotting with ample potential suspects to keep you guessing wrapped around wonderful characters that you can't help but love. If you haven't read the series, you should as it is definitely on the must read list of cozy mysteries!
October 20, 2020
Another enjoyable book in the Hat Shop Mystery cozy series. While I haven't read all the books, just the ones my local library carries, I personally don't think one has to read this in sequence. For dog lovers, this one features a murder of a major dog show sponsor, discovered by the MC (main Corgi) of the book, Freddy. Scarlett and her group are motivated to solve the murder since Scarlett's fiance's Aunt Betty is the primary suspect. The crime solving is more Scarlett's suppositions and not real detective work, but overall, this is a fun, pun-filled book with a layer of British flavour.
June 10, 2021
I love this series and I hope there are more books to come! I love the Mim's Whim's gang - Harry and Scarlett are so adorable together. The mystery really kept me guessing and I really enjoyed the reveal. The dogs in this book were also really cute.
January 16, 2020
From Berkley Publishing Group comes the long-awaited sixth book in the wonderfully original and intoxicating cozy mystery series, “A Hat Shop Mystery” by Jenn McKinlay’s, Buried to the Brim.
This is the first book in this cozy mystery series that I have read, and I am happy to say that it didn’t matter. The characters are instantly appealing, easy to relate with, and I didn’t need a ton of background to understand who was who and their role to play in the story or series. The story is fast-paced, the writing is professional, the plot is original, and the Corgis are adorable. (You can’t go wrong with adding Corgis to any book!)
Scarlett is one of those characters that readers instinctively like. She has issues, but she knows it and accepts them. Her friends, fiancé, and his aunt are a compelling group that will have readers smiling and cheering for them as they travel through Scarlett’s latest adventure. Most all cozy mystery series have characters you can relate with, but few have the depth these characters bring to the page.
Suspect possibilities are almost endless. The victim was not well-liked, not to mention greedy. Evidence is a bit on the lite side, but readers will find that it's there, they just have to look for it. This isn’t unusual for a cozy mystery, so I had no issue following the evidence and seeing where or who it lead to. The exposure of the killer was delightfully reminiscent of Hercule Poirot’s studious fashion of revealing all of the crucial details we missed. The motive is one any dog lover who attends or competes in dog shows will fully grasp. I am happy to recommend Buried to the Brim cozy mystery book to hat, dog, and Brittish book lovers everywhere.
This is the first book in this cozy mystery series that I have read, and I am happy to say that it didn’t matter. The characters are instantly appealing, easy to relate with, and I didn’t need a ton of background to understand who was who and their role to play in the story or series. The story is fast-paced, the writing is professional, the plot is original, and the Corgis are adorable. (You can’t go wrong with adding Corgis to any book!)
Scarlett is one of those characters that readers instinctively like. She has issues, but she knows it and accepts them. Her friends, fiancé, and his aunt are a compelling group that will have readers smiling and cheering for them as they travel through Scarlett’s latest adventure. Most all cozy mystery series have characters you can relate with, but few have the depth these characters bring to the page.
Suspect possibilities are almost endless. The victim was not well-liked, not to mention greedy. Evidence is a bit on the lite side, but readers will find that it's there, they just have to look for it. This isn’t unusual for a cozy mystery, so I had no issue following the evidence and seeing where or who it lead to. The exposure of the killer was delightfully reminiscent of Hercule Poirot’s studious fashion of revealing all of the crucial details we missed. The motive is one any dog lover who attends or competes in dog shows will fully grasp. I am happy to recommend Buried to the Brim cozy mystery book to hat, dog, and Brittish book lovers everywhere.
January 20, 2020
Buried to the Brim is a great addition to the series. All of the beloved characters are back, and all are at their best. The back drop of this one is a little different, as it takes place mostly at a dog show instead of at the hat shop.
In this book, a sponsor of the dog show is found dead, and Scarlett, Harry, and most especially his aunt, Betty, all come under some suspicion. While dealing with this, Scarlett is having to be brave and show Aunt Betty's dog, Freddy, in the show after Betty is disqualified from entering.
This one had lots of fun, was quick and easy to read, and included the sweetest dogs!
In this book, a sponsor of the dog show is found dead, and Scarlett, Harry, and most especially his aunt, Betty, all come under some suspicion. While dealing with this, Scarlett is having to be brave and show Aunt Betty's dog, Freddy, in the show after Betty is disqualified from entering.
This one had lots of fun, was quick and easy to read, and included the sweetest dogs!
November 29, 2024
3.5 stars
April 27, 2020
Scarlett Parker and her cousin Viv are back in a new Hat Shop mystery. Returning to London newly engaged to her "Harry," Scarlett is eagerly anticipating her summer wedding. Not even Viv's grumpy mood can dampen her spirits. When Harrison's aunt Betty asks Viv to design a hat for her Corgi Freddy for an upcoming charity dog show, Viv is not excited but Scarlett convinces her cousin it would be good publicity for the shop, plus Freddy is adorable! In return, Scarlett, Harrison and Viv are invited to the Pet Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) events to cheer Freddy on. Runner-up three years in a row, Aunt Betty really wants Freddy to win but things just don't go her way. An altercation with the sponsor, misplaced paperwork and a murder soon lead the police straight to Aunt Betty and Scarlett must take over in the show ring. As Freddy struts his stuff in appearance, agility, and obedience, the police zero in on Scarlett and those she loves. It's up to her to save the day.
*SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE* This is the best of the series so far. It's not perfect but it has the happy romance readers have been waiting for and an adorable Corgi with a heart-shaped bum. What's not to love? The dog in hats thing tipped me over the edge. I want pictures!
(Corgi butts for your viewing pleasure)
https://barkpost.com/cute/17-instagra...
Here's Freddy (by Katspur on Imagur)
https://imgur.com/gallery/KQyyK/comme...
Mystery-wise, the plot was tight. I did figure out what was going on at the same time Scarlett did but like Scarlett, I wasn't positive how it all fit together and who did the actual deed. I was surprised by the reveals. I didn't really care who the murderer was. I just wanted Freddy to win the competition. There's a romance subplot as well as a very happy Scarlett now wants her cousin to feel the same bliss.
Realistically speaking, I think this story is riddled with errors. I don't think Jenn McKinlay is much of a dog person in spite of being owned by one herself. Westminster is an American competition not shown in the UK. Scarlett would have to stream it online and I'm not sure she can do that with a UK IP address. Crufts is the national dog show in the UK, not shown in the U.S. From the little bits of agility I've seen, dogs compete according to size and each size category has a winner. Because this is a charity show, the rules may be different so I let that slide. I also questioned how Freddy was able to run the course mostly by himself. Can a herding dog be that focused without a trainer? Hat fetching is a learned behavior and Freddy would not have had time to practice with THAT hat in enough time but maybe he practiced with another hat? Puppies are an insane amount of work. Bella is the most adorable little baby but a typical puppy. Scarlett is not the most responsible new Mommy. Do Corgis have soft fur? I think they have a rough outer coat and soft under coat.
Anyway, enough nitpicking. It was fun to reconnect with the Hat Shop crew, Alistair, Nick and Andre. I missed them a lot. Scarlett is a little too perky for me at times but I sure could relate to her statement "I don't run unless there's cake at the end." I could feel her pain! I could have done without Harrison's macho Rugby plot. ew. I do love them together and I love how much he supports her even when she does dumb things. I didn't really need her to tell me why she loves him. My personality is much more like Viv's than Scarlett's and I understood her situation in this novel. Sometimes her friends need to learn to back off and let her make her own mistakes. Maybe she would have learned her lesson the hard way or maybe she would have come around. I don't like how Fee forced her hand. I did like how Fee has a larger role in the story as a friend. Andre is kind of mean taking pictures of Scarlett at her worst and teasing her about it. Just focus on the dog, dude. That's all anyone cares about. I haven't been a big fan of Alistair before and I'm still not super crazy about him. He comes through when he's needed professionally but otherwise he seems like a meathead to me. I prefer the movie-quoting characters from Cupcake Bakery to the punny characters in this series.
The new characters are all connected with the mystery. Harrison's Aunt Betty can be formidable and make people unhappy but she loves her dog and she's happy to help with Corgi rescue in any way she can. I really liked her and I can see why she is Harrison's favorite aunt. In case you hadn't already guessed, I fell madly in love with Freddy! He is so incredibly adorable and sweet. I was rooting for him the whole way. I didn't want Aunt Betty to be a murderer partly because I liked her and partly because I would feel bad for Freddy to lose his mom. Someone threatened Freddy and they had better not harm him! I hoped that was the person who was killed.
Freddy's chief rival is Muffin, an English Bulldog and his dad Richard Freestone. For all Muffin has nearly a million followers on social media, she doesn't seem to have much of a personality. She's very zen, typical bulldog. We get very different accounts of Richard. Aunt Betty seems to hate him but is it just rivalry? Richard indicates their relationship is or should be much different. I kind of liked him. Gerry Swensdon, dog food company owner, is the chief sponsor of the dog show. He sounds like an arrogant, greedy, uncaring person. It's no wonder he ended up dead. I don't mourn his loss at all. However, when some of the information about him comes out, I did feel a tiny bit sorry for him, until the end when ALL is revealed. The winning dog SHOULD be the focus of the show publicity not the sponsor. His sister Mary seems a lot nicer. She looks down-to-earth and is friendly to dogs.
Liza Stanhope, socialite and PAWS chairwoman, is a nasty so and so. She's a piece of work. She is cold, calculating, cruel and seems to loathe Aunt Betty. Freddy is a purebred Corgi with the bloodlines as the Queen's Corgis not a mongrel! Liza hates Corgis for some reason. I don't think Liza should be chairwoman of a dog show event if she can't be kind to the contestants. Penelope and Jasper and their Jack Russell, Henry, are not realistic. Terrier people are the best! They're always super nice and friendly and as tenacious as their babies when they need to be. Jack Russells are like hyperactive toddlers not mean, sneering snobs. Penelope is just awful! She's in it to win it at all cost and doesn't think about anything else. She's even rude to her own husband. Claudia Curtis, the head judge, also doesn't seem to know or care to know much about handling dogs. She's not nice to Scarlet and Freddy. I don't understand why these people are in dog shows but yes I know it's political. Tilly Swensdon, Gerry's new young wife, is also unlikable. Why are all the women unlikable? By the end I felt almost sorry for her but not that sorry.
Detective Inspector Bronson is not someone who has encountered Scarlett before. He seems dead set on pinning the murder on Aunt Betty and/or Scarlett and Harrison. He doesn't have enough evidence to even begin an investigation! He doesn't know what killed Swensdon or when. Once he knows that, he can establish alibis. I'm sure Aunt Betty isn't the only one with a motive.
Fans of this series will be delighted with this newest entry. If you love dog-themed cozy mysteries, you will love this one too.
Freddy in his bowler
Edited to add:
Skimmed a reread to make sure I didn't miss anything. A few problems I picked up on:
*SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE* This is the best of the series so far. It's not perfect but it has the happy romance readers have been waiting for and an adorable Corgi with a heart-shaped bum. What's not to love? The dog in hats thing tipped me over the edge. I want pictures!
(Corgi butts for your viewing pleasure)
https://barkpost.com/cute/17-instagra...
Here's Freddy (by Katspur on Imagur)
https://imgur.com/gallery/KQyyK/comme...
Mystery-wise, the plot was tight. I did figure out what was going on at the same time Scarlett did but like Scarlett, I wasn't positive how it all fit together and who did the actual deed. I was surprised by the reveals. I didn't really care who the murderer was. I just wanted Freddy to win the competition. There's a romance subplot as well as a very happy Scarlett now wants her cousin to feel the same bliss.
Realistically speaking, I think this story is riddled with errors. I don't think Jenn McKinlay is much of a dog person in spite of being owned by one herself. Westminster is an American competition not shown in the UK. Scarlett would have to stream it online and I'm not sure she can do that with a UK IP address. Crufts is the national dog show in the UK, not shown in the U.S. From the little bits of agility I've seen, dogs compete according to size and each size category has a winner. Because this is a charity show, the rules may be different so I let that slide. I also questioned how Freddy was able to run the course mostly by himself. Can a herding dog be that focused without a trainer? Hat fetching is a learned behavior and Freddy would not have had time to practice with THAT hat in enough time but maybe he practiced with another hat? Puppies are an insane amount of work. Bella is the most adorable little baby but a typical puppy. Scarlett is not the most responsible new Mommy. Do Corgis have soft fur? I think they have a rough outer coat and soft under coat.
Anyway, enough nitpicking. It was fun to reconnect with the Hat Shop crew, Alistair, Nick and Andre. I missed them a lot. Scarlett is a little too perky for me at times but I sure could relate to her statement "I don't run unless there's cake at the end." I could feel her pain! I could have done without Harrison's macho Rugby plot. ew. I do love them together and I love how much he supports her even when she does dumb things. I didn't really need her to tell me why she loves him. My personality is much more like Viv's than Scarlett's and I understood her situation in this novel. Sometimes her friends need to learn to back off and let her make her own mistakes. Maybe she would have learned her lesson the hard way or maybe she would have come around. I don't like how Fee forced her hand. I did like how Fee has a larger role in the story as a friend. Andre is kind of mean taking pictures of Scarlett at her worst and teasing her about it. Just focus on the dog, dude. That's all anyone cares about. I haven't been a big fan of Alistair before and I'm still not super crazy about him. He comes through when he's needed professionally but otherwise he seems like a meathead to me. I prefer the movie-quoting characters from Cupcake Bakery to the punny characters in this series.
The new characters are all connected with the mystery. Harrison's Aunt Betty can be formidable and make people unhappy but she loves her dog and she's happy to help with Corgi rescue in any way she can. I really liked her and I can see why she is Harrison's favorite aunt. In case you hadn't already guessed, I fell madly in love with Freddy! He is so incredibly adorable and sweet. I was rooting for him the whole way. I didn't want Aunt Betty to be a murderer partly because I liked her and partly because I would feel bad for Freddy to lose his mom. Someone threatened Freddy and they had better not harm him! I hoped that was the person who was killed.
Freddy's chief rival is Muffin, an English Bulldog and his dad Richard Freestone. For all Muffin has nearly a million followers on social media, she doesn't seem to have much of a personality. She's very zen, typical bulldog. We get very different accounts of Richard. Aunt Betty seems to hate him but is it just rivalry? Richard indicates their relationship is or should be much different. I kind of liked him. Gerry Swensdon, dog food company owner, is the chief sponsor of the dog show. He sounds like an arrogant, greedy, uncaring person. It's no wonder he ended up dead. I don't mourn his loss at all. However, when some of the information about him comes out, I did feel a tiny bit sorry for him, until the end when ALL is revealed. The winning dog SHOULD be the focus of the show publicity not the sponsor. His sister Mary seems a lot nicer. She looks down-to-earth and is friendly to dogs.
Liza Stanhope, socialite and PAWS chairwoman, is a nasty so and so. She's a piece of work. She is cold, calculating, cruel and seems to loathe Aunt Betty. Freddy is a purebred Corgi with the bloodlines as the Queen's Corgis not a mongrel! Liza hates Corgis for some reason. I don't think Liza should be chairwoman of a dog show event if she can't be kind to the contestants. Penelope and Jasper and their Jack Russell, Henry, are not realistic. Terrier people are the best! They're always super nice and friendly and as tenacious as their babies when they need to be. Jack Russells are like hyperactive toddlers not mean, sneering snobs. Penelope is just awful! She's in it to win it at all cost and doesn't think about anything else. She's even rude to her own husband. Claudia Curtis, the head judge, also doesn't seem to know or care to know much about handling dogs. She's not nice to Scarlet and Freddy. I don't understand why these people are in dog shows but yes I know it's political. Tilly Swensdon, Gerry's new young wife, is also unlikable. Why are all the women unlikable? By the end I felt almost sorry for her but not that sorry.
Detective Inspector Bronson is not someone who has encountered Scarlett before. He seems dead set on pinning the murder on Aunt Betty and/or Scarlett and Harrison. He doesn't have enough evidence to even begin an investigation! He doesn't know what killed Swensdon or when. Once he knows that, he can establish alibis. I'm sure Aunt Betty isn't the only one with a motive.
Fans of this series will be delighted with this newest entry. If you love dog-themed cozy mysteries, you will love this one too.
Freddy in his bowler
Edited to add:
Skimmed a reread to make sure I didn't miss anything. A few problems I picked up on:
February 10, 2020
I was simply heartbroken when the London Hat Shop Mystery series came to an end and then equally full of delight when I learned that there would be another story for the beloved characters of this series. My pre-ordered copy couldn't come fast enough and the appreciation began in reading Jenn McKinlay's dedication...
After following each step of Scarlett Parker and Harrison Wentworth's first meeting to friendship to romance it was exhilarating to read of Scarlett admiring her sparkling diamond ring as she was gazing out the window of Mim's Hat Shop. As Scarlett's assistance is also engaged to help Harry's dear Aunt Betty and her corgi Freddy it was easy to guess that Scarlett was about to discover another body even in the midst of an all important dog show.
One of my favorite delights of the series is to read the newest puns shared by Scarlett, cousin Vivian Tremont fondly called Viv, Fee, oftentimes Harry, and even sometimes neighbors Nick Carroll (dentist) and Andre Eisel (photographer). No one is impressed by Scarlett's puns but I think the contributions of all are hysterical and one of the many highlights of reading this series.
As with many cozy mysteries series each book can be read as a stand-alone but I would give the highest recommendation to read this series in order so that you can truly enjoy each step not only of Scarlett and Harry's relationship but for all of the characters. As Scarlett arrives in London (from the US) none of their lives is ever the same and it's simply wonderful to keep pace with Scarlett's reactions and interactions with everyone.
"This book is for every reader who asked me to write another Hat Shop Mystery. Your devotion to the series inspired me to write just one more...for now."Without a doubt I was one of the many readers and the London Hat Shop Mystery series remains my favorite cozy mystery series.
After following each step of Scarlett Parker and Harrison Wentworth's first meeting to friendship to romance it was exhilarating to read of Scarlett admiring her sparkling diamond ring as she was gazing out the window of Mim's Hat Shop. As Scarlett's assistance is also engaged to help Harry's dear Aunt Betty and her corgi Freddy it was easy to guess that Scarlett was about to discover another body even in the midst of an all important dog show.
One of my favorite delights of the series is to read the newest puns shared by Scarlett, cousin Vivian Tremont fondly called Viv, Fee, oftentimes Harry, and even sometimes neighbors Nick Carroll (dentist) and Andre Eisel (photographer). No one is impressed by Scarlett's puns but I think the contributions of all are hysterical and one of the many highlights of reading this series.
As with many cozy mysteries series each book can be read as a stand-alone but I would give the highest recommendation to read this series in order so that you can truly enjoy each step not only of Scarlett and Harry's relationship but for all of the characters. As Scarlett arrives in London (from the US) none of their lives is ever the same and it's simply wonderful to keep pace with Scarlett's reactions and interactions with everyone.
February 3, 2020
I am so excited to see another installment in one of my favorite cozy series. Yay! and with corgis!! All of the recurring characters are back and better than ever. I love the dog show theme, and it never loses it British charm and hat references. Strong characters and mystery. I hope the Hat Shop Mysteries are back.
January 28, 2020
Buried to the Brim is a fun addition to a delightful series and the mystery is wonderfully complicated. I did not figure out the murder, but I suspected everyone so that one was on my list. Scarlet is still beaming from her engagement to Harry and the idea of a little addition to the family, a corgi, brings extra delight to this mystery. The group is still trying to match Viv up with Alistair with very little luck, but if you know this group, you know they will not give up easily. We get to meet Harrison's Aunt Betty and her adorable corgi Freddy and they introduce Scarlet to the world of show dogs, world she gets to know a little better than she ever imagined. Murder is, of course, the order of the day and the suspects are all highly suspicious! I don't love this series as much as the library series, but it is still addictive and just as well written.
I was excited to receive and ARC via Edelweiss and am already telling my friends about it. I do love Jenn McKinlay's books!
I was excited to receive and ARC via Edelweiss and am already telling my friends about it. I do love Jenn McKinlay's books!
January 1, 2020
I love this series and was glad she is back with a new one! The characters are great and it was fun to revisit them. I liked the mystery with the dog show and was happy with the ending. Hoping she keeps going, because we need to see this wedding!
April 15, 2020
Oh how I have missed these characters!! This is one of my favorite series and I was so sad when it ended and then had a complete happy dance when it was announced there would be a new one. And I did something I rarely do - I per-ordered it so I would have it ASAP. And then, of course, I was buried in other books when it came so I am just getting to it now.
And it was SO. WORTH. THE. WAIT.
What a fun read.
My ONLY complaint was the narrator. Oh. My. Gosh.
She would read
.
.
.
.
a sentence and then stop
.
.
.
.
mid sentence. And also after every paragraph.
Every.
.
.
.
single
.
.
.
one.
It was exhausting to listen to and made the book WAY longer than it needed to be. She was a good narrator and was able to flip between English [including super snotty upper-crust] and American with ease and she is really one of the better narrators for a cozy that I have had in a long time. Except for the pausing, I'd listen to her again. She really needs to be taught how to properly narrate. Please.
And it was SO. WORTH. THE. WAIT.
What a fun read.
My ONLY complaint was the narrator. Oh. My. Gosh.
She would read
.
.
.
.
a sentence and then stop
.
.
.
.
mid sentence. And also after every paragraph.
Every.
.
.
.
single
.
.
.
one.
It was exhausting to listen to and made the book WAY longer than it needed to be. She was a good narrator and was able to flip between English [including super snotty upper-crust] and American with ease and she is really one of the better narrators for a cozy that I have had in a long time. Except for the pausing, I'd listen to her again. She really needs to be taught how to properly narrate. Please.
October 2, 2020
I see from other reviews that I'm an outlier here, but the charm of this book was lost on me. I'm pretty forgiving, but the set-up for this mystery was incredibly sloppy. Harrison's aunt Betty is determined to win the dog show one year, but she still feels compelled to chew out the main sponsor because its dog food made her dog sick. Sick in what way? Could it be allergies? Of course, when they throw her out of the dog show, she's the main suspect when the sponsor shows up dead. And he's found by the dog under the dais? I don't know, I just didn't find the premise or the characters as charming as I was clearly meant to.
I received an ARC of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ARC of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 14, 2019
I have enjoyed the Hat Shop Mystery series, but was underwhelmed by this book. There wasn't much of a plot, and I quickly solved all the mysteries. I'm giving it 3 stars just because I'm a longtime fan of the author.
I received an ARC from NetGalley.
I received an ARC from NetGalley.
November 24, 2022
So, this was read as a gag. I’d written a review of the new Bosch book suggesting the retired detective take up cozier cases. Spencer got an ad for this book, with its quaint pastel cover art full of hats and corgis, and sent me a digital copy of “the new Bosch mystery” as a joke.
As I have nothing better to do, I plopped down in my reading chair after work fully prepared to hate-read this. But I couldn’t do it! Hate it, that is. And I really wanted to! It’s full of awful puns and even a “…not!” joke. The American main character has allegedly lived in England for three years, but we still get a whole series of “football? Surely they mean soccer”; “pitch? Ah, the field”; “kit? But that’s a uniform.” It’s ridiculous.
And yet, it wasn’t without its charms. The experience was like reading a self-published romance book that your weird aunt sent you. It’s overflowing with cringy mom energy. Perhaps it’s the literary equivalent of a soap opera or a Lifetime TV movie. I may think it’s terrible, you may think it’s terrible, but there’s undoubtedly an audience for this and I’m sure they love it. And that’s great because liking stuff is cool! Not that my year in books or general disposition is representative of that.
The part where the corgi helps solve the case and Bosch says “I guess an old dog can learn new tricks” was my favorite.
As I have nothing better to do, I plopped down in my reading chair after work fully prepared to hate-read this. But I couldn’t do it! Hate it, that is. And I really wanted to! It’s full of awful puns and even a “…not!” joke. The American main character has allegedly lived in England for three years, but we still get a whole series of “football? Surely they mean soccer”; “pitch? Ah, the field”; “kit? But that’s a uniform.” It’s ridiculous.
And yet, it wasn’t without its charms. The experience was like reading a self-published romance book that your weird aunt sent you. It’s overflowing with cringy mom energy. Perhaps it’s the literary equivalent of a soap opera or a Lifetime TV movie. I may think it’s terrible, you may think it’s terrible, but there’s undoubtedly an audience for this and I’m sure they love it. And that’s great because liking stuff is cool! Not that my year in books or general disposition is representative of that.
The part where the corgi helps solve the case and Bosch says “I guess an old dog can learn new tricks” was my favorite.
April 22, 2025
I read the first book in this cozy mystery series about five years ago, and don’t remember anything about it. I got this sixth entry for a deal, so decided to try it out. I still don’t remember much about it other than that Scarlett, the lead character, is an American and co-owner for the past three years of a hat shop in London. It also seems she’s recently engaged to someone called Harry.
This was a bit slow for me initially, but then I got caught up in the story and the mystery of who murdered someone at the dog show. I also became interested in Scarlett's last-minute introduction as the trainer for Harry, a cute corgi who is entered in the show.
This was a bit slow for me initially, but then I got caught up in the story and the mystery of who murdered someone at the dog show. I also became interested in Scarlett's last-minute introduction as the trainer for Harry, a cute corgi who is entered in the show.
May 8, 2020
This is the sixth book in the hat shop series. Scarlett is helping Harrison's Aunt Betty at a dog show competition. I loved Aunt Betty and her little corgi, Freddy. I so enjoyed the dog show setting. It was fun to see all the dogs and how the competition worked. I loved that Viv made matching hats for Aunt Betty and Freddy. The mystery was great. There was just enough to keep you guessing throughout the book. The characters as always were wonderful. I truly have yet to find a book by Jenn McKinlay that I have not enjoyed. I would recommend both her cozies and her romances to anyone I know.
October 5, 2021
Hat Shop Mystery #6/6 🐶
I don’t know why it took me so long to finish the final book in the ridiculous, sweet, and fun Hat Shop Mystery series. I’m glad I did now though. Jenn McKinlay books will always be on my to-be-read pile.
I don’t know why it took me so long to finish the final book in the ridiculous, sweet, and fun Hat Shop Mystery series. I’m glad I did now though. Jenn McKinlay books will always be on my to-be-read pile.
May 7, 2025
The haberdashers are persuaded to make hats for a corgi entered into a prestigious dog show. Of course, an obnoxious dog food sponsor is offed, and their customer is the prime suspect.
I think Philo Vance was the first detective to do his thing during a dog show. I guess it's tradition by now.
I think Philo Vance was the first detective to do his thing during a dog show. I guess it's tradition by now.
February 4, 2020
Loved it!
November 19, 2021
I've really enjoyed this series and am sad to see it's come to an end but a mystery at a dog show is definitely a great way to wrap things up. Especially with Freddy the corgi stepping in as Scarlett's sleuthing sidekick. Love these characters and the London hat shop setting.
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