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Resale Boutique Mystery #2
Silenced in Sequins
Former Manhattan fashion buyer Kelly Quinn is turning her grandmother’s outdated consignment shop into her quaint hometown’s hot spot for upscale style—until her second-hand couture makes the scene of an ice-cold crime . . .
With her bottom line looking a little threadbare, Kelly is going all out to promote the Lucky Cove Resale Boutique. She’s counting on Black Friday to recover her start-up expenses—including a website and an advertising blitz. But the publicity is overkill when two warring divas, and one sparkly evening dress, thrust Kelly and her fledgling business into a scandal she can’t afford.
The gorgeous garment came to Kelly from the walk-in closets of Wendy Johnson, one of reality TV’s Long Island Ladies. When Wendy’s former co-star, Diana Delacourte, graces a Christmas gala in the dress that was once her rival’s, a very public catfight ensues. But is Wendy to blame when sequin-clad Diana turns up dead? Dodging the show’s ever-present cameras—and a detective’s stern warnings—Kelly hunts for a killer before the powerful celebrity-suspect makes good on her threats and rips her to shreds . . .
With her bottom line looking a little threadbare, Kelly is going all out to promote the Lucky Cove Resale Boutique. She’s counting on Black Friday to recover her start-up expenses—including a website and an advertising blitz. But the publicity is overkill when two warring divas, and one sparkly evening dress, thrust Kelly and her fledgling business into a scandal she can’t afford.
The gorgeous garment came to Kelly from the walk-in closets of Wendy Johnson, one of reality TV’s Long Island Ladies. When Wendy’s former co-star, Diana Delacourte, graces a Christmas gala in the dress that was once her rival’s, a very public catfight ensues. But is Wendy to blame when sequin-clad Diana turns up dead? Dodging the show’s ever-present cameras—and a detective’s stern warnings—Kelly hunts for a killer before the powerful celebrity-suspect makes good on her threats and rips her to shreds . . .
256 pages, Paperback
Published January 7, 2020
80 people are currently reading
1512 people want to read
About the author
Debra Sennefelder
15 books626 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 66 reviews
December 6, 2019
Kelly Quinn has inherited her grandmother's consignment shop and is determined to make it a success. She's thrilled to be given the opportunity to resell some gorgeous designer gowns from popular reality show star, Wendy Johnson. When Wendy's nemesis and co-star, Diana Delecourte buys one of the gowns and wears it to a party, the two reality stars get into a heated argument and Diana threatens to ruin Kelly's business. Kelly feels really bad about the whole thing and decides to go to Diana's house to apologize. But when she gets there, she finds the woman dead in her yard. Wendy immediately becomes the main suspect and wants Kelly to help prove her innocence. Will Kelly succeed or will she become the killer's next victim?
I thoroughly enjoyed this fast-paced, entertaining second book in the Resale Boutique Mysteries. I haven't read the first book, but I found it very easy to like and relate to Kelly. She acted impulsively at times, but thankfully, she had a wonderful group of friends to talk some sense into her. I enjoyed the author's writing style and found the mystery to be well-plotted. There were plenty of suspects and red herrings to readers on the edge of their seats. I highly recommend this fun, fashion themed cozy mystery.
Thank you to NetGalley, Kensington Books, and Debra Sennefelder for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I thoroughly enjoyed this fast-paced, entertaining second book in the Resale Boutique Mysteries. I haven't read the first book, but I found it very easy to like and relate to Kelly. She acted impulsively at times, but thankfully, she had a wonderful group of friends to talk some sense into her. I enjoyed the author's writing style and found the mystery to be well-plotted. There were plenty of suspects and red herrings to readers on the edge of their seats. I highly recommend this fun, fashion themed cozy mystery.
Thank you to NetGalley, Kensington Books, and Debra Sennefelder for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 11, 2019
I really enjoyed this cozy and its chic, contemporary vibe. I would feel the same excitement that protagonist Kelly Quinn felt if I saw my first couture Gucci gown in person! Kelly is a high energy fashionista who inherited the Lucky Cove Resale Boutique from her dear granny. It has a wonderful location along the coast of New York. Employees, Pepper and Breena are very savvy, helpful, and friendly; and Pepper’s sort of like a second grandmother to Kelly.
When a star from the reality show, Long Island Ladies (LIL) consigns some designer clothing with the boutique, Kelly never dreams her Uncle Ralph and his wife, Summer will bring several of the LIL together at a party and jealousy and madness would be the catalyst to the murder of a cast member. I felt the author did a great job of showcasing several possible murder suspects.
Silenced In Sequins, the second novel in the Resale Boutique Mysteries sparkles brightly with a tight, fast-paced plot and likeable cast, including furry feline, Howard.
I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Kensington Publishing. Thank you.
When a star from the reality show, Long Island Ladies (LIL) consigns some designer clothing with the boutique, Kelly never dreams her Uncle Ralph and his wife, Summer will bring several of the LIL together at a party and jealousy and madness would be the catalyst to the murder of a cast member. I felt the author did a great job of showcasing several possible murder suspects.
Silenced In Sequins, the second novel in the Resale Boutique Mysteries sparkles brightly with a tight, fast-paced plot and likeable cast, including furry feline, Howard.
I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Kensington Publishing. Thank you.
November 26, 2019
I always enjoy Debra Sennefelder’s writing. The Resale Boutique Mysteries feature Kelly Quin, a one-time Manhattan fashion buyer who is modernizing her grandmother’s consignment business in Lucky Cove, NY. In Silenced in Sequins, Kelly has procured stunning designer gowns from a well-known reality star. Ironically, a celebrity from the very same reality show purchases one of the dazzling dresses to wear to a fancy Christmas party. But the party is not all holiday joy and cheer. The two reality stars argue bitterly. The next morning, Kelly’s customer is found deceased in the dress and Kelly finds herself in the midst of a very scandalous situation. She vows to catch the killer before her business is dead in the water. Silenced in Sequins is a sassy and fun cozy mystery. The pace is perfect.
November 17, 2019
Looking good as a corpse is not on Kellee's to do list, but it just might be the top item if she doesn't figure out who killed one of her latest customers to her resale boutique! I am loving the characters in this series and how they relate to each other which only elevates the well written plot to bring you hours of enjoyable reading! This series needs to be on your must read list! I'm not a fashionista, but I do enjoy the uniqueness of the setting in a higher end resale boutique and let's face it we all know the fashion world is deadly so many more books of murder and mayhem should be easily created for this series to continue which makes me very happy!
January 11, 2020
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Reality television comes to Lucky Cove with the Long Island Ladies, but the location wasn’t very lucky. Long Island Lady Wendy Johnson consigned some of her gowns to Kelly to sell at her boutique. Kelly was so excited because she knew her commission would really help her bottom line. One sparkly gown sold quickly and to a walk-in, not through her online store. Little did she know that the purchaser was another Long Island Lady, Diana Delacourte. She found out quickly when the women came face to face at a Christmas gala where the claws immediately came out and the women had to be separated.
Later, while Kelly is trying to clean up the mess her sale created she finds Diana dead. Where were those darn cameras when she needed them? Could Wendy have killed Diana over a dress? Warned to stay out of the case Kelly still feels she has to uncover the killer to save her store. Saving the Lucky Cove Resale Boutique won’t do any good though if she ends up dead and Kelly is clearly in the killer’s sights.
____________
The holidays are right around the corner and Kelly Quinn had made some changes to the shop she inherited from her grandmother. Pepper, her employee and her grandmother’s best friend has been warming up to most of the changes but is upset that Kelly has fallen way behind on the holiday decorating. Her uncle is still hoping the store fails so he can sell the property and line his pockets. Kelly’s friend Liv still helps at the store when she is not working at her family’s bakery. Breena is a marketing student with lots of ideas and has become very important to the business. Pepper, Breena, and Liv keep the shop running while Kelly does her sleuthing.
I really liked the reality show theme. It brings in some volatile characters and even touches Kelly’s family in an interesting way. All the characters are very well written and really drive the story. They are diverse and realistic. The fashion references are fun and I love the way Kelly is making the shop her own.
The mystery was well crafted with a variety of suspects with believable motives. Ms. Sennefelder fills this story with twist after twist, One that could change everything about the life Kelly is trying to build for herself. Like many amateur sleuths, Kelly sometimes leaps into situations without a firm plan making for some tense moments. Her impulsiveness also leads up to a surprising and suspenseful ending. I thought I was following all the clues closely but I was caught pretty much off guard when the murderer was revealed. The person was on my radar but at the bottom of my list.
Silenced in Sequins is an entertaining read with great characters and a fun whodunit. I am excited for book #3.
Reality television comes to Lucky Cove with the Long Island Ladies, but the location wasn’t very lucky. Long Island Lady Wendy Johnson consigned some of her gowns to Kelly to sell at her boutique. Kelly was so excited because she knew her commission would really help her bottom line. One sparkly gown sold quickly and to a walk-in, not through her online store. Little did she know that the purchaser was another Long Island Lady, Diana Delacourte. She found out quickly when the women came face to face at a Christmas gala where the claws immediately came out and the women had to be separated.
Later, while Kelly is trying to clean up the mess her sale created she finds Diana dead. Where were those darn cameras when she needed them? Could Wendy have killed Diana over a dress? Warned to stay out of the case Kelly still feels she has to uncover the killer to save her store. Saving the Lucky Cove Resale Boutique won’t do any good though if she ends up dead and Kelly is clearly in the killer’s sights.
____________
The holidays are right around the corner and Kelly Quinn had made some changes to the shop she inherited from her grandmother. Pepper, her employee and her grandmother’s best friend has been warming up to most of the changes but is upset that Kelly has fallen way behind on the holiday decorating. Her uncle is still hoping the store fails so he can sell the property and line his pockets. Kelly’s friend Liv still helps at the store when she is not working at her family’s bakery. Breena is a marketing student with lots of ideas and has become very important to the business. Pepper, Breena, and Liv keep the shop running while Kelly does her sleuthing.
I really liked the reality show theme. It brings in some volatile characters and even touches Kelly’s family in an interesting way. All the characters are very well written and really drive the story. They are diverse and realistic. The fashion references are fun and I love the way Kelly is making the shop her own.
The mystery was well crafted with a variety of suspects with believable motives. Ms. Sennefelder fills this story with twist after twist, One that could change everything about the life Kelly is trying to build for herself. Like many amateur sleuths, Kelly sometimes leaps into situations without a firm plan making for some tense moments. Her impulsiveness also leads up to a surprising and suspenseful ending. I thought I was following all the clues closely but I was caught pretty much off guard when the murderer was revealed. The person was on my radar but at the bottom of my list.
Silenced in Sequins is an entertaining read with great characters and a fun whodunit. I am excited for book #3.
January 4, 2020
This was an okay read - a typical cozy full of all the typical tropes that seem to permeate the genre these days [and are getting totally boring and predictable] and early on I even guessed who the killer was and about halfway through I knew the why. The ending was really dramatic and probably was the best part of the book as you don't really see it coming, even though you are at 95ish%.
The problems with this book aren't minor - Kelly is at times, a difficult-to-like main character. She is pouty, gripes a lot and is OBSESSED with all the clothes she can no longer have, and she often makes references to things she thinks people should give her [like expensive boots or handbags] just because she has had a bad day [THOUGH to be fair, her bad day included someone trying to kill her, but I am not sure that warrants a new Fendi handbag, but I digress]. She also complains [mostly internally] about how the shop can be a huge money suck, but she is RARELY there, so how would she really know? She is so busy running all over town, I am surprised the shop does anything well at all [except that Pepper is experienced and keeps things going] and she really [even while trying to solve mysteries] needs to pay some attention to her place of employment. But that is just me and my weird little business ethic that was drummed into me from a young age [which makes reading a story like this just a touch problematic at times].
Overall, it was just okay. Not great, not hideous. Just okay. If you are new to the genre, you may like this. If you are not.....
Thank you to NetGalley and to Kensington Book/Lyrical Underground Publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The problems with this book aren't minor - Kelly is at times, a difficult-to-like main character. She is pouty, gripes a lot and is OBSESSED with all the clothes she can no longer have, and she often makes references to things she thinks people should give her [like expensive boots or handbags] just because she has had a bad day [THOUGH to be fair, her bad day included someone trying to kill her, but I am not sure that warrants a new Fendi handbag, but I digress]. She also complains [mostly internally] about how the shop can be a huge money suck, but she is RARELY there, so how would she really know? She is so busy running all over town, I am surprised the shop does anything well at all [except that Pepper is experienced and keeps things going] and she really [even while trying to solve mysteries] needs to pay some attention to her place of employment. But that is just me and my weird little business ethic that was drummed into me from a young age [which makes reading a story like this just a touch problematic at times].
Overall, it was just okay. Not great, not hideous. Just okay. If you are new to the genre, you may like this. If you are not.....
Thank you to NetGalley and to Kensington Book/Lyrical Underground Publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 13, 2020
Another great novel by Debra Sennefelder!! Her stories have very likable characters in well developed plots and settings. Even while being haunted with murder, the story is very light and fun with moving and emotional aspects.
Kelly Quinn was a fashion buyer in Manhattan before inheriting her grandmother's outdated consignment shop. Giving up her high fashion life, Kelly returns to her home town of Lucky Cove to turn the consignment shop into an up scale resale boutique. What Kelly didn't expect was an uncle trying to shut her business down, the sheriff not being her number one fan, and solving murders.
In this installment of the series, Kelly is commissioned to sell some clothing from a reality series celebrity. When one of the reality stars turns up dead, Kelly is pulled in to the case by several different hands but one hand seems to want to cause trouble for Kelly. On top of that, she finds information that may put her business in jeopardy. Can Kelly find out what is really going on with the Long Island Ladies and can she find a way to save her lively hood and keep her grandmother's legacy afloat before its too late?
I cannot wait to for the next installment of this series.
I received an advanced digital copy of this book from NetGalley and Lyrical Press, a division of Kensington Publishing.
Kelly Quinn was a fashion buyer in Manhattan before inheriting her grandmother's outdated consignment shop. Giving up her high fashion life, Kelly returns to her home town of Lucky Cove to turn the consignment shop into an up scale resale boutique. What Kelly didn't expect was an uncle trying to shut her business down, the sheriff not being her number one fan, and solving murders.
In this installment of the series, Kelly is commissioned to sell some clothing from a reality series celebrity. When one of the reality stars turns up dead, Kelly is pulled in to the case by several different hands but one hand seems to want to cause trouble for Kelly. On top of that, she finds information that may put her business in jeopardy. Can Kelly find out what is really going on with the Long Island Ladies and can she find a way to save her lively hood and keep her grandmother's legacy afloat before its too late?
I cannot wait to for the next installment of this series.
I received an advanced digital copy of this book from NetGalley and Lyrical Press, a division of Kensington Publishing.
November 19, 2019
I love the idea of the Resale Boutique and would in fact enjoy spending a bit more time there, in person would be great. The mystery in Silenced in Sequins is well develop with lots of reasonable suspects; I did not figure out the murderer and suspected several people. While the Christmas touch is less than I like, that is common in series mysteries so it was not less than I expected. I do believe that Kelly needs to get her head in the game more as far at the shop is concerned, but I see that as lessons she can learn as she goes. I just hope they are not too expensive. She brings solid knowledge and a great fashion sense, but that still leaves her short on the retail knowledge that will make the difference in success for failure. Debra Sennefelder has once again created a character that I am not in 100% agreement with, but I am drawn to care for her and want her to succeed. That is what I need in a character. I enjoy most of the secondary characters and like that we have already seen some shift in the dynamics. Keep it up, Ms. Sennefelder. I am a fan!
I was thrilled to be approved for a NetGalley ARC of Silenced in Sequins because I have been so drawn to the books in both series. This one another is a winner.
#NetGalley #Silenced in Sequins
I was thrilled to be approved for a NetGalley ARC of Silenced in Sequins because I have been so drawn to the books in both series. This one another is a winner.
#NetGalley #Silenced in Sequins
top-tbr
January 30, 2023Breezy, quick read. The holiday season is Kelly Quinn's opportunity to make a profit from the consignment shop she inherited from her grandmother. Finding a real designer piece her latest consignment was thrilling, a precursor to the adventures and danger she will find herself after she finds a member of the Long Island Ladies cast (read Real Housewives of New York). Fans of the Real Housewives series will especially enjoy the lighthearted satire, but the mystery itself is quite enjoyable. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 3, 2019
I am enjoying this series by author Debra Sennefelder. Kelly Quinn is a fun protagonist. She is smart and spunky. Although, she can be a bit impulsive which has caused her to land in some dangerous situations. The secondary cast of characters is developing nicely as well. They are diverse in age, background, and history with Kelly. Often, they provide the voice of reason when Kelly gets impulsive. I enjoy the author's writing style and found this book to have a strong plot that was well-paced. The mystery was well crafted and I thought the author provided her readers with a number of reasonable suspects with plausible motives. However, once again I was fooled by some twist and turns thrown in by the author and did not guess the identity of the killer until the reveal. I thought the storyline with the "real housewives" type characters to add some fun to the story as well.
This is a well crafted cozy mystery with interesting characters and mysteries that keep me engaged and guessing "whodunnit." I will definitely be back for more.
I voluntarily read a digital ARC provided to me by the publisher through NetGalley.
This is a well crafted cozy mystery with interesting characters and mysteries that keep me engaged and guessing "whodunnit." I will definitely be back for more.
I voluntarily read a digital ARC provided to me by the publisher through NetGalley.
January 8, 2020
Silenced in Sequins earns 5/5 Sequined Gucci-s...Fashionably Entertaining!
What would you do if you found the perfect party dress only to discover it belonged to your nemesis? That’s the question Debra Sennefelder poses in her new Resale Boutique Mystery, “Silenced in Sequins.” And her answer? Murder!
Debra Sennfelder using a third-person narrative, although I miss the “I” insights, in this well-written drama with plenty of catfights and conflicts. Kelly Quinn, former assistant fashion buyer, inherited her grandmother’s Long Island consignment shop, Lucky Cove Resale Boutique, and with her BFF Breena and her grandmother’s best friend Pepper, she is trying to bring the shop into the twenty-first century with a greater online presence and blogging with BudgetChic.com. Debra’s writing style is very engaging with descriptive language, dialogue illustrating tone and personalities, a few giggles, and a very clever mystery to keep me totally engaged.
Kelly, an admirable young woman, yet working on her flaws, is ecstatic to discover a gorgeous Gucci gown amid several cocktail dresses from Wendy Johnson, a reality TV diva. This could be the gem that rockets the shop into designer resales and improves their bottom line. They find a buyer, Diana Delacourte (a defamed reality TV diva deluxe), for one of the size-two treasures, but, as is the shop’s policy, is unaware to whom the dress original belonged. When Diana shows up at a Christmas affair, she is confronted by Wendy, the dress’s original owner and former co-star responsible for ruining her reality show career...yelling, threats, ripping open old tabloid wounds! Diana is furious about being humiliated in public and threatens to ruin Kelly’s business for her role in the clash. So when Diana is found dead, unfortunately by Kelly, the lights shine on Wendy as the prime suspect, but Kelly, too, has a motive that will be scrutinized. This series has become a favorite enticing me with descriptions of all sorts of fashion finds, ins and outs of a consignment boutique, delightful conflicts from reality show adversaries to her uncle’s third wife, questions about “to date or not to date,” and friendships cross generations. I love it!
Disclosure: I received an ARC from NetGalley and Lyrical Press. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.
What would you do if you found the perfect party dress only to discover it belonged to your nemesis? That’s the question Debra Sennefelder poses in her new Resale Boutique Mystery, “Silenced in Sequins.” And her answer? Murder!
Debra Sennfelder using a third-person narrative, although I miss the “I” insights, in this well-written drama with plenty of catfights and conflicts. Kelly Quinn, former assistant fashion buyer, inherited her grandmother’s Long Island consignment shop, Lucky Cove Resale Boutique, and with her BFF Breena and her grandmother’s best friend Pepper, she is trying to bring the shop into the twenty-first century with a greater online presence and blogging with BudgetChic.com. Debra’s writing style is very engaging with descriptive language, dialogue illustrating tone and personalities, a few giggles, and a very clever mystery to keep me totally engaged.
Kelly, an admirable young woman, yet working on her flaws, is ecstatic to discover a gorgeous Gucci gown amid several cocktail dresses from Wendy Johnson, a reality TV diva. This could be the gem that rockets the shop into designer resales and improves their bottom line. They find a buyer, Diana Delacourte (a defamed reality TV diva deluxe), for one of the size-two treasures, but, as is the shop’s policy, is unaware to whom the dress original belonged. When Diana shows up at a Christmas affair, she is confronted by Wendy, the dress’s original owner and former co-star responsible for ruining her reality show career...yelling, threats, ripping open old tabloid wounds! Diana is furious about being humiliated in public and threatens to ruin Kelly’s business for her role in the clash. So when Diana is found dead, unfortunately by Kelly, the lights shine on Wendy as the prime suspect, but Kelly, too, has a motive that will be scrutinized. This series has become a favorite enticing me with descriptions of all sorts of fashion finds, ins and outs of a consignment boutique, delightful conflicts from reality show adversaries to her uncle’s third wife, questions about “to date or not to date,” and friendships cross generations. I love it!
Disclosure: I received an ARC from NetGalley and Lyrical Press. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.
January 11, 2020
This is the second in this series and had a lot to live up to in my mind because I really enjoyed the first book. This book does not disappoint, from the holiday party to the reality show divas to high fashion couture to Kelly trying to solve the case of who killed Diana Delacourte (but not without some danger to herself).
Kelly has a lot of baggage to overcome but she has managed to find some peace turning her grandmother's thrift store into more of a boutique that grabs the attention of those looking for nice outfits at a lower price. Good thing Kelly's background in fashion helps her know what is fashionable and what should be shelved elsewhere. She has rekindled a friendship with Ariel, who is someone I would like to see featured a bit more as this series moves along. I think she can bring a dimension to the series. There is a potential love interest with Mark Wolman, who is a local attorney. Unfortunately, his sister is a police detective and does not like Kelly one bit. There are many other characters that I would like to see expanded upon.
The twist of the reality tv show and its divas was interesting for me to read about. I do not watch reality shows and wonder how much of this is real life and how much is a show. And why would anyone want to be on a show like that? Oh yeah, the 15 minutes of fame and notoriety, maybe even the money?
The mystery itself kept me guessing until the end. Looking back there were maybe one or two clues to point you to the killer, so keep your eyes peeled for those clues! Kelly manages to find herself in the thick of things until the bitter end and is lucky that she didn't end up dead herself...but not for lack of trying on the killer's part.
Overall I am enjoying this series so far and look forward to the next installment. We give this 5 paws up.
Kelly has a lot of baggage to overcome but she has managed to find some peace turning her grandmother's thrift store into more of a boutique that grabs the attention of those looking for nice outfits at a lower price. Good thing Kelly's background in fashion helps her know what is fashionable and what should be shelved elsewhere. She has rekindled a friendship with Ariel, who is someone I would like to see featured a bit more as this series moves along. I think she can bring a dimension to the series. There is a potential love interest with Mark Wolman, who is a local attorney. Unfortunately, his sister is a police detective and does not like Kelly one bit. There are many other characters that I would like to see expanded upon.
The twist of the reality tv show and its divas was interesting for me to read about. I do not watch reality shows and wonder how much of this is real life and how much is a show. And why would anyone want to be on a show like that? Oh yeah, the 15 minutes of fame and notoriety, maybe even the money?
The mystery itself kept me guessing until the end. Looking back there were maybe one or two clues to point you to the killer, so keep your eyes peeled for those clues! Kelly manages to find herself in the thick of things until the bitter end and is lucky that she didn't end up dead herself...but not for lack of trying on the killer's part.
Overall I am enjoying this series so far and look forward to the next installment. We give this 5 paws up.
January 16, 2020
I really enjoyed that this book took place from the time right before Thanksgiving up till Christmas Day. I was glad for another visit to Lucky Cove with Kelly and her friends. I hadn't really remembered the character of Breena until I got a little bit into the book. I do love Liv as Kelly's bestie and Gabe as her guy best friend. With two friends like that, Kelly was definitely blessed. Pepper is a great character too, the perfect momlike figure for Kelly and her impulsiveness (which always makes me nervous lol).
At least Kelly wasn't the one blame for a murder this time, but she promised to help the woman who was the prime suspect. The showdown with the killer was kind of nail-biting, and it definitely was a surprise as to the person's identity. The side story of Granny and a man named Marvin having been married in Las Vegas was cute until someone decided to take advantage of it. But like the murder case, it all worked out nicely and Kelly had a great first Christmas as a business owner. I like that she and Mark have made a little progress on their budding relationship. His sister, the detective, doesn't approve, but when has something like ever stopped our friend Kelly, right? ;)
Just like before, I'm super anxious for the next installment in this series!
At least Kelly wasn't the one blame for a murder this time, but she promised to help the woman who was the prime suspect. The showdown with the killer was kind of nail-biting, and it definitely was a surprise as to the person's identity. The side story of Granny and a man named Marvin having been married in Las Vegas was cute until someone decided to take advantage of it. But like the murder case, it all worked out nicely and Kelly had a great first Christmas as a business owner. I like that she and Mark have made a little progress on their budding relationship. His sister, the detective, doesn't approve, but when has something like ever stopped our friend Kelly, right? ;)
Just like before, I'm super anxious for the next installment in this series!
December 6, 2021
The first week of December was the perfect time to read this! Kelly has Black Friday and Christmas to get ready for. I truly enjoyed spending time with these characters again. The mystery was great and kept me guessing until the end. Thank goodness I have book 3 waiting for me!
January 14, 2020
Kelly runs a consignment shop she inherited from her Grandmother on Long Island. After one of the women of 'Long Island Ladies' comes in with clothes to consign, another cast member shows up at a party wearing one of the cast-offs. So typical Housewives style - there is a huge to-do and Kelly is blamed for her shop selling the dress to her. Of course, she ends up dead and Kelly is pressured into finding out why. Typical cozy suspension of disbelief on why she is involved in the investigation, but it was fun and I enjoyed the characters and story.
January 4, 2020
After being fired as a fashion buyer for an upscale store in New York City, Kelly Quinn is trying to keep her late grandmother's consignment shop above-water. Set in Long Island, Kelly is excited when a cast member of the reality series "Long Island Ladies" (LIL) consigns some dresses at her store. When a former cast member of the show purchases the dress and wears it to a party, a fight ensues and by morning, Kelly finds the cast member dead.
While I enjoyed the originality of the idea for the reality series backdrop and the fashionista sense, the book fell flat for me. I didn't connect with Kelly, perhaps because she spent so little actual time in the shop. The balance between a main character owning a business and actually running it while solving a mystery is delicate in a cozy mystery but I prefer a character who builds a business, not one that was given or inherited. The pace was slow for me and I had a hard time finishing.
Thanks to NetGalley and Lyrical Press for an ARC of this book. My review is voluntary.
While I enjoyed the originality of the idea for the reality series backdrop and the fashionista sense, the book fell flat for me. I didn't connect with Kelly, perhaps because she spent so little actual time in the shop. The balance between a main character owning a business and actually running it while solving a mystery is delicate in a cozy mystery but I prefer a character who builds a business, not one that was given or inherited. The pace was slow for me and I had a hard time finishing.
Thanks to NetGalley and Lyrical Press for an ARC of this book. My review is voluntary.
November 5, 2019
This is the second book in the Resale Boutique Mysteries series. The main character, Kelly, is turning into a regular Nancy Drew. This is a cozy little mystery with a dash of high fashion and a splash of reality television. It’s not the most exciting story, at times it does drag on. However, it is a quick easy read.
ARC provided by #NetGalley in exchange for an honest and thoughtful review.
ARC provided by #NetGalley in exchange for an honest and thoughtful review.
January 12, 2020
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Great Escapes Book Tours. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Silenced in Sequins by Debra Sennefelder is about a new boutique owner trying to make her deceased grandma proud.
A reality star, a jealous actress, a dead body, and a murder on the loose? It sounds like Kelly Quinn is in trouble.
Kelly Quinn
Kelly Quinn is our sleuth, main character, and boutique owner. She is trying to make her grandma proud by making the shop her own and profitable. The one problem is her pesky uncle wanting to sell and news that she doesn't want to hear about while going through Granny's things. Kelly is a very stubborn young lady and is very fashion-forward. I wouldn't mind being friends with her...except for when she is making promises to Wendy about trying to figure out who killed Diana.
The Mystery
Kelly was going to Diana's place to smooth over things that happened at her uncle's party, but instead, she finds Diana dead. Now Kelly is trying so hard to please everyone while trying not to get too involved in solving the mystery. I didn't figure it out until after all the evidence was put in front of me, and then it all made sense. So, pay attention to the clues, they are there.
Five Stars for Silenced in Sequins by Debra Sennefelder
Silenced in Sequins by Debra Sennefelder is an entertaining read that will keep you guessing from the first moment you open the book. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time while trying to figure out who had enough motive. I thought it was two of the red herrings instead of who did it. They just never crossed my mind.
I am giving this book a five-star rating and recommending it to all the cozy mystery fans out there. Especially for fashionistas.
First Book in the Series
Prize: (2) Digital Copy - Silenced in Sequins (A Resale Boutique Mystery) by Debra Sennefelder
A reality star, a jealous actress, a dead body, and a murder on the loose? It sounds like Kelly Quinn is in trouble.
Kelly Quinn
Kelly Quinn is our sleuth, main character, and boutique owner. She is trying to make her grandma proud by making the shop her own and profitable. The one problem is her pesky uncle wanting to sell and news that she doesn't want to hear about while going through Granny's things. Kelly is a very stubborn young lady and is very fashion-forward. I wouldn't mind being friends with her...except for when she is making promises to Wendy about trying to figure out who killed Diana.
The Mystery Kelly was going to Diana's place to smooth over things that happened at her uncle's party, but instead, she finds Diana dead. Now Kelly is trying so hard to please everyone while trying not to get too involved in solving the mystery. I didn't figure it out until after all the evidence was put in front of me, and then it all made sense. So, pay attention to the clues, they are there.
Five Stars for Silenced in Sequins by Debra Sennefelder
Silenced in Sequins by Debra Sennefelder is an entertaining read that will keep you guessing from the first moment you open the book. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time while trying to figure out who had enough motive. I thought it was two of the red herrings instead of who did it. They just never crossed my mind.
I am giving this book a five-star rating and recommending it to all the cozy mystery fans out there. Especially for fashionistas.
First Book in the Series
Prize: (2) Digital Copy - Silenced in Sequins (A Resale Boutique Mystery) by Debra Sennefelder
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January 14, 2020
SILENCED IN SEQUINS by Debra Sennefelder
The Second Resale Boutique Mystery
Kelly Quinn is not in the Christmas mood. Her dreams of increased business and popularity after receiving several items on consignment from a reality TV star turn into a nightmare when the two dueling reality "ladies" battle after one shows up wearing the other's cast off clothing! When one of them vows to destroy Kelly's business, Kelly wants to find a way to make things better, but what she finds is the Long Island Lady's dead body! Now the prime suspect wants Kelly to help her, the producer wants her on the show, and the detective in charge wants her away from her investigation and her brother! All that combined with discovering a secret from her late Granny that could uproot Kelly and all she's worked for, it's no wonder Kelly can't find her holiday spirit.
SILENCED IN SEQUINS deals with secrets. Not only do the cast and crew of the Long Island Ladies have secrets, Kelly's late granny has a whopper of one. Indeed the plot hinges upon how people deal with these secrets.
The second Resale Boutique Mystery showcases a wide variety of characters, those you like, those that pique your interest, and those you love to hate, or at least really really dislike. Kelly is likeable. She's trying hard to build a business for herself, repair relationships with family and friends, and make people proud of her. At times, however, I find myself yelling at her for her lack of good judgement and annoying thought process. Still, she's evolving and I hope she continues to grow as the series progresses.
SILENCED IN SEQUINS brings together guilty pleasures, lifestyles of the rich and wanna be famous, and murder in a charming mystery.
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a digital ARC provided through NetGalley, in the hopes I would review it.
The Second Resale Boutique Mystery
Kelly Quinn is not in the Christmas mood. Her dreams of increased business and popularity after receiving several items on consignment from a reality TV star turn into a nightmare when the two dueling reality "ladies" battle after one shows up wearing the other's cast off clothing! When one of them vows to destroy Kelly's business, Kelly wants to find a way to make things better, but what she finds is the Long Island Lady's dead body! Now the prime suspect wants Kelly to help her, the producer wants her on the show, and the detective in charge wants her away from her investigation and her brother! All that combined with discovering a secret from her late Granny that could uproot Kelly and all she's worked for, it's no wonder Kelly can't find her holiday spirit.
SILENCED IN SEQUINS deals with secrets. Not only do the cast and crew of the Long Island Ladies have secrets, Kelly's late granny has a whopper of one. Indeed the plot hinges upon how people deal with these secrets.
The second Resale Boutique Mystery showcases a wide variety of characters, those you like, those that pique your interest, and those you love to hate, or at least really really dislike. Kelly is likeable. She's trying hard to build a business for herself, repair relationships with family and friends, and make people proud of her. At times, however, I find myself yelling at her for her lack of good judgement and annoying thought process. Still, she's evolving and I hope she continues to grow as the series progresses.
SILENCED IN SEQUINS brings together guilty pleasures, lifestyles of the rich and wanna be famous, and murder in a charming mystery.
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a digital ARC provided through NetGalley, in the hopes I would review it.
December 20, 2019
4.5 Stars
This is the second book in the Resale Boutique mystery series by Debra Sennefelder.
This was quite a fun ride. Realty TV meets consignment shopping at its best!
Kelly Quinn lost her job as a fashion buyer and is now making a go of the consignment shop her grandmother left to her in her will. During a Black Friday advertising blitz she comes onto the radar of some warring tv divas on a popular reality show about Long Island Ladies and their drama, squabbles and one-up-manship. One of the “ladies” consigns a few garments with her shop and another “lady” from the same show buys it and then ends up dead wearing said garment.
This book does give you a bit of stress when reading it. Having these tv divas verbally spewing forth toward Kelly was a bit disconcerting. That shows great character building when you want to punch out a character for getting into the protagonist’s face once too often. The setting was just as fascinating as the characters. I am definitely going to look into the previous book in this series and catch up on the complete backstory. I foresee more Resale Boutique books in my future TBR stack!
If you love a good cozy mystery, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
This is the second book in the Resale Boutique mystery series by Debra Sennefelder.
This was quite a fun ride. Realty TV meets consignment shopping at its best!
Kelly Quinn lost her job as a fashion buyer and is now making a go of the consignment shop her grandmother left to her in her will. During a Black Friday advertising blitz she comes onto the radar of some warring tv divas on a popular reality show about Long Island Ladies and their drama, squabbles and one-up-manship. One of the “ladies” consigns a few garments with her shop and another “lady” from the same show buys it and then ends up dead wearing said garment.
This book does give you a bit of stress when reading it. Having these tv divas verbally spewing forth toward Kelly was a bit disconcerting. That shows great character building when you want to punch out a character for getting into the protagonist’s face once too often. The setting was just as fascinating as the characters. I am definitely going to look into the previous book in this series and catch up on the complete backstory. I foresee more Resale Boutique books in my future TBR stack!
If you love a good cozy mystery, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
October 30, 2019
Christmas time is coming and Kelly Quinn is planning to make the most of the shopping season at her upscale consignment boutique. She’s off to a great start when a cast member of local reality show brings some designer duds in for consignment and they sell out quickly. What Kelly didn’t know was that a former cast member bought one of those designer gowns and wore it to a Christmas party that all the cast members are attending. It was an ugly moment between the two women who owned the dress at different times and the purchaser vows to put Kelly out of business.
When Kelly goes to the visit the woman the next day to apologize and try to make things right, she finds the woman dead in her yard. Eventually the police arrest the woman who consigned the dress after finding the murder weapon in her car’s drunk. Promising to bring Kelly more upscale consignments from her friends, the woman is counting on Kelly to clear her name. But will Kelly be able to clear her name and save herself from the killer?
A great second entry in the series. We all have a little fashionista in us and this series brings it out to the forefront. A well written and planned out whodunit with lost of viable suspects and red herrings. Can’t wait the next visit to Lucky Cove.
When Kelly goes to the visit the woman the next day to apologize and try to make things right, she finds the woman dead in her yard. Eventually the police arrest the woman who consigned the dress after finding the murder weapon in her car’s drunk. Promising to bring Kelly more upscale consignments from her friends, the woman is counting on Kelly to clear her name. But will Kelly be able to clear her name and save herself from the killer?
A great second entry in the series. We all have a little fashionista in us and this series brings it out to the forefront. A well written and planned out whodunit with lost of viable suspects and red herrings. Can’t wait the next visit to Lucky Cove.
January 18, 2020
In this second book of a fun new series, (the Resale Boutique Mysteries,) Kelly again finds herself close to the spotlight. Her uncle has organized a party for the holidays which brings together stars of a reality based television show. Unknown to Kelly, a dress purchased from her belonged to one star and is worn by another. This does not go over well (except for the viewers) but when the dress is then found on a murdered woman... Kelly feels justified in looking for a killer.
I do not watch this sort of reality tv. but even I know how popular each character and be and how hated. The author does a wonderful job of developing her cast and giving personality to supporting "players" as well. There are several viable suspects and multiple motives.
I also enjoy humor inserted in a mystery in just the right intervals and amounts.
I look forward to seeing where she takes us next!
I do not watch this sort of reality tv. but even I know how popular each character and be and how hated. The author does a wonderful job of developing her cast and giving personality to supporting "players" as well. There are several viable suspects and multiple motives.
I also enjoy humor inserted in a mystery in just the right intervals and amounts.
I look forward to seeing where she takes us next!
January 4, 2020
I was first introduced to Debra Sennefelder via book three in her Food Blogger Mysteries and enjoyed it, so I wanted to give her Resale Boutique Mysteries a read. The first one in the series, Murder Wears a Little Black Dress, was really good. So when I saw she had book two, Silenced in Sequins, coming out I jumped on the chance to read it, and it’s as good as the first one!
I don’t watch reality TV, but I can see the appeal, to be able to watch other people with lives crazier than yours can make you appreciate what you have. And getting a glimpse into rich people’s parties and homes is always appealing. Robin Leach took us on tours of the rich and famous years before reality TV became so popular. Even with not watching reality TV, Silenced in Sequins, was still a blast. And the way Sennefelder weaved in the deal that Kelly made with the TV star, Wendy, was the perfect set-up to make sure Kelly’s business continues to thrive in future books.
Besides the main mystery, there is a smaller mystery that involves Kelly’s grandma and a trip to Vegas. I was very pleased with how it turned out because I wasn’t looking forward to this dragging on in future books.
And talking about a thing that often drags on in Cozy Mysteries… the romance aspect is still being handled well in the Resale Boutique Mysteries. It’s progressing a bit, with a giant monkey wrench being thrown in for good measure. I think it’s excellent how Sennefelder was able to combine the usual lead detective’s annoyance with the amateur sleuth into the romance storyline.
Although I knew the murderer early on, I didn’t know what the motive was until the end. And Sennefelder gives you enough suspects that could make guessing the killer difficult. I hope to see some of the suspects as recurring characters in future books. I could see Wendy becoming more friendly, and having her as a friend could mean more outrageous parties for Kelly and her friends.
As with book one, Silenced in Sequins, adds just the right amount of details on clothes and accessories. This is a Fashion Cozy after all! Although I’m not much into fashion it was still enjoyable reading about the different outfits and the way Sennefelder described them made it easy for me to picture them.
I’m looking forward to what mystery Kelly finds herself solving next, and highly recommend this series.
I don’t watch reality TV, but I can see the appeal, to be able to watch other people with lives crazier than yours can make you appreciate what you have. And getting a glimpse into rich people’s parties and homes is always appealing. Robin Leach took us on tours of the rich and famous years before reality TV became so popular. Even with not watching reality TV, Silenced in Sequins, was still a blast. And the way Sennefelder weaved in the deal that Kelly made with the TV star, Wendy, was the perfect set-up to make sure Kelly’s business continues to thrive in future books.
Besides the main mystery, there is a smaller mystery that involves Kelly’s grandma and a trip to Vegas. I was very pleased with how it turned out because I wasn’t looking forward to this dragging on in future books.
And talking about a thing that often drags on in Cozy Mysteries… the romance aspect is still being handled well in the Resale Boutique Mysteries. It’s progressing a bit, with a giant monkey wrench being thrown in for good measure. I think it’s excellent how Sennefelder was able to combine the usual lead detective’s annoyance with the amateur sleuth into the romance storyline.
Although I knew the murderer early on, I didn’t know what the motive was until the end. And Sennefelder gives you enough suspects that could make guessing the killer difficult. I hope to see some of the suspects as recurring characters in future books. I could see Wendy becoming more friendly, and having her as a friend could mean more outrageous parties for Kelly and her friends.
As with book one, Silenced in Sequins, adds just the right amount of details on clothes and accessories. This is a Fashion Cozy after all! Although I’m not much into fashion it was still enjoyable reading about the different outfits and the way Sennefelder described them made it easy for me to picture them.
I’m looking forward to what mystery Kelly finds herself solving next, and highly recommend this series.
January 9, 2020
An engrossing and fun read.
I liked the well thought cast of characters, the setting, and the solid mystery that kept me guessing.
Can't wait to read the next installment in this series.
Recommended.
Many thanks to Kensington Books and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
I liked the well thought cast of characters, the setting, and the solid mystery that kept me guessing.
Can't wait to read the next installment in this series.
Recommended.
Many thanks to Kensington Books and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
January 9, 2020
Silenced in Sequins is the second installment in Resale Boutique Mystery by Debra Sennefelder.
Kelly has inherited a boutique from her grandmother which is not doing so well at the moment so she is trying her best to promote it well and draw in more customers.
A beautiful dress in given to her by Wendy, a reality show star, When the same dress is worn by Diana, Wendy's former co-star and a rival at the prestigious gala, harsh words ensue. Diana is threatening to ruin Kelly's business. Kelly goes to her house to apologize and hoping to sooth ruffled feathers but finds Diana dead.
Wendy immediately becomes suspect number one and wants Kelly to clear her name.
It was a solid read, sometimes it dragged on a bit and could have been faster paced.
Although I like Kelly she can get a bit whiny at time and a bit irrational in thinking that people should give her things she like,
Another thing that bothered me was the fact that she barely spends any time running her store, and even though this is a book I still feel that that part should be more realistically portrayed.
It is an entertaining cozy with likable characters and a different setting from the majority of other cozies which are getting more and more tiring.
I like learning facts about fashion and find it very enjoyable.
I voluntarily read a free copy provided by NetGalley and the publisher.
Kelly has inherited a boutique from her grandmother which is not doing so well at the moment so she is trying her best to promote it well and draw in more customers.
A beautiful dress in given to her by Wendy, a reality show star, When the same dress is worn by Diana, Wendy's former co-star and a rival at the prestigious gala, harsh words ensue. Diana is threatening to ruin Kelly's business. Kelly goes to her house to apologize and hoping to sooth ruffled feathers but finds Diana dead.
Wendy immediately becomes suspect number one and wants Kelly to clear her name.
It was a solid read, sometimes it dragged on a bit and could have been faster paced.
Although I like Kelly she can get a bit whiny at time and a bit irrational in thinking that people should give her things she like,
Another thing that bothered me was the fact that she barely spends any time running her store, and even though this is a book I still feel that that part should be more realistically portrayed.
It is an entertaining cozy with likable characters and a different setting from the majority of other cozies which are getting more and more tiring.
I like learning facts about fashion and find it very enjoyable.
I voluntarily read a free copy provided by NetGalley and the publisher.
January 19, 2020
All Kelly wants is to make her grandmother's resale shop a success. Using her fashion knowledge she is working on turning it into an upscale fashion consignment store. When she once again stumbles onto a dead body, she gets pulled into the case and begins her investigation. Her step-aunt Summer's new bestie, Wendy from the reality show is suspected of the murder and they somewhat blackmail Kelly into helping to find the real killer to get Wendy off the hook. Of course this angers Detective Wolman, who doesn't like Kelly in the first place, and puts Kelly on someone's radar.
I am enjoying this series very much. Kelly is a great character who has had a lot happen to her in the past. She is trying to move on in her life, but things keep interfering. Of course, her curiosity, or perhaps nosiness do get her involved in things that perhaps she should stay out of. She has a very strong group of friends and co-workers that keep her grounded and act as her sounding boards. Even Howard, Granny's cat, is coming to love Kelly as much as the others in the town. I liked that Kelly and Mark, a possible romantic interest, are making small steps in their relationship, a very realistic development. She has a personal stake in a minor storyline in this book that could derail her dreams, but you will have to read this one to find out what that is. The story was well-paced and kept me reading quickly to find out what was going to happen next. The reality television angle was fun and added some humour, some nastiness and some food for thought. There are both likeable and unlikeable characters that add to the plot. The story has plenty of suspects and a lot of red herrings, so my mind kept flipping back and forth between who I thought might be the killer. This was an enjoyable story and great addition to this fledgling series. I am looking forward to the next Resale Boutique Mystery. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.
I am enjoying this series very much. Kelly is a great character who has had a lot happen to her in the past. She is trying to move on in her life, but things keep interfering. Of course, her curiosity, or perhaps nosiness do get her involved in things that perhaps she should stay out of. She has a very strong group of friends and co-workers that keep her grounded and act as her sounding boards. Even Howard, Granny's cat, is coming to love Kelly as much as the others in the town. I liked that Kelly and Mark, a possible romantic interest, are making small steps in their relationship, a very realistic development. She has a personal stake in a minor storyline in this book that could derail her dreams, but you will have to read this one to find out what that is. The story was well-paced and kept me reading quickly to find out what was going to happen next. The reality television angle was fun and added some humour, some nastiness and some food for thought. There are both likeable and unlikeable characters that add to the plot. The story has plenty of suspects and a lot of red herrings, so my mind kept flipping back and forth between who I thought might be the killer. This was an enjoyable story and great addition to this fledgling series. I am looking forward to the next Resale Boutique Mystery. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.
December 20, 2019
I enjoyed the first in this series, Murder Wears a Little Black Dress and was looking forward to Silenced in Sequins. It was worth the wait, no sophomore slump for this series. Kelly is back along with Pepper and Breena, running the Lucky Cove Resale Boutique. Taking over the business from her grandmother has been a challenge but Kelly is feeling better about her sales when she finds herself holding an honest to goodness Gucci evening dress complete with the 'Made in Italy' label. Things get even better when it sells. Because of the rich residents of the area her hope is that more of the ladies closets will produce more goodies for her to sell. Too bad this particular dress creates big trouble.
There is a reality show called Long Island Ladies and one of the stars was the original owner of the Gucci dress. When another of the show's stars shows up at a party wearing the dress, the fur starts to fly in a very public cat fight. The setting of the dust up is the holiday party hosted by Kelly's Uncle Ralph and his wife, Summer. Kelly needs to patch things up fast before any damage can be done to her reputation. Too late - she stumbles upon the woman who bought the dress, very cold, very dead. Kelly is asked by the original owner of the dress to help clear her of suspicion of murder. Will Kelly be able to sort things out before the killer coming after her? The puzzle is perfect and it had me guessing - I guessed wrong. Now I'm ready for the next in the series.
My thanks to the publisher Lyrical Underground and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
There is a reality show called Long Island Ladies and one of the stars was the original owner of the Gucci dress. When another of the show's stars shows up at a party wearing the dress, the fur starts to fly in a very public cat fight. The setting of the dust up is the holiday party hosted by Kelly's Uncle Ralph and his wife, Summer. Kelly needs to patch things up fast before any damage can be done to her reputation. Too late - she stumbles upon the woman who bought the dress, very cold, very dead. Kelly is asked by the original owner of the dress to help clear her of suspicion of murder. Will Kelly be able to sort things out before the killer coming after her? The puzzle is perfect and it had me guessing - I guessed wrong. Now I'm ready for the next in the series.
My thanks to the publisher Lyrical Underground and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
February 20, 2020
Princess Fuzzypants here: Fashionista Kelly is turning her grandmother’s consignment shop into an updated going concern in spite of the naysayers and family members who would love to sabotage her efforts. She thinks when one of the stars of a reality show set on Long Island brings in some of her unwanted togs, she might be ready to take her little shop into the bigger leagues. Little does she suspect that clothing would embroil her in a nasty fight between two of the stars and involve her, once again, in a murder. She manages to get so tangled up in the egos and backbiting and deceptions that not only is her shop and her home at risk but her life is very much at stake too.
I confess to being a bit underwhelmed at the reason she decides to investigate even with her near murder a month before when she decided to play amateur sleuth before. Of course, it would have been a much shorter story had she not gotten involved. She does not lack people telling her to leave things to the police but she rushes in where angel fear to tread. While it is exciting and there are plenty of good twists to the story, it is borderline “Darwin” territory.
I did love however the way her relationship with Howard, the cat she inherited from her grandmother, is progressing. In the first book, he could barely tolerate her and her feelings towards him were far from warm and fuzzy. It is a nice touch and certainly compensates for the times Kelly does some dumb things.
Four purrs and one paw up.
I confess to being a bit underwhelmed at the reason she decides to investigate even with her near murder a month before when she decided to play amateur sleuth before. Of course, it would have been a much shorter story had she not gotten involved. She does not lack people telling her to leave things to the police but she rushes in where angel fear to tread. While it is exciting and there are plenty of good twists to the story, it is borderline “Darwin” territory.
I did love however the way her relationship with Howard, the cat she inherited from her grandmother, is progressing. In the first book, he could barely tolerate her and her feelings towards him were far from warm and fuzzy. It is a nice touch and certainly compensates for the times Kelly does some dumb things.
Four purrs and one paw up.
April 6, 2021
Silenced in Sequins (Resale Boutique Mystery #2) by Debra Sennefelder is a 2020 Kensington publication.
A fun and lively mystery!
Kelly’s consignment shop is struggling, so she is hoping the Black Friday sales will give the shop a much needed financial boost. The shop gets more attention than Kelly bargained for though, with the arrival of a beautiful sequined evening dress once owned by one of the “Long Island Ladies”, - a wildly popular reality show.
Initially, Kelly is excited by the acquisition, but unforeseen trouble ensues, when one of the show’s former co-stars shows up to a party wearing the dress, resulting in a juicy cat fight. But, when one of the women turns up dead, Kelly is forced to investigate- despite detective’s warnings not to get involved…
Fashion and reality shows! The premise sounds like some good fluffy fun- right? Well, okay, yes, it is a light, zany book- but if you enjoy a good whodunit- the mystery is tight and solid.
The recurring characters are still in development, this being only the second installment in the series, but the personalities are forming nicely, and Kelly is very easy to root for.
The pacing is quick, and the dialogue is smart, which kept me turning pages, surprised by how quickly I’d finished the book!
Overall, this is a fun series, an easy read, and delightfully entertaining. Can’t ask for more than that!
A fun and lively mystery!
Kelly’s consignment shop is struggling, so she is hoping the Black Friday sales will give the shop a much needed financial boost. The shop gets more attention than Kelly bargained for though, with the arrival of a beautiful sequined evening dress once owned by one of the “Long Island Ladies”, - a wildly popular reality show.
Initially, Kelly is excited by the acquisition, but unforeseen trouble ensues, when one of the show’s former co-stars shows up to a party wearing the dress, resulting in a juicy cat fight. But, when one of the women turns up dead, Kelly is forced to investigate- despite detective’s warnings not to get involved…
Fashion and reality shows! The premise sounds like some good fluffy fun- right? Well, okay, yes, it is a light, zany book- but if you enjoy a good whodunit- the mystery is tight and solid.
The recurring characters are still in development, this being only the second installment in the series, but the personalities are forming nicely, and Kelly is very easy to root for.
The pacing is quick, and the dialogue is smart, which kept me turning pages, surprised by how quickly I’d finished the book!
Overall, this is a fun series, an easy read, and delightfully entertaining. Can’t ask for more than that!
January 21, 2020
This is the second book in the "Retail Boutique Mystery Series". I have not read the first in series however I was able to follow along and learn the charcters from the first book. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity. My review opinion is my own. I enjoyed the author writing style and quickly came to like the main charcter .
In this book Kelly Quinn is busy running her Grandmother's shop which she is turning into a second hand store for couture and high fashion. She has a background in fashion and has recently moved back to Long Island after she inherited her shop from her deceased Grandmother. She is quickly made her shop into a popular store and is featuring high end dresses that were consigned by a reality TV star. When another star from the show appears in one of the dresses it created a scandal for Kelly and her shop. After a murder occurs of one of the stars Kelly is the one to find the body. Now Kelly must investigate to save both her business, her reputation and the prime suspect who is also one of her customer.s.
This is such a enjoyable read. I loved Kelly as a savvy smart protagnist who has settled quickly into this town and made friends. I love the supporting charcters and the descriptions of the fashion. A very enjoyable read that i highly recommend.
In this book Kelly Quinn is busy running her Grandmother's shop which she is turning into a second hand store for couture and high fashion. She has a background in fashion and has recently moved back to Long Island after she inherited her shop from her deceased Grandmother. She is quickly made her shop into a popular store and is featuring high end dresses that were consigned by a reality TV star. When another star from the show appears in one of the dresses it created a scandal for Kelly and her shop. After a murder occurs of one of the stars Kelly is the one to find the body. Now Kelly must investigate to save both her business, her reputation and the prime suspect who is also one of her customer.s.
This is such a enjoyable read. I loved Kelly as a savvy smart protagnist who has settled quickly into this town and made friends. I love the supporting charcters and the descriptions of the fashion. A very enjoyable read that i highly recommend.
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