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Hollywood Treasures #1
A Killing in Costumes
Stardom fades fast when you’re on the line for murder, in this debut cozy mystery perfect for fans of Richard Osman and Jenn McKinlay.
Jay Allan and Cindy Cooper were soap opera stars in the late ’90s, a wholesome young husband-and-wife duo who combined musical talent with humor and charisma. When the truth about their sexual orientations came to light, their marriage and TV careers ended, but decades later they have remained friends. Together, they open Palm Springs’ chicest movie memorabilia store, Hooray for Hollywood--but no customers and dwindling finances spell trouble.
A Hail Mary arrives in the form of Yana Tosh, a ninety-year-old diva of the silver screen who has amassed a valuable collection of costumes and props and is looking to sell. But first, Jay and Cindy have to beat their competition, a vice president from a mega-auction house with ten times their resources. And when he winds up dead, they become prime suspects in the murder.
With their freedom and livelihoods on the line, Jay and Cindy desperately need to clear their names. There are plenty of other potential suspects, but they'll have to solve it soon before they're forced to trade in their vintage costume collection for two orange jumpsuits.
Jay Allan and Cindy Cooper were soap opera stars in the late ’90s, a wholesome young husband-and-wife duo who combined musical talent with humor and charisma. When the truth about their sexual orientations came to light, their marriage and TV careers ended, but decades later they have remained friends. Together, they open Palm Springs’ chicest movie memorabilia store, Hooray for Hollywood--but no customers and dwindling finances spell trouble.
A Hail Mary arrives in the form of Yana Tosh, a ninety-year-old diva of the silver screen who has amassed a valuable collection of costumes and props and is looking to sell. But first, Jay and Cindy have to beat their competition, a vice president from a mega-auction house with ten times their resources. And when he winds up dead, they become prime suspects in the murder.
With their freedom and livelihoods on the line, Jay and Cindy desperately need to clear their names. There are plenty of other potential suspects, but they'll have to solve it soon before they're forced to trade in their vintage costume collection for two orange jumpsuits.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 9, 2022
54 people are currently reading
1598 people want to read
About the author
Zac Bissonnette
9 books90 followersNew York Times bestselling author Zac Bissonnette's most recent book is 2015’s The Great Beanie Baby Bubble: Mass Delusion and the Dark Side of Cute. He is an equity analyst at a hedge fund, and lives in New York City with his partner and a tuxedo cat named Perry Como.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 213 reviews
January 10, 2023
Maybe more of 4.5 stars read but I really enjoyed this first book in a cozy mystery series. Unfortunately this is a brand new series and don't look like there is any more books yet to binge but I'm highly looking forward to read the next one when it comes out eventually
February 20, 2022
A great debut cozy mystery that will make for many an interesting conversation over coffee, drinks, or at book club meetings. Old Hollywood nostalgia is on full display throughout this delightful story. It brought back many fond memories for this reader who often curled up with the latest Rona Barrett’s Hollywood magazine back in the day. The murder mystery is clever, and the author does a fine job of hiding the killer’s identity from readers—I didn’t catch on until the protagonists, Cindy and Jay did. The main characters are unique, and likeable, smart, and savvy about their Hurray for Hollywood Movie Memorabilla business—they just simply need buyers and irresistible inventory.
I really liked the book cover for this novel. The LGBT community was clearly and positively portrayed. I foresee several more entertaining novels in the Hollywood Treasures series future!
I honestly reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books. All opinions are my own.
I really liked the book cover for this novel. The LGBT community was clearly and positively portrayed. I foresee several more entertaining novels in the Hollywood Treasures series future!
I honestly reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books. All opinions are my own.
November 8, 2022
A witty, delightful, and yes even touching mystery. The mystery is twisty and protagonists Cynthia and Jay are entertaining and immensely likeable. Author Bissonnette's own passion for Hollywood past and present shines through on every page. I'm looking forward to future visits to the Hooray for Hollywood memorabilia shop.
June 14, 2022
A great introduction to a new cozy mystery series! I loved the unique qualities each of the main characters bring to the table and that the characters are not traditional cozy lead characters. Many cozy mysteries have a LBGT side character or friend, but this book brought them to the forefront and made them best friends, business partners and lead sleuths! It was fun to see these characters shine and bring their own knowledge of the memorabilia world into solving the mystery as well as the relationships that they build with the other characters of the book. There were multiple potential suspects to follow and unique twists and turns to keep you guessing and turning pages. Overall, it was a fun mystery loaded with movie trivia and memorabilia knowledge intertwined with great interpersonal relationships throughout the story to delight and entertain for hours. I will definitely look forward to the next book in this series!
Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for allowing me to read and express my opinions about this book!
Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for allowing me to read and express my opinions about this book!
August 6, 2022
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Their careers have faded from soap opera fame due to an uproar when their sexual orientations are revealed. Now divorced but still best friends Jay Allan and Cindy Cooper are filling their days as owners of the best movie memorabilia store in Palm Springs, Hooray for Hollywood. But the store has been in a huge slump and may be headed toward financial ruin.
Enter Yana Tosh, an actress from the silver screen and now about 90 years old and ready to part with her own collection of movie memorabilia. She has contacted two companies about the sale, Jay and Cindy, and a huge auction house with ties around the world. Before any contracts can be signed the VP from the auction house is found dead and somehow Cindy and Jay are the prime suspects.
So now while trying to save Hooray for Hollywood they need to catch a killer and save themselves.
I love watching old movies so this book excited me from the start.
It did take me a while though to get engaged by the characters but I blame that partially on the book’s formatting. The point of view goes back and forth between Cindy and Jay and sometimes I was a little confused. That being said, I was very happy to see older protagonists in this story and that while divorced they are best friends and spend most of their waking hours together. I was also pleased by the positive way the LBGTQ+ community was portrayed. Also with pets named Bob Hope and Mae West you can’t go wrong.
The memorabilia store was such a great backdrop for this story. All the movie and music references were great. I enjoyed the description of the few items that were mentioned but I would love to lose myself in the aisles probably for about a week mining out treasure after treasure.
The author plotted out this mystery so well. It was pretty complicated with all the suspects, twists, and turns. I didn’t figure out this Whodunit until everything was spelled out for me. That means the book captivated my thinking so much I didn’t take a single note.
A Killing in Costumes has given this series a strong start and has laid a great foundation for future stories. I am excited to see what Zac Bissonnette has in store for his characters. This was a fun and enjoyable read.
Their careers have faded from soap opera fame due to an uproar when their sexual orientations are revealed. Now divorced but still best friends Jay Allan and Cindy Cooper are filling their days as owners of the best movie memorabilia store in Palm Springs, Hooray for Hollywood. But the store has been in a huge slump and may be headed toward financial ruin.
Enter Yana Tosh, an actress from the silver screen and now about 90 years old and ready to part with her own collection of movie memorabilia. She has contacted two companies about the sale, Jay and Cindy, and a huge auction house with ties around the world. Before any contracts can be signed the VP from the auction house is found dead and somehow Cindy and Jay are the prime suspects.
So now while trying to save Hooray for Hollywood they need to catch a killer and save themselves.
I love watching old movies so this book excited me from the start.
It did take me a while though to get engaged by the characters but I blame that partially on the book’s formatting. The point of view goes back and forth between Cindy and Jay and sometimes I was a little confused. That being said, I was very happy to see older protagonists in this story and that while divorced they are best friends and spend most of their waking hours together. I was also pleased by the positive way the LBGTQ+ community was portrayed. Also with pets named Bob Hope and Mae West you can’t go wrong.
The memorabilia store was such a great backdrop for this story. All the movie and music references were great. I enjoyed the description of the few items that were mentioned but I would love to lose myself in the aisles probably for about a week mining out treasure after treasure.
The author plotted out this mystery so well. It was pretty complicated with all the suspects, twists, and turns. I didn’t figure out this Whodunit until everything was spelled out for me. That means the book captivated my thinking so much I didn’t take a single note.
A Killing in Costumes has given this series a strong start and has laid a great foundation for future stories. I am excited to see what Zac Bissonnette has in store for his characters. This was a fun and enjoyable read.
Read
August 16, 2022This was a fun queer cozy mystery perrrrrfect for readers who are nerds about old Hollwood/collections/memorabilia.
September 24, 2022
A Killing in Costumes is a new take on cozy mysteries.... instead of quaint and cozy small towns/villages the setting is Palm Springs, California and is all about celebrating old Hollywood nostalgia. Reading about all the old Hollywood memorabilia that was on display in this book was fun and interesting but frankly, that is all that I loved about the book. It just didn't give out the vibes of a being cozy mystery book and I didn't exactly connect with the characters in the book... I guess a lot of us can easily not connect to living a Hollywood inspired lifestyle no matter how much enamoured we are by it.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Crooked Lane Books and the author for the e-Arc of the book.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Crooked Lane Books and the author for the e-Arc of the book.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
August 11, 2022
It's always good to start a series from the beginning instead of part way through like I often do! In A Killing in Costumes I got to meet Jay Allan and Cindy Cooper who were big soap stars when they were twenty-two back in the late 1990s, but fell from fame. Now they have a film memorabilia shop in Palm Springs, called Hooray for Hollywood Movie Memorabilia. Cindy is also a financial planner and is married to Esther whilst unmarried Jay has spent the last two decades mostly doing impersonations of Elvis. Jay and Cindy are still very good friends. One day, Ben Sinclair, Yana Tosh's financial advisor enters their shop with a collection of valuable wares to sell. Yana is a ninety-year-old diva and an auction of her collection will take place in the near future. Cindy and Jay will be competing with Dylan Redman who runs the entertainment memorabilia department at Cypress Auctions. Unfortunately, Dylan winds up dead.
I found A Killing in Costumes an entertaining, fun mystery with a great pair of protagonists, and a colourful supporting cast, and it's a fantastic start to a new series.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Crooked Lane via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
I found A Killing in Costumes an entertaining, fun mystery with a great pair of protagonists, and a colourful supporting cast, and it's a fantastic start to a new series.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Crooked Lane via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
July 25, 2022
I’m torn on how to rate this book because while I didn’t really like it, I can see how others would. My biggest issue is not being able to connect with the characters. I found Cindy overbearing and annoying. Jay is a little better but not by much. There was also so much description about the Hollywood treasures they have amassed, which was interesting but I found it overdone. The story moved very slowly and finally picked up at about 70% where it hit its stride and I became more invested. All in all, it’s probably growing pains. I will probably read the next one to see how it progresses.
I received a copy from #NetGalley and #DreamscapeMedia for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley and #DreamscapeMedia for an honest review.
April 10, 2022
A KILLING IN COSTUMES, is the first book in the brand-new Hollywood Treasures Mysteries by Zac Bissonnette. With over-the-top (in a good way!) entertaining protagonists, former spouses Cindy Cooper and Jay Allen, gives this book a solid start to what I hope is an enduring series. My only quibble is that I wasn’t always sure whose POV was in charge since it swaps back and forth. I greatly enjoyed that they are older than most cozy mystery sleuths and with their life experiences, the pair convey relatability and authenticity. Their witty banter brought humor to the story and their references to classic movies and actors (I loved their pets named Mae West and Bob Hope) brought a sense of nostalgia. I also appreciated the positive portrayal of the LBGTQ+ community throughout the book. It was deftly woven into the story without distracting from the well-plotted mystery. With enough suspects to keep me guessing, I didn’t figure out the perpetrator until Cindy and Jay did. Looking back on the clues provided, they were there but I was so immersed in the fun read, I missed their importance… which is the sign of an entertaining book!
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 4, 2022
A Killing in Costumes is a light cozy mystery with two gay protagonists. The point-of-view switches between Jay and Cindy. I wish the point-of-view had alternated chapters instead of switching randomly (I would have preferred third person). It was made more challenging with Cindy telling us how Jay felt about Jay’s attraction to the detective (shouldn’t Jay be telling us how he feels) or Jay telling us that Cindy is getting angry. The characters lacked development. We are given some basic background information. I wanted more details that would bring the characters to life. I did feel that the information we are given on Jay and Cindy does not jive with their age. We get to learn the ins and out of the movie memorabilia business. There are numerous descriptions of movie props, posters, and costumes. All the descriptions slow down the pacing considerably. The whodunit was straightforward. We have a dead man, several suspects, and a red herring or two. It takes one clue to solve the mystery. The pacing does pick up near the end as Cindy and Jay are discovering the final details they need to solve the crime and have a dramatic reveal. I got tired of being told that Cindy drove a Jurassic Park Explorer and the horror movie table was mentioned nine times. As you can tell, A Killing in Costumes was not my type of book. A Killing in Costumes is a blithe cozy mystery with movie memorabilia, slow sales, a prima donna nonagenarian, a murdered competitor, killer costumes, a lethal envelope, a dispassionate son, a shady assistant, and an iffy financier.
March 10, 2022
I feel kind of bad about this review because it's clear that lots of other people liked this book, so take what I'm going to say with a grain of salt as it may be just me.
This book really did nothing for me. For starters, there were two main characters. Each shared time in the book evenly but it always seemed that if there were both of them in the scene, then the wrong one was narrating. Sexual attraction to cop? The non-attracted character is telling us how she thinks they're feeling. Someone being betrayed? The observer is the narrator, not the betrayed person. I wish the author had just picked one and made them the sole narrator. Moreover, I felt like there was a lot of lecturing about the Hollywood antiques business, which was sort of interesting, but not what I signed up for and made the plot drag. I finally realized how much I was struggling to read this when I figured out that I had picked it up several times a day for a _week_ and kept putting it down. I ended up fast skimming it just to see who did it.
Again, your experience may be different.
This book really did nothing for me. For starters, there were two main characters. Each shared time in the book evenly but it always seemed that if there were both of them in the scene, then the wrong one was narrating. Sexual attraction to cop? The non-attracted character is telling us how she thinks they're feeling. Someone being betrayed? The observer is the narrator, not the betrayed person. I wish the author had just picked one and made them the sole narrator. Moreover, I felt like there was a lot of lecturing about the Hollywood antiques business, which was sort of interesting, but not what I signed up for and made the plot drag. I finally realized how much I was struggling to read this when I figured out that I had picked it up several times a day for a _week_ and kept putting it down. I ended up fast skimming it just to see who did it.
Again, your experience may be different.
June 14, 2022
A great introduction to a new cozy mystery series! I loved the unique qualities each of the main characters bring to the table and that the characters are not traditional cozy lead characters. Many cozy mysteries have a LBGT side character or friend, but this book brought them to the forefront and made them best friends, business partners and lead sleuths! It was fun to see these characters shine and bring their own knowledge of the memorabilia world into solving the mystery as well as the relationships that they build with the other characters of the book. There were multiple potential suspects to follow and unique twists and turns to keep you guessing and turning pages. Overall, it was a fun mystery loaded with movie trivia and memorabilia knowledge intertwined with great interpersonal relationships throughout the story to delight and entertain for hours. I will definitely look forward to the next book in this series!
Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for allowing me to read and express my opinion about this book!
Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for allowing me to read and express my opinion about this book!
August 15, 2022
Jay and Cindy own a Hollywood memoribilia store in Palm springs, California. When trying to secure an old Hollywood actress collection. The competing bidder does from poison. Jay and Cindy find themselves as prime suspects. In order to save their store and their lives they will need to find the killer.
I liked this book. I think this might be the first LGBTQIA cozy mystery book I've read. I enjoyed finding out their history. They were once soap stars and had a music career. Cindy was a financial advisor. I can't wait to see what these two get up to next.
I liked this book. I think this might be the first LGBTQIA cozy mystery book I've read. I enjoyed finding out their history. They were once soap stars and had a music career. Cindy was a financial advisor. I can't wait to see what these two get up to next.
July 30, 2022
What a great start to a new cozy mystery series! The setup is unique. We have two main characters, Cindy and Jay, who have started a Hollywood memorabilia shop in Palm Springs, California. They used to be married, but then they each realized they were gay/lesbian and they divorced, but remained not only the best of friends but have been business partners, first in entertainment and now in this new retail venture, aptly called Hooray For Hollywood. (Cindy had a separate career as a financial advisor and Jay did shows in Las Vegas.) For their new store, they buy and sell memorabilia such as costumes, props and posters from old movies.
In the book, a former movie actress, Yana Tosh, now 90, approaches them because she wants to sell some of her extensive collection. She also has contacted a large auction house. When the main contact from the auction house, Dylan Redman, is poisoned, of course Cindy and Jay are prime suspects in his murder. The bulk of the book has Cindy and Jay trying to clear their names and save their foundering business.
There were many things I loved about this book: the two main characters represent the LGBTQ community very well; there is a big emphasis on friendship, love and found families; the warmth between the two main characters was wonderful; Cindy and Jay don’t do really dumb stuff, like many amateur sleuths do; and they try to work with the police to solve the case. There were a good number of twists and turns in the plot so it kept me guessing. So many things had me smiling - such as Jay’s fondness for Barry Manilow’s music, and their pets named Mae West and Bob Hope. They really are throw-backs, because I’m guessing they’re in their 40s or 50s, not their 80s.
I can’t wait to see what the author dreams up as Cindy and Jay’s next adventure!
I bounced between the audiobook and the ebook for this title, which was very convenient. The audiobook has two distinct narrators who do a wonderful job, Melanie Carey and Paul Bellatoni. Different chapters are narrated by either Carey or Ballatoni.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook and to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
In the book, a former movie actress, Yana Tosh, now 90, approaches them because she wants to sell some of her extensive collection. She also has contacted a large auction house. When the main contact from the auction house, Dylan Redman, is poisoned, of course Cindy and Jay are prime suspects in his murder. The bulk of the book has Cindy and Jay trying to clear their names and save their foundering business.
There were many things I loved about this book: the two main characters represent the LGBTQ community very well; there is a big emphasis on friendship, love and found families; the warmth between the two main characters was wonderful; Cindy and Jay don’t do really dumb stuff, like many amateur sleuths do; and they try to work with the police to solve the case. There were a good number of twists and turns in the plot so it kept me guessing. So many things had me smiling - such as Jay’s fondness for Barry Manilow’s music, and their pets named Mae West and Bob Hope. They really are throw-backs, because I’m guessing they’re in their 40s or 50s, not their 80s.
I can’t wait to see what the author dreams up as Cindy and Jay’s next adventure!
I bounced between the audiobook and the ebook for this title, which was very convenient. The audiobook has two distinct narrators who do a wonderful job, Melanie Carey and Paul Bellatoni. Different chapters are narrated by either Carey or Ballatoni.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook and to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
dnf
August 23, 2022-Disclaimer: I received this book for free through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.-
DNF
I like the cover art. But everything about this book fell flat. The narrators sound like those that read infomercials. I can't connect with the characters & they aren't interesting. The book focuses on a lot of extra detail which slows the pace. The writing style is typical. Overall, the way this book was put together made me lose interest quickly.
Thank you, Dreamscape Media!
DNF
I like the cover art. But everything about this book fell flat. The narrators sound like those that read infomercials. I can't connect with the characters & they aren't interesting. The book focuses on a lot of extra detail which slows the pace. The writing style is typical. Overall, the way this book was put together made me lose interest quickly.
Thank you, Dreamscape Media!
did-not-finish
July 2, 2023I just didn't click with this and didn't want to put more time into it waiting to see if that would change.
z-dnf
July 4, 2023not my jam, which is a shame because I love the idea of a palm springs setting!
July 6, 2022
A killing in Costumes by Zac Bissonnette is the debut novel of a fun and exciting new series. The two main characters, Cindy and Jay, are relatable and a great representation of the LGBTQ+ community. They run a Hollywood memorabilia store in Palm Springs. While competing for a huge consignment, a murder occurs in which they become suspects. To prove their innocence and save their store, they decide to investigate the murder. There were several suspects and I did not figure it out until the main characters did in the book. Overall this is a great start to a new cozy mystery series!
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
June 23, 2022
The theatre kid in me loved this book! The fabulous setting and quirky characters make this mystery a fun read. Great start to a new series!
August 7, 2022
Debut mysteries sometimes have a bit of trouble finding their stride. The stage has to be set and the main characters need to be introduced. That takes time and can slow down the pace of the mystery. There were a few things that took me out of the story but not to the point that I was going to say 'enough' and stop reading. I liked it enough to want to read the next in the series. Jay Allan and Cindy Cooper show great promise and the puzzle they had to solve was satisfying.
After a successful Hollywood career that ended in a scandal, Cindy and Jay have turned to Hollywood memorabilia, opening a store in Palm Springs called Hooray For Hollywood. At the moment there isn't to say "hooray" about as business is in the tank and closure is just around the corner. What they need is a lot of new inventory and it may be theirs if 90 year old movie diva Yana Tosh decides to let them sell her collection. The hitch is she has two companies to pick from and the competition is bigger and very well connected. When a killer takes out the VP of the other company the police think Jay and Cindy make the perfect pair of prime suspects. Knocking off the competition to save their business ranks as one of the most popular motives. Not so fast, please. Time for this refreshing pair of older amateur sleuths to investigate. There are enough suspects and a few red herrings to keep the reader guessing to the big reveal. Add their pets named Mae West and Bob Hope and I was hooked. My only issue was the uneven changing of the point of view between Jay and Cindy. It confused me but not enough to make say no to the next mystery they will solve. It may not be an issue with the next book.
My thanks to the publisher Crooked Lane and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
After a successful Hollywood career that ended in a scandal, Cindy and Jay have turned to Hollywood memorabilia, opening a store in Palm Springs called Hooray For Hollywood. At the moment there isn't to say "hooray" about as business is in the tank and closure is just around the corner. What they need is a lot of new inventory and it may be theirs if 90 year old movie diva Yana Tosh decides to let them sell her collection. The hitch is she has two companies to pick from and the competition is bigger and very well connected. When a killer takes out the VP of the other company the police think Jay and Cindy make the perfect pair of prime suspects. Knocking off the competition to save their business ranks as one of the most popular motives. Not so fast, please. Time for this refreshing pair of older amateur sleuths to investigate. There are enough suspects and a few red herrings to keep the reader guessing to the big reveal. Add their pets named Mae West and Bob Hope and I was hooked. My only issue was the uneven changing of the point of view between Jay and Cindy. It confused me but not enough to make say no to the next mystery they will solve. It may not be an issue with the next book.
My thanks to the publisher Crooked Lane and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
August 6, 2022
I received a free copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.
A new author as well as a new series makes me excited to give it a whirl. We get a mash up of old Hollywood mixed with present day. Jay and Cindy were a golden couple back in the day but when the truth about their home life came out they were essentially shunned. They broke up but were able to remain good friends. Years later they decide to open a store with movie memorabilia but sales are not going well. An older star connects with them wanting to sell her old stuff but they have to beat out the competition in order to buy it. Things are getting heated when the other buyer turns up dead leading to all sorts of surprises as they try to save themselves, their store, and find out what really happened. This creates quite the fun read as it all blends together. The story line provides a nice change of pace from more traditional cozies giving us something a little different to enjoy which is always a good time for me. If you are looking for a new cozy series and want something different give this one a try. I really liked it so I give it 4/5 stars.
A new author as well as a new series makes me excited to give it a whirl. We get a mash up of old Hollywood mixed with present day. Jay and Cindy were a golden couple back in the day but when the truth about their home life came out they were essentially shunned. They broke up but were able to remain good friends. Years later they decide to open a store with movie memorabilia but sales are not going well. An older star connects with them wanting to sell her old stuff but they have to beat out the competition in order to buy it. Things are getting heated when the other buyer turns up dead leading to all sorts of surprises as they try to save themselves, their store, and find out what really happened. This creates quite the fun read as it all blends together. The story line provides a nice change of pace from more traditional cozies giving us something a little different to enjoy which is always a good time for me. If you are looking for a new cozy series and want something different give this one a try. I really liked it so I give it 4/5 stars.
August 14, 2022
Adorable cozy mystery with two queer leads in a platonic partnership- be still, my Murder She Wrote loving heart!
August 12, 2022
Cozy mystery fans will find a lot to enjoy in A KiILLING IN COSTUNMES, the sparkling fiction debut from Zac Bissonnette (The Great Beanie Baby Bubble). In the late 1990s, Jay Allan and Cindy Cooper were married and starring together on a daytime soap opera. When both realized they were gay, they decided to split amicably and come out publicly, which saved their friendship but cost them their TV careers.
Decades later, the two best friends live together in a two-family home with Jay's cat, Mae West, and Cindy's German shepherd, Bob Hope. They also pooled their resources to open a movie memorabilia store, Hooray for Hollywood, in a Palm Springs strip mall. The two meet with Yana Tosh, a 90-year-old retired screen actress who wants to sell some of her movie memorabilia. Her son, Warren, seems averse to selling her treasures. Yana also meets with a rival memorabilia company. When the head of that rival company ends up murdered, Jay and Cindy join the list of suspects. The two amateur sleuths try to clear their names by solving the murder of their competitor.
Mystery buffs will enjoy this lively paced whodunit and its fully realized characters. Who stole a prop painting from the movie "The Mirror Crack'd"? Who sent the duo a letter containing a poisonous substance? Who poisoned a delicious pastry? Who has been siphoning money out of Yana's bank account and where is her missing financial adviser? A gay homicide detective works the case and eyes Jay. This fun ride will keep even the most eagle-eyed readers guessing until the final pages.
Decades later, the two best friends live together in a two-family home with Jay's cat, Mae West, and Cindy's German shepherd, Bob Hope. They also pooled their resources to open a movie memorabilia store, Hooray for Hollywood, in a Palm Springs strip mall. The two meet with Yana Tosh, a 90-year-old retired screen actress who wants to sell some of her movie memorabilia. Her son, Warren, seems averse to selling her treasures. Yana also meets with a rival memorabilia company. When the head of that rival company ends up murdered, Jay and Cindy join the list of suspects. The two amateur sleuths try to clear their names by solving the murder of their competitor.
Mystery buffs will enjoy this lively paced whodunit and its fully realized characters. Who stole a prop painting from the movie "The Mirror Crack'd"? Who sent the duo a letter containing a poisonous substance? Who poisoned a delicious pastry? Who has been siphoning money out of Yana's bank account and where is her missing financial adviser? A gay homicide detective works the case and eyes Jay. This fun ride will keep even the most eagle-eyed readers guessing until the final pages.
December 13, 2022
Jay and Cindy have a similar (but more mature) chemistry as Angie and Tate in the Cupcake Bakery mystery series by Jenn McKinlay. The difference is, they've already tried being married to each other. The structure of the mystery reminded me quite a bit of Columbo, which is lampshaded at the end.
My favorite bit of this mystery was Yana Tosh's role as a Columbo villain, presumably back in the 1970s. Knowing how Columbo episodes work, it made her character all the more interesting and set the stage for how this mystery would play out. That said, Cindy and Jay aren't Columbo, so they put themselves in a lot more danger than he ever found himself in.
http://pussreboots.com/blog/2022/comm...
My favorite bit of this mystery was Yana Tosh's role as a Columbo villain, presumably back in the 1970s. Knowing how Columbo episodes work, it made her character all the more interesting and set the stage for how this mystery would play out. That said, Cindy and Jay aren't Columbo, so they put themselves in a lot more danger than he ever found himself in.
http://pussreboots.com/blog/2022/comm...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 15, 2022
I'm not one for cozy mysteries, really, and this just proved why: it's a dull, wheel-spinning, obvious book that's more about the gimmick than the story or the characters.
The only cozies I've read in the past are fast, sweet, and comforting, full of characters that feel real and like old friends. The characters in A Killing in Costumes have no shading, no depth, and behave like people twice their age. Cindy and Jay are supposed to be in their early 40s, yet they are obsessed with movies, music, and memorabilia from before they were born. They have encyclopedic knowledge of classic film and TV; watch reruns of Murder, She Wrote on the Hallmark channel; listen to Perry Como, Lawrence Welk, and Ella Fitzgerald on vinyl; and hang out with their only friend, an 85 year old woman who reads Joel Osteen and quotes the Bible. Cindy's only defining characteristic (besides her sexuality) is that she's a widow. The adjective Jay uses to describe his style of dress is "dapper," and there is mention of his bow tie collection. He refuses to learn technology. These are not characteristics of people in their early 40s, I'm sorry.
Beyond that, the remaining characters are straight out of the Wikipedia entry for "cozies." There's the detective who behaves in no way like a real cop, all but encouraging these two antiquers to investigate a murder in which they are the suspects because they, of course, turn out to be better at solving the murder than the police. The other suspects in the crime are shady business people, shady advisors, shady journalists, and shady family members.
The writing, overall, is fine. The middle gets bogged own with descriptions of the memorabilia business, objects being sold that have nothing to do with anything except to fill up pages (WHY DID THE AUTHOR KEEP REFERRING TO THE DAMN HORROR MOVIE TABLE?!), and plots of films. But at least the dialogue feels mostly natural, if utterly witless and mostly devoid of humor
This just wasn't for me at all. Maybe cozies aren't my thing, or maybe it's this particular cozy needed more work (a larger supporting cast of the typical "comic relief" types would have helped the bland, boring middle chapters). I don't know.
The only cozies I've read in the past are fast, sweet, and comforting, full of characters that feel real and like old friends. The characters in A Killing in Costumes have no shading, no depth, and behave like people twice their age. Cindy and Jay are supposed to be in their early 40s, yet they are obsessed with movies, music, and memorabilia from before they were born. They have encyclopedic knowledge of classic film and TV; watch reruns of Murder, She Wrote on the Hallmark channel; listen to Perry Como, Lawrence Welk, and Ella Fitzgerald on vinyl; and hang out with their only friend, an 85 year old woman who reads Joel Osteen and quotes the Bible. Cindy's only defining characteristic (besides her sexuality) is that she's a widow. The adjective Jay uses to describe his style of dress is "dapper," and there is mention of his bow tie collection. He refuses to learn technology. These are not characteristics of people in their early 40s, I'm sorry.
Beyond that, the remaining characters are straight out of the Wikipedia entry for "cozies." There's the detective who behaves in no way like a real cop, all but encouraging these two antiquers to investigate a murder in which they are the suspects because they, of course, turn out to be better at solving the murder than the police. The other suspects in the crime are shady business people, shady advisors, shady journalists, and shady family members.
The writing, overall, is fine. The middle gets bogged own with descriptions of the memorabilia business, objects being sold that have nothing to do with anything except to fill up pages (WHY DID THE AUTHOR KEEP REFERRING TO THE DAMN HORROR MOVIE TABLE?!), and plots of films. But at least the dialogue feels mostly natural, if utterly witless and mostly devoid of humor
This just wasn't for me at all. Maybe cozies aren't my thing, or maybe it's this particular cozy needed more work (a larger supporting cast of the typical "comic relief" types would have helped the bland, boring middle chapters). I don't know.
August 9, 2022
This was a nice introduction to the series with a lot of potential to become even better. I really loved the all around theme of old Hollywood and how it was incorporated in so much from the clothes to the music the MCs listened to. Any movie buff, especially a classic movie lover, will adore this book and find so many aspects to love. I enjoyed the dual POVs so that you could really see the two friends turned sleuths working on the case and their inner dialogue. The thing that didn't work for me was some of the side characters had almost wild mood swings and I couldn't get a good sense of them because they would change their attitude so much. Also I did not love the detective and if he is going to be a love interest, I hope he gets a bit of change in attitude. Overall this was fun with quite a twists at the end.
Thanks to the publishers for a finished copy.
Thanks to the publishers for a finished copy.
February 14, 2023
A Killing in Costumes
By Zac Bissonnette
Crooked Lane Books, 2022
Five stars
Sleek, well-written, and completely engaging, “A Killing in Costumes” is purportedly the first of a series that should be very popular.
For someone my age (born 1955), the set-up of the book feels weirdly out-of-time. Cindy Cooper and Jay Allan are in their early-to-mid forties. They are both gay. They were married twenty years ago, and were hugely successful on television and as a musical duo. Then they came out, crashed their careers, and started new lives. Somehow, they remained close friends.
Cindy and Jay are delightful, and we learn how each of them found their way forward after their marriage ended, and reunited to fulfill a shared dream: to run a Hollywood memorabilia store in Palm Springs. The strongest thing in this charming book is these two still-young, smart, attractive people. The author takes us inside their heads (the book is almost entirely from their alternating perspectives, but in the second person). In this way we come to understand their love for each other and the endurance of that emotion despite their separate lives after the disruption of their marriage.
The second strongest thing about this book is the complex murder-mystery plot. Once the character of long-retired B-movie star Yana Tosh appears, I kept channeling “Sunset Boulevard,” (although that film is never mentioned in the book). Yana is a remarkable, vivid character who triggers lots of emotion. Whoever was to play this role well in the film of the book would win an Oscar.
The lure and lore of Hollywood memorabilia and costume is wonderfully used as a driver throughout the story – and it’s a fascinating introduction to the topic for anyone unfamiliar with the territory. (I confess, I know mostly what I’ve gleaned from The Antiques Road Show over the years, but as a retired museum curator of decorative arts, costume and textiles, I have a certain instinctual interest.) Bissonnette keeps the pace going, and maintains an upbeat humor throughout the narrative, even when things begin to go sideways. His mastery of the visual in the book is great, and the importance of props on film and in real life is an important thread.
Since they’re young enough to be my children, it’s hard for my brain to reconcile Cindy and Jay’s timeline with my own – but I find that with younger writers (as Zac Bissonnette seems to be), there is a kind of detachment from gay history as I lived it. Of course, Hollywood itself is both the gayest part of American culture and, much of the time, the most homophobic. This truth is noted as part of Jay and Cindy’s story, but given its importance to their lives, it doesn’t really get a lot of page time. I kept feeling they should have been married in the 1970s, when they were actually married in the late 1990s.
But no matter, I am hoping that Zac Bissonnette writes many sequels to Cindy and Jay’s adventures. As rich as this book was, it’s clearly just the starting line.
By Zac Bissonnette
Crooked Lane Books, 2022
Five stars
Sleek, well-written, and completely engaging, “A Killing in Costumes” is purportedly the first of a series that should be very popular.
For someone my age (born 1955), the set-up of the book feels weirdly out-of-time. Cindy Cooper and Jay Allan are in their early-to-mid forties. They are both gay. They were married twenty years ago, and were hugely successful on television and as a musical duo. Then they came out, crashed their careers, and started new lives. Somehow, they remained close friends.
Cindy and Jay are delightful, and we learn how each of them found their way forward after their marriage ended, and reunited to fulfill a shared dream: to run a Hollywood memorabilia store in Palm Springs. The strongest thing in this charming book is these two still-young, smart, attractive people. The author takes us inside their heads (the book is almost entirely from their alternating perspectives, but in the second person). In this way we come to understand their love for each other and the endurance of that emotion despite their separate lives after the disruption of their marriage.
The second strongest thing about this book is the complex murder-mystery plot. Once the character of long-retired B-movie star Yana Tosh appears, I kept channeling “Sunset Boulevard,” (although that film is never mentioned in the book). Yana is a remarkable, vivid character who triggers lots of emotion. Whoever was to play this role well in the film of the book would win an Oscar.
The lure and lore of Hollywood memorabilia and costume is wonderfully used as a driver throughout the story – and it’s a fascinating introduction to the topic for anyone unfamiliar with the territory. (I confess, I know mostly what I’ve gleaned from The Antiques Road Show over the years, but as a retired museum curator of decorative arts, costume and textiles, I have a certain instinctual interest.) Bissonnette keeps the pace going, and maintains an upbeat humor throughout the narrative, even when things begin to go sideways. His mastery of the visual in the book is great, and the importance of props on film and in real life is an important thread.
Since they’re young enough to be my children, it’s hard for my brain to reconcile Cindy and Jay’s timeline with my own – but I find that with younger writers (as Zac Bissonnette seems to be), there is a kind of detachment from gay history as I lived it. Of course, Hollywood itself is both the gayest part of American culture and, much of the time, the most homophobic. This truth is noted as part of Jay and Cindy’s story, but given its importance to their lives, it doesn’t really get a lot of page time. I kept feeling they should have been married in the 1970s, when they were actually married in the late 1990s.
But no matter, I am hoping that Zac Bissonnette writes many sequels to Cindy and Jay’s adventures. As rich as this book was, it’s clearly just the starting line.
August 10, 2022
This book is so cute. I absolutely loved it.
This book revolves around an ex-husband & ex-wife, turned best friends turned small business owners. They own a kitschy Hollywood novelty shop selling old Hollywood memorabilia. They get roped in to a murder mystery and have to help the police solve it. I loved everything about this book.
Cozy mysteries are my go to! I love a good cozy mystery. Now you add in the newness of old Hollywood, which isn't my typical go to, and I was completely entranced by this book. I loved the characters, I loved the aspect of Palm Springs and the LGBT community. I loved everything about this book. The only downside was, I wish I knew more about the characters that were being referenced, but that just shows my lack of knowledge.
This book gave me Guncle vibes, and I'm loving it. But I think that has to do with them both being set in Palm Springs.
A standing ovation to the narrators of this book, you guys did amazing. I loved the cast of characters represented in this book I loved Cindy Cooper, voiced by Melanie Carey, you could feel her pain missing her wife. I loved the male character Jay Allan, voiced by Paul Bellatoni, and how much he just wanted to support his best friend but didn't quite have the ability. I loved the quirky trying to flirt but not really knowing how to. It was just the best. I love this book, You guys did incredible! Great work!
And I'm so glad that this is #1. I remember this book ending and thinking, "I so hope this book becomes a series!!"
This book revolves around an ex-husband & ex-wife, turned best friends turned small business owners. They own a kitschy Hollywood novelty shop selling old Hollywood memorabilia. They get roped in to a murder mystery and have to help the police solve it. I loved everything about this book.
Cozy mysteries are my go to! I love a good cozy mystery. Now you add in the newness of old Hollywood, which isn't my typical go to, and I was completely entranced by this book. I loved the characters, I loved the aspect of Palm Springs and the LGBT community. I loved everything about this book. The only downside was, I wish I knew more about the characters that were being referenced, but that just shows my lack of knowledge.
This book gave me Guncle vibes, and I'm loving it. But I think that has to do with them both being set in Palm Springs.
A standing ovation to the narrators of this book, you guys did amazing. I loved the cast of characters represented in this book I loved Cindy Cooper, voiced by Melanie Carey, you could feel her pain missing her wife. I loved the male character Jay Allan, voiced by Paul Bellatoni, and how much he just wanted to support his best friend but didn't quite have the ability. I loved the quirky trying to flirt but not really knowing how to. It was just the best. I love this book, You guys did incredible! Great work!
And I'm so glad that this is #1. I remember this book ending and thinking, "I so hope this book becomes a series!!"
April 18, 2022
This was my first book by author Zac Bissonnette, but it won't be my last! His writing style was smooth, the plot was unique and the reader really wasn't sure who was the bad guy...or girl...
I enjoyed the characters, the knowledge on the hollywood celebrity memorabilia and the fun mystery that this book gave me! The author really made the reader feel like they were in Palm Springs, CA and that they were a part of the character's lives. The reader wanted to take a ride (and a picture) of the Jurassic park SUV...they wanted to sit at the horror table and spend time with Cindy, Mary and Jay and maybe even Simon!
The reader alternates between thinking that they knew who did it to thinking they had no idea who it was and maybe it wasn't a character that they had met...The banter between the characters and the funny back and forth made the story part mystery, part comedy, but lots of fun and a great read! This is one of those books that the reader will need to be wary of their surroundings because they will laugh out loud while reading it.
Don't hesitate to add this one and any others to your TBR list! This is a must read -
**Review has been done in conjunction with Nerd Girl Official. For more information regarding our reviews please visit our Fansite: www.facebook.com/NerdGirl.ng**
I enjoyed the characters, the knowledge on the hollywood celebrity memorabilia and the fun mystery that this book gave me! The author really made the reader feel like they were in Palm Springs, CA and that they were a part of the character's lives. The reader wanted to take a ride (and a picture) of the Jurassic park SUV...they wanted to sit at the horror table and spend time with Cindy, Mary and Jay and maybe even Simon!
The reader alternates between thinking that they knew who did it to thinking they had no idea who it was and maybe it wasn't a character that they had met...The banter between the characters and the funny back and forth made the story part mystery, part comedy, but lots of fun and a great read! This is one of those books that the reader will need to be wary of their surroundings because they will laugh out loud while reading it.
Don't hesitate to add this one and any others to your TBR list! This is a must read -
**Review has been done in conjunction with Nerd Girl Official. For more information regarding our reviews please visit our Fansite: www.facebook.com/NerdGirl.ng**
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