Murder in White Lace

Bridal Shop Mystery #1

by Karen Sue Walker

Max Walters is a busy bridal consultant with dreams of being a designer. When her boss goes on vacation, things quickly unravel when one of her brides-to-be collapses in the shop during a fitting and dies at the hospital soon after, apparently poisoned. When her childhood friend is accused of the murder, Max decides to investigate and clear his name. With help from her new assistant, Keiko, and the other colorful residents of Crystal Shores, Max begins to weave together a list of suspects, much to the concern of the handsome Detective Cruz. Will she be able to tie up the loose threads and catch the murderer - or will the murderer get to her first?

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Fiction, Crime, Amazon, Contemporary

192 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 3, 2016

About the author

Karen Sue Walker is a lover of cozy mysteries, from Agatha Christie to Joanne Fluke. When not working or writing, she spends time with her very talented daughter and ever so fun granddaughter.

Reviews

[Sandee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely cozy mystery! Personable characters, interesting relationships and a cute plot. The characters grow through their experiences and the mystery is interesting. Lots of potential for future books in this series.

[Mystery, She Read · Rating 1 out of 5]

1🌟

Mood/Seasonal Reading: summer

I am going to feel so bad for this review because someone put time and energy into this work and I respect and admire that. But this was just bad. I often dnf books with writing this rough but I decided to power through this one. I wanted to be able to say I gave it a far shot when I give it a one star.

I tried I really did. By the end the writing and mess of characters became so hard to handle I had to skim hoping the reveal could save it. It didn’t. I honestly don’t understand the good reviews on this one. The writing and dialogue just read so immature and unpolished and there were way too many characters.

I can’t recommend wasting your time with this one there are so many other outstanding cozy mysteries worth giving a shot.

[Linda Langford · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light, shorter cozy mystery that takes place in a lazy beach town in California. A young, aspiring clothes designer who works in a wedding dress and accessories salon finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation when a client drops dead during a gown fitting. It's a quick read and the protagonist, Max, is assisted by a cute associate, Keiko, whose dry wit and sharp mind are appealing. A handsome detective provides support to Max, also.

[Lise · Rating 4 out of 5]

A move home from Manhattan in order to help out in family matters separates Max Walters from her dream job in fashion. Max isn't complaining though, she still has a job designing in a little wedding boutique. Yet again her life is upended when a client collapses and then dies while being fitted for her dress and Max needs to find the killer before her best friend (and old love interest) finds himself behind bars permanently.

Not once, not twice, but three times was I late for appointments because I had a hard time putting down this book. Murder in White Lace is a delightful light cosy with full-on charm. The characters all had their own unique personalities and quirks - some more than others, admittedly - and the stage-setting was artfully accomplished. I did guess the identity of the killer early on, but that didn't diminish my enjoyment of the story.

I happily recommend the series on the basis of this introduction and I look forward to reading more of Max's adventures.

[Jacqui · Rating 5 out of 5]

Karen Walker's debut cozy mystery, Murder in White Lace, is about homicide in a bridal salon. Max Walters is working as a bridal consultant while trying to decide what direction her life should go when a client passes out and dies while trying on her bridal gown. Quickly, her death becomes murder and Walters finds herself embroiled in trying to solve it. Though she's never been even an amateur sleuth, with the help of delightful co-worker Keiko and handsome Detective Cruz, she finds she has a talent for unraveling the clues.

This is a delightful story--the start of a series, I'm told--and a must-read for aficionados of Murder She Wrote and the Heather Wells series.

[Elianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick, easy to read and funny. This is a book that you will enjoy reading. It is fresh and for sure worth buying.

[Sassy Mystic Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who knew bridal dress shopping could be so dangerous. A nice twisty read.

[Diana C Pardee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this cozy mystery from a first time novelist. Walker creates charming characters we want to get to know and root for, while providing a mystery filled with twists, turns and a nice surprise ending. Max and her friends come alive as they search for the murderer, and Walker keeps us guessing to the end.

This was a quick read, witty and perfect for a Sunday afternoon at the beach or by the pool. I'm looking forward to the next in the series! Can't wait to see what our beachfront town, filled with likable characters and unpredictable mysteries will provide. Very entertaining and a fun read!

[Elsbeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really nice story! It's a mystery and it is cozy ;). With loads of interesting and (mostly) friendly characters.
Thanks, Karen Sue Walker, for giving me a chance to read this. I really enjoyed it!

www.storycartel.com

[Gabby · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 60%. Couldn’t not care less about who killed.. I can’t even remember.
Writing was so bad

[Hailey Laun · Rating 2 out of 5]

It read like a Hallmark movie. Like there were cute moments but also some "what is happening here get on with it" moments 🤷🏻‍♀️ Kinda mid

[Cozybooklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder in White Lace by Karen Sue Walker is a great book.
Max Walters is a designer, she loves the feel of lace and silk, and when her thoughts connect to her hands, the bridal creations she dreams of turn into reality.
Working as a bridal consultant may not be a dream job, but the ability to create beautiful pieces for brides and their attendants makes it worth it.

When the bridal store owner goes away, she leaves the store in max's hands, something Max is more than capable of.
Things get complicated when a bridezilla continues to change her wedding gown design.
Max is working hard to keep her cool and when the bride to be passes out in her stunning gown, Max is terrified that her boss will blame her.

When the detective on the case points his finger at Max's childhood crush, Max refuses to believe it and insists the detective is wrong.

Will this be the end to Max's career in fashion or just the beginning?

I voluntarily read an ARC of this book provided by the publisher and NetGalley.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

A great start to a new cozy mystery series. I liked the characters. I liked the setup of this being built around a bridal shop. The mystery was good and I was really invested in. The murderer was a little bit shocking, and I wasn’t expecting that. It also makes me interested of the consequences for the rest of the series because of said murder. I’m very interested to continue on. It was just a fun and enjoyable read.

[Ruby · Rating 5 out of 5]

surprisingly good

I had no idea how much I would love this story. I really love all the characters, the development of the plot, and the cat. I look forward to reading more from the series it’s very interesting and has a lot to offer.

[Cherry London · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was immensely entertaining, I love it, especially the characters Keiko and Max. They made a wonderful fashionable detective duo being fashion designers. The mixture of romance was the right dosage which kept the balance of the storyline interesting and intriguing. Andy was the one who was hurt the most in this story; to love so true and yet be hit with such a shocking revelation about his wife it’s so sad what he had to deal with. This murder mystery was indeed a cosy one, I truly enjoyed it.

[DelAnne Frazee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Murder In White Lace - Bridal Shop Cozy Mystery Book 1
Author: Karen Sue Walker
Publisher: Karen Sue Walker
Published: 9-3-2016
Pages: 192
Genre: Mystery, Thrillers & Suspense
Sub-Genre: Women Slueths; Cozy Mystery; Amateur Sleuths; Animals; Crafts & Hobbies
ISBN: 9781537603728
ASIN: B01LIY95U2
Reviewed For NetGalley and Karen Sue Walker
Reviewer: DelAnne
Rating: 4.5 Stars


The only thing worse than a Bridezilla for a client is a dead one.
Max Walters is a talented bridal consultant with dreams of moving to New York and being a designer, even if it means leaving behind her serene California seaside home.

When a shocking murder rips the tranquil veneer of Crystal Shores to shreds, she discovers there is more to her home town than meets the eye. With her friend arrested for murder and the police refusing to search for another suspect, Max quickly discovers the only way to clear his name is to investigate for herself. Despite the concern of the handsome Detective Cruz, Max weaves together a list of suspects that puts her on the path to the real killer.

Will she be able to tie up the loose threads and catch the murderer? Or will the murderer get to her first?


Set in a Mayberry type town with central character, Max, that is intelligent and efficient. She works hard, but still has dreams. It is a clean fun read. That moves swiftly and smoothly with vividly described scenes and vibrant characters.


My rating of "Murder in White Lace" is 4.5 out of 5 stars.


Title: Murder In White Lace - Bridal Shop Cozy Mystery Book 1
Author: Karen Sue Walker
Publisher: Karen Sue Walker
Published: 9-3-2016
Pages: 192
Genre: Mystery, Thrillers & Suspense
Sub-Genre: Women Slueths; Cozy Mystery; Amateur Sleuths; Animals; Crafts & Hobbies
ISBN: 9781537603728
ASIN: B01LIY95U2
Reviewed For NetGalley and Karen Sue Walker
Reviewer: DelAnne
Rating: 4.5 Stars


The only thing worse than a Bridezilla for a client is a dead one.
Max Walters is a talented bridal consultant with dreams of moving to New York and being a designer, even if it means leaving behind her serene California seaside home.

When a shocking murder rips the tranquil veneer of Crystal Shores to shreds, she discovers there is more to her home town than meets the eye. With her friend arrested for murder and the police refusing to search for another suspect, Max quickly discovers the only way to clear his name is to investigate for herself. Despite the concern of the handsome Detective Cruz, Max weaves together a list of suspects that puts her on the path to the real killer.

Will she be able to tie up the loose threads and catch the murderer? Or will the murderer get to her first?


Set in a Mayberry type town with central character, Max, that is intelligent and efficient. She works hard, but still has dreams. It is a clean fun read. That moves swiftly and smoothly with vividly described scenes and vibrant characters.


My rating of "Murder in White Lace" is 4.5 out of 5 stars.


Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LIY95U2/...

B&N Link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/murd...

GoodReads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

The Reading Room Link: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.ph...

Twitter Link: https://twitter.com/DelAnne531/status...

[Charlee · Rating 2 out of 5]

My rating leans towards 2 1/2 stars.

I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Max Walters dreams of becoming a designer and moving back to the hustle and bustle of New York. She's currently a bridal consultant in Crystal Shores, a small town in California, where she lives so she can help her dad after the death of her mother. When she's given the task of running the shop while her boss in on vacation, she hopes there are no bridal emergencies that she can't handle. The last thing she expected to deal with is murder.

This was a cute but nothing special type of cozy mystery. It centers around a bridal shop in a small town where everyone pretty much knows each other and sits a tad on the predictable side. I really feel the book had great potential, but unfortunately it was just ok for me. The dialogue is a bit jumpy and the characters are not fully developed but it's a light and easy read. The killer was easy to figure out and the story lacked any real emotion, giving it a monotone type writing style that I didn't overly care for. It felt like the author was just going through the motions and didn't really invest any feelings into the story or her characters. Max is very likeable, albeit a bit bland, and I really liked the addition of Keiko. She actually stole the book for me even though she comes off as a little robotic. As far as the rest, there were really too many characters and you never really got to know any of them. They kept stopping by the shop with no real purpose. It was a bit strange. Like they were just added for the sake of having more people.

There was one thing that really put me off though, and that was the towns insistence that Max investigate the murder. I found this baffling since there was nothing about Max that made the reader believe she should be investigating other than the fact that her friend was the suspect. It was mentioned that she wanted to be a detective when she was a kid, and she stated she took a class or two, but I saw no reason for the residents to have so much faith in her sleuthing abilities. It really just didn't make any sense.

Aside from that though, it's not a bad book and has great potential, not to mention a great cover. It may not stick out in the flooded market of cozy mysteries, but it certainly can shine within it if only the author could add some emotion to the series. Oh, and also give us reason to understand why the town has such undying faith in Max.

A copy of this review can be found on my blog at Once Upon A Book

[M.E. Hembroff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Max moved back to her hometown when her mom became ill. She stayed after her mom passed away to help her dad deal with everything. Max lives in a one-bedroom apartment over her dad's garage.
Her job at the bridal boutique isn't her dream job. She gets a job offer that would take her back to New York. After careful consideration she decides to accept the job and hopes it will bring her closer to becoming a designer.
It was an ordinary work day with a late appointment with Jennifer, a difficult client, to try on her wedding gown one last time. Jennifer starts to feel ill and wants more water and when Max comes back with the water Jennifer is laying on the floor unconscious. Max loosens the ties on the gown and phones 911.
Max is warned not to get involved but can't resist her natural tendencies to check out the clues especially after her friend is arrested and charged with murder. She keeps asking questions even after receiving a death threat in a note that was slid under the door.
It was impossible to figure out who committed the crime even though Max crossed off names on her suspect list. Right at the end the murderer is revealed.
This book reminds me of the TV series Murder She Wrote. In Murder in White Lace it is Max who solves the case and figures out the mistake the murderer made. This was an easy read and I had to keep reading to see who committed the crime.
I got this book from Story Cartel

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Bridal Shop mystery series is off to a great start with MURDER IN WHITE LACE. Filled with a crazy cast of characters, the story moves along in a breezy and fun pace. Max creates custom wedding dresses and is running the shop in her boss's absence. When one of her high-maintenance customers is murdered in the shop, Max finds her inner Nancy Drew coming out when her best friend becomes a person of interest. The author's description of the dresses lets me see Max's creations. I enjoyed so many characters like Max and Keiko. I loved the story, but my only complaint would be that sometimes Max blurts out her suspicions which is something that could get her into a lot of trouble, otherwise, she does have a knack of searching for clues.

I received a review copy from NetGalley for my honest opinion My entire review can be seen on my blog https://goo.gl/VUyuyT.

[Rita Sheppard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was a refreshing look at a small town of friendly people with close ties to each other. It is heartwarming to see the closeness between Max and her father and all their friends.

Max is an easygoing person who likes the challenge of solving mysteries especially when a friend is accused of murder. Her close friends rally around her while she tries to figure out who the murderer is. Threats don't stop her when a friend is in trouble. Can she solve the murder before the murderer targets her?

This is a light and easy read that you will enjoy from beginning to end.

[Stephanie Dagg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Max, our very down-to-earth and hands-on heroine, returned from New York to her small home town of Crystal Shores a year ago to help nurse her mother through her last months of fighting cancer. That was a year ago, and Max is still here, working in Darlene’s Wedding Belles Bridal Salon. However, she’s just been offered a job as assistant designer at Bissette’s, where she used to be a pattern maker. Her father and friends are delighted that she’s delighted about this, but none of them want to see her go. Max herself has mixed feelings.
However, for the time being her attention is diverted as during a dress fitting stroppy and generally unpopular bride-to-be Jennifer Burns collapses. She dies shortly later in hospital, of cyanide poisoning. Who’s the murderer? Max, since she did mutter under her breath that she wished the trying Jennifer would drop dead, and she had in her pocket a red gemlike stone she’d found on the beach that very morning which someone tells her is a wishing stone? Stacy, the new wife of the man Max always thought she’d marry – Andy? She gave Jennifer some cake samples just before she died, and Jennifer had a past with Andy. Or one of the many, many local people who don’t want Jennifer to turn the town’s beloved old theatre into a shopping mall. Jennifer has inherited the theatre and it’s hers to do with as she pleases.
Max can’t help becoming involved in solving in the case. This brings her into contact and conflict with handsome cop Detective Jason Cruz. As she investigates, as well as learning the truth about what happened, she learns some truths about herself and what she really wants from life.
This is a beautifully written book, extremely readable and very entertaining. It has a romantic setting in this pretty seaside town in general and in the wedding shop in particular, but it’s never twee. We see behind the scenes. There’s a great mix of characters, good and bad, and a convincing sense of community. We become as fond of Crystal Shores as Max. Max herself is creative but also practical, kind and caring but also assertive and businesslike, well-meaning but sometimes heavy-handed, and all in all, a perfectly imperfect heroine whose adventures we thoroughly enjoy sharing.

[Maria Logan-Montgomery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder in White Lace, by Karen Sue Walker, is the first of a series entitled, "Bridal Shop Mysteries". Max Walters creates gorgeous custom-made bridal gowns in a coastal California town. Her name is Max, not Maxine. Most of her customers are the typical excited and/or nervous brides. Some, however are bridezillas. Such is the case with Jennifer Burns, a rude, snobby, condescending, real estate agent who made her way by stepping on and over her co-workers.

When Jennifer came for a final fitting, collapsed in her wedding gown, and later died at the local hospital, it was assumed she had been poisoned. Max's childhood friend, Andy, was arrested, and Max made it her mission to clear his name. Jennifer was not well liked, so there was no shortage of suspects.

Max had previously helped the local police solve a crime, and couldn't resist working behind the scenes on this one. Detective Jason Cruz made it clear Max should mind her own business, but she simply couldn't resist. There was some tension between Max and Jason that may have been chemistry.

Then there is the fact that Max is offered a position as a junior designer at a New York fashion house where she had once worked as a pattern maker. She is happy in her home town, and finally realizes she is already a designer in her own right. Will she move back to New York, or will she stay at home near close friends and family, and the beach she loves? Will she hang around to see if anything can come of her friendship with Jason? Who killed Jennifer?

This was light, easy reading, which I especially enjoyed after reading some pretty heavy stuff. The characters were believable and likable. The story contained a good mystery, as well as the author's voice on several important issues, such as Max commiserating on historic cottages being replaced with McMansions. Also, Max thought to herself that she couldn't guess how old a local man was because he had spent too much time in the sun; and she told her friend who offered pastries how much better she felt whenever she stayed away from sugar. As a public health educator, I appreciate it whenever an author plants tidbits such as these into the dialogue.

What Makes This Reviewer Grumpy?

Far, far too many sentences began with the conjunctions "and" and "but".

[Sandra Holladay · Rating 2 out of 5]

I put this book down because I got busy and forgot about it. I noticed later that it was still on my Goodreads ‘currently reading’ list and I thought ‘huh, thought I finished this.’ Found it in a bag sometime later, had not finished it; obviously not very memorable. I finished the book simply to do the review.

In my opinion, the plot was a bit lame and the main character not very likable, too bland and wishy-washy. Actually, the only character that seemed fully developed was Keiko, she at least was interesting.

The writing was ok in places and in need of a lot of work in others. A good proofreading on the final work would have helped a lot. I.E page 35, paragraph one: “Molly pulled out a folded magazine page out of her purse and held it out.” Having three ‘out’s’ in one sentence is a bit much and the three sentence paragraph would have flowed better with a bit of rearranging into two sentences. Tenses were sometimes mixed up (i.e. page 47, paragraph one, last sentence: Her stomach was grumbled, reminding her about lunch.)

Too many sentences start with ’she.’ For example, page 81 last two paragraphs, nine sentences all of which start with ‘she’ and has two instances of ‘she’ within the sentence. Way too much information on how tiresome ‘she’ is. Plus the entire gist of those two paragraphs would have been more interesting with far fewer sentences that were more condensed.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Delightful Cosy Mystery

I’ve read lots of cosy mysteries. Coffee stores, yarn stores, bakers. None of the settings have given me nearly so much joy as the bridal boutique managed by Max. Brides come in looking for a dress and then Max makes their dreams come true. Even for Tiffany, the Goth who is in love with an accountant.

Every bride-to-be, except Jennifer. She is rude, demanding, and constantly changing her mind. At last, she’s happy with her wedding gown – then falls down dead in the fitting room. Suddenly, the supporting cast of hundreds (individually charming but a bit overwhelming) insist that Max investigate, because apparently she’s great at that. The sexy police detective insists she leave it to the professionals before she even decides to ask around, but as they come across as incompetent and short-sighted, I don’t blame her for doing her own thing. If a threatening note comes while you have the alleged killer in custody, might that not be a hint that you have the wrong person?

Murder in White Lace follows all the rules of a classic cosy mystery: small town murder, main character investigates to clear own name or name of friend, lots of suspects with motive, main character considers leaving but eventually stays due to friendly persuasion or act of God, and romantic lead is set up for following books.

The strength of this book lies in the setting and the characters. The bridal boutique, as mentioned previously, is adorable, and Crystal Shores comes across as a town where everyone knows everything about everyone. It’s not gossip if it’s just two friends catching up, you know? There are a lot of supporting characters in this series and most of them drop by the store early on to be introduced – I probably should’ve noted them down because they pop up again at game nights and at restaurants. Their abundance does not make them any less charming, however, and I hope they stay in Crystal Shores.

I wasn’t terribly impressed with the chemistry between Max and Detective Cruz and the ending was a tad bittersweet for my tastes, but you know what? I enjoyed this book. It’s fun, fluffy, and fashionable, and I look forward to reading the next one.

I received a copy of this story from the author through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Nadine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very enjoyable!

I’ll start with some minor negatives and then go on with the major positives.

The conversations are a little stilted, just a bit but still. The descriptions are a bit dry, not all the time but especially when it gets suspenseful and that’s why I’m mentioning it. It feels a bit distant somehow, as if it’s not coming from Max. I don’t know how else to explain it. And there is a thing about age: Max is almost 26. Her friend Eric is 6 years older, which means he is 31 or 32. Jennifer was 38. So how is it possible Eric and Jennifer were classmates in middle and high school? And maybe there are too many people in the book; it’s hard to keep track of so many suspects.

But it’s very promising for a first book! I liked it! It’s a fun, light read. Max is nice. She is curious by nature and observant. And I liked Keiko, the assistant. The plot is very good. And I love bridal! All in all very enjoyable and I am definitely going to be reading more books by this author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book and voluntarily provided an honest review.

[Bill Chee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a voracious reader and also on several ARC teams previewing stories before hitting the public shelves so I can safely and honestly opine on a novel.

The writing is smooth and pace even throughout the story. The dialogue, relationships between characters and plot are not contrived like others that I’ve read but real-life and factual that can place the reader to imagine the scene and situation.

Max is the protagonist that is a wedding boutique dress designer by profession but amateur sleuth at heart. In a small town everyone knows everyone, but when a murder occurs, everyone is a suspect but no one can believe someone they know could be the killer.

The subplot of the story is interesting in how Max attempts to solve the mystery and at the same time seems to know what everyone should do in their life except her own. She’s undecided about her future but the answer is right under her nose in plain sight that is obvious to everyone else but her.

The revelation finally dawns upon her which segues its way to future stories.

[Priyanka (ReadwithBanner ) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story revolves around the people of Crystal Shore, one of them is murdered. Jennifer, was planning her wedding in the midst of chaos she dropped dead at Darlene's Bridal Shop where Max is working. Max has moved back to Crystal Shore from NY due to her mother's illness and her demise. Max starts to investigate the murder soon find out that Jennifer wasn't admired by her fellow town people or her colleague. Max's first suspect was Chad as his motive was money but soon she find out that Chad's motive was not substantiate to pursue. Max meets Detective Cruz whom she finds fascinating and Dreamy.
It was a cozy and beautiful setup, well described charcters with timely secret reveal. Author has captured the essence of town where nothing exciting happens and simple and innovative, thoroughly enjoyed the work.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Max Walters has returned to her home town to support her family, putting aside her fast-rising fashion career ambitions, for the moment. Working in a small, local bridal boutique to keep a foot in the fashion industry, and keep herself busy, Max's client- small town diva- collapses and later dies. Faced with a murder mystery that threatens to put her old friend behind bars, and pressure from most sides to get things solved, Max follows her instincts in an attempt to unravel this mystery while trying to avoid ruffling the feathers of the handsome detective.
What starts out as a light and easy read quickly becomes a gripping mystery that will keep you guessing. A great start to a series.

[Hanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming little cozy mystery. I thought the setting sounded interesting, it's not every day you come across a murder mystery set in a bridal shop.
Full of quirky, fun and likable character. Tbh I liked most of the people in Max's circle of friends better than I did Max herself.
Looking forward to getting to know them better.
The story was quite good as well. Plenty of red herrings and misdirects, while at the same time dropping enough real clues that left you with this niggling feeling so you weren't completely blind-sided at the final reveal.

[Patricia H. Phelps · Rating 5 out of 5]

Max is a bridal dress designer in a small California coastal town.

When her first love, now married to a woman he met in college, is arrested for the murder of a woman most people disliked, she decides the police are not going to keep looking for the real killer and so she will have to find the real murderer. Doing so makes her realize this email town is where she belongs. Great story with lots of twists and turns. Looking forward to the next book to see what happens with the ensemble cast of characters.