The Fashion Hound Murders

Josie Marcus, Mystery Shopper #5

by Elaine Viets

Josie Marcus has been hired to check out a big pet store's involvement with puppy mills. When an employee who clued her in to the mills' existence shows up dead, Josie realizes that sinking her teeth into this case could mean getting bitten back.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Fiction, Chick Lit, Humor, Ebooks

304 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 29, 2009

About the author

As a young girl, Elaine Viets was taught the virtues of South St. Louis: the importance of hard work, housecleaning, and paying cash. She managed to forget almost everything she learned, which is why she turned to mystery writing.

Living in South Florida has not improved her character. But it has given her the bestselling Dead-End Job series. Like her amateur detective, Helen Hawthorne, Elaine actually works those rotten jobs. Perhaps her early training has given her a lifelong fascination with jobs. She and Helen both know working for a living can be murder.

To research her novels, Elaine has been everything from a salesclerk to a survey taker. Her first book in the series is SHOP TILL YOU DROP, a novel of sex, murder and plastic surgery. It's set at a fashionable dress shop that caters to kept women. Book two, MURDER BETWEEN THE COVERS, takes place at a bookstore. Elaine worked at a Barnes & Noble in Hollywood, Florida, for a year.

For the third, DYING TO CALL YOU, Helen works as a telemarketer. Elaine sold septic tank cleaner and did telephone surveys. She actually asked women if they shaved their armpits. In the fourth Dead-End Job mystery, JUST MURDERED, Elaine and Helen explore big-money matrimony for better or worse. Elaine did her research in Zola Keller’s posh bridal salon in Fort Lauderdale.

For the fifth novel, Elaine and Helen go to the dogs. MURDER UNLEASHED is set at a high-end dog boutique, where people spend two hundred dollars for canine cuisine, women sneak illegal pets into condos using high-priced designer purses, and the dogs at the store have bigger wardrobes than the salesclerks. MURDER UNLEASHED is Elaine's first hardcover mystery. Publishers Weekly calls it “wry social commentary.”

Although Elaine lives in Fort Lauderdale, her heart – and her viewpoint – remain in the Midwest. Like Helen Hawthorne, another transplanted St. Louisan, she observes the outrageously rich Florida culture (and lack thereof) with wide-eyed fascination.

Elaine’s second series takes her back to work in St. Louis. It features Josie Marcus, a mystery shopper and single mom. The debut novel, DYING IN STYLE, tied with Stephen King on the bestseller list for the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association.

Elaine won both the Agatha and the Anthony Awards for her short story, "Wedding Knife," in CHESAPEAKE CRIMES.

Some honors don’t come with plaques and award banquets. Elaine was thrilled when her short story, "After the Fall," was featured on the same cover of the Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine as the master, Ed Hoch.

Her short story, "Red Meat," is in BLOOD ON THEIR HANDS, the Mystery Writers of America anthology edited by Lawrence Block. "Blonde Moment" is in the MWA anthology, SHOW BUSINESS IS MURDER, edited by Stuart Kaminsky. "Sex and Bingo" is featured in the HIGH STAKES gambling anthology. And if you've ever wondered about the early life of purple-loving landlady Margery Flax, read "Killer Blonde" in DROP-DEAD BLONDE.

Elaine has served on the national boards of the Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime. She lives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with her husband, actor Don Crinklaw, where they collect speeding tickets.

Please buy her novels so she can pay her MasterCard.

Series:
* Dead-End Job Mystery
* Josie Marcus, Mystery Shopper
* Francesca Vierling Mystery

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know Josie can be a bit of a pain at times, but she does get the killer caught. The story was a good read.

[Diane ~Firefly~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

It had been awhile since I read this series and I wasn't in love with Josie. For a 30 year old single mother, she acted like a teenage brat a lot. Also, her interactions with men weren't realistic. I did like her daughter and best friend though.

The mystery was ok. It was a bit preachy about puppy mills, not that I disagree with anything it said, but it did take up a lot of the story.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another easy to read cozy mystery shopper murder.

Join Josie and her friends and family on this latest adventure when Josie's assignment at pet stores & pet clothing stores opens the way for puppy mills being explored.
American Kennel Club recognition of a purebred pet doesn't guarantee an animal free from health issues resulting from over breeding or animal cruelty conditions. When Josie's daughter, Amelia, wants a cat the local animal shelter has a good selection for a reasonable price. Meeting a hunky veterinarian, Dr. Ted Scottsmeyer, is a welcome benefit.

Looking forward to # 6!

[Amelia in PDX · Rating 5 out of 5]

For those of you who have never thought about puppy mills, there is a lot of facts about puppy mills in this book and at the end there are several ways in which you might be able to make a difference... that is the main reason for my high rating on this book.

The first murder gives a direction to look for that murderer.
The second murder really isn't as obvious, but wasn't surprising at the end.

Again my high marks were for all the info for the puppy mill situation and the mention of pet hoarding that is also mentioned in the book. I hope that you will give this book a try.

[Sesa38 · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite Josie Marcus mystery so far. She and Alyce have a new friend that is a hoot. A light, fast read.

[Terri · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't enjoy this one as much as the other mystery shopper books...not written very well, in my opinion.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Great Story by Elaine Viets!! Funny and heart warming! ♥♥

[Kathy Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Josie is fun and always gets into trouble as a mystery shopper. Of course murder always finds her.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of great info about pets in general in addition to a good, light mystery.

[Missi Martin (Stockwell) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe because I am a huge animal lover, mainly cats, that I really enjoyed The Fashion Hound Murders by Elaine Viets. This is the fifth book in her Josie Marcus, Mystery Shopper series and it is my favorite of the series...so far.

The Fashion Hound Murders, like the previous ones, is following main character Josie Marcus as she raises her young daughter, tolerates her mother who lives upstairs and tries to ignore the nosy neighbor next door. Josie is a single mom, even though she tries her hardest to find a husband and father for her daughter Amelia, whose job is a very flexible one of mystery shopping for businesses. Unfortunately Josie also seems to have a knack for getting involved in murders, not commiting them but getting in the way of the investigations and usually helping the police solve the case.

And in The Fashion Hound Murders Josie gets too close...... Josie's latest assignment in to mystery shop a chain of pet stores and inquire about the puppies they have for sale. She is to ask questions specifically to see if they are certified pedigreed puppies or puppies from puppy mills. While at one of the pet stores an employee tells her to meet her at the end of the evening and she will tell her what she wants to know. Even though this is beyond what Josie is being paid for, she goes to meet the employee. Unfortunately while meeting with the employee, she gets spooked and goes to leave and ends up getting hit by a truck trying to get to her car,. Josie takes this death very hard seeing as she witnessed it first hand.

The Josie Marcus, Mystery Shopper series is a great series to get lost in. Readers will love Josie's job because every assignment, even though she is shopping, is always different and usually ends up with Josie getting in to some kind of trouble. Readers will love Josie's family and friends and feel for Josie as she tries to navigate dating and try to find a good guy..... This series has so much to love and enjoy !! I hghly encourage you to get your copy and start reading.....

[Crystal Toller · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book, Josie's boss, Harry, wants her to mystery shop a group of pet stores, but Josie is suspicious and turns him down. When her daughter Amelia's school calls and says she has to come up with a thousand dollars towards her daughters tuition, even though she has a scholarship, Josie decides to accept the assignment. While shopping one of the stores, a cashier thinks she's an animal rights person and tells Josie to meet her when she gets off. When Josie witnesses the woman's murder she is very shaken up. Josie and Amelia meet Jerry and his dog, Chloe, neat the Humane Society and become friends. When Josie and Amelia go to Jerry's mother's house to have dinner and then tour Jonah Derfield's kennel, which turns out to be a puppy mill, and he is then raided, Jerry accuses Josie of turning him in. How Josie discovers athe murderer of Jonah and frres a vet she has made friends with is a great story. Really enjoying this series.

[Tari Cronin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story and all the quirky characters Josey had to contend with. Bringing attention to the plight of animal suffering and some times dying in puppy mills all because many people insisted on having "purebred" puppies was a real eye opener. There was the obligatory, almost secondary story of a murder. Though it seemed to me that the main focus of the book was more about how we can all help rid our world of these puppy mills and each of us can give to our local Humane Society. They had several ideas for we without much money. Apparently, used towels, which clothes, all sorts of things we may have around the house is just as important as money. It was an interesting read on the subject.

[Rebecca Cecil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Josie is hired to check at big pet store's involvement with puppy mills. While working the case Josie is led to a puppy mill and sees the horrible conditions firsthand. Josie had a hidden camera footage to prove it. But when dead bodies start showing up Josie realizes that this case might not end well for her. She has a daughter that she needs to stay alive for.
Good book. It is true in real life puppy mill dogs are not always in the best especially Healthcare wise.

[Lee Brothers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good but of course it got my back up when the book started talking about puppy mills and animal abuse and child abuse. I really enjoyed how everything pulled together to wind it up and explain everything. I really liked Bruiser and Harry. It’s hard to say anymore without giving things away…

[Janet L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great entry in the Josie Marcus mystery shopper series of books. Once again, Josie figures it out with a little help from her friends and after being in danger herself. Looking forward to the next book in this series.

[Pat Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loving this series

I am enjoying the continuity, the humour, the honesty, (such as jealousy of a new friend intruding on a wonderful friendship), the raw emotions between mother and daughter and granddaughter.
I was saddened by Josie's decision to reject Ted.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy spending time with Josie, Amelia, and Jane. There are a lot of fun secondary characters in this installment too!

[Emilia · Rating 5 out of 5]

incredibly fast paced, I found it hard to put down. Great cozy!

[Tambra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Done great book loved it.

[Rachel Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cute quick read. Shopping (boo!) and pets (yay!). Still has a deus ex machina ending (they all do) but this time Josie is at least not stupidly traipsing around.

[Myrna Beebe · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good!

Loved this one. Lots of animals and funny characters. Surprise villain! Already bought the next book in the series. Recommended.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good series

Each book has a different focus. This one involves pet adoption and puppy mills. the murder method is quite unusual.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute storyline and a great reminder to use and support your local humane society.

[Lila Schmidt]

loved it

[Patti Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

had snakes

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Snake!

Great mystery with multi-generation plots. Several twists and insights throughout the book. If you can handle reading about snakes, I think you'll love it.

[Carla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Snakes

Not bad but, very chaotic. Too much that doesn't really connect.
The puppy mill message is good but, but chaotic.

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun, quick, easy read. Josie always seems to get herself in crazy situations and this is no different. I could tell right away when she took the shopping job there would be problems. It is always fun to see Alyce go with her on her shopping trips. I did like the new neighbor of Alyce's that helped, but it got old fast with Josie being jealous of her and the money that she spent. I am also getting tired of all the dating hassles in Josie's life. Over all the story was good, but I did figure out the murderer about half way through.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed it. A fun read as well as a very well written, carefully thought out message concerning a very serious topic. Viets hit the nail on the head (as she always does) with her criminal characters in this one, as well as with the nutty ones. I appreciate the way she tied in peripheral issues like neglect, reptiles, and animal hoarders. Puppy mills may have been the main focus, but the book highlighted those other serious issues nicely. I enjoyed seeing a common nightly news story neatly woven into a work of fiction.

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really give this book about 2.5 stars. If I wasn't a big Elaine Viets fan I'd give it 1.5. I got into this series because it combined my 2 favorite things a good mystery and shopping. This book had an extremely predictable "mystery" and maybe a total of 5-10 pages of shopping. I'm a huge animal lover and have 5 rescued pets and I still found this book on the boring side. Not her best work at all.