Necklaces & Nooses

Presley Thurman #2

by Laina Turner, L.C. Turner

When Presley’s boss is found hanging, she thinks it's suicide until the police discover it's homicide. Who would want to kill a boutique owner? Presley’s not sure, but she’s determined to find out. The cute detective assigned to the case makes it all the more exciting.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Mystery Thriller

185 pages, Paperback

First published August 29, 2011

About the author

As a child, Laina thought she would either be a truck driver (thanks to Jerry Reed in Smokey and the Bandit) or work at Taco Bell (her favorite restaurant as a child). As she grew older, she realized her talents lay in other areas, and for the last several years has been a college professor teaching business and English.

Through all her career choices, she has continued to have a passion for writing stemming from childhood, where, as an only child, she developed a vivid imagination.

She is proud of her vast experiences in life from barrel racing, to being on the dance team for a semi-pro basketball team, to being a mom of 2 amazing kids.

She decided to follow her dream as an author in 2009 and has worked her way up to having 5 fans (maybe 6 now). She often tells her family and friends that no one is safe from his or her ventures slipping into her books. Her blog, In Pursuit of Fabulous, was launched to share the daily fun in her life as a Real Midlife Housewife of the Midwest.

To find out more information about Laina and her books, check out her website at http://www.lainaturner.com/

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Necklaces & Nooses", the second of the Presley Thurman mysteries, threw me a little at first as there has been a time gap and quite a change of circumstances since the ending of the first novella. We now find Pres working at a prestigious clothing boutique for the incredibly wealthy, having moved back to the city. It's a perfect fit for her because this girl is a serious fashion junkie.
Pres finds herself once again in the middle of a mystery when she returns to the boutique (not store!!) having left her purse behind. What she very unpleasantly finds is her boss hanging from the light fitting in the prime change cubical. What depressed her boss so much as to take her own life .... or has something far nastier happened? And just who is this hunky new detective that seems to be catching her eye? You'll just have to dive in and read this delightful offering to find out!

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Necklaces & Nooses, the second book in The Presley Thurman Mysteries Series, the reader follows the latest investigative adventures of fashionista / amateur sleuth Presley Thurman.

Author Laina Turner weaves an entertaining cozy mystery with a chick lit twist that follows Presley Thurman as she gets herself embroiled in a new murder investigation. Told in the first person narrative, Presley is back in Chicago and is now working in fashion retail at a high-end boutique called Silk. This job is right up her alley and she couldn't be happier, especially since she has a penchant for fashion. But when Presley forgets her wallet at the boutique and has to go back to retrieve it, she finds boutique owner Solange hanging from the light fixture with an expensive thirty-six inch triple strand of pearls and Swarovski crystal necklace wrapped around her neck. As the last person to see Solange alive, Presley once again finds herself caught up in a murder investigation, and she is determined to help handsome detective Wally Landon find the killer.

Necklaces and Nooses is an intriguing cozy mystery that is filled with enough crazy trials and tribulations that easily keeps the reader guessing. Just when you think Presley has gotten herself together and is happy with her new job, the death of her boss has this sassy lady kicking into amateur sleuth mode, and if that isn't enough, there is also the distraction with her attraction towards Detective Wally Landon, that makes it really hard for her to resist his charms. And even though there is someone who is out to stop Presley's investigation, she is determined to help Willie find the real killer with the help of her best friends Anna and Jared, even when danger is around the corner.

Necklaces & Nooses has a good mixture of humor, mystery, and a touch of romance that will easily keep the reader engaged as they follow Presley's latest amateur investigative adventures. There is a lot that goes on between the pages of this story, the intriguing twists and turns will keep the readers on their toes, especially with the variety of crazy situations that pop up, but Presley's humorous shenanigans, and the intrigue and suspense behind the mystery of who really killed Solange will keep you guessing right to the very end!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours.

http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...

[Nadine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it!

I was fastly completely immersed in the story! It was a great story, good flow, likeable main character, natural conversations, twisty mystery. It kept me interested throughout. I did miss Katy and Cooper from book 1, although Cooper did play a small role. Still, the cast was completely new. But I didn’t mind, because it was a great book!

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of fun!

I’m enjoying this series. Presley is a fun MC and I enjoy investigating with her. Each of the books I’ve read in this series have had such different settings that I’m looking forward to seeing what it will be next time.

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I made similar comments for the next book - The story base was good. Unfortunately, the grammatical errors were horrible. It was obvious programs for grammar was not used; the proof readers didn’t bother to indicate errors for corrections. Suggestion to the publishing company, have the books in this series corrected and re-publish or re-issue the E-readers. We all make typos, and most readers can get past some typo errors, this book was the worst of 3 in this series. The sad thing is when you look up the author and her “accomplishments”, these errors are not a good reflection.

The next book "Handbags and Houligans", the errors were so bad, I almost stopped reading. The only reason I didn't stop reading, is because the story base was good. . .

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Presley seems to have only limited life and career luck. She moved her way up the corporate ladder to a senior HR position, to get fired after being harassed. the subsequent efforts by the company to re-hire her were not well received. she felt done with corporate America.

Although her next efforts at journalism in her home town - brought her closed to several deaths, including her own.

She re-connected with some old friends, and was nearly killed by one or more of them. And the romance she began fizzled due to distance.

She is now settled at an upscale boutique, with a great mentor. But she finds her mentor hanging dead in a dressing room.

A presumed suicide, the woman is at a location, in a position she could never have achieved by herself.

A new man stumbles on the scene in the person of a kind, hot detective.

Together with him and her friends, they work to untangle the complicated family tree and other secrets of her deceased mentor, and prevent more tragedy from striking.

Can she hold onto this an, if they survive? If her luck holds and Presley survives, what kind of adventure might be next in store?

Quirky who-dunnit series, with amusing to read when it happens to someone else mom-Presley dynamics, wacky friends and up again, doomed again relationship dramatics.

I received an advance copy of this book from Booksprout.

I read the story on Kindle Unlimited. All opinions are honest and my own - I really enjoy this fun and dynamic Presley - as well as her crazy friends, family, and relationships - only I missed the dog this episode.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sally, who goes by Solange because it sounds better to her clients in her upscale boutique. Has been murdered. She was adopted and has an unusual family dynamic, a drunken brother who she keeps bailing out of trouble, a sister who never felt she lived up to her parents expectations and always came in second place to Sally, and a mother who did what she could to placate everyone.

Presley Thurman is in the middle of another murder investigation as Solange was her boss. And If the boutique shuts down, she has no other options immediately available for making her bills.

This is an interesting and fun story. I know that these stories are fiction. But I’m the type of reader that believes in realism as much as possible in the stories I read. And this one had one major drawback for me. That is, this is located in Chicago. One of the highest crime and murder areas in the country. There was never a mention of security footage mentioned by either the police or the employees of the store. Surely a store that sold merchandise like necklaces that cost over $20,000 each would have security cameras in place. Or at least an alarm, as the place had been broken into and totally trashed?

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first Laina Turner book and I enjoyed it very much. A dead boss who everyone seems to love (?) and yet for whom everyone had a motive to murder; now that's a bit different. Presley Thurman's boss is kind and generous, has great fashion taste but is also obsessed with her own boutique and is determined to make it succeed. She fights viciously with her estranged husband several times a day, she fires an employee who she thought was getting too interested in the aforesaid husband, her siblings and parents are hardly in touch and is there a whiff of smuggling that may be attached to this whole mess?

The characters are well developed and the storyline is sound and credible. I really enjoy the ambivalence that Presley feels when she think about both the guys; I gather that Coop was from the previous book, but it did not really affect the story and I understand perfectly how she felt. I think Laina captured that very well and I am sure many a head will be nodding and agreeing with me. Good read, well recommended

[Jamie Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

At her new job in a boutique, Presley walks to find her boss Solange hanging from a light fixture. Presley figures it's suicide, but Detective Willie thinks it's a homicide. As Willie works on the case, he and Presley begin dating. Who killed the boss? Will Presley be a suspect since she found Solange? Will she and Willie become an item?

This second book of the series is an improvement over the first. The author isn't trying so hard to be sassy or quirky and is playing a bit more with Presley's character. I’m wondering, although, if it will be a thing in this series that Presley develops a romantic interest in whoever is investigating the murder in the book. Book three might give me some insight! The book has some issues with grammar, punctuation, and usage. Most glaring was the improper use of a past participle, *had broke* instead of *had broken*. It was a little jarring to see, but otherwise, I wasn't overly impacted by these issues.

I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Presley Thurman has started a new job at a chic boutique but soon discovers her boss dead in a fitting room. What first appears to be a suicide turns out to be a murder. Amongst the suspected murderers are her soon to be ex-husband, a brother with a lot of debts, and a sister with a huge grudge. Can Presley and the very handsome detective Willie Landon solve the murder before Presley becomes the next victim?

I liked this book much more than the first in the series and am happy I chose to give book two a shot. It had the right amount of mystery, romance, intrigue, and suspense.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jodi Sweet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story, it was cute like the last one, but I couldn’t get by the errors as easily this time. Were the characters last names Baker or Smith? It changed so many times! And then her boss’s real name was Sally, but she went by Solange. Not a big deal until her family couldn’t seem to make up their minds what to call her in the same paragraph. I really liked the story and plan on reading the rest. I’m hoping the rest are edited better.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Presley Thurman has just started her new job at a boutique, perfect to support her shopping habit. When she arrives back at the store one night after leaving her wallet there, she finds the door unlocked and her boss hanging from the light fixture. Suicide is the first thought but what if it wasn't suicide? Entertaining read, good characters. This is the 2nd book in the series and so far I'm liking this new to me author.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sherri Geisler Locke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Presley Thurman finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation again as she finds her boss hanging in a changing room at her boutique. What at first appears to be suicide is actually murder. Still full of improper editing a bit confusing with name changes but is better. Although it is already old that Presley seems to fall for the investigators on the case. She is pretty fickle and shallow at times. Hopefully this will improve with each new book in the series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Avis Witter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent read. Presley can't help but poke her nose in and investigate when she returns to the boutique and finds her boos hanging. Especially when she is the prime suspect ..... and even more especially when she finds the detective in charge real cute. I loved all the twists and turns in the well thought out plot and the side stories that may thread through to the next book.

A real page turner and I highly recommend it. Now ....... on to the next book in the series! I need to read them all.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got it wrong

Back in Chicago working at a boutique. Bella is getting bigger, and Presley is chugging along while working through what her next step will be career wise, when she finds her boss dead at the store. Husband, old employee, siblings, and strange customer as suspects, Presley will work with Willie, the detective tasked with solving the murder to sift through clues while keeping the shop afloat.

This one was better in that Presley wasn't as bad at jumping into dangerous situations as she tends to be. Doesn't mean she does not end up in one.

[Dorothy Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

After losing her corporate position to a predator and the folding of her online writing job, Presley takes comfort in retail clothing sales. But - as her luck runs - she discovers something hanging in one of the changing rooms. So begins another mystery for Presley to investigate and for me to enjoy. I recommend reading Necklaces and Nooses, and the other novels in the Presley Thurman Mystery Series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Katie Cunningham · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Presley Thurman Mystery series. It's an interesting story with with fun characters a little humor. As much as I liked the book, I couldn't give it more stars because the editing was so bad. In some spots the same characters were given different names. And sometimes the dialog is hard to follow (who is saying what).

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Lucrecia Tolbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book in the series stays true to form from the first book. Presley has found herself involved with another investigation, but with this investigation comes so much more. Jealousy, deceit, and lust seems to be a common thread that's been weaved throughout the story. I'm sure that Presley and company will find adventure anywhere they go. Anna and Jared sounds like the best friends one could have.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jean Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Presley has a new job she likes and a boss everyone seems to like. Then she finds her boss dead and it is first thought she killed herself, but it turns out to be murder. Plenty of suspects to choose from including the boss's soon to be ex husband, a brother who is deeply in debt and a sister who holds a grudge. Presley and the handsome detective Willie Landon end up collaborating to find the murderer. Just the right amount of suspense, danger, romance, mystery and intrigue. Good ending.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms Presley is back in Chicago....

Ms. Presley is back in Chicago and raveled up in her Boss's murder. Presley wants to solve the murder with Detective Willie. Presley is involved with the well to do Brother and Sister of her boss. Wow the characters are perfectly written and when you think you have the Murder solved, think again !
I read the mystery in one sitting. I couldn't nor did I want to put it down.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 2nd book in the series. The main character is Presley. Presley's boss is murdered and she takes over running the store, Silk, while they try to figure out who did it and why. Her boss has a soon to be ex husband, a sister who hated her, a brother who is mostly drunk and a guy her hubby, who is a lawyer, had represented in court. But who is guilty? Can Presley figure this out before it's to late?

[Jennie Ersari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing cozy! Worth the read!

Presley moves back to Chicago and gets a job at a ritzy boutique. She returns to work one night to find her boss dead, hanging from the ceiling in an apparent suicide. But is it? Presley gets involved to find out. Very intriguing book.
I loved the characters in this book! I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

[G.Terenzio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great entertainment. Presley is working for Solange at a Boutique named Silk - something that she enjoys but doesn't want to do forever. But when her boss is found murdered in the most prestiges dressing room Presley is taking over - the store and the investigation.

Fast passing and full of surprises.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Presley’s At It Again

Presley finds another dead body. She swears she’s not a magnet for dead bodies. But she can’t help but investigate the murder of her boss. With the help of a cute detective and her friends Presley will do everything she can to catch the killer. Even if it pits her in danger.

[Dale Lussier]

Necklaces & Nooses

Presley forgets her wallet at work and has to go back for it to pay the parking fee to get out of parking garage. Only the door she just locked and the alarm she set are not the as when left. Thinking her boss must have returned and forgot to lock the door and reset the alarm she finds her wallet and does a walk through while calling out to her boss.

[Annette Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Apart from a few spelling errors this is a great cozy, mix in some friends, two detectives and ivory, a late night drive for a few hours and you have a really good read with an interesting plot and dialogue that that is fast and witty. A totally clean read as well.

[Kandice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this to be a very good book and really enjoyed it. It has a great combination of murder, mystery, suspense and humor.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Pat Eroh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the characters in this series and the author is very talented. The storyline is fabulous and the mystery twists enough to keep you guessing as to who the culprit is. An action-packed excellent read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the buildup of friends and Presley’s surroundings in this one. The murder kept me guessing til the very end! Loved how easily it was wrapped up once we found out who did it. Onto the next one...Handbags and Hooligans!!

[Rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Necklaces & Nooses (2)

What an incredible story! Actually it was close to a " Who Done It"
story that was lifelike! It took turns left and right ! I love these characters too!! Can't wait to hurry to start the next one!