Poisoned Pins

Claire Malloy #8

by Joan Hess

Claire Malloy loves her life. But how did it go by so fast? A bookstore owner, part-time sleuth, and full-time single mother, Claire is about to turn the big four-oh! Good thing her teenage daughter, Caron, has just been recruited by the Kappa Theta Eta girls―whose sorority house is next door to the Malloys'―to be a consultant for the cosmetics empire My Beautiful Self, Inc. At the very least, Claire can get a little help with those fine lines around her eyes…but at what cost? Turns out there's a high price to pay to look one's best. After a series of dangerous and suspicious incidents, including a hit-and-run "accident" that kills a sorority sister, it becomes clear to Claire that the beauty business in Farberville, Arkansas, is getting pretty ugly―and with every new makeover another dark circle rises from beneath the surface….

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Humor

272 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Joan Hess was the author of both the Claire Malloy and the Maggody mystery series. Hess was a winner of the American Mystery Award, a member of Sisters in Crime, and a former president of the American Crime Writers League. She lived in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Joan Hess also wrote a mystery series under the pseudonym of Joan Hadley.

Series contributed to:
. Crosswinds
. The Year's 25 Finest Crime and Mystery Stories
. Malice Domestic
. Deadly Allies
. Sisters in Crime

Reviews

[Hannah Lang · Rating 3 out of 5]

Killer was totally obvious and I don’t like very many of the secondary characters. Claire is okay.

[Pam Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Claire Malloy, bookstore owner, part-time sleuth, and full-time single mother, is not quite ready to face her big 4-0 birthday, but her gray hair is getting a boost from the melodramatic antics of her fifteen-year-old daughter Caron - and the screaming that comes from the sorority house next door. Strange things are definitely happening at Kappa Theta Eta House, things that don't seem to match its girlish pink-and-frilly facade or sappy, sentimental traditions. To further complicate Claire's life, a relentlessly optimistic sorority girl has recruited Caron to be a My Beautiful Self, Inc., consultant. It seems like an innocent enough way to earn some extra cash - until one sister is killed in the dark alley behind the sorority. The cops say accidental hit-and-run, but Claire, isn't so sure. The intrepid Claire digs deeper into the case, but little does she know that soon she will see the world from the back of a Harley Davidson motorcycle ... or be arrested in a raid at the Dew Drop Inn ... or rub elbows (and, God forbid, maybe more) with the night manager of the sleaziest motel in town. And little does she suspect that the secrets of the sugar-and-spice sorority sisters of the Delta Delta chapter of Kappa Theta Eta are more blue than pink - and are about to turn a deadly blood red.

I love the Claire Malloy series and Joan Hess's writing. She has a subtle, and sometimes not so subtle, humor about her characters and their lives. Whenever I need a good, humorous read, I always reach for this series.

[Kiwi Carlisle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had great hopes for this one. It lacked a lot of the annoying qualities of many of the books in the series. There were characters who resembled actual humans. Young Caron, the protagonist's teenaged daughter was marginally less abrasive than usual, though inexplicably obsessed with a moneymaking scheme that sounded like the old Seasons color stereotyping from the 1980s. I can't imagine that coming back. The sorority princesses did seem to be cardboard cutouts of what sorority girls have been assumed to be for the last fifty years. Despite these flaws, I was enjoying the rambunctious plot when it ended very suddenly, with all the loose ends rounded up as if being shoved into a cardboard box for storage. I can't decide if Hess tired of her plot or came up against her deadline like a brick wall. Either way, the story suffered for its way-too-sudden denouement.

[Nese · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beginning of this book seems so busy with so many unnecessary details and goes in circles for a while, but after the first half of the book, the pace starts to pick up, it becomes more complex and suspenseful with side stories developing, and a lot of interesting characters from different diverse background being added. The things I like about this series are the intimate tone, because the story is narrated by the main character, and the humorous and upbeat tone. The characters in the book are complex and so is the suspenseful story line. This memorable book is not one you finish and forget about.

[D. Starr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating PG-13 (younger readers wouldn't be particularly interested)
Mild language, if any
No sex

Claire and her daughter Caron live next door to a sorority. Although only a few girls are occupying the house during the summer, Caron has been offered a chance to make big money selling beauty products for one of the girls who lives in the sorority. We immediately suspect a pyramid scheme. What wouldn't be expected is a murder (except this is a Joan Hess novel, so of course there will be one.)

As always the banter between Claire and Caron can't help but make the reader grin.

Good, light reading.

[Tatyana Vogt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay this was a cute book. I kinda did not like the main character in the beginning of the book, feeling like she was a bit annoying and rude. But it stopped bothering me as the book went on and I was pretty interested in the mystery.

Cosy mystery about a book store owner living next to a sorority where some stuff goes down and eventually someone ends up dead so she decides to solve the mystery.

[Lyn Soulia-Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want excitement in your life, you need to hang with Claire. Oh my, if things are going to happen Claire is going to be in or around the situation.
With a bratty teenage daughter who needs manors and a behavior course , then with all the situations that keep Claire busy, her book shop is like a second life.

[Susan]

I gave up at 50 pages. Nothing significant had happened except the main character calling the police because she heard a sorority girl scream. There wasn’t a character icared enough about to continue reading.

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

enjoyed this one

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first Clair Malloy mystery I have read. It is an enjoyable, easy read.

[Gale Penton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. I love this series. I love Claire and Peter. Look forward to the next book.

[Sandy Elfreth howery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a light fun silly read. Entertaining.

[Alannah Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been awhile since I've read Joan Hess's Claire Malloy series. I'd forgotten how much I love it. The writing is extremely entertaining and doesn't take itself too seriously. It's very refreshing, especially these days when there are a glut of cozy mysteries whose authors take themselves and their heroines way too seriously.

In "Poisoned Pins," bookstore owner Claire is approaching 40 and trying to cope with the latest antics of her 15-year-old daughter, Caron, who has been recruited by the sorority-girl-next-door to become a My Beautiful Self consultant. Mysterious goings-on ensue at the sorority house, and one of the girls is killed in a hit-and-run accident. Or was it an accident? Then there is Katie the Kappa Kitten, the classic literature-quoting Harley Davidson biker, the ditzy sorority house mother, and enough beguiling characters to fill a circus troupe.

In the hands of a lesser writer, this story could have failed miserably. The blackmail plot is flimsy at best, and Caron speaks with bigger words and vaster knowledge than any 15-year-old I've ever met. But the style of the writing is so darn entertaining that I set aside all believabiity issues and just enjoy the story. A definite 5 stars. I'm going to have a great time catching up on the series!

[Loraine · Rating 3 out of 5]

SUMMARY: Claire Malloy loves her life. But how did it go by so fast? A bookstore owner, part-time sleuth, and full-time single mother, Claire is about to turn the big four-oh! Good thing her teenage daughter, Caron, has just been recruited by the Kappa Theta Eta girls—whose sorority house is next door to the Malloys'—to be a consultant for the cosmetics empire My Beautiful Self, Inc. At the very least, Claire can get a little help with those fine lines around her eyes…but at what cost?

Turns out there's a high price to pay to look one's best. After a series of dangerous and suspicious incidents, including a hit-and-run "accident" that kills a sorority sister, it becomes clear to Claire that the beauty business in Farberville, Arkansas, is getting pretty ugly—and with every new makeover another dark circle rises from beneath the surface….

REVIEW: Joan Hess' Claire Malloy mysteries always give you a chuckle. This one flowed well, had some interesting characters living in the sorority, a few red herrings, but was eventually solvable. I wouldn't consider this one a favorite in the series, but it was a decent cozy mystery.

[The Badger · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Claire Malloy series is a step above a Cozy, mainly because you actually LIKE the characters. Claire is the single mother of Caron, a teenaged daughter who's at the age of speaking in ALL CAPS. Claire is also the proprietor of a bookstore (which she doesn't seem to spend much time in, on account of solving murders and trying to calm Caron down to at least italics). Peter is Claire's detective boyfriend whom she's lucky to have, otherwise she'd spend the majority of her time in a holding cell for interfering with crime scenes.

If you're looking for a mystery series where you actually LIKE the characters (I love Christie, but spent much of my extracurricular time plotting the death of the sanctimonious bitch Ms. Marple), start on the Claire Malloy series. Likewise, if you're wondering whether to have children, pay close attention to Caron. I work with kids and can assure you that all teen girls go through the "I HATE YOU--I NEED A RIDE TO THE MALL" phase. Unless you're saving for boarding school, pay attention.

[Dharia Scarab · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since I don't normally write reviews unless I have something specific to say, here's the break down of how I rate my books...

1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.

2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.

3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.

4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.

5 stars... I loved this book! It has earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.

[Kyrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Claire inserts herself into another mystery. To be fair, it is right next door. She is so like an adult version of her daughter. I like the word play. I want to smack Caron and shake Claire.

None of the sorority sisters are at all nice. The housemother is an alcoholic and well, the school administration and the local chapter head are all portrayed as only being out for themselves. Yeah, it's funny, but sad, too.

[Alison · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is somewhere in the middle of the series...I probably should have searched out the first one. I just didn't care for the main character that much (maybe because I jumped in and don't know all the history there). I didn't care for how sarcastic she was about her daughter but maybe I'll appreciate that more when I have a teenage daughter!

[Mary Newcomb]

Claire Malloy, bookseller and mother to drama queen Caron, meets her neighbors. These are not ordinary neighbors, these are the women of Kappa Theta Eta. Amidst screams, a mysterious death, a gambling raid and more Claire figures out that all is not well. This is not high brow mystery but an entertaining read.

[Carole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joan Hess writes two series, both set in Arkansas, and both with mixtures of humor and mystery. This series is about Claire Malloy, a bookstore owner in a small college town, who's always getting involved in murders and suffering through her teenaged daughter's moods and schemes. This time Claire gets mixed up with a sorority next door to her apartment.

[Sandy Weir · Rating 4 out of 5]

My friend Susan gave me the first book in the series and I am off trying to assemble and enjoy all of the rest! I enjoy the relationship Mrs Malloy has with her daughter (I often feel like the conversation is in thought bubbles). The character Inez helps this be very smooth. I liked the comments on sorority life and teen's impressions of budgeting.

[Deborah Stebbing · Rating 3 out of 5]

The whole Claire Malloy series by Joan Hess is among my favorites. I have read many if almost all of them. I love the interplay between mother and daughter in the books and the humor. It is light reading and great for a laugh.

[Mary (Biblophile) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another enjoyable Claire Malloy cozy. Caron and Inez, as usual are a hoot. Caron informs Claire that she is going to become rich enough to buy a car by selling cosmetics. Unfortunately, girls at the local college sorority are being murdered. Enter Claire who tees off Lt.Rosen to no end.

[Emily Corse · Rating 2 out of 5]

I actually prefer the Maggody books. The main characters in the Meloy books are just relentlessly cranky, whiny, and unlikeable. They tire me. Probably serves me right for trying to read cozy mysteries.

[Christine]

Tickled to Death
Busy Bodies
Closely Akin to Murder
Holly Jolly Murder
Conventional Corpse
Out on a Limb
Goodby Body

[Shirley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Always like the sarcastic wit of Joan Hell, and her plot is generally good as well, but always need to let a little time go by in between reading her.

[Lizz · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was the first, and last, book that I read from the Claire Malloy series. Although I love cozy mysteries, it was still too simplistic and cutsie for me.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kindle

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a delightful Hess mystery set in a small college town. Hess weaves a murder mystery into summer school and sorority secrets.

[Judi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story, a quick and easy read.