Play Book Tag discussion

Josie Marcus is a single mom of a 9-year-old daughter, still living with her own mother and trying to make ends meet as a 'mystery shopper' in some of St. Louis' high-end malls. Her current assignment is to be a customer in the pricey Danessa stores. Danessa is a city celebrity who creates expensive purses and accessories but there have been complaints and Josie is sent to investigate. Josie finds that the stores are dirty, the merchandise is poorly made and the clientele less than friendly. Her honest report on the Danessa shops becomes a nightmare when Danessa herself bullies Josie's boss into giving her the report. The beautiful, well-heeled Danessa becomes a harridan as she shouts at Josie and threatens to sue. Unfortunately, that very night both Danessa and her live-in boyfriend are murdered and Josie becomes prime suspect #1.

This was a fun little cozy mystery with a likeable protagonist in Josie. The story becomes a tad madcap at times with quite a few red herrings thrown in. It is the first in a series and I might read more in the future.