Lethal in Old Lace – #bookreview

Title: Lethal in Old Lace (A Consignment Shop Mystery) by Duffy Brown

Genre: Currently #3509 on Amazon Best Sellers Rank in Kindle eBooks, Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, Mystery, Cozy

Publisher: Crooked Lane Books

Publication Date: To be released March 13, 2018

Source: Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley

Title and Cover: Lethal in Old Lace – Obvious cozy depicting Consignment Shop series

The fifth in the Consignment Shop mystery series, Lethal in Old Lace could easily be a standalone book. This is my first experience with this author and her series, and I thoroughly enjoyed, even when the plot took on fully suspended in disbelief high jinks.

Who doesn’t love the aura of Savannah, the beauty, the Southern Comfort (get it?), and the southern belles. Then throw in a unique consignment store owner who lives in her old family home and a freshly proposed wedding and you have Duffy Brown’s delightful new cozy, Lethal in Old Lace.

What a cast of characters in this book! Reagan Summerside is apparently no newcomer to finding bodies; she has attracted them before. Her Auntie Kiki adds to the fun, sparking the mischievous Reagan into action (as if she could ignore it) and with gorgeous and over-the-top accommodating fiancé Walker Boone, Esquire, you definitely have a recipe for some southern entertainment. But that’s not all!

You’ve love Bruce Willis, her rescue, and neighbors Annie Fritz and Elsie Abbot, sisters who help out with the shop. (Accommodating maybe, but not too bright.) They are trying to stay in business as professional mourners and have been hired at Sleepy Pines Retirement Center to welcome new retirees to the home. Unfortunately, one of their residents, Willie Fishbine has turned up dead after swindling a number of people out of their retirement funds in a miracle vitamin scheme that includes the sisters and it doesn’t look good for them when a second resident is mysteriously found in their pink Caddy. It is the body in the Caddy that Reagan stumbles across and quickly pulls in Auntie Kiki for help.

Aunt Kiki conspires with her to go undercover at Sleepy Pines as Reagan begins her investigation outside while juggling her mother (a judge) who is thrilled with putting together the perfect Savannah wedding, and Boone moving into her home to begin a rehab process.

I loved the dialogue and wacky scenes with Aunt Kiki, a natural conspirator, and Reagan, truthfully is a chip off the ole auntie block. Reagan could get in trouble without her, but is definitely more fun with her. These characters are fleshed out well enough to hear that southern twang and I loved the tidbits of the city and the history. As the plot heats up, Boone is pulled in to help keep the sisters out of jail. Exchanges between Reagan and the bus driver are hilarious and I loved that she got her pink scooter back.

There is so much going on with this story that you have to pay attention. There is no chance for a reader to get bored with it–there is always something amusing happening–keeps it moving. And, bonus!! Aunt Kiki’s martini recipes at the end of the book. Are you kidding? I’ve doubled my grocery list adding ingredients.

I was given this download by the Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley and greatly appreciated the opportunity to read and review. I can happily recommend to any who enjoy a cozy mystery book brimming with off-beat characters, beautiful, old southern locale, and just a smidgen of romance.

Rosepoint Publishing:  Four point five of Five Stars 

The Author: (From Amazon Author page) Duffy Brown loves anything with a mystery. While others girls dreamed of dating Brad Pitt, Duffy longed to take Sherlock Holmes to the prom. She has two cats, Spooky and Dr. Watson, her license plate is Sherlok and she conjures up who-done-it stories of her very own for Berkley Prime Crime. Duffy’s national bestselling Consignment Shop Mystery series is set in Savannah and the Cycle Path Mysteries are set on Mackinac Island. This is her fifth Consignment Shop mystery. ©2018 V Williams