I am so delighted today to provide a review for you at my blog stop for Murder Wears a Little Black Dress by Debra Sennefelder on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour.
Murder Wears a Little Black Dress (A Resale Boutique Mystery) Book 1
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Lyrical Underground (January 22, 2019)
Paperback: 200 pages
ISBN-10: 1516108965
ISBN-13: 978-1516108961
Digital ASIN: B07CR2CG63
Manhattan fashionista Kelly Quinn thought she’d left her upstate New York town far behind . . . until the Seventh Avenue expat returns home to revamp her grandmother’s
consignment shop into an upscale boutique—and unwittingly sets a trend for murder . . .
After her rising career as a Manhattan buyer is derailed, Kelly has mixed feelings about relocating back to Lucky Cove, in spite of her big plans for the soon-to-be-renamed Curated by Kelly Resale Boutique. What’s left of her luck starts running out when a customer puts on a black lace dress that triggers visions of someone being murdered. As if the haunted “Murder Dress” isn’t enough to kill business, the psychic’s doppelganger cousin has just been found bludgeoned to death.
Was Maxine LeMoyne the real target or was it a case of mistaken murder? With some creepy pre-Halloween bargain hunters walking the night and Kelly suddenly a person of interest, a second murder rocks the close-knit town. Now Kelly could be the one who ends up talking to dead people when she’s stalked by a killer determined to take her out in high style . . .
Ah, I love actually getting in on Book 1 of a new series and one that promises a hint of paranormal with the cozy, girly stuff, even better. Kelly Quinn has been drummed out of her high-fashion, up and coming position in New York in humiliating circumstances about the time her grandmother passes away and leaves her the decades old and established resale/consignment shop in Lucky Cove.
True to cozy standards, Kelly fled her small town trials and tribulations for the bright lights and excitement of the fashion world only to find herself back home living above Granny’s shop, re-establishing all her previous contacts and relatives. She’s had devastating experiences that left her guilt ridden which she’ll now have to confront and finally come to terms with.
The twenty-six-year-old protagonist tries to bring some of that New York sophistication to her granny’s shop with a general do-over, creating a higher-level boutique experience catering to a younger crowd. She’s studied colors, arrangements, retail and now must concentrate on bringing an aging, dusty inventory current. The problem is that during an initial three-day event, the town psychic tries on a black lace dress that gives her the vision of a murder. And as it normally does in a small town. Word gets around. Especially after Kelly discovers the body of the psychic’s sister. This can’t be good for business!
There are a number of support characters to get to know in Book 1, not all of whom are well-fleshed, but exhibit engaging personalities, including Liv, Kelly’s bestie. Then there is Pepper, her grandmother’s contemporary, best friend, and co-worker who resists even the slightest change to the shop in which she’d worked so many years. Her uncle and aunt perform duties close to antagonists while twists and turns abound as Kelly is yanked first on one trail then another to discover the truth behind the “murder dress” and then proceeds to defend her own culpability in any crime. She has inherited a cat and confronts a cousin that is more hinder than help.
Kelly is ready to run away again, but fights the notion, and gets everyone’s opinion whether she should stay and battle it out or run. She is alternately at a loss while brain-storming new promotion ideas for the boutique. In the meantime, we are given the down-low on designer labels, accessories, and fashion trends. Prada would be proud! There are unanswered questions here–backstory on the estrangement of Kelly with her sister being one. The series has lots of room to grow and it’s fun to start at the beginning and see where this one will take you.
I was given this ebook download by the publisher and NetGalley for the book tour and greatly appreciated the opportunity to read and review.
Debra Sennefelder and is an avid reader who reads across a range of genres, but mystery fiction is her obsession. Her interest in people and relationships is channeled into her novels against a backdrop of crime and mystery. When she’s not reading, she enjoys cooking and baking and as a former food blogger, she is constantly taking photographs of her food. Yeah, she’s that person.
Born and raised in New York City, she now lives and writes in Connecticut with her family. She’s worked in pre-hospital care, retail and publishing. Her writing companions are her adorable and slightly spoiled Shih-Tzus, Susie and Billy. Find out more about her at her website, http://www.DebraSennefelder.com
Thank you for visiting my stop on the tour and please visit the other stops listed below!
Tour Participants:
January 21 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW
January 21 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT
January 22 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
January 22 – Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews – REVIEW
January 23 – My Reading Journey – REVIEW
January 23 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
January 24 – The Book Decoder – REVIEW
January 24 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
January 25 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW
January 25 – Readeropolis – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
January 26 – Mallory Heart’s Cozies – REVIEW
January 26 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – REVIEW
January 27 – Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
January 27 – Carla Loves To Read – REVIEW
January 28 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW
January 28 – A Wytch’s Book Review Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
January 29 – Rosepoint Publishing – REVIEW
January 29 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT
January 30 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT
January 31 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
January 31 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
February 1 – A Blue Million Books – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
February 1 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
February 2 – Socrates Book Reviews – REVIEW
February 3 – Laura`s Interests – REVIEW
February 3 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT 
Thanks to Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours for the opportunity to read and review this cozy mystery!
©2019 V Williams 
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Born and raised in Alabama, G. P. Gardner earned BS and MA degrees in Psychology from the University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa, AL) and an MBA from Jacksonville State University (Jacksonville, AL). She also attended the University of Georgia (Athens, GA), where she studied biopsychology and primatology. But her heart belongs to Talladega College—an HBCU and the first educational institution in Alabama to admit students without regard to race—where she taught business. Her writing life began with short stories, some of which were published in regional literary journals and some of which won prizes. She enjoys the classic mystery writers as well as contemporary whodunits but reads widely. She is a knitter and once owned a knit shop in Fairhope, AL. She studied mystery writing with Terry Cline, another Fairhope resident. Murder in Harbor Village is the first in her series about social worker Cleo Mack. You can visit her at 
Rosepoint Publishing 