| Dolce's boutique in San Francisco
is every rich socialite's dream boutique. Featuring the latest
designer duds, shoes, and jewelry, Dolce's is special because
both Dolce and her employee, Rita Jewel, go the extra mile to
make sure their client's needs are catered too, and that they
always leave happy and well-dressed.
Rita's been making an effort to improve herself outside of
work, and she's ready to take a second cooking class from
Chef Guido Torcelli. Unfortunately, before she can sign up,
the chef gives her the bum's rush and is murdered shortly
thereafter. This leaves Rita, as one of the last people to
see him, as a suspect. Not a serious one, however, since she
is slightly involved with Detective Jack Wall, who knows Rita
isn't a killer. She is though, a woman who can't keep her
nose out of police business, and blindly takes careless risks.
Rita is interested in two other men as well. One man is a
handsome ER doctor and the other a Romanian gymnast. The problem
is, she can't seem to settle on any one of them, nor do they
seem inclined to take her too seriously.
Between self-improvement, full time work, three men orbiting
her and now the effort to find Chef Guido's killer, Rita's
life is rather full. Will she be able to solve the crime before
the police without risking her own life? Just why is it so
important to Rita to be the one to find the murderer? I'll
tell you why- Rita is about as self-absorbed, selfish and
risk-taking as a protagonist can be.
If I knew someone like Rita in real life, I'm sure I wouldn't
like her at all. However, Grace Carroll is a clever enough
author to imbue in Rita an inherent likeability that transcends
her flaws. I've read and reviewed the first two books in this
series ("Shoe Done It" and "Died with a Bow,")
and am happy to report that the series remains funny, smart,
and right in style.
This would be a great beach read, and I think that both adults
and teens with a sense of fashion will enjoy "Murder
after a Fashion."
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