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I chose
to review this book because I love a good detective story,
and this one is just brimming with detectives. That is, party-goers
dressed up in costume as famous detectives. You have your
Sherlock Holmes, Columbo, Charlie Chan, Charlie's Angels,
Veronica Mars, Trixie Belden, Nancy Drew, Kojak, Miss Marple
and more. They are gathered for the 26th birthday party of
the seemingly obnoxious and definitely wealthy Blitz Manners.
When Blitz is murdered at his own party, the police will have
to sort through dozens of disguised attendees to find means,
motive and opportunity.
Margo
Tamblyn has returned home to Proper City, Nevada, after her
father suffers a heart attack. She plans to help him run his
costume shop, Disguise DeLimit, while he recovers. Her dad,
Jerry, decides to take a spur of the moment trip with his
friend Don to visit Area 51, and possibly buy some alien costumes.
After all, this will get him away from the stress of the shop
and out on the road to relax and recover. The large custom
costume order they'd had for Blitz's birthday party had just
been canceled, and the shop should be easy enough for Margo
to handle alone. Yet the birthday order is soon back on, and
since Ebony (the closest thing Margo ever had to a mother)
is handling the rest of the party, Margo decides to tag along
and see how the costumes go over, and provide a helping hand
to her dear friend.
Ebony
becomes a suspect when she is found standing over the very
dead Blitz, holding a large knife. Margo knows Ebony is innocent
and sets out to find out who the true culprit is. Will she
be able to do so in time and without risking her own life?
Wow!
I am so impressed with this first book in a new series! I
could not put it down because I became so enthralled with
the story line and the main characters, and I had to just
keep turning page after page to find out what would happen
next. What a brilliant concept- a detective book about a party
full of guests dressed as detectives, and a costume shop full
of disguises, which, frankly, bodes well for a bevy of future
books. This is a true cozy in every sense of the word: small
town, amateur sleuth, romance, humor, quirky characters, more
than enough detail to draw the reader right into the story,
and of course a lovable cat and an adorable dog.
Highly
recommended for cozy mystery lovers who enjoy a trail of subtle
clues and an abundance of enjoy ability. Also included are
recipes and costume ideas. As for me, I'll be anxiously awaiting
the next installment, "Masking for Trouble," coming
soon from Berkley Prime Crime.
Reviewer
Note: Diane Vallere also writes the Material Witness Mysteries
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