Antiques Slay Belles

A mother/daughter detective duo solve yet another murder. Vivian and Brandy Borne are antique dealers with a sideline in solving mysteries and annoying many people along the way, especially Brandy's fiance, local police chief Tony Cassato. Everyone in their household, including Sushi the dog, relies on legal drugs to deal with the vicissitudes of life. As their Mississippi River hometown of Serenity busies itself with pre-Christmas festivities, mother and daughter give a talk at the country club whose golf course was torn up the previous summer when Vivian "borrowed" a golf cart to chase a murderer around the grounds. The women's group they're addressing is on the dessert course when Norma Crumley collapses face down in her plum pudding. A retired nurse at the event begins resuscitation efforts, but stops when she realizes Norma has been poisoned and is decidedly dead. Upon his arrival, Tony dismisses all the women except the four who had been sitting with Norma. In the ladies' Secret Santa exchange, Norma had traded her perfume for Ellen Fridley's box of chocolates, which may have been the murder weapon. In that case, though, for whom was it really intended? Vivian, naturally, is determined to solve the case, much to the dismay of Tony, who knows her value as a sleuth but wants to keep her and Brandy safe from danger. Brandy is anxious because her son, Jake, is coming to stay with them, and her former husband is still angry because Jake got involved in one of their previous cases. But Vivian, never deterred, is ready to drag Brandy in her wake. Amusing escapades and tips on antique buying.

COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. (Online Review)

October 15, 2024
Setting up for a program at a country-club Christmas luncheon, owners of the antiques store Trash 'n' Treasures, mother and daughter Vivian and Brandy Borne, witness a murder when socialite and gossip Norma Crumley face plants into her plum pudding. Vivian immediately suspects Norma was poisoned, and she is determined to solve the crime, receiving permission to investigate from the local chief of police, Tony Cassato, Brandy's former fianc�. Vivian, with Brandy's reluctant assistance, forges ahead interviewing suspects, but her list is quickly reduced as additional people are poisoned or killed. While looking for evidence against a suspect, Vivian, not above a little breaking and entering, leads herself and Brandy into their most dangerous confrontation yet. Complicating matters, they must solve the case before Brandy's son arrives, and Brandy and Tony still have differences to resolve. Told in alternating chapters from Brandy's and Vivian's points of view, this humorous, conversational cozy, lovingly set in the Mississippi River town of Serenity, is framed with details about antiques and tips for collecting Christmas collectibles.

COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.