Cloche and Dagger (Hat Shop Mystery, #1)

by Jenn McKinlay

An all-new series from New York Times bestselling author Jenn McKinlay

Not only is Scarlett Parker’s love life in the loo—as her British cousin Vivian Tremont would say—it’s also gone viral with an embarrassing video. So when Viv suggests Scarlett leave Florida to lay low in London, she hops on the next plane across the pond. Viv is the proprietor of Mims’s Whims, a ladies’ hat shop on Portobello Road bequeathed to both cousins by their beloved grandmother, and she wants Scarlett to finally join her in the millinery business.

But a few surprises await Scarlett in London. First, she is met at the airport not by Viv, but by her handsome business manager, Harrison Wentworth. Second, Viv—who has some whims of her own—seems to be missing. No one is too concerned about the unpredictable Viv until one of her posh clients is found dead wearing the cloche hat Viv made for her—and nothing else. Is Scarlett’s cousin in trouble? Or is she in hiding?

• ISBN10: 0425258890
• ISBN13: 9780425258897
• Publish Date: 6 August 2013
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Penguin Putnam Inc
• Imprint: Berkley Publishing Corporation,U.S.
• Format: Paperback (US Mass Market)
• Pages: 304
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780425258897

Reviews

[Mystereity Reviews]

3 1/2 stars

Cloche and Dagger is the first book the Hat Shop Mystery series. Scarlett embarasses herself publicly, becomes a viral internet star and escapes from Florida to London, England at the invitation of her cousin, Viv who co-owns a hat shop with Scarlett. Various shenanigans occur, including a murder, several break-ins and a wonky wardrobe.

I picked this up on a whim. I've tried to read the author's other series in the past but never got into them, so I didn't have high hopes for this one. Luckily I was wrong. Despite the MC being in desperate need of several hard slaps to the face, and having to endure being reminded of the oh so horrific embarrassing incident every other page and that all the English characters dont sound English, and, of course, the stereotypical hunky guy at odds with the MC because of TEH SECSYOOAL TENSHUN! OMG, it still managed to be readable, and that's because the plot was very well done. I had an inkling about a few things, but no clear idea who did it.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book, enough to read the next in the series.

[MurderByDeath]

Usually I save my 5 star ratings for cozies that are a joy to read *and* offer something a bit different - unique (or not often used) plot devices, a deeper level of writing, really creative twists or settings. Cloche and Dagger didn't really offer any of these pluses, but it was such an outstandingly fun read with such likeable characters, I couldn't possibly have given it anything less.

For me, Ms. McKinlay wasn't going to go wrong with a setting in Notting Hill, London. Consider that box ticked. The characters were each written so well, that they immediately presented themselves in my minds eye so almost never struggled keeping characters/suspects straight in my mind (about 10 seconds asking 'which one's Andre and which one's Nick was about it). I am already crushing on Harrison - if Scarlett doesn't want him, I'll take him. We don't get much time with Viv, but it's clear she'll be quirky and fun and I really like Fee. And thank you, thank you, thank you, for NOT introducing some awful, hateful caricature of some nasty cow put there to make everyone's lives miserable.

The plot was nicely done - the first mystery presents itself on page 3(?) with Viv's disappearance. The actual murder doesn't come along until about 1/3 of the way through the book, which allows the author to introduce the setting, the people, etc. with the backdrop of Viv's absence keeping things interesting. Once the murder does occur, it's a good one. I had a suspicion throughout, but was never sure, until the end.

Ms. McKinlay has yet to write a series I don't love (we won't bring Josie Bell into this) and I think my rankings are going to need a reshuffling - Hat Shop, Library, Cupcakes. I was genuinely disappointed to have come to the end of this book and I can't wait to read more.