When a murder mystery-themed fashion show is struck by a real murder, there are enough suspects to line the runway.
Kellen’s death, which has been staged to mimic a murder from the book that launched her career, leaves the whole town reeling. The violence feels shockingly personal—Kellen was a founding member of the local writing group, Hemlock Homicide Heroines, before success swept her away to the big city.
Soon, it becomes clear not everyone was thrilled with Kellen’s success. As suspects multiply faster than designer knockoffs, Maddie and Jenna are determined to figure out who was resentful enough to kill over it.
Do you like cozy mysteries? I do! I am so glad that one of my favorite authors-Nancy Robards Thompson is writing cozies!
I am loving Nancy Robards Thompson’s Wedding Bell Mysteries! A Crime of Fashion is the second book in the series. The fast-paced novel features bridal boutique owner and mystery writer Maddie Bell and her event planner daughter Jenna. I loved the fun Mother-Daughter vibe in the novel, the hint of romance between Maddie and Jackson and the small town setting in Hemlock, North Carolina.
Maddie and her Jenna are co-chairing a charity event with a murder mystery theme. Bestselling author Kellan Corsi is the celebrity guest star in this year’s Successful You Fashion Showcase. Before she became a best-selling author, Kellan was a member of Maddie’s writers group; the Hemlock Homicide Heroines (HHH). Loved that the fashion show gave the group of writers a chance to reconnect. Kellan is the most successful member of the group. Her first book was a best seller and is being made into a movie—and several members of the HHH are extremely jealous of her success. So, is it really a big surprise when Kellan is murdered during cocktail hour?
The characters is the novel are fabulous! I loved Olivia—she was quite the diva and my prime suspect during the murder investigation! Olivia accused Kellan of plagiarism and that caused a lot of hard feelings in the group. The relationship between MJ and Olivia was interesting. Loved the conversations between MJ and the HHH members. MJ is a mother hen and was always the first to defend Olivia. The small town setting was an important in the story line as most of the characters were connected.
The clever plotting in A Crime of Fashion kept me guessing until the last page! I loved figuring out the clues and learning more about Kellan and the HHH members. Loved that this book focused a bit more on Maddie’s sleuthing abilities and her feelings toward Jackson. Maddie was determined to figure out the identity of the killer! I could imagine the stylish Maddie hopping through a window to snoop through a suspect’s office without wrinkling or smudging her outfit! The scenes when Maddie and Jenna visited Kellan’s hotel room at night was perfectly written with just the right amount of suspense. Maddie and Jenna’s relationship is tested little bit when Maddie tells Jenna about her date with Jackson. Jenna’s reaction is spot on and significant to the romantic angle of the story.
In an effort to keep my review spoiler free—I am not going to reveal the name of Kellan’s killer. I enjoyed how the story unfolded and the great plot twists and turns held my interest. Maddie and Jackson’s romance added to the storyline –it was relatable and very sweet—in keeping with the cozy mystery genre. It's back to watching more Hallmark mystery shows for me as I was not able to figure out the identity of Kellan’s killer!!
If you are looking for a fabulous, fashionable whodunit with a great mother-daughter detective team, two adorable corgis and a group of envious writers—grab a copy of A Crime of Fashion! I can’t wait for the next book in the Wedding bells series—The Taming of the Shoe which will be available in 2021!
Reviewed by Susan Gorman
Book purchased on Amazon
Interview: A CRIME OF FASHION – Book Two in The Wedding Bell Mysteries
Susan: This is such a great series! What inspired you to write cozy mysteries?
Nancy: Thank you, Susan! I’m having such fun with The Wedding Bell Mysteries series. I’ve written more than forty romance and women’s fiction novels, but a while back I found myself drawn into The Hannah Swensen Mysteries (written by Joanne Fluke) on the Hallmark Movies and Mysteries channel. I couldn’t get enough of Hannah and her town of Lake Eden, Minnesota. I loved the setting, the quirky characters, and the fact that the plots kept me guessing. As any reader would do, I picked up the books and quickly devoured all twenty-five in the series. What does a writer do when she’s reached the end of her favorite series? You got it! She plots her own. I liken The Wedding Bell Mysteries to Gilmore Girls meets Murder She Wrote. Gilmore Girls because the heroines, Maddie Bell and Jenna Bell are mother and daughter. Murder She Wrote because Maddie writes cozy mysteries when she’s not running her bridal shop, Blissful Beginnings Bridal Boutique.
Susan:What are your favorite elements in a cozy mystery? What do you like to include in your books?
Nancy: I love puzzles and brainteasers, so the “who-done-it” element of a cozy mystery really appeals to me. I also love small town dynamics that create a sense of community, and a cast of lovable and quirky characters that start to feel like friends and family. Those elements draw me into the cozy series I enjoy reading, and it’s only natural that I include them in my own.
Susan: Love the fun Mother- Daughter relationship between Maddie and Jenna. Loved the scene when they were in Kellan’s hotel room. Did you have a favorite Maddie -Jenna scene In this book?
Nancy: Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed that scene. It was fun to write. I liked that one, and I also enjoyed Maddie and Jackson’s “date,” and the scene at the bee farm.
Susan: A Crime of Fashion focused on Maddie’s writing group. Do you belong to an author critique group?
Nancy: I do and they are life savers! They are some of my very best friends. We “meet” via the magic of technology because we live all over the country. One of my best writing buddies lives in the UK. I’ve known most of these women for a long time. There’s a tremendous amount of trust that goes into sharing your pre-published work with anyone. Not just for the reasons at the center of the A CRIME OF FASHION plot (I won’t say too much because I don’t want to give anything away), but it’s also important that critique partners share the same sensibilities. Writing is so subjective that if a person doesn’t understand where you’re going with a story, they could do more harm than good and at the very least, it’s a waste of time for both of you. But a critique at it’s best is when writers are helping each other make their stories stronger.
Susan: I loved that Maddie’s friendship with Jackson has blossomed into a romance. Was that fun to write/explore?
Nancy: It’s a lot of fun! There are some interesting twist and turns ahead as I hinted in at the end of A CRIME OF FASHION. The next book in the series, THE TAMING OF THE SHOE, will be out next year. That story will explore their relationship even more.
Susan: I know how much you love corgis. Are there any in this series?
Nancy: Every chance I get, I put a corgi -- or two -- in my books! This one is no exception. Maddie has two corgis – a girl names Agatha Christie and a boy named Sherlock Homes. Aggie and Homie, respectively. To me, just as a home isn’t a home without a corgi, a story feels like it’s missing some warmth without one…or several.
Susan: How can readers reach you?
Nancy: Thanks so much for having me on the blog today! I love to hear from readers! They can contact me and sign up for my newsletter HERE!
They can reach me on Facebook HERE and HERE.
I’m on Instagram and Twitter.
Lovely review, Susan. Sounds like an intriguing book.
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