The Pajama Frame by Diane Vallere

Madison Night, who bears a close resemblance to Doris Day, and loves all things mid-century, is left Sweet Dreams Pajama Factory, which produced sixties pajama and peignoir sets. I  drooled over the buttery yellow and mint green designs. That is one of my favorite Era for clothes. One of the fun parts of this book is that you are descriptively indulged with wonderful house designers and cute clothes. Madison runs her own shop, Mad for Mod, that specializes in getting these wonderful items first. To that end she cultivates Estate Planners and those in the know. But Alice Sweet leaving her a deserted building and a six decades old mystery has the historical society, and a group of protesters after Madison.

The Factory, where a woman died sixty years ago -in suspicious circumstances, yields another dead body. That's only the beginning. Not too many people can deal with murder and a shih tzu,who has gotten skunked all in one day. But Madison had help in the form of a hunky Captain she had met on other cases. Keys, mysterious letters, storage units and Mrs. Sweet's family are hard to deal with but Madison is as worried about her boyfriend in California as she is being set up. What about the gun?

I liked the wise cracking and the flow in this newest mystery of Diane Vallere. There is a continuation of build-up between the characters and I loved the retro angle. I have a soft spot for vintage and movies from that Era, so, I really enjoyed visiting with these characters. A good little mystery and now I need to go back to the first one and read Book One. Like me- I am sure you will enjoy this series.

My thanks to Netgalley and Henery Press

Blurb:

Interior decorator Madison Night is no stranger to the occasional odd inheritance. But when an octogenarian friend dies and leaves her a pajama factory, the bounty is bittersweet. Once a thriving business, Sweet Dreams closed decades ago after a tragic accident took the life of a young model. Or was that simply a cover up?

Between her friend's death and her own stagnant life, Madison is tempted to hide under a blanket of willful ignorance. But when family members and special interest groups lobby to expose the secrets of the factory, Madison gets caught in a tangle of secrets and lies and discovers that sometimes, the bed you make is not your own.

The Phantom of Oz (An Ivy Meadows Mystery Book 5) by Cindy Brown

Cindy Brown writes a fun, clever little mystery. Her zingy Heroine works for her P.I. Uncle but Olive/Ivy is also a theater actress who works in plays and auditions. The fun begins when Candy Treat calls Ivy and asks her to meet her backstage at the famous old Deco Playhouse,The Grand Phoenician. Candy is working in The Wizard:A Space OZpera. Ivy gets hired for an understudy, as a series of incidents happen, that land one cast member in the hospital. The Lady in White, who is the resident ghost, is blamed for most of the accidents that happen. But a ghost doesn't loosen screws on a chandelier do they?

The Theater is also rife with competition and ugly scenes from Babette, the Star of The It Girl. She is hunting for her new hopeful Actress, who turns out to be Candy. Olive is worried about her friend, who has been hiding secrets, and lying to her. The play is loaded with children munchkins both playing a part and trying to meet people to further their Careers. In amidst the constant activity are barbed remarks from Babette. The mix of people with jealousies, ambition and protective stage mothers furthers the plot. Add in creepy underground sets and a well- the Lady in White drowned herself in, and you have a fantastic blend of characters and plot.

I laughed out loud several times reading this book. It is hard to pull off wit and mystery but Cindy Brown does both very well. Ivy is likeable and the cast of characters in the play are unique. I admit to a penchant for Theater Mysteries. This one has everything. A very enjoyable read and I look forward to the next one. I gave it five stars.

Blurb:

Creepy munchkins. A mysterious phantom. And a real Wicked Witch.

Are you ready for it? Actress and part-time PI Ivy Meadows has been hired to uncover the cause of the creepy accidents that plague the roadshow The Wizard: A Space OZpera and find out who dropped a chandelier on the Wicked Witch of the East.

Was it the ghost who haunts the Grand Phoenician Theatre? A “wicked witch” in the cast? Or is it someone—or something—more sinister?

It’s Ivy’s most personal case so far.

Her best friend Candy, who’s touring with the show, is caught in a downward spiral of self-destruction, and is in more danger than she knows.

To save her friend and the show, Ivy must answer even tougher questions: Do spirits really exist? What is real beauty? What does friendship mean?

Ivy needs to learn the answers, and fast—before Candy reaches the point of no return.

Murder on the Rocks (A Red Carpet Catering Mystery #5) by Shawn Reilly Simmons

 

Three Characters gather for a meeting and breakfast and end up in the middle of a robbery. They are set to work on a Movie. Arlena will star, another will offer set advice and Penelope runs the catering. Nadia, who offers tennis advice,is hurt by an attack during the holdup but the real nasty stuff for the friends will start once they relocate to Vermont.

Penelope's boyfriend is apparently a long- time character and works for the Police Department.  Joey, with a new Partner, is tracking down the thugs while Penny and he stay in contact as much as they can. The Director insists the Catering Unit work with Conservation so they are not allowed to use plastic anything. They are out in the Country so far Penelope cannot even get service for her phone. She is also assigned to morning yoga. Her Catering Assistant starts a romance with the Brother who directs the Movie. Add a family argument over a farm and all kinds of sightings of a mystery man and you have a real "who dunnit!"

I had not read any of these books before so I have to admit I was lost part of the time. I definitely feel you want to read these in order. They have a lot of action and are easily read in one night. Joey and Penny have an ongoing romance that readers will build on... a fun read.



Blurb:

Shawn Reilly Simmons has cooked up something rocky this time, and it’s going to be a delicious read.

After surviving a brazen attack at one of her favorite local cafes, Penelope Sutherland is ready to escape the big city and head to her next film set. She and her Red Carpet Catering crew set up their kitchen on location in the tranquil mountains of Vermont.

But peace and quiet aren’t on the menu.

It starts to get hot when a series of accidents befall the celebrity tennis pro consulting on the film. Then mix in an uptight director, an isolated location, and a quirky bunch of locals with secrets of their own and that’s a recipe for disaster.

Penelope soon suspects a connection between the cafe attack and the incidents on set, and you know what comes next. She must uncover the truth before her goose gets cooked.

This page-turner is serving up the coziest of entertainment, and you do not want to miss it.