A Disguise to Die For

Costume Shop Mystery #1

By Diane Vallere

ISBN: 9780425278284

Author Website: www.dianevallere.com

 

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

 

Synopsis:

No sooner does former magician’s assistant Margo Tamblyn return home to Proper City, Nevada, to run Disguise DeLimit, the family-owned costume shop, than she gets her first big order. Wealthy nuisance Blitz Manners needs forty costumes for a detective-themed birthday bash. As for Blitz himself, his Sherlock Holmes is to-die-for—literally—when, in the middle of the festivities, Margo’s friend and party planner Ebony Welles is caught brandishing a bloody carving knife over a very dead Blitz.

For Margo, clearing Ebony’s name is anything but elementary, especially after Ebony flees town. Now Margo is left to play real-life detective in a town full of masked motives, cloaked secrets, and veiled vendettas. But as she soon learns, even a killer disguise can’t hide a murderer in plain sight for long. (From Goodreads)

 

Review:

A Disguise to Die For is fascinating and fun first in Diane Vallere’s new A Costume Shop Mystery. Well, fun except for the murder. As a fan of the author’s Material Witness Mystery series, I couldn’t miss starting this new mystery; even if I weren’t familiar with her, the cover art invites one to grab this one quickly.

We first meet Margo Tamblyn, who temporarily left her position as a magician’s assistant in Las Vegas when her father had a heart attack. She was determined to care for him as he always had for her, yet only had a few days to spend in Proper City, a long desert drive from Vegas. Her father, Jerry, was equally determined to get back to work at the Disguise DeLimit (don’t you love that name!), the family’s costume shop.

Ebony, owner of the party planning shop Shindig, and Jerry were good friends and worked together with costume parties for many years. Ebony was Margo’s only mother figure; her mother had died giving birth to her. They met when Margo was five, and they shared a sweet bond. It was no surprise then, when events spiraled out of control at a party the two of them pulled together at the last minute, that Margo was willing to go to any lengths to keep her from going to jail.

Blitz Manners had received his father’s entire estate of twenty five million dollars when he turned eighteen. He threw a birthday party for himself a couple year later, and wanted to purchase 40 costumes for a detective-themed party. Ebony was hired to plan and cater. Costumes ranged from Sherlock Holmes to Charlie’s Angels. What a great party to attend! Especially if the characters each knew and played the role of the detective. Blitz didn’t have fun for long, however. Margo went to the kitchen to see if Ebony needed help to find her clutching a knife, with Blitz on the floor, very dead.

The primary characters are really likable. Margo is loyal and loving. I especially enjoy cozies written in first person and in this case, getting to know Margo. What we learn about Jerry and Ebony is mostly through her thoughts, yet we also see their actions that round out who they are. The characters who might be in only this novel are limited, defined only as needed for their one-time role. One of Blitz’ friends and Tak become better known by the reader as the story progresses – one of whom this reader hopes Margo and we all get to know even better!.

This has been an intriguing, fun, and suspenseful read. I enjoyed the setting, a costume shop that Jerry purchased when a young man. While I don’t know if I could work up the passion for the business that Jerry and Margo have, it would be a fun place to spend some time. Margo’s reminisces about growing up there tells much about her. It’s hard to imagine what growing up in a well-known costume shop would be like; oh, the fun they must have had over time as they visited thrift stores and special sales to acquire some costumes and accessories. Now it would be great fun to dress up and be someone different to keep from being too serious about life.

There were so many potential suspects!  Trying to clear Ebony of being the murder suspect was certainly a challenge for Margo. Having had grown up in the little town, it had to have been hard to focus on any one person as The Killer! The real antagonist was certainly a surprise to this reader! This is a novel that draws one in, then keeps the pages moving The plot is executed with finesse, leaving me looking forward to the next in series. The setting is unique, the characters are interesting, conversations and actions are not forced, but natural. I highly recommend this successful first-in-series A Disguise to Die For for fans of Diane Vallere, those who enjoy uniquely different settings, and enjoy a well-written mystery. The attractive cover art invites on to pick it up and find the delightful story within.