Tuesday, June 20, 2017

CEMENT STILETTOS (Samantha Kidd Mystery #7) by Diane Vallere

 

Cozy Mystery
7th in Series
Polyester Press (June 13, 2017)
Print Length: 255 pages
ASIN: B06ZY1B1TR
    Forget the cannoli. Take the shoes!
When newly engaged amateur sleuth Samantha Kidd discovers the body of a mafia princess dead in fiancé and shoe designer Nick Taylor’s showroom, her questions are so numerous she’d need a bookie to keep track. The victim’s ties to local organized crime are unexpected. Nick’s apparent vow of silence makes Samantha question the vows in their future, and despite past promises, all bets are off. Wise guys and leopard ladies keep her busier than a consigliere during tax season, and if she can’t keep her head above water, she’ll end up sleeping with the fishes.
Review:  Another humorous adventure with Samantha and company...but this one felt a little more intense to me. There was murder, a fistfight, threats, a car bomb, fashion, romance--and the mob!

As usual, Samantha gets things wrong all over the place, which makes for some humorous conversations and situations.  Her choice of fashion on certain occasions also make for laughs. 

But, as I said, it's not ALL laughs. There is the murder of Nick's assistant to be solved, as well as just how involved Nick may or may not be with the mob. 

Ms. Vallere has written another fantastic story, and I can hardly wait to see what's next for Samantha.

**I was given a copy of this book from the author, with no expectation of a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.**

Rating: Four stars

About The Author

I’m a former fashion buyer turned mystery writer, trading fashion accessories for accessories to murder. I was bit by the mystery bug as a kid reading Trixie Belden, Connie Blair, and The Three Investigators. Now I’m writing three series: the Style & Error Mysteries, the Mad for Mod Mysteries, and the Material Witness Mysteries.

The Costume Shop mysteries debuted with A DISGUISE TO DIE FOR, which introduces Margo Tamblyn, costume shop owner, who helps solve a murder after one of her clients is found dead at his own costume party (dressed as Sherlock!). MASKING FOR TROUBLE, the second in the series was released last October and Dressed to Confess will be out in August 2017.

The Material Witness mysteries feature Polyester Monroe, who inherits the fabric shop where she was born. Books include SUEDE TO REST  and CRUSHED VELVET . The third, SILK STALKINGS,  was just released.

The Style & Error Series features former fashion buyer turned amateur sleuth Samantha Kidd. Books in that series include DESIGNER DIRTY LAUNDRYBUYER, BEWARETHE BRIM REAPER ; SOME LIKE IT HAUTEGRAND THEFT RETRO, and Pearls Gone Wild. (A short story, “Just Kidding ,” tells the story of how Samantha first met shoe designer Nick Taylor).

The Madison Night Mysteries feature a modern day interior decorator who specializes in midcentury design (studying Doris Day movies to get the look right). Books are PILLOW STALK ,THAT TOUCH OF INK , and WITH VICS YOU GET EGGROLL . A prequel novella, “Midnight Ice,” can be found in OTHER PEOPLE’S BAGGAGE .

Author Links
  Webpage: http://www.dianevallere.com/
  FB: https://www.facebook.com/DianeVallereAuthor
  Twitter: https://twitter.com/dianevallere GoodReads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4739022.Diane_Vallere

  Purchase Links
 CEMENT STILETTOS .


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