Great Escapes Tour: Silk Stalkings by Diane Vallere

Silk Stalkings (A Material Witness Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Berkley (August 2, 2016)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0425270592
E-Book ASIN: B01839Q47C

Fabric shop owner Polyester Monroe can get tangled up in textiles, but it’s murder that really throws her for a loop in the latest mystery from the national bestselling author of Crushed Velvet.

The time has come for San Ladrón, California’s annual Miss Tangorli beauty pageant, and Poly has agreed to use Material Girl’s inventory of shimmery silks to create embellished gowns fit for a crown. But when millionaire Harvey Halliwell—the man who revived the city’s citrus trade with his imported tangorli tree—is found dead days before the pageant contestants are announced, something sour takes over the town.

To make matters worse, her friend, mechanic Charlie Brooks, is soon caught up in the crime, having been seen in the company of the case’s prime suspect. Now Poly’s on a mission to squeeze out the truth. But as she searches for a pattern, the killer seems intent on cutting up the evidence…

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,  Material Witness Mysteries, and the new Costume Shop Cozy Mysteries!

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,  will be out in August 2016.

The Style & Error Series features former fashion buyer turned amateur sleuth Samantha Kidd. Books in that series include DESIGNER DIRTY LAUNDRY ; BUYER, BEWARE ; THE BRIM REAPER ; and SOME LIKE IT HAUTE . (A short story, “Just Kidding ,” tells the story of how Samantha first met shoe designer Nick Taylor). Book 5, GRAND THEFT RETRO, will be out in 2016.

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 .

The new Costume Shop Cozy Mysteries feature former magician’s assistant Margo Tamblyn who has come home to run her family’s costume chop. A Disguise to Die For was released February 2, 2016 and Masking for Trouble will be released October 4. 

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

Amazon – B&N – Google Play 

FTC Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

 

My thoughts: This is one of my favorite series. I liked Poly from the first few chapters in the first book: Suede to Rest. I really enjoyed the first two installments in this series and was looking forward to this new book. I believe I mentioned before that this series is one of my go to reads for an engaging read. Silk Stalkings enforces that feeling.  

The characters are well developed and make the story interesting even without the mystery. The budding romances between Poly and Vaughn and Charlie and Clark add a nice touch to the story without overpowering the mystery.  

As for the mystery, there were plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader engaged until the end. Maybe I’m off my game (I generally figure out Who Dunnit before the end), but I was taken by surprise when the killer was revealed.  

It was nice to learn more about Charlie’s life before she moved to San Ladron and to see a more human side of Vic McMicheal.  Silk Stalkings can easily by read without having read the other two mysteries in the series, but once you read it, you will find that you want to read more about the characters and will want to read the entire series.  Don’t forget to visit the tour page for a chance to win a Kindle Fire preloaded with four of Diane’s books.  Be sure to check out the other stops on the tour.

Tour Participants

August 1 – Booklady’s Booknotes – REVIEW*

August 1 – Sleuth Cafe – REVIEW 

August 2 – A Holland Reads – REVIEW *

August 2 – Kaisy Daisy’s Corner – REVIEW

August 3 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too! – REVIEW*

August 3 – Pulp and Mystery Shelf – SPOTLIGHT

August 4 – Jane Reads – REVIEW*

August 4 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT

August 5 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW*  

August 5 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT

August 6 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – REVIEW

August 7 – Shelley’s Book Case – REVIEW*

August 8 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW

August 8 – Carole’s Book Corner – SPOTLIGHT

August 9 – Queen of All She Reads – REVIEW

August 9 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – REVIEW*

August 10 – The Book’s the Thing – REVIEW*

August 10 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

August 11 – LibriAmoriMiei – REVIEW

August 11 – The Girl with Book Lungs – SPOTLIGHT

August 12 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW *

August 12 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT