Blue Moon Mystery Saloon

Quickstep to Murder

A Ballroom Dance Mystery, by Ella Barrick, Obsidian, September 2011

Stacy Graysin notices that Rafe Acosta, her ex-fiance but still co-owner of Graysin Motion studio, has been acting far from normal. He's been distracted in the studio and showing up late or completely missing his ballroom dance classes. Their relationship has been dicey since Stacy caught him in bed with another woman, but she and Rafe have pushed their tension aside in front of their clients and to participate in dance competitions.

One night Stacy hears a loud thump coming from the studio. She decides to investigate and finds Rafe dead on the ballroom floor, blood pooling around him.  Though she immediately calls 911 and explains what she heard to the police, she becomes the only suspect in the crime. The finicky homicide detective on the case doesn't consider anyone else as a potential person of interest, so now it's up to Stacy to clear her name, save her neck and protect her studio's reputation.

This is the first book in the new Ballroom Dance Mysteries by Ella Barrick and a delightful addition to the cozy mystery field. The author has filled the story with interesting characters who are far from the cozy genre stereotypes. Stacy is portrayed as an independent owner of a ballroom dance studio who hates the bookkeeping side of her business. She's impulsive, cringes at the thought of ever working in a cubicle and loves to dance. Stacy gets along great with her sister Danielle but thinks the beiges, browns and navys Dani wears all the time are boring. Graysin Motion's flamboyent, Russian-born, temporary instructor, Vitaly, is hooked on grapefruit juice and butchers the English language, but once he's on the dance floor, he transforms into a strict teacher and the dancer for which he's won top prizes all over the world. From Tav (Rafe's half-brother and the studio's new co-owner) to Phineas Drake (Stacy's atypical lawyer), the characters are fresh and funny.

Quickstep to Murder puts a new slant on cozy mysteries and reveals the behind-the-scenes preparations and intensity of ballroom dance competitions. But beware...you may yearn to lace up your dancing shoes and sign up for salsa lessons after completing this amusing book. So purchase your copy of Quickstep to Murder today and get ready to rumba! 

* The next book in the series, Dead Man Waltzing, will be released in June 2012. 

PROTAGONIST: A 29-year-old, independent, c0-owner of Graysin Motion ballroom dance studio

CRITTERS: Hoover, the Great Dane pet of a client

ACTION: Lots of dancing (nach), father trying to tackle his daughter's boyfriend, escape from a murderer

LOVE INTEREST: Rafe was, Mark thinks he is, Rafe's half-brother Tav may be

ROMANCE: Memories of being with Rafe, quick kisses on cheeks

QUIRKINESS: Congresswoman choosing dancing over House votes, a couple of octagenarian women fighting over a sixtyish male dance teacher, amusing male Russian-born instructor

INTERESTING TIDBITS: What really happens at ballroom dance competitions, the intensity of practicing for events, scenes in Old Town, Alexandria VA

FUN FACTOR: Lighthearted cozy, interesting and quirky characters

IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU MAY LIKE: Mall Cop Mysteries by Laura DiSilverio, Charlie Swift/Gigi Goldman Mysteries by Laura DiSilverio, Southern Beauty Shop Mysteries by Lila Dare, White House Gardener Mysteries by Dorothy St. James, Museum Mysteries by Sheila Connolly

 

A Killing in Antiques

A Lucy St. Elmo Antiques Mystery, by Mary Moody, Obsidian, June 2011

Brimfield Antiques Show is the biggest and best antique show around, and Lucy St. Elmo is ready for the thrill of the hunt and the lure of snagging an exceptional item for a bargain price. But her excitement is short-lived when she hears that antique picker Monty Rondo has been murdered before sunrise on opening day. Monty wasn't the most well-liked man around the antique circuit, so it could be hard to find the murderer. The police's primary suspect is Silent Bill, the master craftsman who worked for Monty, but Lucy is sure someone else committed the crime. So while she's selecting fine items for her shop, she's also picking up clues that point to the real killer. And she has to hurry, for when the Show's over, she may be too.

This is the first book in a new series and an enjoyable one, at that. Not only does one learn the ins and outs of the Brimfield Antique Show, but you also get great behind-the-scenes glimpses into the world of antiquing. Lucy is a fully drawn character who doesn't like to talk on the phone, suffers from terminal nosiness and has an issue with being short. She's married with five grown kids, is approaching 50, doesn't cook very well and enjoys the freedom of having her own business.  I liked how she prepares for Brimfield like she's getting ready for a battle she hopes she'll win and then fine tunes her schedule according to which field and booths are opening on a particular day.

Lucy's friends are well-defined and have unique character traits. Baker shares an interest in academia with Lucy's husband Hamp and a love of antiques with her. John Wilson is a curator at the Jeffries Jade Museum and a fundraiser extraordinaire. Natalie started in the business when Lucy did and has an unusual way of talking when in love. Lucy's assistant TJ, a rock star wannabe, loves old musical instruments. Coylie is a 22-year-old antique show newbie who's managing the lot where Lucy parks her van. And Silent Bill was the victim's assistant and is a superb craftsman who doesn't say much. 

A Killing in Antiques has light humor and an unusual setting. Add the several red herrings, interesting characters and a satisfying ending, and cozy mystery fans are guaranteed to enjoy this book and learn a little something about the antique business too. 

* The next book in the series, Under the Hammer, will be released in 2012.

PROTAGONIST: A 50-year-old, short, antique shop owner, married with children

ACTION: Hitting heads with flashlights and lamps

LOVE INTERESTS: Her husband Hamp and antiquing

ROMANCE: A chance to make love isn't squandered

QUIRKINESS: Lucy's Brimfield Antique Show battle gear,  Coylie's humor, Natalie's unusual language when in love

 INTERESTING TIDBITS: Brimfield Antique Show rules of etiquette, the wheeling and dealing going on at Brimfield, info on how to buy and identify antiques

FUN FACTOR: Lighthearted with intelligent humor

IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU MAY LIKE:  Antique Print Mysteries by Lea Wait, Trash 'n' Treasures Mysteries by Barbara Allan, Josie Prescott Antiques Mysteries by Jane K. Cleland, Den of Antiquity Mysteries by Tamar Myers

 

Dire Threads

A Threadville Mystery, by Janet Bolin, Berkley Prime Crime, June 2011

Willow Vanderling leaves her Big Apple job in investment counseling and moves to Elderberry Bay, PA to open In Stitches, a store selling all things embroidery. The town's other craft store owners, one of which is her best friend Haylee, are very supportive and glad that she's opened a complementary business in their "Threadville" part of town. But some long-time residents aren't as welcoming, particularly Mike Krawbach, the town's gorgeous and scheming planning commissioner. Willow vehemently opposes his plans to condemn the Victorian Gothic cottage on her property and replace it with restrooms for ATV riders. So Mike takes matters into his own hands and tries to torch the little house. Willow calls 911 after she discovers him unconscious and dying in her backyard, but when Mike dies, the town's sole policeman thinks she's guilty and refuses to consider any clues that may prove she's innocent. Willow realizes that the only way she'll stay out of jail is to track down the killer herself.

Though the story starts a little slow, it gains momentum with each chapter. It's apparent that the author knows a great deal about embroidery and other sewing crafts. She shares her knowledge with the reader in scenes where her protagonist and other craft store owners offer sewing, quilting and embroidery tips and techniques to their customers.

Dire Threads has characters galore, but Smythe Castor is one of my favorites. His bee-themed clothing and unusual source of income (a honey farm) provide some of the book's more amusing scenes. The personalities of Threadville and Elderberry Bay are sure to mature into more complex and well-rounded characters as the series continues. Fans of Miss Marple and other craft-related mysteries, especially Amanda Lee's Embroidery Mysteries, should enjoy this first book in a new mystery series.

* The next book in the series will come out in June 2012. 

PROTAGONIST: Single, 32-ish, embroidery store owner

CRITTERS: Talley-Ho and Sally-Forth, rescued one-year-old border collie-ish dogs

ACTION: Small town, slower pace

LOVE INTERESTS: Clay Fraser, owner of Fraser Construction

ROMANCE: Handshakes, flirting

QUIRKINESS: Honey farm owner who dresses like a bee, hard of hearing doctor who can really carry a tune

INTERESTING TIDBITS: Embroidery and sewing tips and techniques, little known fact about padlock keys, info on hardwoods and their use

FUN FACTOR: Lighthearted with some amusing scenes

IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU MAY LIKE: Embroidery Mysteries by Amanda Lee, Miss Marple Mysteries by Agatha Christie, Cookie Cutter Shop Mysteries by Virginia Lowell, Cardmaking Mysteries by Tim Myers and Elizabeth Bright, Victoria Square Mysteries by Lorraine Bartlett