Before bride-to-be Reagan Summerside can tie the knot, she must first untangle a web of mysterious retirement home murders—and prove her neighbors are innocent There are two social functions in Savannah guaranteed to get people talking: weddings and funerals. And just as consignment shop owner Reagan Summerside agrees to marry the hunky Walker Boone, her neighbors, sisters Annie Fritz and Elsie … Fritz and Elsie Abbot, step up their business as professional mourners. They are so successful that the Sleepy Pines Retirement Center has hired them as a part of their retirement package. But the celebration over good business is cut short when the residents at Pines suddenly begin dying at an alarming rate. And the sisters are the first suspects.
Reagan has her doubts, however, and begins to look into the strange phenomenon. But then something even stranger happens: a body winds up in the sisters’ pink Caddy. The evidence begins to pile up and the suspicious case of Willie Fishbine, who swindled the sisters out of a fortune and coincidentally died prior to the Pines case, is reopened.
Not wanting Willie to be buried until they can find the killer responsible for the murders, Reagan must catch the culprit in time to walk down the aisle. Witty, fabulous, and full of charm, Lethal in Old Lace is perfect for fans of Ellery Adams and Jenn McKinlay.
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I loved it! Fun Cozy.
Loved it
I
LETHAL IN OLD LACE by Duffy Brown
The Fifth Consignment Shop Mystery
Finally, everything is going right for Reagan Summerside. Not only has hunky Walker Boone been cleared of any wrong doing-he actually proposed…marriage…to her! Add to the thrill of being engaged, customers are finally returning to the Prissy Fox. All is right with the world. Except for the dead body…which keeps disappearing! And the fact that Auntie Kiki stole from a dead man…and is being blackmailed by the man’s grandson. Did I say everything was going right?
Reagan Summerside is back in another outrageously funny Consignment Shop mystery. As always there is laugh out loud humor, memorable characters, and nonstop action. From wedding planning to wake attending, with interesting transportation choices, and a retirement home with the nickname Sexy Pines, Reagan deals with it all with pluck, determination, and a little help from her friends.
LETHAL IN OLD LACE is all about love, acceptance, and loyalty. It’s about doing all you can to help those you love and accepting them, faults and all, for who they really are. That’s truly a great lesson. It’s also endlessly entertaining and will leave you with a smile on your face long after you finish reading. And you’ll never look at a Snickers bar the same way again.
So grab your martini and settle in for a fun time in Savannah. Don’t know how to make a martini? Never fear Auntie Kiki shares several drink recipes at the end of the book.
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a digital ARC provided through NetGalley, in the hopes I would review it.
Lethal in Old Lace is the anxiously awaited, new release in Duffy Brown’s Consignment Shop Mysteries. I’ll openly acknowledge that I don’t read this series for the intriguing, deep mysteries. This is good think because the mystery woven throughout this book is as implausible as they come. Literally. I could tell you who the murderer was but have forgotten why and how the crime was carried out since I enjoy Ms. Brown’s books for their humor and great, quirky characters and the convoluted mystery plot which, combined, gave overall enjoyment of the book. This series of books is one of my favorite Southern cozy mysteries. Envision the protagonist, Reagan Summerside, her mother Judge Gloria, Aunt Kiki, and a host of supporting cast members such as they strive to steal a casket with a corpse from the funeral home and hide it. Add a swindler, another corpse and an undercover nursing home residency and chaos ensues. The characters will keep you in stitches with their antics and draw you into their lives and families. I love the characters in this series and want Mr. Brown to continue writing about these people forever. The dead bodies keep turning up and Reagan, family and friends continue to solve the cases with their southern charm and humor. The loveable rescue dog, Bruce Willis, makes this cozy complete.
There is so much about Duffy Brown’s books that I love! This is one of her best. And I have read almost all of them. The plot in Lethal in Old Lace is intricate and well woven around familiar and newly added characters. What I love best about her works and what keeps me coming back again and again is the humor! She simply makes me laugh out loud and I see myself caught in the crosshairs of such similar outrageous stumbling antics. I always finish one of her books wishing there was just one more. Laughter, it’s said, is the best medicine. And there’s lots of evidence that laughter does lots of good things for us. Laughter establishes a sense of connection between people, or in this book, a connection between the written words and the reader. The best laugh is one that brings tears to our eyes and this book will bring tears to your eyes! All of Duffy Brown’s books are like visiting entertaining, eccentric, and lovable friends. I would recommend this book (and series) to anyone looking for a nice break from reality and some fun family dynamics and drama! 🙂 I always finish one of her books wishing there was just one more.
Disclosure: Many thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for a copy for review. I have provided an unbiased and honest review. The opinions expressed are my own.
I was provided with an ARC of this book in exchange for a true and honest review. Duffy Brown was a new to me author and now I absolutely adore her writing! Some mysteries can take on a dark side although, Duffy’s cozy, “Lethal in Old Lace” was very entertaining and enjoyable. I felt myself transported to Savannah. I found many suspects, comical moments, and well-developed characters.
This is the fifth book in the series and I did not feel lost at all. I found the mystery delightfully charming. I will be sure to go back and start this story from the beginning as it will surely become a favorite series of mine.
4.5 stars
Fun addition to the series and so great to see Reagan’s relationship with Walker Boone deepening. Full of the usual hijinks that she inexplicably gets embroiled in, with an awfully mobile corpse or two! My favorite in this series thus far.
Reagan and Walker are engaged. Their wedding needs to be planned in the charming southern town of Savannah. Walker has finally been cleared of murder, but now the seniors in Sleepy Pines Retirement Home are dying.
Elsie and Annie Fritz are the prime suspects when the police find a body buried in their garden.
Funny, laugh out loud, twists and turns that kept me wanting to turn the pages in this wonderfully written book.
Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read this book.