One In A Milliner
Scarlett Parker and her British cousin, Vivian Tremont, are hard at work at Mim’s Whims—their ladies’ hat shop on London’s chic Portobello Road—to create hats for an Alice in Wonderland themed afternoon tea, a fund-raiser for a local children’s hospital. It seems like a wonderfully whimsical way to pass the hat, and Scarlett and Viv are delighted to outfit the Grisby family, the hosts who are hoping to raise enough money to name a new hospital wing after their patriarch.
Unfortunately, the Grisby heir will not live to see it—he’s been poisoned. When traces of the poison are found on the hat Scarlett and Viv made for him, the police become curiouser and curiouser about their involvement. Now the ladies need to don their thinking caps and find the tea party crasher who’s mad enough to kill at the drop of a hat…
The Mad Hatter
Scarlett is settling into her new job as the customer relations director of Mim's Whims - a beloved hat shop established by her grandmother in Notting Hill. She works alongside her cousin, Vivian, the talented heart of the milliner business. They accept a commission to create hats for an "Alice in Wonderland" tea party. While Vivian dives into the task, Scarlett continues to fight her feelings for their business manager, Harrison.
During the tea party, Scarlett discovers the family heir has been poisoned. She sets out to uncover the killer to protect the other family members with whom she has befriended. DEATH OF A MAD HATTER follows the typical cozy mystery pattern - McKinlay sets it apart with the characters and location. Scarlett is a red (headed) herring as an American bumbling through Notting Hill. She pals around with her neighbors, a photographer and dentist, who join Vivian and Harrison in teasing Scarlett for her flat delivery of puns.
(The puns reminded me of the running gag in McKinlay's Cupcake Mystery series - those characters quote movies throughout the plot).
Recommended read for fans of cozy mysteries, British culture, and designer hats.
(The puns reminded me of the running gag in McKinlay's Cupcake Mystery series - those characters quote movies throughout the plot).
Recommended read for fans of cozy mysteries, British culture, and designer hats.
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| The Mad Hatter Public Domain (link) |
I am giving away a book choice from my convention stash to one randomly selected commenter. To enter the giveaway,
1. Leave a comment about a Mad Hatter Tea Party - what hat would you wear? I'd go for something that makes me look like the Cheshire Cat!
2. Commenets are open through Saturday, February 20, 10 pm in Baltimore.
3. I'll post the winner on Sunday, February 21.
Mahalo,
Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City
Book 1 in the series ...
I think I would go all out in the hat department - wide brimmed, feathers, ribbons the whole bit - in shades of purple.
ReplyDeleteSomething that's pink
ReplyDeleteSomething big and floppy in blue or purple with a lovely bow.
ReplyDeleteladbookfan
I think I would go for a cat in the hat hat
ReplyDeleteA wide brimmed hat like they were at the Kentucky Derby.
ReplyDeleteSomething huge with lots of flowers and wide brimmed I'd go all out the whole nine yards
ReplyDeleteOh I love hats! I'd go for many styles. But I do love the Cheshire cat look. ;)
ReplyDeleteI'd go for the wide-brimmed hat with ribbons trailing off the back.
ReplyDeleteI would wear something big with lots of different colored feathers.
ReplyDeleteHats don't usually like me but I remember having a one with a wide brim when I was younger - love that hat lol.
ReplyDeletesomething pretty and sparkly that went well with my outfit - probably in blue or pink - maybe with a feather!
ReplyDeleteA big hat, like they wear at the races....probably blue or purple.
ReplyDeleteI don't know, probably the most outrageous one I could get... Huge, screaming loud colors, with big feathers.
ReplyDeleteI would wear a big floppy hat covered with flowers.
ReplyDeleteA wide brimmed purple hat with feathers
ReplyDeleteI would probably go with an outfit a bit like Alice's only add a white, wide brimmed hat with blue flowers.
ReplyDeleteSmall red and with a ribbon tied in a cute bow :)
ReplyDeleteI adore steampunk so I would wear a steampunk Alice in Wonderland outfit. Oh how fun that would be to sit and have tea, though I must wonder what's under my cup, for you never trust a Hatter who asks what's the matter...
ReplyDeletewith feathers
ReplyDeleteOh this series sounds so fun! I'd wear something classy and deep purple!
ReplyDeleteI bought a really cool straw hat that is navy blue from Talbots last year. It's wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI would pick a hat like the ones you see the flappers wear.
ReplyDeleteI am not a hat person but if I wore one, would be something sedate.
ReplyDeletePatty B43