Thursday, May 19, 2016

Aloha to Jenn McKinlay and COPY CAP MURDER (Hat Shop Mystery No. 4) - Book Review

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Reminder: I have a special giveaway for Military Appreciation Month at this link.

For Scarlett Parker, part of the fun of living in London is celebrating the British holidays, and she’s excited to share her first Bonfire Night with her cousin Vivian Tremont. Invited to a posh party by their friend Harrison Wentworth, Scarlett and Viv decide to promote their hat shop, Mim’s Whims, by donning a few of their more outrageous creations. The hats prove to be quite the conversation starters as the girls mix and mingle with the guests—never suspecting that one of them is a killer. 

It’s a cold, clear night, perfect for the British tradition of tossing a straw stuffed effigy of Guy Fawkes, traitor to the crown, onto the bonfire. But instead of a straw man, they realize in the heat of the moment that the would-be Guy Fawkes is actually Harrison’s office rival and he’s been murdered. Before the smoke has cleared, Harrison is the Metropolitan police’s prime suspect, and Scarlett and Vivian must find the real homicidal hothead before their dear friend’s life goes up in flames.


Public Domain (link)

Remember, remember, the 5th of November
The Gunpowder Treason and plot;
I see of no reason why Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.
- Traditional English rhyme

As autumn descends upon London, American expat Scarlet Parker prepares to celebrate Guy Fawkes instead of Thanksgiving. She relocated to the Notting Hill neighborhood to join her British cousin Vivian Tremont in the family business, Mim's Whim - a hat shop they both inherited from their grandmother. Vivian is the creative force behind the hat designs; Scarlet focuses on customer service, updates social media, and finds dead bodies along the way - this time, at the Guy Fawkes party. 

The gang is back to help Scarlet track down the killer - Fiona (hat shop assistant), Nick (neighbor, dentist, and partner of Andre), Andre (neighbor, photographer, and partner of Nick), and, of course, Harrison, the shop's financial advisor who is now the murder suspect. COPY CAP MURDER follows the predictable path of cozy mysteries - red herrings, family secrets, and a dramatic unveiling of the real killer.  What sets this book (and series) apart is the location - the cozy neighborhood of Notting Hill. What's not to love about the cobblestone streets, eclectic shops, and international food in the middle of London's hubbub?  Likewise, McKinlay offers quirky characters (akin to Hugh Grant's Notting Hill) who deliver humorous quips throughout the story. Indeed, COPY CAT MURDER is a comfort read for those who enjoy British culture.

I purchased COPY CAP MURDER since I enjoyed the first three books in the series.

File:(Guy Fawkes night at Chirk) (6302836170).jpg
Children prepare for Guy Fawkes Night at Chirk
Creative Commons (link)

I am giving away a book choice from my convention stash to one randomly selected commenter. To enter the giveaway,

1. In the story, Scarlett dreads missing Thanksgiving while living in London. Do you have a special Thanksgiving dish?  I make corn pudding from my mother-in-law's recipe.

2. Comments are open through Saturday, May 21, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3. I'll post the winner on Sunday, May 22.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City 

Learn more about Jenn and her books at jennmckinlay.com.

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24 comments:

  1. We don't celebrate Thanksgiving, but I love pumpkinpie :)

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  2. I actually made my homemade tacos a few years and my family loved it. Last thanksgiving my brother came down and he helped me make 3 dozen homemade tacos and homemade salsa and all the fixings to go with it. Everyone went home with leftovers and my family likes this more than turkey.

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  3. We don't celebrate thanksgiving it's just another normal day for me

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  4. No nit like mash patores
    Kimh

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  5. I enjoy all the regular Thanksgiving dishes, but we also make chicken enchiladas.

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  6. Stuffed Mushrooms.
    ladbookfan

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  7. No Thanksgiving here, but you can't go wrong with BBQ.

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  8. I don't have a special dish, but I tried pecan pie recently and it turned out well!

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  9. No but love making many things really

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  10. My favorite dish for Thanksgiving is Scalloped potatoes. It's the first dish my mom used to let me help with and to this day, I'm still the one that brings it

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  11. I love food but I do not have a special dish.

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  12. It wouldn't be Thanksgiving in our family if we didn't have our mashed potaoes mixed with equal parts of mashed turnips. So good. :)
    Carol L
    Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com

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  13. I make a special green bean dish with bacon and some spices.

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  14. I enjoy my mother-in-law's cornbread stuffing and my moms pecan pie :)

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  15. It wouldn't be Thanksgiving in our family if we didn't have our mashed potaoes mixed with equal parts of mashed turnips. So good. :)
    Carol L
    Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com

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  16. I like my dessert better, i.e. English Trifle.

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  17. It's not Thanksgiving unless we have cranberry sauce from fresh cranberries. ;-)

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  18. Apple walnut stuffing for the turkey

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  19. Sweet Potato Casserole is a favorite Thanksgiving dish (with turkey, dressing & cranberry jelly too of course).

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  20. Me too, sweet potato casserole.
    Karen T.

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  21. Green bean casserole

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  22. I make the stuffing/dressing very much as my father did, but add a few extra ingredients. Pies are always a big addition. Pumpkin of course, apple, and if time mincemeat (if I don't get it done for Thanksgiving then I make it for Christmas).

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