STORY LINE:
Author Diane Vallere’s engaging character, Polyester Monroe, is back in the thick of things in San Ladron. Her knowledge of fabrics, the design industry, and her knack for ferreting out mysteries and murderers are in top form in this novel.
Poly finds herself in the middle of the annual Miss Tangorli pageant which brings in many visitors and money to San Ladron. Add in several mysteries and the murder of the pageant founder and you have a who one done it of the first order.
Come along with Poly and friends as they solve mysteries, reveal secrets, and catch a murderer.
CHARACTERS, PLOTTING, AND DEVELOPEMENT:
I love a good murder mystery and this one kept my attention as I read it straight through. Author Diane Vallere had several plots in this engaging story. She did a very skillful job of bringing all the clues, plots, and characters together. With Poly and Vaughn dancing around each other, the mystery of her friend Charlie’s life, the murder of the pageant founder, and many suspects that have motives for the murder, this book will keep you reading and wishing the story had not ended.
The secondary characters in this story are necessary to the structure of the town and the story-line and skillfully developed by Ms. Vallere. Each adds elements to the story. You will come to love or hate them as each one’s history is revealed as the story progresses.
Ms. Vallere weaves an intriguing mystery full of clues and action. Each revelation was a surprise to me, as I had not put the pieces together correctly. Add in two adorable cats, Pins and Needles, and Poly’s knowledge of fabrics, the fashion industry, her talent for investigation, the author’s descriptive writing style, and you are ready for several hours of entertainment. Ms. Vallere added in touches of humor which had me chuckling as I read.
This is a solid, well-written, and developed book. I found the pace on target for the length of the book. Her characters are portrayed with realism and San Ladron is small town U.S.A. with all its faults, secrets, and quirky residents.
RECOMMENDATION: 4 STARS
If you are looking for a solid story that is well written and will hold you interest, this book is for you. It is a clean mystery that I enjoyed from start to finish. Although, part of a series, this book is a standalone.
I received this book from Netgalley.com in return for an honest book review. Book reviews of any novel are dependent on the book review author’s opinion; all book reviews on line under my name and on my blog, are my opinion.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: BIO AND PHOTO PROVIDED BY AUTHOR
After two decades working for a top luxury retailer, Diane Vallere traded fashion accessories for acce-
ssories to murder. SILK STALKINGS, #3 in her National Bestselling and Lefty-Nominated Material Witness Mystery Series, comes out August 2, 2016. Diane is the vice president/president elect of Sisters in Crime. She also writes the Madison Night, Costume Shop, and Style & Error Mysteries. She started her own detective agency at age ten and has maintained a passion for shoes, clues, and clothes ever since.