Death of a Mad Hatter by Jenn McKinlay is the second book in the “Hat Shop” mystery series. Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime, May 2014

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.

This is another good read in this entertaining series. Jenn knows how to pull you into the story so that you are right there with the characters prodding them along in finding clues to expose a killer. Everyone is back and I love the interactions between all the characters, especially the back and forth banter. A good read and I’m looking forward for more adventures with this duo.