Being in charge is a weird thing. I don’t think I’ve ever been in charge of anything in my life! Mostly that’s because I grew up in my dad’s costume shop and he was always around to take care of things. But since I moved back to Proper City and took over—letting him take off for parts unknown to scope out costumes around the country—it’s been me in the driver’s seat.
Considering I’ve spent the past several years working as a magician’s assistant in Las Vegas, being in charge of Disguise DeLimit is a nice change. It was fun to unpack the masks and vampire teeth in July when they started arriving in our daily shipments. Dad made it clear that it was up to me to run the shop, and so far, so good. These next few weeks are going to be the real challenge, though, because we’re headed into Halloween. And Halloween at a Costume Shop is like Mother’s Day at a Hallmark store (except with witch hats). The key is to keep the shelves stocked and be creative enough to suggest costume ideas on the fly.
Between you and me, I didn’t actually think my dad was going to leave town during Halloween season but this is the first year since he’s owned the store that he could and I wasn’t going to stop him. And everything was fine until Paul Haverford, the developer who’s been buying up property around Proper City, dropped off the paperwork that disqualified Disguise DeLimit from participating in the annual costume contest. We’ve provided the winning costume for the past ten years. If we’re disqualified then that means Candy Girls has a chance of winning, and I can’t let that happen. It would send a message that Disguise DeLimit wasn’t as good as it used to be when my dad ran the store. It would be the end of an era!
As soon as we’re closed I’m going to go down to Paul Haverford’s office and fix this. I don’t know what I have to do to change his mind, but I’ll do whatever it takes. He’s a business man, so I’ll appeal to his business side. I’m sure I can reason with him. I mean, the man might be a little scary and intense, but if I act professionally, he’s gotta listen to me, right?
Maybe I should change out of my hobo costume first.
Masking for Trouble is the second book in the Costume Shop mystery series, published by Penguin Random House, October 2016.
Halloween brings more tricks than treats for costume shop owner Margo Tamblyn in the second in a new cozy series from the national bestselling author of the Material Witness Mysteries.
Halloween conjures up big business for Margo Tamblyn’s costume shop, Disguise DeLimit, but this year, the holiday comes knocking with serious trouble. Venture capitalist Paul Haverford plans to rezone historic downtown into a glitzy commercial area which would push out local business. Margo is set on saving her family’s store, especially after a nasty run-in with the chain-store tycoon, but after Haverford’s body is discovered during a spooky party at the derelict Alexandria Hotel, Margo finds herself dressed as the police’s prime suspect.
Anxious to clear her name, Margo begins hunting down anyone who might have wanted Haverford dead. Between all of his malicious maneuverings, the murdered mogul had buckets of people anxious to see him gone. Now, Margo will have to use every trick in the book to find a cloaked killer—before someone else winds up wearing a death shroud. . .
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About the author
After two decades working for a top luxury retailer, Diane Vallere traded fashion accessories for accessories to murder. A Disguise To Die For is the first Costume Shop Mystery. Diane is the president of Sisters in Crime, and also writes the Madison Night, Style & Error, and Lefty Award-nominated Material Witness mysteries. She started her own detective agency at age ten and has maintained a passion for shoes, clues, and clothes ever since. Connect with Diane at dianevallere.com.
All comments are welcomed.
Giveaway: Leave a comment below for your chance to win copy of Masking For Trouble, either e-book or paperback (winner’s choice). The giveaway will end October 30, 2016 at 11:59 AM EST. Good luck everyone!
I have the first book in this series. It would be amazing to get the second.
Thanks, Jody! Good luck!
I love dressing up in costume, Diane and Dru. This book will make a fine gift for a friend who was a costume designer at Catholic U. What talent and creativity, Diane!
Would love to win this & get started reading on this series.
Thank you, Doward. Good luck!
I really enjoyed the first book.
Thank you, Lynette! Good luck!
Margo certainly has a lot of work ahead to find out who wanted Haverford dead and who did kill him.
Yes she does. Good luck, Pauline!
Margo sounds like a great protagonist. I look forward to reading Masking for Trouble.
Thank you, Jeanie. Good luck!
Thanks for offering this! I would really love to win!!
Thank you, Linda! Good luck!
Can’t wait to read this series. Thank you for the chance!
Thank you, Janel. Good luck!
Costume shop is big business this time of year. Thanks for a chance to win!
You know it! Good luck, Donna!
Great Halloween treat.
Thanks, Gram. Good luck!
I can’t think of a better setting for a Halloween mystery than a costume shop. Looking forward to reading this book and the others in the series.
Thank you, Dianne! Good luck!
Costume shops during Halloween are already scary- I’d love to read this!
Sarah, I think the costume shop is the only NOT scary place in this book! Good luck!
I enjoyed the first book in the series and am looking forward to reading this new one.
Thank you, Elaine. Good luck!
This sounds like a great read. Thank you for a chance to win a copy of A Disguise To Die For!
Thank you, Peggy. This giveaway is for Masking For Trouble, book 2. Good luck!
Sounds fun. This is a cozy I can dress up for! Thanks for the chance.
Thank you, CJ. Yes! Put on your costume and read. Good luck!
Souls like a delightful cozy. Thanks.
Thank you, Elaina. Good luck!
Sounds like a great read. Love the cover!
Thank you, Rita! I love the cover too. Good luck!
This is a wonderful book, Dru Ann, and I am glad you are featuring it so close to Halloween! Lucky Margo-every day is like Halloween for her! Diane, great story (as always!) and I am looking forward to number three in the series! 🙂
Thank you, Barbara!
I love the cover. To me if I didn’t know about the author or the series, the cover would sell me. Thanks for including it on your blog and for the chance to win a copy of the book.
Thank you and good luck!
I have not read any of the Costume Shop Mysteries yet, but I definitely need to start. Masking for Trouble sounds wonderful, and I’d love to learn more about Margo. Thank you Diane and Dru for the great giveaway!
Thank you, Celia! Good luck!
Sounds like a series that I would enjoy. I’d love to win a print copy.
Thank you, Elaine! Good luck!
Sounds like a great Halloween read! Thank you for the chance to win a copy.
wfnren at aol dot com
Thank you, Wendy! Good luck!
This is a fun series.
Thanks, Annette 🙂
Sounds awesome! Want it!
Ha! Good luck, Amy!
I loved the first book, wonderful characters. Thanks for the chance to win this one.
Thank you, Debbie! Good luck!
Sounds like a great series
Thanks, Julie! Good luck!
Love this series, can’t wait to read “Masking for Trouble”. Sounds like a great Fall read.
This one sounds like a great ok!
Great book…
It’s amazing what one can find in a costume shop.
What an amazing sounding series! Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
A costume shop setting should allow for many wonderful stories.
kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com
Looks to be a most interesting read. Haven’t read any in this series yet. So hope this will be a start
Sounds like a super fun read!
Ah, the ever present evil developer. Who, we’re happy to see, gets what he deserves!
What kind of petty person disqualifies a costume shop from a Halloween contest? The systems is rigged. Rigged I tell ya! Hopefully Margo is able to clear her name AND win the contest, even if she has break a few eggs, or even better, smash a few pumpkins along the way.
I like the pumpkin on the cover!