This is a disaster. And I’m not talking about a disaster like the time Maynard—my boss in Las Vegas—lost control of the doves during his magic routine and one of them pooped on a lady’s hair from the rafters, either. I’m talking about a real disaster. If I can’t turn things around, Ebony might go to jail. And since Ebony is the closest thing I have to a mother, I can’t let that happen.
I tend to get mixed up sometimes, so let me back up. A couple of days ago, Blitz Manners came into Disguise DeLimit—my family’s costume shop—and threw a bunch of money around. Seems he wanted Ebony—who runs Shindig Party Planning–to put together his birthday party on short notice, and us to make forty costumes for the guests. (I know it sounds strange to some people, but here in Proper City, Nevada, we tend to dress up in costume for almost any occasion. Makes living in the desert a little less boring!)
The high paying/last minute job wouldn’t have been so terrible if Blitz had wanted the cast of The Wizard of Oz because we could have rented our existing set of costumes and then turned our Planet of the Apes suits into flying monkeys, but noooo. He wanted a detective themed party. So we pulled it off—and by we, I mean me, because my dad just had a heart attack and I don’t care if we do need the money, I’m not going to let the whims of a spoiled rich kid affect my dad’s recovery! But now I think it would have been better off if I’d said no and walked away. Because if I turned down the job, then Ebony would have too. Which means I never would have walked in on her holding a carving knife while standing over Blitz’s dead body, dressed in a Sherlock Holmes costume designed by my dad.
Before you start to think what everybody else thinks, let me be clear: Ebony didn’t do it.
Ebony is fierce and feisty and fabulous, but she’s not a murderer. If Ebony got mad at Blitz, the worst thing she would have done was tell him to quit whining and act like an adult. He was turning twenty-six. I mean come on. Taylor Swift is twenty-six and she can hold her own on stage with Mick Jagger! I don’t mean to speak ill of the dead, but Blitz used some kind of emotional blackmail to get Ebony to take the job, and now, thanks to me and my mad costume-making skills, thirty-nine party guests in detective costumes are pointing the finger at Ebony and saying she’s guilty. And the worst part of it all is that she left town, which makes it look like everybody is right in suspecting her.
Why would she leave town? Why won’t she tell me about the connection between her and Blitz’s family? Why aren’t the police looking for other suspects? Like I said, it’s a disaster.
So now, I have only a couple of days to find Ebony, take care of my dad, keep my cat from leaving dead mice in the stockroom, and solve Blitz’s murder before Magic Maynard expects me back at work. To be honest, I wish I’d swiped Maynard’s magic wand before leaving Las Vegas, because I’m pretty sure I’m going to need to pull a rabbit out of a hat. Actually, forget the magic wand. I wish I’d swiped his hat!
A Disguise To Die For is the first book in the NEW Costume Shop mystery series, published by Berkley Prime Crime, February 2016.
Someone is dressed to kill in the debut Costume Shop Mystery from the national bestselling author of the Material Witness mysteries.
No sooner does former magician’s assistant Margo Tamblyn return home to Proper City, Nevada, to run Disguise DeLimit, her family’s costume shop, than she gets her first big order. Wealthy nuisance Blitz Manners needs forty costumes for a detective-themed birthday bash. As for Blitz himself, his Sherlock Holmes is to die for—literally—when, in the middle of the festivities, Margo’s friend and party planner Ebony Welles is caught brandishing a carving knife over a very dead Blitz.
For Margo, clearing Ebony’s name is anything but elementary, especially after Ebony flees town. Now Margo is left to play real-life detective in a town full of masked motives, cloaked secrets, and veiled vendettas. But as she soon learns, even a killer disguise can’t hide a murderer in plain sight for long.
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All comments are welcomed.
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 vice 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. Visit Diane at www.dianevallere.com, on Twitter, Pinterest and on Facebook.
Giveaway: Leave comment below for your chance to win a print copy of A Disguise To Die For. US entries only, please. The giveaway will end February 9, 2016 at 12 AM EST. Good luck everyone!
Yes please Dru, I’d like to enter to win this book. One summer many centuries ago I attended sleepaway camp. One of the counselors took ill and was replaced with a travelling magician. I was one of four who took the magician’s oath and learned every trick in his trunk..
Hi Nora Adrienne, that sounds like a lot of fun! Good luck!
Sounds like lfun and I love the play one words with that name of the shop. Delightfully corney!
Hi Jeanie, Corny runs in my family, I think! Good luck!
Ooh, I love the name Disguise DeLimit! I want to read all about this party & find out Ebony’s story. Thanks, Dru, for bringing us another marvelous author & series. Thanks, Diane Vallere, for the chance in the giveaway.
Hi KT, You’re welcome and good luck!
Another great review. Love this author and can’t wait to read this new series. Thank you for the chance to win.
Thank you, Doward! Good luck!
Sounds like a delightful read. Thank you for the chance to win.
myrifraf(at)gmail(dot)com
Hi Jen, Good luck!
Sounds like Diane Vallere has another winner. And is there any better name for a costume shop than Disguise Delimit??
Thank you, Amreade! (Disguise DeLimit makes me giggle). Good luck!
Got two of her other books that I am starting Valentines weekend . Love the chance to read this one two. Thanks for the chance.
Hi Lady Janel, good luck!
This story sounds like great fun! Can’t wait to read! Thanks for the chance to win a copy!
Thank you, Shelly! Good luck!
Great name for a costume shop! Thanks for a chance to enter.
Thank you, Donna! Good luck!
Disguise DeLimit Sounds like a delightful read. Thank you for the chance to win.
Thank you, Peggy! Good luck!
This book sounds great. I’m “dying” to read it! Thankyou for the opportunity!
Thanks, Jill! Good luck!
This sounds like another great cozy, thank you for the chance to win a copy.
wfnren at aol dot com
Thank you, Wendy! Good luck!
What fun!!!
Thank you, Gram!
Sounds like a fun read. Thanks for a chance to win it.
Thanks, Rosie! Good luck!
What a delightful cozy and wonderful giveaway which I would enjoy greatly. Thanks.
Thank you, Ellie! Good luck!
What a wonderful setting for a mystery to be written about. Thanks for the review. robeader53@yahoo.com
Thank you, Robeader! Good luck!
Sounds great and I love the idea of a costume shop…add a feisty character or at least she sounds it and I definitely want to read it. Thanks for the contest. Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com
Thank you, Marilyn! Good luck!
I have been waiting for this book to be published! I love the idea of a costume shop and I love their name. Diane is such a good author, it is sure to be a great book! 🙂 Thanks Dru for featuring the book today. Thanks Diane for your generosity and a chance to win a copy!
Thank you, Barbara!! Good luck!
Love that cover. And if I start to snicker just reading the description, I know I will love this. Thanks for the giveaway.
Thanks, Sally! Snickering is encouraged!
Sounds like a great read.
Hi Rita, Good luck!
A new author for me. I am anxious to try this book.
Nice to “meet” you, CJ! Good luck!
This sounds fun and I love a fun read. I mean really, Disguise Delimit, Love It! Adding it to my tbr list. Thanks for a chance to win.
Thank you, Debbie! Good luck!
Can’t wait to read this — love the character’s name!
And Margo loves yours! Good luck!
Sounds like a great book to add to my cozy challenge list. Thanks for a chance to win a copy.
Thank you, Elaine! Good luck!
Fantastic, Diane. Made me laugh out loud at the end. Yep, always go for the hat. Looking forward to a fun read.
Kait, if i made you laugh out loud, I did something right! xoxo
The party does sound like a great idea. Too bad the person of honor turned out to be a party pooper
Agreed, Libby! Good luck!
Love 1st in series books and sound slike a great new series,
Good luck, Betty!
I loved the interview, Dru! This books is going to be a fun read. Thanks for the giveaway.
Good luck, JoAn!
I love the name Disguise DeLimit! Happy Release Day!
Celia, me too : ) Thank you, and good luck!
Costume parties! Halloween, birthdays, even an end-of-the year staff party…I love them. Although I always went the scavenger hunt design rather then rent, I remember some great ones…1920s Flapper using grandma’s clothes, football ref using my dad’s, chef using a friend’s, and my favorite…Count Dracula’s wife. I went all out on that one: sewing, sequining, even mixing my own blood. I am excited to be given the opportunity to get in on the ground floor of an exciting new series. Thanks, Dru! Thanks, Diane!
Kathleen, I had to read “mixing my own blood” twice before I knew what you meant! Funny, having a mystery mind… Good luck!
I really enjoy Ms. Vallere’s other series–I know I will love this one, too! Thanks for the chance to win a copy of A Disguise to Die For.
Thank you, Linda! Good luck!
I love this author’s Maddison Night, mad for Mod Mystery series. I look forward to reading this new series.
Thanks, Annette! Madison & Co are taking a breather, but they’ll be back! Good luck!
Sounds like an exciting book! I look forward to reading this series!
Thanks, Mary Jane! Good luck!
Great author, love her books. Thanks for the giveaway.
Thank you, Patty! Good luck!
Sounds like a great book and start of a greats.
Thank you, Vicki! Good luck!
I have yet to read a Diane Vallere mystery that I don’t love!
Aw, thanks, Barb! Good luck!
This books sounds like a great read. I don’t know how you came up with a costume shop for the setting, but it sounds intriguing. Can’t wait to read. Great giveaway, thanks.
Thanks, Dianne! I was telling a story about making a costume for my teddy bear and my agent suggested the idea. Good luck!
Sounds like a fun book.
Hi Mary, Good luck!
I’ve been looking forward to this book. Thanks for the chance to win a copy and the great posts!
Thank you, Laura! Good luck!
I have read your other series so I am looking forword to this new one. Congrats
Thanks so much, Kari! Good luck!
Oh how I love, love, love the cute cover on this new book!!! I just love how the cute kitty is laying in the nightstand and the cute doggy is looking at it! I can tell this is definitely my kind of awesome book to read….so excited and can’t wait!!! I love all of Diane Vallere books so know this one will be so exciting too! Thanks much for the chance to win!
Thank you, Beverly! The good cover spirits were watching out for me on this book!
I love the idea of a costume party where everyone is dressed as detectives. I’m looking forward to reading this.
Hi Rochf- it was definitely fun to make up a detective themed costume party!
I’ve loved everything I’ve read of Diane’s in the past and I can’t wait to get to read this. It sounds so awesome! Thanks for the chance to win.
Sounds good. I like the idea of the person in the Sherlock outfit.