Say Yes To The Death by Susan McBride is the sixth book in the “Debutante Dropout” mystery series. Publisher: HarperCollins/Witness

Someone old, someone cruel

Debutante dropout Andrea Kendricks is beyond done with big hair, big gowns, and big egos—so being dragged to a high-society Texas wedding by her socialite mama, Cissy, gives her a bad case of déjà vu. As does running into her old prep-school bully, Olivia La Belle, the wedding planner, who’s graduated to berating people for a living on her reality TV show. But for all the times Andy wished her dead, nobody deserves Olivia’s fate: lying in a pool of blood, a cake knife in her throat—but did the angry baker do it?

Millicent Draper, the grandmotherly owner of Millie’s Cakes, swears she’s innocent, and Andy believes her. Unfortunately, the cops don’t. Though Andy’s fiancé, lawyer Brian Malone, is handling Millie’s case, she’s determined to spring Millie herself. But where to start? “La Belle from Hell” had enemies galore. Good thing Andy has a BFF who’s a reporter— and a blue-blood mother who likes to pull strings.

I like it. This was a fun and enjoyable read that I could not put down as I had to know what happens next. I love the pacing in this story, as it felt like Andy was racing against the clock to prove her friend’s innocence which ratcheted up the mystery that was afoot with intrigued and a bit of conspiracy. The author did a great job in the telling of this tale by providing sufficient suspects with viable motives that kept me following the clues until it was down to the one who could have only done the dastardly deed. I enjoyed getting to know Andy and her friends and I especially love the dialogue and interactions between Andy and Cissy. I love how the conclusion of this book which left us with new and exciting opportunities and I can’t wait to read the next book in this engagingly entertaining series.