Shot Through Velvet by Ellen Byerrum is the seventh book in the “Crime of Fashion” mystery series. Obsidian (Penguin), February 2011
With newspapers folding across the country, fashion reporter Lacey Smithsonian’s latest story hits a little too close to home. Touring a failing Virginia velvet factory on its final day of operations, Lacey finds more than fading fabric—she finds a body. Workers nicknamed the hated manager the Blue Devil, and now he’s blue, indeed. Rumors spread that the killer is the Velvet Avenger—his calling card, a length of blue velvet ribbon. But when a ribbon appears at Lacey’s paper, it could be more than her job at stake—it could be her life.
While touring the upcoming closing of the last velvet factory in Virginia for a story she plans to write, Lacey finds the body of the man responsible, dead wrapped in blue velvet ribbon. Lacey discovers a connection between the town and the paper and when a blue velvet ribbon is sent to Lacey’s work it becomes apparent that danger may be lurking. What a great read. This was an action-filled, non-stop read from beginning to end. The list of suspects was plenty that kept me guessing and as usual, Lacey gets tangled in a couple of situations. All the gang was here from Stella the hairstylist to Damon the conspiracy theorist to the teddy bear that is Turtledove and to the lovable and handsome Vic, showing us parts of Washington DC and Virginia. The storyline on the loss of jobs, particularly factory and newspaper jobs was cleverly written and the dialogue was refreshing. This was an enjoyable read that left a smile on my face and I look forward to more escapades with Lacey and the gang.
FTC Full Disclosure – The publisher sent me a copy of this book
previously posted on the Cozy Chicks blog