A Secondhand Murder by Lesley A. Diehl ~ Partners In Crime Tour with review

A Secondhand Murder

by Lesley Diehl

on Tour October 1 - November 30, 2013

Book Details:

Genre: Cozy Mystery Published by: Camel Press Publication Date: 9/15/2013 Number of Pages: 260 ISBN: 978-1-60381-935-0 Purchase Links:

Synopsis:

Spunky and outspoken Eve Appel moves from Connecticut to rural Florida intent on starting a new life, free of drama, and more importantly, her soon-to-be ex-husband. The rural Florida town of Sabal Bay, situated only an hour from West Palm, proves to be the perfect spot for her consignment store. Thanks to the recent economic downturn, Florida’s society matrons need a place to discreetly sell their stuff and pick up expensive-looking bargains. But Eve’s life, and her business with it, is turned upside down when a wealthy customer is found stabbed to death in a fitting room. As accusations fly and business slows, Eve decides to take things into her own hands. With the help of an unlikely bunch of friends—including her estranged ex, her best friend, a handsome private eye, and a charming mafia don—she struggles to find answers and save lives. Through a maze of distorted half-truths, dramatic cover-ups, and unrequited passions, Eve learns just how far the wealthy will go to regain what they have lost. A Secondhand Murder is Book 1 of the Eve Appel Mysteries Series.

My take on this book:
What a great beginning for this fun new series! How could I not be hooked when there is a murder on the first page! 
Barely in Florida for three months Eve Appel finds herself opening an upscale consignment shop with her friend Madeleine  The consignments for Second To None come from the formerly wealthy who are now the down and outs after the Bernie Madoff scandal. When the cops show up during the grand opening well you gotta wonder if that's gonna be good for business! Turns out theres been a murder in the dressing room, and the victim was murdered with a knife from a set that the shop took on consignment! When Eve becomes one of the prime suspects it's going to take the help of her friends to figure out who the guilty culprit really is!

A fast paced, cozy mystery where the author certainly knows how to turn a phrase, making this a visually stimulating, roller coaster ride of a read! I felt like the main character Eve was certainly unique, after all her husband Jerry is back home in Connecticut, but I got the feeling from the beginning that he wasn't gonna be her husband for long! Eve was a strong, yet quirky character who often got herself into some sticky situations. The word quirky would actually describe most of the cast in this story. I found best friend Madeleine, to be just klutzy enough to seem very real. Ms. Diehl does provide a few clues as to who the murderer might be but honestly she kept me guessing right till the end. Fans of fast paced cozies with top notch characters and a mystery that isn't the easiest to solve will certainly enjoy this one. As a fan of cozy mysteries Ms. Diehl is going to the top of my list as a must read author! I loved this story and can't wait to read the next book in the Eve Appel Mystery Series!

Read an excerpt:

It was still early so I strode back into the restaurant, indicated to the hostess I wanted a booth and ordered the breakfast buffet. Anger paired with disbelief gave me a hearty appetite. Returning to my booth after loading my plate with eggs, bacon, pancakes, pastries and a slice of toast, I noticed someone had joined me for breakfast. He was seated with his back to me as I approached the booth but I recognized the sun-streaked hair curling over his collar. My favorite PI. I almost dropped my plate. “Hi.” I tried for nonchalant but sounded more like a hormone-addled teenager. “Saw you come in. I guess you had an early morning chitchat with the local gendarmes.” “To be continued this afternoon at the station.” “Fingerprints?” He stirred a packet of sugar into his coffee. “Nope.” The tingle in my tummy was more than simple hunger for food. I tried to satisfy it by stuffing a large forkful of pancake into my mouth. I nodded and swallowed. “Like anyone would be dumb enough to leave their prints.” “Certainly, we know you’re smart.” “I had no reason to kill Mrs. Sanders. That would be like killing the golden goose.” “You didn’t like her very much, did you?” I dropped my fork on the plate. “What do you mean? I hardly knew the woman.” “So you say, but my sources indicate that’s not the whole story.” He stared at me. Last night I thought those azure eyes looked inviting. Now they looked more like ice. He smiled. “You said you were investigating Mrs. Sanders. Sounds like you’re trying to nose into my affairs. Why?” “Don’t get mad. I’m not accusing you of murder, you know.” He took a sip of coffee. “I’m not mad.” I was a little miffed, peeved even, but not really mad. Okay, I was mad. “Oh yes you are, and when you get angry, you stick your chin out and turn your head ever so slightly to the right. Your cheek twitches, probably from clenching your teeth. Did you know that?” I had lost my appetite. I grabbed my purse and slid out of the booth. “I don’t recall inviting you to join me for breakfast. I just remembered I have an important appointment.” “That would be ...?” He also stood. “That would be none of your business.” I stalked out of the restaurant, then remembered as I approached my car that I had forgotten to pay my bill. Damn. Now I’d have to go back in there and face him again. I gritted my teeth, stuck out my chin and slammed through the door. He turned from the counter, credit card in hand. “Don’t worry about it. I got it. Your treat next time.” “There won’t be a next time.” I spun around and pushed open the door. By the time he reached his car, I was already starting my engine, wondering what the man knew about Mrs. Sanders and me.

Author Bio:

Lesley retired from her life as a professor of psychology and reclaimed her country roots by moving to a small cottage in the Butternut River Valley in upstate New York. In the winter she migrates to old Florida--cowboys, scrub palmetto, and open fields of grazing cattle, a place where spurs still jingle in the post office. Back north, she devotes her afternoons to writing and, when the sun sets, relaxing on the bank of her trout stream, sipping tea or a local microbrew.

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