Iced Chiffon (edition 2012)

Read for Fun/Book Club/Dewey's (Paperback)
Overall Rating: 4.50
Story Rating: 4.25
Character Rating: 4.75

First Thought When Finished: This was just too much fun! :)

Story Thoughts: What a freaking romping good time! I seriously giggled for most of Iced Chiffon. This was a case of someone hitting rock bottom and saying I am not going to put up with anymore. If that means finding the real killer to get her ex-louse of a husband out of jail so she can keep her house (the one unresolved item from their divorce) then so be it. While a little bit of it was far-fetched (aren't all cozies?), the whole thing read exactly like someone at the end of their rope. I think what I loved most about Iced Chiffon is everyone kept telling her to stop investigating on her own because it was dangerous. She didn't listen, ended up being a decent tracker of information (though not at all as sly as she thought), and that made it fun.

Character Thoughts: Holy Mackerel! The characters were the Da Bomb! I loved Reagan! She was a hard-headed pull yourself up by the bootstraps kind of gal. She was a bit of a mess (my favorite kind of cozy leading lady) but she wasn't stupid. She was a delight to follow around and her shenanigans were stuff of legends. Walker Boone *swoon*! Though there is no love story in this one (girl is still reeling from her divorce) there was a HAWT guy. One of course she hates because he is her ex-hubbies attorney who took her for all her money. I think they are going to be fun to watch in the books to come. Favorite Character: Aunt Kiki! Gotta love a little old lady that can run circles around you :)

Final Thoughts: If you want something fun for a relaxing afternoon then Iced Chiffon is for you! ( )

If you like reading about the antics of "southern belles" than you will love Iced Chiffon. Reagan is recently divorced from Hollis and still fighting to keep her house when the ex-husbands new fiance is killed, leaving Hollis at the prime suspect.

What follows is a rollicking good time. Reagan decides she needs to clear Hollis because he hasn't yet signed her house over to her, and if he goes to trial the bills will have to be paid, using her house! Reagan is a bit of a chicken and a fairly visible character who gets caught almost every time she goes into any business or house looking for clues. The dead Janelle, or Cupcake and Reagan and her beloved aunt KiKi call her, seems to have amassed an amazing number of enemies in her short time in Savannah.

With lots of local color and a group of friends, family and enemies Reagan makes for a fascinating character.

I'm looking forward to the next in the series.. ( )

Iced Chiffon finds Reagan Summerside recovering from a bad divorce in a half-restored Victorian house in Savannah with her quirky Aunt Kikki and a host of other local characters. Out of money and needing to pay taxes on the house, she decides to sell off her designer clothes now that she doesn't need them anymore and ends up opening a consignment shop. However, when her ex's new girlfriend is found dead in the trunk of his car and he is arrested for murder, Reagan finds out that she's not quite done with him yet. He was going to give her his half of the house, but now he'll need that to pay his lawyer. Reagan refuses to sell and sets out to solve the crime herself and save the legal fees.

Half the fun is watching Reagan tangle with said lawyer, who became her nemesis during her divorce proceedings. It's obvious fairly early on that he doesn't hate her half as much as she hates him. Exactly where this will go in future volumes is anyone's guess. For light fluffy Savannah fun with some murder and mayhem tossed in, this book is the way to go. Definitely recommended for fans of cozy mysteries where humor and murder go hand-in-hand. ( )

“Iced Chiffon” by Duffy Brown is part of the ‘Consignment Shop Mystery’ series and features Reagan Summerside (now that her divorce from Hollis Beaumont III is final), her Cher-quoting aunt Kiki and the infuriating lawyer Walker Boone among other quirky characters. Reagan’s efforts to support herself result in using part of her partially restored Victorian mansion (her only asset after the divorce) to off sell her designer clothes to the fashion-starved Savannah citizens of her acquaintance. The threat of losing her house due to her ex-husband’s inconsiderate incarceration for the murder of his current lover prompts Reagan to try her hand at being a private investigator. Unfortunately, Reagan might be better at planning an appropriate outfit to wear than acting as an efficient sleuth, if she lives long enough to do either.

This fun cozy mystery sets the stage for a delightful series that blends the charm of Southern life with a multitude of eccentric characters. Reagan’s self-deprecating humor and her aunt’s cheerful willingness to aid and abet her cash-strapped niece in her ill-conceived schemes keep the action moving along so artfully that one almost forgets that a murder has occurred and that there is still very real danger lurking. The myriad of mysterious characters and their gradual unmasking keeps the reader very entertained while misdirection and extraneous clues keep the villain unobtrusive yet very present. A great introduction to an undoubtedly entertaining series. ( )

Iced chiffon, a southern murder mystery was a great read. Reagan, a new consignment shop owner was in need of fast cash. After selling her fountain to a neighbor looking to seal her chances to win best yard, Reagan found herself smack in the middle of a murder investigation. Reagan must find the true killer to get her ex out of jail and to save her house. This book was filled with twists and turns and I truly enjoyed all of the characters. Aunt Kiki was a favorite character of mine. A highly recommended read.

Rating: 5

Heat Rating: sweet

Reviewed By: Rae

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