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By Jenn McKinlay, author of the Library Lover's mysteries and the Cupcake Bakery mysteries, writing as Josie Belle The coupon-clipping discount divas are back in the bargain-hunting mystery series that's "more fun than a closeout sale."* Letting no good deal go undone, the Good Buy Girls are ready to pounce on the St. Stanley flea market, where wealthy Vera Madison is selling off her vintage clothing. The widow's wardrobe is just what Maggie Gerber needs to give her second-hand shop, My show more Sister's Closet, the edge over vindictive rival Summer Phillips, who's opened her own second-hand shop across the street. But when Vera is found dead, it turns out that she collected enemies like Dior gowns--and had more than a few skeletons in her walk-in closet. Now it's up to Maggie and the Good Buy Girls to sort through the racks of suspects for the killer and get back to the business of bargains... INCLUDES BARGAIN-HUNTING TIPS *National Bestselling Author Krista Davis show lessTags
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2.5**
Book two in the Good Buy Girls cozy mystery series has Maggie opening a new resale shop in her Virginia community. Of course her high school nemesis, Summer Philips, opens a rival shop directly across the street. They both head to the annual fair, hoping to snag some designer cast-offs from the town’s wealthy widow. But the fair has barely begun when Vera is found dead at Doc Franklin’s office, with Doc kneeling by her side. Who murdered Vera?
This has all the elements of a successful cozy series – a nosy heroine amateur sleuth, romantic tension, a hot police chief, a troop of loyal friends who help our heroine, and a cast of colorful local citizens who fill all the ancillary roles needed.
What lowers the rating for me is the show more rivalry between Maggie and Summer. It is SOOooo junior high and these are women in their early forties. Get a life, already. I don’t mind the years-long enmity and rivalry itself. After all, such a relationship is a trope of this genre, but the way they’re portrayed in this series is just so juvenile that it sets my teeth on edge.
Well, it won’t (and hasn’t) stop me reading them. The book is a fast read and satisfies my occasional need for some mind candy. show less
Book two in the Good Buy Girls cozy mystery series has Maggie opening a new resale shop in her Virginia community. Of course her high school nemesis, Summer Philips, opens a rival shop directly across the street. They both head to the annual fair, hoping to snag some designer cast-offs from the town’s wealthy widow. But the fair has barely begun when Vera is found dead at Doc Franklin’s office, with Doc kneeling by her side. Who murdered Vera?
This has all the elements of a successful cozy series – a nosy heroine amateur sleuth, romantic tension, a hot police chief, a troop of loyal friends who help our heroine, and a cast of colorful local citizens who fill all the ancillary roles needed.
What lowers the rating for me is the show more rivalry between Maggie and Summer. It is SOOooo junior high and these are women in their early forties. Get a life, already. I don’t mind the years-long enmity and rivalry itself. After all, such a relationship is a trope of this genre, but the way they’re portrayed in this series is just so juvenile that it sets my teeth on edge.
Well, it won’t (and hasn’t) stop me reading them. The book is a fast read and satisfies my occasional need for some mind candy. show less
Jenn McKinlay (AKA Josie Belle) is one of the few authors who compels me to read about things that don't interest me. She writes a series about hats. I could care less about hats, but I read and enjoyed Cloche and Dagger. I don't enjoy shopping and/or bargain hunting, but I really enjoy this Good Buy Girl series. The main reasons for this are McKinlay's writing style, her sense of humor, and the characters she creates.
In this series-- and this book-- two characters are standouts: Maggie Gerber and Summer Phillips, Maggie's rival. I'm tempted to say that Summer is too over-the-top, but I know women like her. Summer is guaranteed to raise blood pressure to dangerously high levels, and every time she appears on the scene, the first phrase show more that flits through my mind is "To the moon, Alice!"
Maggie on the other hand, is the best sort of friend a person could have. Yes, she's got a temper, but she knows how to stand up for herself and others, and she genuinely cares about people. She and handsome Sheriff Sam Collins strike sparks off each other each time they meet, and it's fun to watch their relationship progress.
The mystery in A Deal to Die For is a particularly good one. It twists, it turns, it doubles back on itself-- and many secrets are revealed about secondary characters along the way. There are no cardboard cutout folks in a Jenn McKinlay novel.
I may never enjoy shopping, but I certainly am looking forward to the next adventure of the Good Buy Girls. show less
In this series-- and this book-- two characters are standouts: Maggie Gerber and Summer Phillips, Maggie's rival. I'm tempted to say that Summer is too over-the-top, but I know women like her. Summer is guaranteed to raise blood pressure to dangerously high levels, and every time she appears on the scene, the first phrase show more that flits through my mind is "To the moon, Alice!"
Maggie on the other hand, is the best sort of friend a person could have. Yes, she's got a temper, but she knows how to stand up for herself and others, and she genuinely cares about people. She and handsome Sheriff Sam Collins strike sparks off each other each time they meet, and it's fun to watch their relationship progress.
The mystery in A Deal to Die For is a particularly good one. It twists, it turns, it doubles back on itself-- and many secrets are revealed about secondary characters along the way. There are no cardboard cutout folks in a Jenn McKinlay novel.
I may never enjoy shopping, but I certainly am looking forward to the next adventure of the Good Buy Girls. show less
Deal To Die For is the second book in the A Good Buy Girls Mystery series by Josie Belle. An exciting and fun read, it is.
The Good Buy Girls are all excited, well Maggie isn't really, that Maggie has taken the plunge and is getting ready to open a second hand shop. Unfortunately, Summer Phillips. Maggie's long time nemesis, has also opened a resale shop across the street.
The St. Stanley annual flea market is starting and the GBG know that Vera Madison will have a booth and that will be a good source of items for Maggie's store. Maggie heads for the doctor's office to see Vera and hopefully get the inside track on some of Vera's sale items. But on arriving there, she find Vera lying on the floor, deceased. Dr. Franklin looking distraught show more and holding a syringe. Quite naturally doc becomes a person of interest, but Maggie feels that Franklin is innocent, but wants to find out just what he is not telling.
Soon after, Courtney Madison shows up claiming to be the of Buzz Madison, Bianca's father. Maggie needs to see if Courtney's showing up is somehow involved, especially since she is trying to take over the estate and put Bianca out.
Everyone from book 1 are back and just as interesting. Summer is backing trying to best Maggie and Sam and Maggie are still enjoying baiting each other. But then Pete who own the Daily Grounds coffee shop is showing some interest in Maggie, too.
Looking forward to book 3 to see what develops with Maggie and her suitors. show less
The Good Buy Girls are all excited, well Maggie isn't really, that Maggie has taken the plunge and is getting ready to open a second hand shop. Unfortunately, Summer Phillips. Maggie's long time nemesis, has also opened a resale shop across the street.
The St. Stanley annual flea market is starting and the GBG know that Vera Madison will have a booth and that will be a good source of items for Maggie's store. Maggie heads for the doctor's office to see Vera and hopefully get the inside track on some of Vera's sale items. But on arriving there, she find Vera lying on the floor, deceased. Dr. Franklin looking distraught show more and holding a syringe. Quite naturally doc becomes a person of interest, but Maggie feels that Franklin is innocent, but wants to find out just what he is not telling.
Soon after, Courtney Madison shows up claiming to be the of Buzz Madison, Bianca's father. Maggie needs to see if Courtney's showing up is somehow involved, especially since she is trying to take over the estate and put Bianca out.
Everyone from book 1 are back and just as interesting. Summer is backing trying to best Maggie and Sam and Maggie are still enjoying baiting each other. But then Pete who own the Daily Grounds coffee shop is showing some interest in Maggie, too.
Looking forward to book 3 to see what develops with Maggie and her suitors. show less
Deal To Die For is the second book in the A Good Buy Girls Mystery series by Josie Belle. An exciting and fun read, it is.
The Good Buy Girls are all excited, well Maggie isn't really, that Maggie has taken the plunge and is getting ready to open a second hand shop. Unfortunately, Summer Phillips. Maggie's long time nemesis, has also opened a resale shop across the street.
The St. Stanley annual flea market is starting and the GBG know that Vera Madison will have a booth and that will be a good source of items for Maggie's store. Maggie heads for the doctor's office to see Vera and hopefully get the inside track on some of Vera's sale items. But on arriving there, she find Vera lying on the floor, deceased. Dr. Franklin looking show more distraught and holding a syringe. Quite naturally doc becomes a person of interest, but Maggie feels that Franklin is innocent, but wants to find out just what he is not telling.
Soon after, Courtney Madison shows up claiming to be the of Buzz Madison, Bianca's father. Maggie needs to see if Courtney's showing up is somehow involved, especially since she is trying to take over the estate and put Bianca out.
Everyone from book 1 are back and just as interesting. Summer is backing trying to best Maggie and Sam and Maggie are still enjoying baiting each other. But then Pete who own the Daily Grounds coffee shop is showing some interest in Maggie, too.
Looking forward to book 3 to see what develops with Maggie and her suitors. show less
The Good Buy Girls are all excited, well Maggie isn't really, that Maggie has taken the plunge and is getting ready to open a second hand shop. Unfortunately, Summer Phillips. Maggie's long time nemesis, has also opened a resale shop across the street.
The St. Stanley annual flea market is starting and the GBG know that Vera Madison will have a booth and that will be a good source of items for Maggie's store. Maggie heads for the doctor's office to see Vera and hopefully get the inside track on some of Vera's sale items. But on arriving there, she find Vera lying on the floor, deceased. Dr. Franklin looking show more distraught and holding a syringe. Quite naturally doc becomes a person of interest, but Maggie feels that Franklin is innocent, but wants to find out just what he is not telling.
Soon after, Courtney Madison shows up claiming to be the of Buzz Madison, Bianca's father. Maggie needs to see if Courtney's showing up is somehow involved, especially since she is trying to take over the estate and put Bianca out.
Everyone from book 1 are back and just as interesting. Summer is backing trying to best Maggie and Sam and Maggie are still enjoying baiting each other. But then Pete who own the Daily Grounds coffee shop is showing some interest in Maggie, too.
Looking forward to book 3 to see what develops with Maggie and her suitors. show less
Confessions of a Book Freak for my random thoughts
Josie Bell is a pseudonym for Jenn McKinley, currently one of the best cozy mystery writers out there. I love her two other series and it really bothers me that I can't love this one as well.
What I absolutely can't stand about this book (and series):
What kept me reading this book in spite of the above:
What I absolutely can't stand about this book (and series):
Maggie acts about as immature as is possible around Sam her high school sweetheart. It's screamingly obvious that he's crazy about her and she insists on acting like a stupid shrew during just about every encounter with him. It's annoying, not entertaining or endearing.show more
Summer - This character is just too stupid, too over the top, and too outrageous to be believable or entertaining. She's ridiculous and nobody actually acts like this over the age of 6. Why writers suddenly feel it's necessary
to work a nemesis into every story/series is a mystery in and of itself, but if they have to do it, they could do it in a realistically humorous fashion, not in such an overblown characiture-ish fashion.
What kept me reading this book in spite of the above:
I genuinely like most of the characters: Sam, Ginger, Max, even Maggie when she's not acting like a stupid shrew. I like the premise of the story and I like reading about Maggie getting her business up and running.show less
The mystery was a good one - I am pretty good at guessing the murderer most of the time, but this plot had a good number of suspects, red herrings, clues-that-weren't and distractions aplenty. I still guessed a few things, but not at all with any certainty, I was totally prepared to be wrong.
And last, but not least, I kept reading because I know this author is capable of writing absolutely excellent mysteries and I know it's in there somewhere. This book, like her first in this series [b:50% Off Murder|11511533|50% Off Murder|Josie Belle|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1325915223s/11511533.jpg|16447607], started off weak but got better as the story went along - Maggie calmed down and acted like a mature adult, her interactions with Sam took on a maturity and allowed a spark or sexual tension to show through - which really, it's what we're all looking for yes? - and become an enjoyable, engrossing read.
So, would I recommend this book? Meh. Maybe. With caveats. It does get much better as it goes. But I want her next book to be excellent from the start, like the other books this author writes. I'll be looking for it when it's published, with fingers crossed.
Sep 20, 2014Piratical
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- A Deal to Die For
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