Lori C. (dollycas) reviewed Dead Men Don't Decorate (Old Town Antiques, Bk 1) on + 639 more book reviews
Dollycas's Thoughts
History meets mystery in Dead Men Don't Decorate when antique store Waited4You gets a new owner. Camile Benson's parents were the original owners of the store and she is thrilled to get it back into the family's hands. The other merchants around town are thrilled that they will no longer be subjected to "the meanest man in Marthasville", Roberto Fratelli's, tirades.
While celebrating her purchase, Camille's best friend Opal shares that she found a letter that looks to have been sent to George Washington by Sally Fairfax in 1756 while at the store. She didn't want to draw attention to the potentially valuable piece until the previous owner was off the premises. Excited they decide to return right away but the previous owner was still there . . . dead on the floor . . . and the letter was long gone.
Now as Camille updates the store to her vision she has to worry about a killer and a missing letter. Was the letter really from 1756? Is that why Roberto was killed? Could she be next?
_______
Ms. Abbott has introduced a strong cast of core characters. Dr. Camille Benson is a 55-year-old art history teacher at Northern Virginia Community College who is ready for a change. She has always had a flair for decorating and grew up with her parents running an antique store Waited4You. Finding out her parent's store was again up for sale now seems like perfect timing. Her "wing woman" Opal Wells is excited about Camille's new venture and is willing to do anything she can to help her. She is also quirky and crazy which makes her a fun character. Camille's son Paul, a lawyer, was just elected Mayor and is always nearby when she needs him. We also meet Brennan Adler, the landlord of the Waited4You building. With the murder, we meet commonwealth attorney Janie Fairfax, Chief Harrod, and his son Nick. Our protagonist also has two schnauzer pups, Morris and Stickley and there is a collie pup named Rizzoli in the story too. The author has caught the small-town feel in both her characters and the way she describes Marthasville, Virginia. Everyone knows everyone's business.
I enjoyed the way the author plotted out the mysteries in this book. Camille has the knowledge and a great instinct for thinking clues and actions through. She shares theories and finds with the police immediately, for the most part, sometimes ruffling a few feathers. A motive for the murder was a little all over the place which made me a little crazy but Camille kept at it. When clues started to fall in place more than one person was in the wrong place at the wrong time setting up an exciting and scary conclusion. Camille really had to think on her feet. I loved that a canine character played an integral part.
I do enjoy the antique store theme of this series. That Camille is able to take over the shop formerly owned by her parents is a nice touch.
Dead Men Don't Decorate has engaging characters I want to get to know better and intriguing mysteries set in an interesting small town. Cordy Abbott has put forth an entertaining debut for her Old Town Antique Mystery Series. I am curious to see what she has in store for her characters next.
History meets mystery in Dead Men Don't Decorate when antique store Waited4You gets a new owner. Camile Benson's parents were the original owners of the store and she is thrilled to get it back into the family's hands. The other merchants around town are thrilled that they will no longer be subjected to "the meanest man in Marthasville", Roberto Fratelli's, tirades.
While celebrating her purchase, Camille's best friend Opal shares that she found a letter that looks to have been sent to George Washington by Sally Fairfax in 1756 while at the store. She didn't want to draw attention to the potentially valuable piece until the previous owner was off the premises. Excited they decide to return right away but the previous owner was still there . . . dead on the floor . . . and the letter was long gone.
Now as Camille updates the store to her vision she has to worry about a killer and a missing letter. Was the letter really from 1756? Is that why Roberto was killed? Could she be next?
_______
Ms. Abbott has introduced a strong cast of core characters. Dr. Camille Benson is a 55-year-old art history teacher at Northern Virginia Community College who is ready for a change. She has always had a flair for decorating and grew up with her parents running an antique store Waited4You. Finding out her parent's store was again up for sale now seems like perfect timing. Her "wing woman" Opal Wells is excited about Camille's new venture and is willing to do anything she can to help her. She is also quirky and crazy which makes her a fun character. Camille's son Paul, a lawyer, was just elected Mayor and is always nearby when she needs him. We also meet Brennan Adler, the landlord of the Waited4You building. With the murder, we meet commonwealth attorney Janie Fairfax, Chief Harrod, and his son Nick. Our protagonist also has two schnauzer pups, Morris and Stickley and there is a collie pup named Rizzoli in the story too. The author has caught the small-town feel in both her characters and the way she describes Marthasville, Virginia. Everyone knows everyone's business.
I enjoyed the way the author plotted out the mysteries in this book. Camille has the knowledge and a great instinct for thinking clues and actions through. She shares theories and finds with the police immediately, for the most part, sometimes ruffling a few feathers. A motive for the murder was a little all over the place which made me a little crazy but Camille kept at it. When clues started to fall in place more than one person was in the wrong place at the wrong time setting up an exciting and scary conclusion. Camille really had to think on her feet. I loved that a canine character played an integral part.
I do enjoy the antique store theme of this series. That Camille is able to take over the shop formerly owned by her parents is a nice touch.
Dead Men Don't Decorate has engaging characters I want to get to know better and intriguing mysteries set in an interesting small town. Cordy Abbott has put forth an entertaining debut for her Old Town Antique Mystery Series. I am curious to see what she has in store for her characters next.
Dead Men Don't Decorate by Cordy Abbott is the beginning of An Old Town Antique Mysteries. I found myself struggling to get through this cozy mystery. Readers are introduced to several characters right away. It can be hard to tell the characters apart, especially with all the dialogue. I felt that some of the characterizations did not make sense. The man who is Camille's love interest seems to go back and forth between good guy and bad guy (Camille likes him and then she suspects him). I would love just one cozy mystery without romance. I would have preferred it if the story had been told in the third person instead of the first person. I like the premise of the story which has Camille Benson starting a new career in her fifties. I am pleased that the author gave us an older protagonist (someone my own age). I enjoyed the descriptions of the antiques having grown up surrounded by them plus I have two aunts in the business (though, I would prefer if Camille did not make it sound like a lecture when she talks about them). The story moves along at a slow pace (snoozeville). The detailed descriptions do not help. The mystery happens at the beginning of the book. It was obvious who would die right from the beginning. He is a man that no one liked (I am surprised anyone wanted to solve his murder). Camille happens upon helpful information that plays a part in solving the whodunit. There are several suspects along with a red herring or two. There are clues to help readers solve the crime. The reveal was a little long. I like that there was a complete wrap up of the crime at the end. It was interesting how antiques played a part in the mystery. I especially enjoyed the section about old paper versus new paper. The author gave us a unique setting in Washington, D.C. and the surrounding area. There are good descriptions of the area as well as the monuments. There are repetitive details such as Camille's son, Paul being the newly elected mayor (it was mentioned at least once in every chapter). I was glad when I finished Dead Men Don't Decorate. The writing style was not for me, and I really did not like any of the characters. Dead men Don't Decorate has a curious Camille, a pilfered letter, a murdered man, a surplus of suspects, sweet schnauzers, and a caught killer.
