Book Review: Copy Cap Murder by Jenn McKinlay (Hat Shop Mysteries #4)

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Great characters and a twisty mystery

Cons: All cons are hiding under a cap

The Bottom Line:

Body at party

Cousins must crack case again

Delightful and fun

That’s Not a Straw Man Set to Be Burned

After the cliffhanger at the end of the third Hat Shop Mystery, I was counting the months until I could start reading Copy Cap Murder and find out what happens next to cousins Scarlett Parker and Vivian Termont.  I am pleased to say that the wait was well worth it.  In fact, this might be my favorite in the series to date.

If you have missed this series from the prolific Jenn McKinlay, it follows cousins Scarlett and Vivian who run the Mim’s Whims, the hat shop they inherited from their grandmother.  Oh, and have I mentioned that the shop is in London?  Yes, we got a bombshell in the last page of the last book, but don’t worry if you haven’t read that book, I won’t be spoiling it.

In fact, as this book opens, Scarlett is focusing on something different.  Their friend Harrison Wentworth has invited them and their friends to the lavish Bonfire Party his boss throws every year on Guy Fawkes Day.  Everyone is looking forward to it, especially Scarlett, who is only eight months into her year of non-dating.  This gives her a great excuse to spend time with Harrison even if it isn’t a date.

However, the party hits a sour note when Scarlett is hit on by Harrison’s office rival Win.  In fact, Harrison and Win have a long, bitter history, and Scarlett is caught in the middle.  When the time comes to burn the straw effigy of Guy Fawkes into the fire, the crowd discovers that it is really Win’s dead body.  Naturally, suspicion points to Harrison.  Scarlett can’t let her future boyfriend take the fall, so she begins to investigate.  But can she find the killer?

The book starts off quickly, and the pace never lags.  Win was not a well-liked guy (which is fairly normal for these murder mysteries), so the list of suspects is long.  Some of the twists caught me completely off guard, yet the solution was logical.  And that climax!  I’m not completely sure I buy the timing of one element, but I’m turning the over analytical part of my brain off because it was completely wonderful - plenty of action and suspense along with a real character moment or two.

The core cast of characters are all here, and they are all as strong as ever.  I love watching them interact and tease each other along the way as some of the series threads continue to grow over the course of this book.  I’m also enjoying watching Scarlett and Harrison develop a relationship that isn’t dating.  It’s something different for a cozy series, although I hope it doesn’t lead to further complications when the final four months are up of Scarlett’s year of non-dating.

Of course, we get a strong array of new suspects in this book as well, and they are all just as great as the regular characters, which helps keep us guessing as we go along.

I like to space out an author so I don’t burn out on their plot tricks or writing style.  The fact that I’ve now read three Jenn McKinlay books in three months and have loved them all says a lot about her writing ability.

So set your sites on London for another wonderful read.  Copy Cap Murder will draw you in and leave you anxious for Scarlett and Vivian’s next wonderful adventure.

If you haven't started the series, you'll definitely want to read the Hat Shop Mysteries in order.

NOTE: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Giveaway!

Thanks to the publisher, I have one copy of this book to give away.  Because it is a physical book, the contest is limited to residence of the US.

Just leave me a comment with your e-mail address so I can get in touch with you if you win.  I will pick the winner next Tuesday, January 19th, so please leave your comment before 12:01AM Pacific Time on 1/18.  You will have until midnight on 1/24 to get back to me, or I will choose a new winner on 1/25.