Review: Iced Chiffon

Summary: There’s always something to gossip about in Savannah, Georgia, and Reagan Summerside always seems to be in the middle of it. She’s busy enough running her consignment shop, The Prissy Fox, with her vivacious Auntie KiKi, but now the gossip—and the sales—are about to pick up after a gruesome discovery…

Reagan’s messy divorce has left her with nothing but a run-down Victorian and a bunch of designer clothes. Strapped for cash, Reagan makes use of the two things she has left, turning the first floor of her home into a consignment shop and filling it with the remnants of her rich-wife wardrobe.

Thanks to his cunning lawyer Walker Boone, her ex got everything else, including the Lexus—not to mention a young blond cupcake. When Reagan finds the cupcake dead in the Lexus, she’s determined to beat Boone to finding the murderer. As it turns out, the gossip fiends flooding Reagan’s shop will give her a lot more than just their unwanted clothes—they have information more precious than a vintage Louis Vuitton… -- Berkley

I've been in a bit of a reading slump lately, and I think this happens to me every year around the holidays. My mind races, and I have difficulty not only finding the time to read but also being able to concentrate on a book. So I decided to pick up a cozy called ICED CHIFFON by Duffy Brown. I figured a fun cozy might be exactly what I needed!

ICED CHIFFON is the first book in the Consignment Shop Mystery series, and it was just right to get me out of my reading slump. This novel begins with Reagan Summerside -- flat broke and desperate to keep her house after her messy divorce. She begins selling off anything she has of value including her furniture and her designer clothes. Fortunately, her "sale" enables her to start her own consignment business called The Pirssy Fox.

Reagan is still reeling from her divorce -- both her ex and his lawyer Walker Boone seemed to make out much better than she. Her ex even landed himself a young "cupcake" (as Reagan refers to her.) However, Reagan discovers the "cupcake" dead in the back of her ex's Lexus; and Reagan's ex is the prime suspect. Reagan can't afford to have him go to jail or she could lose her renovated Victorian house, so she sets out (with the help of her zany Aunt KiKi) to discover the murderer. Along the way, she finds herself caught up in a very sticky murder mystery where even her life is at risk.

I thought ICED CHIFFON was a fun read and I am so glad that I started this series at the beginning. I loved getting an understanding of Reagan , i.e. her passion towards her renovated house and the beginnings of her consignment business. Furthermore, I also learning about her relationship "issues" including the baggage with her ex as well as the tension with Walker. I actually can't wait to read the next book in this series to see what happens between Reagan and Walker. I have a feeling that there will be some sparks flying!

ICED CHIFFON takes place in Savannah, Georgia, a terrific setting; and I think the author did a great job bringing this wonderful city to life. I enjoyed her details about the stores and the restaurants, but I also liked how she described the city's inhabitants. Her actual descriptions of Savannah's natural beauty -- the trees, flowers, and more -- made me desperately want to visit this historic city.

As far as mysteries go, I thought ICED CHIFFON had a pretty good one. I appreciated how the author had Reagan and her Aunt Kiki go through all of the suspects and motives, and then clear them one-by-one. I am a relatively organized thinker and had no issues with keeping all of the potential suspects and their relationships straight.

Overall, I do recommend ICED CHIFFON for fans of cozies. It has an especially beautiful setting and a likable main character in Reagan. Plus, there are lots of references to designer clothes!

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this book.

Mystery Mondays is a regular feature where I review all types of mystery books -- traditional mysteries, suspense/thrillers, and even cozies! Please feel free to share your thoughts on any recent mystery books that you've read.