Cloche and Dagger

Scarlett is so enjoyable! The reason she has run to Portobello Road is funny, but reasonable. Her background in hospitality makes her work in the store seem like a logical fit. Harrison is wonderful and their relationship is moving along at a wonderfully slow pace. Viv not being there for most of the book was a great way to introduce Scarlett to everything in the store and provided a wonderful clue in the mystery. The solution to the mystery makes sense and the clues were obvious looking back on it. This is an amazing first book in the series and a wonderful mystery.

I read this for the Cozy Mystery Book Club and enjoyed it a lot! The characters are warm and very quippy, the setting is interesting, and there's an intriguing touch of the paranormal.

Personally, I love Jenn McKinlay's books–and honestly would prefer the library series over this one. This book was laugh-out-loud funny, for sure, but some of the main characters were (lovably) unpredictable and zany . . . so steady, cozy me was sometimes left thinking “what on earth? why would you do that?” xD So I personally am more at home with the characters in some of her other series. Again though, this one is still very enjoyable, and fearures an absolutely lovely community!