Cloche and Dagger

Hat Shop Mystery Series # 1

By: Jenn McKinlay

Narrated by: Karyn O'Bryant

Not only is Scarlett Parker's love life in the loo - as her British cousin Vivian Tremont would say - it's also gone viral with an embarrassing video. So when Viv suggests Scarlett leave Florida to lay low in London, she hops on the next plane across the pond. Viv is the proprietor of Mims's Whims, a ladies' hat shop on Portobello Road bequeathed to both cousins by their beloved grandmother, and she wants Scarlett to finally join her in the millinery business. But a few surprises await Scarlett in London. First, she is met at the airport not by Viv, but by her handsome business manager, Harrison Wentworth. Second, Viv - who has some whims of her own - seems to be missing. No one is too concerned about the unpredictable Viv until one of her posh clients is found dead wearing the cloche hat Viv made for her - and nothing else. Is Scarlett's cousin in trouble? Or is she in hiding?

©2013 Jennifer McKinlay Orf (P)2013 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Fancy hats and British aristocrats make this my sort of delicious cozy listen." (Rhys Bowen, author of the Royal Spyness Mysteries)

Enjoyable

I read this series a while ago and enjoyed it. When I saw it on your list had to listen to it again to see if was the same as before, it of course was. Fun listen give it a try

High Praise!

I read the other reviews and thought I would give it a go. I was immensely surprised on how much I liked it and will continue with the series. I really liked the reader as that can either make or break a story! Bravo!

New, to me, delicious find!

I realize this series has been around a while, but this audiobook was a wonderful surprise to me. Loved the story, the characters and, for once, the narration. It was such a pleasure to listen to a story where the narrator's gaffes didn't pull me out every couple sentences. Bravo Karyn O'Bryant! And bravo, Jenn McKinlay, for a delightful setting and group of characters. Just a fun experience.

I really enjoyed this book! Great narrative!

I really enjoyed this book! They narrator was excellent! I am definitely ordering the next book in the series!

Interesting plotline

I would be worried if I were invited to my sister's home and she wasn't there when I arrived, wouldn't you? That week after she arrived is curious, fun-filled and scary.

Main character immature and annoying, as was the plot.

I wish I had found a new series to like, but the main character was rather irritating, more like a petulant teenager than a thoughtful adult. I’d blame the narrator but I believe she was actually just performing her as she was written. Also, many of the plot elements were rather far fetched and the mystery was almost a side plot. Everything is resolved quickly in the last two chapters, as if the author suddenly realized she was running out of paper.

Cute, fun story

Fun story! Nothing amazing but kept my interest. Nice combination of mystery and a touch of romance. Performance was engaging.

More fun from Jenn McKinlay!

I adored the Cupcake series, and am having as much fun with the Hat Shop Mysteries!
One thing that sort of bothered my at first was that the narrator seemed... lugubrious. I don't know if it was the recording... but, once I started playing the book at 1.25 speed, the reading picked up and was as spritely and delightful as I expected.
I am looking forward to the next series after I finish this one... and the one after that!

A mysterious hat shop thrill...

Drama, thrills, cake, smashing, love, hats, murder, cousins, feathers, cops n robbers n killers. FUN.

Cute.

This was a cute story. The narrator kinda sounded flat though. She read the way I would expect an elementary school teacher would. I wish the author would have developed more romance between Harry and Ginger.