Sunday, December 29, 2019

Hems and Homicide (Apron Shop #1)

Hems and Homicide is the first book in a new series by Elizabeth Penney. Due out 31st Dec 2019 from Macmillan on their St. Martin's imprint, it's 288 pages and will be available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats.

This is a fun and engaging 'shopfront' cozy set in a small town in Maine. I enjoyed the interplay between main character Iris and her grammie, as well as the genuine BFF Madison. There's a light romance element, a sleazy landlord, a hidden skeleton from long ago in the basement of Iris' shop location, and lots of hidden motives seething under the surface of the otherwise peaceful small town.

The book's admittedly formulaic, but it is quite well written and fun and full of the whimsical amateur cozy vibe which keeps readers of the genre ticking over the pages. I liked Iris' dedication to her cat, Quincy, her honesty, and her loyalty to her friends. There were a few twists on the way to the denouement, and I liked the ending.

The book also includes a sneak peek at the next book in the series, Thread and Dead.

Four stars, entertaining and fun.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes. 

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