Louise R. Innes

Daisy Thorne, owner of Ooh La La salon in the small town of Edgemead, Surrey, England, is preparing for the holidays along with everyone else. But with her salon booked up completely until they close for Christmas, she's finding it hard to make time for herself. But one day she decides to visit Holly Lodge with her best friend Floria, whose sister, pop star Mimi Fallon, has bought the place and plans to renovate.

While the workers are busy, the three women sit in the kitchen -- or what's left of it, currently -- as the old Georgian has sat empty for several years. But then a body is discovered in the chimney, and the man is dressed like Santa Claus. While the women are stunned, after DCI Paul McGuinness arrives, Daisy perks up and sets her sights on profiling the killer. While McGuinness doesn't seem to want her help, she knows he needs it since she has local contacts and he doesn't; and when it's found out that the man was a local named Tim Pierce, Daisy sets to work questioning her clients. Soon more information comes forth, and there's a real mystery as to what actually happened to him. With a few different stories drifting about, Daisy will have to decide who's telling the truth and who isn't -- even if it puts her in arms' length of a killer...

This is the third book in the series and I have read them all. I must say that this book, like the others, flows easily with crisp writing and lovely descriptions of what is happening around the characters. One can get a feel for actually being in Edgemead, (although I don't know about all the snow!); and we watch as Daisy puts her wits to use in figuring out who the culprit might be. Along with this, we have McGuinness, who at times seems frustrated with Daisy and at others grateful for her help, as he himself has to put the evidence together and cannot go with his gut feeling. It makes for a wonderful pair of characters who, in their own ways, depend upon one another to solve the case.

We also have the secondary story of Daisy wondering where, if anything, her budding relationship with McGuinness is going. She reasons that they both have jobs they love and are important to them, but on the other hand, Daisy is wanting to have a real relationship. She juggles her emotions with her instincts, and we can see that it isn't easy for her to do when it comes to herself.

But then another event occurs and the stakes are suddenly raised to find the killer and fast. When Daisy finally figures it out, it comes as almost a surprise and the reasoning behind it, much like most murderers, lets us know that unhinged minds are capable of anything. Then we have the lovely epilogue of Christmas day, and it makes one long for the holidays so we can celebrate ourselves.

Ms. Innes tells a wonderful tale, and I am glad that I have had the opportunity to read her books, and I await the next in the series eagerly. Highly recommended.

I received an advance copy from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.… (mais)

Daisy Thorne is having just another day at her hair salon in Edgemead, Surrey. The big highlight of the day is that she's doing the hair for a wedding party, including her own stylist Penny's. But she has a last-minute appointment with a friend, and it takes her past eight o'clock in the evening. After she's cleaned up and is ready to go, she leaves out into the pouring rain by her back door. But no sooner does she get a few steps when she walks right onto a dead body.

It turns out the dead woman is Mel Haverstock, who had her hair colored at the salon that morning. She tells DCI Paul McGuinness that she has no idea why the woman was back, and so the investigation begins. When it's discovered that the murder weapon belonged to Daisy, things get harrowing for her. She's suspected in the murder, and needs to clear her name. But not long after, things start heating up when an accident befalls someone else, and now the suspect list is growing. Daisy's time is getting shorter, and she needs to unmask a killer before her own life is sheared short...

This is the second book in the series and I found it just as delightful as the first. Once again we journey to the small town of Edgemead, and this time we spend more time in the salon with Daisy and her employees. Floria is back, but in a much smaller role, and so are other characters from the first book. This one definitely centers on Daisy's life this time around.

When the murder occurs, Daisy is a main suspect because of the murder weapon. While she knows she didn't do the deed, she starts compiling a list of people who could have -- and it all comes down to those who were in her shop that day. But did any of them know the dead woman, and what reason would they have for killing her? It turns out quite a few, as a matter of fact, since Mel had made many enemies throughout her life, including the woman who owns the shop next door. Now Daisy has to quietly sift through suspects without them realizing they're suspects, but it isn't going to be easy.

The mystery again was done very well, with plenty of red herrings to get us through the book. There was a lot going on, and very few clues to the murderer, which came as a complete surprise. But the ending made it all worthwhile, as the motive was revealed and again we see that you can't look into the mind of a deluded person. Unfortunately, that is the way life is; and when it is all said and done, we have a very good mystery with a lot going on, and the epilogue sorted it all out and leaves us feeling satisfied in the outcome. I look forward to the next in the series. Highly recommended.

I received a copy from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.… (mais)

Dame Serena Levante is an aging opera star, overcome with drinking, and her latest husband, Collin Harrison, is determined to leave her. Shortly after he leaves the house, Dame Serena is murdered. When her daughter Floria tells Daisy Thorne, her best friend, the news, Daisy rushes to Floria to comfort her. Also rushing to her side is her father, Sir Ranulf. But things are not what they seem. Dame Serena did not fall, she was murdered. And before the will is read, Floria discovers secrets that Serena has kept hidden all her life.

Floria knows her mother wasn't the best, pawning her off on nannies and au pairs -- but who hated her enough to kill her? And why keep secrets from her daughter? Now, Daisy, who is studying to become a forensic psychologist when she's not working at her salon -- at first becomes irritating to Detective Inspector Paul McGuinness, until he realizes he needs her help in figuring out which person had the most to gain. But when another tragedy occurs just after the memorial service, the stakes are raised and the killer needs to be pinned down -- and fast...

This is the first book in a new series, and while I am tardy in reading it (recovering from an operation gone wrong) I have to say that I am glad I was finally able to get to it. (My TBR file is large and constantly growing!).

Daisy is an admirable character: she's full of inquiry, more than curiosity, I think; she's intelligent, attractive, and knows what she's doing. Floria is very sweet, giving and generous; the DI is just as what you would expect - gruff and blunt, but fair and willing to listen. This is a perfect combination for a new series that I hope will go far.

The mystery itself is done extremely well; with writing that is both very good and very descriptive, giving us an insight into the characters and their lives without going overboard; and the death of Dame Serena at the beginning lures us into the story, as we learn more about her throughout. Saying that, we now have a plethora of suspects who many might have had a motive for her killing, but leaving room for us to decipher the clues on our own.

When we finally do come to the end and it gets to the point that the killer is revealed, we are both surprised and saddened by the reasons for the death. I do like the fact that I had to search for the clues, and discovered the murderer much as the same time as Daisy. It left me with a feeling of satisfaction and a want to read the next in the series to see where it takes her. I truly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the next. Highly recommended.

I received a copy from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.… (mais)

cosy-mystery, England, law-enforcement, murder, murder-investigation, small-business, small-town, friendship*****

Daisy is a winner but the DCI is still a whiny wiener. Daisy owns a hair salon in a village in Surry and has some really nice employees and is also a caring friend. This time she is with a friend who is renovating an old country house when the workmen discover a body which had been stuffed up a chimney! Daisy has completed her requirements to be a consultant to the police with investigations and profiling. The author really knows how to make the characters real, and the sleuthing is well done. I loved it!
I requested and received a free temporary ebook from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!… (mais)