Suede to Rest by Diane Vallere Series: Material Witness Mystery
Also by this author: A Disguise to Die For
Published by Berkley Publishing Group on November 4, 2014
Genres: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 304
Format: Paperback
Poly (Polyester) Monroe earned her name after she was born in her family's textile shop, Land of A Thousand Fabrics. She spent hours playing hide-and-seek in the bolts of fabric. Now that both of her grandparents have passed away, the store has been boarded up, desperately seeking attention. Rather than selling the property as many would prefer, Poly's fond memories of the store encourage her to restore the family business to it's former glory.
Unfortunately, there are many unhappy with Poly's return to San Ladrón. Within moments of her return, her car is vandalized, leaving her stranded. Additionally, a powerful land developer is encouraging her to join the ranks of those who have closed shop and sold their property. The tipping point occurs when an elderly man is murdered behind the shop. Something beyond the obvious, tracing back to her family's past, is related to this horrific death. Poly is determined to get to the end of it, no matter the cost.
This series was recommended to me recently. What a fun and cute read! I admit; the kittens on the cover won me over, especially since one of them resembles our kitten, Dickens. When I learned their names, Pins and Needles…well that won me over completely.
Poly is a no-nonsense kind of woman. She wasn’t looking to revitalize the family business, she was initially going to sell and get back to her life. Yet, the memories that flooded in upon her return to the shop, and the sense that her life, in its current state, was lacking, encouraged her restore the family business. I admired her for this decision. It certainly wasn’t an easy one, given the state of the store and what it would take to bring it back to some semblance of success.
The mystery that surrounded the murder behind the store was, in true cozy form, not to heavy but certainly kept my attention rapt. I cared about Poly’s well-being (and those cute kittens) and was pleased with how everything turned out. Of course, since this is the first in a series we know that something amiss is in Poly’s future. Luckily, the second book, Crushed Velvet, released late this summer so I’m looking forward to reading more about Poly (and yes, the kittens).
All in all, this was an incredibly engaging and enjoyable read. Highly recommended.
