Review: A Disguise to Die For: A Costume Shop Mystery by Diane Vallere

After  Margo Tamblyn's father has a heart attack, she returns home to Proper City, Nevada to help run Disguise DeLimit, the family's costume shop.  She's not there long before they receive a big order: Blitz Manners, a local from the "rich" part of town, needs forty costumes for his themed birthday party.  His party planner and venue of choice has changed last minute, but money is no object when it comes to Blitz's happiness. Margo quickly pulls together enough costumes to make a detective themed party.

A real detective is what they need, for on the day of Blitz's party, he's found dead, Margo's friend Ebony standing over his body with a carving knife.  It becomes Margo's mission to clear Ebony's name, no matter the cost.

I just love discovering new cozy series! This is certainly a fun one! Margo’s father always wanted her to have a better life than he, he wanted her to get away from the costume shop business and start a life of her own.  While she tried to do as her father asked, the costume shop is home to her. It gives her the freedom to showcase her quirky sense of style, dressing up in a new costume every day.  She’s certainly a fun and spunky character! Determined, too, for she’ll put her own life in danger in order to clear the name of her dear family friend Ebony, a woman who filled the role of mother after her own mother passed away giving birth to her.

The town, too, is quite quirky. Costume-themed parties are a thing with battling costume shops willing to stop at nothing to make an extra buck.

I can’t wait to see where this series goes. I recently discovered this author’s other series, the Material Witness series, and I adored it. Both are quite similar (the other set in a fabric shop) yet both have distinct characters! If you haven’t read either of these series I do encourage you to give them both a try! Highly recommended!