What Not To Wear to a Graveyard by Debra Sennefelder is the third book in the Resale Boutique Mystery series. I have not read the previous books, but was able to catch up to the main characters and larger picture quickly.
After trading her Manhattan digs for her upstate hometown, fashionista Kelly Quinn has big plans for her grandmother’s consignment shop. But this All Hallow’s Eve someone is already dressed to kill. A socialite’s missing dog has made front page news in Lucky Cove—complete with a hefty reward. But between renovating the consignment shop, planning her costume for a 1970s themed Halloween party, and scouting a location for a fashion shoot, Kelly doesn’t have time to search. Yet a visit to the local colonial-era cemetery—ideal for the moody atmosphere she’s after—soon turns up the precious pooch. Kelly’s looking forward to collecting the check—until she makes a gruesome discovery in an abandoned farmhouse: The dog’s owner, stabbed through the heart. Kelly can’t help wondering why Constance Lane was traipsing around the farmhouse in stilettos. But as Kelly gets decked out in a vintage disco caftan, that isn’t the only fashion misstatement spooking her. Hidden in the dead woman’s past is a secret that could be the motive for the murder. And as the Halloween party gets started, even a menacing clown and a threatening bearded lady can’t keep Kelly from trick or treating for the truth—even if it means her last dance.
What Not To Wear to a Graveyard is the third book in a series, which I did not notice right away. It was only comments about past incidents in relation to the police that really made it clear that I had missed something, so I think newcomers could pick up this book and join in the series without difficulty. Kelly is a smart, resourceful character. I liked her care for Billy (the dog) and how her mind kept circling the mystery trying to figure out the puzzle before she found all the pieces. I was right with her trying to figure out the who and why. I enjoyed that aspect of the story, and some of the friendships that Kelly has, particularly with Penny and Liv. For all that I liked, I did think that the cover led me to think it would more humorous- which I know murder is not funny but many cozy mysteries are funny. I also thought that that characters were a little flat. Characters and interactions just seemed to be lacking a little depth, they were a little too easy for me to leave behind when real life intruded, and when I finished the book. I will admit that there are a couple secondary characters that sparked some curiosity, but not enough for me to seek out the previous or next books in the series.
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