2014, 188p, Cozy Mystery
My Rating=3 Stars
Source: Received a copy from the author for an honest review
Bloody pearls, a high society corpse, and chopsticks don’t usually go together. Harpeth Hollow’s, own vintage loving sleuth, Joy-Li Judson, is confidently on the case. When one of her personal shopping customers from Franklin’s Department Store is discovered murdered, Joy-Li springs into action.
Lesley Jane Cranemoore’s body is discovered on the eve of one of her posh, charity, pool parties. Tonight’s party is to benefit an international Chinese adoption agency. The wealthy Mrs. Cranemoore gives generously to local charities and is loved by many. Who could have wanted to kill her? Her husband? Her visiting cousin? Joy-Li’s boss, Ginny Whinehart? A member of the Cranemoore staff? Or was the murder a horrific random act?
Meet Joy-Li Judson, personal shopper and vintage lover, in the first in The Cheongsam Fashion Mystery Series. It’s where murder, vintage, fashion, and Chinese food and culture combine.
Joy-Li Judson is a vintage obsessed fashion blogger, and crime solving sleuth. She’s a Chinese-American with a Middle Tennessee accent. She has a day job as a personal shopper for a fancy department store. Our girl is unafraid of couture, obsessed with thrifting vintage and, is confident in the face of danger. Joy-Li Judson never turns her back on a good sale or a good murder.
I love cozy mysteries and this one sounded like fun when I read the summary. I didn't end up liking it as much as I thought I would, though. I've read quite a few cozy mysteries and like the creative touches that a lot of authors in this genre have given their books which I felt were lacking in this one.
Let's start with what I didn't like: Joy-Li talks quite a bit about healthy Chinese food and how easy and delicious it is, but there wasn't one recipe in this book! I'm not looking for a recipe book but two or three sprinkled throughout would be nice. I also don't enjoy cooking but I do love Chinese food and vegetables so it would be nice to have some recipes on hand when I get my Chinese food craving. [Note: The author informed me that she has heard this from multiple readers and a companion cookbook will be offered for free in a few weeks.]
There's lots of repetition, especially in Joy-Li's website, www.asiangirlshopssmart.com. I counted seven times, which might not seem like a lot but some of them are on back to back pages and almost all of them are Joy-Li telling the reader, which felt awkward to me. The website is active (it actually redirects you to the author's website) and I would have liked to see it incorporated more, maybe by including some of the tips from her actual website at the beginning of some of the chapters with a reference to her website. Then, it would have been repetitious without being awkward.
What I liked was the actual story! Joy-Li is a personal shopper who loves vintage clothes and solving murders. Joy-Li has been Lesley Cranemoore's personal shopper in the past and now she has been found murdered. She was preparing to have a big party at her home but instead was found with two puncture wounds in her neck and clutching chopsticks. When Joy-Li heard about this, there were so many questions going through her mind.
She has a boyfriend, Kyle, (but does seem somewhat taken with Detective Chesterton) and three good friends: Madison, a paralegal, Wendy, a computer geek, and Stephanie, an office temp. Each of their professions come in handy at different times in the book. Her friends tolerate her passion for solving mysteries but none of them join in with her. There were plenty of suspects and I liked how Joy-Li narrowed them down. There were times when I thought there was no way she was going to do something, but she did, and it usually ended up being humorous to me. I'm curious to see how she's going to keep finding mysteries to solve in future books.
If you enjoy cozy mysteries, this is a series worth checking out! The author has two more books in this series right now and I will read them when I get a chance to see if the issues I have are resolved in later books.
Content: A few swear words. Clean!
I asked the author some questions, so here's what she has to say about writing and her series:
1. When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I’ve written… something … for as long as I can remember. Even as a little girl I wrote stories in a journal.
2. What inspired you to write the Cheongsam Fashion Mysteries?
My son studies Japanese and Chinese in high school and now in college. I began learning more and more about those cultures as we homeschooled.
3. How many books are you planning to write in this series?
There will be 12.
4. Do they need to be read in order or does each book stand alone?
No need to read in any particular order. Although you can. I’ve tried to include enough background information for the reader who picks up a book out of order. I know that happens to me with a new series.
5. What do you like to do when you're not writing?
I love to cook, love to knit, love to garden, love to be with our huskies.
6. Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?
Research your genre. Begin with a well thought out plan.
7. Is there anything that you would like to say to your readers and fans?
Thank you! I love connecting from you on Twitter and appreciate your feedback.
Here's some information on the other two books in her series:
2014, 197p, Cozy Mystery
There’s nothing like a murder to kill the romance on date night. Joy-Li Judson, Harpeth Hollow’s vintage loving sleuth certainly didn’t expect to be on a murder case during dinner at The Imperial Wok. It’s mayhem and murder for personal shopper Joy-Li and her boyfriend Kyle when the body of local podiatrist, Dr. Bai Wang is discovered at the Chinese restaurant. Dr. Wang’s death is a shock to the entire community. The kindly podiatrist hosts Harpeth Hollow’s annual Foot Ball. The proceeds from the charity ball provides shoes and foot care for underprivileged children in Tennessee. Why would anyone want to kill such a generous doctor?
Who knew date night could be so dangerous?
Joy-Li Judson is a vintage obsessed fashion blogger, and crime solving sleuth. She’s a Chinese-American with a Middle Tennessee accent. She has a day job as a personal shopper for a fancy department store. Our girl is unafraid of couture, obsessed with thrifting vintage and, is confident in the face of danger. Joy-Li Judson never turns her back on a good sale or a good murder.
2014, 200p, Cozy Mystery
What do you do when one of your best girlfriend’s is convinced her house is haunted? If you’re Joy-Li Judson, Harpeth Hollow’s vintage loving sleuth, you don your ghostbusting clothes and solve the mystery.
Stephanie Tice, Joy-Li’s BFF, is recovering from a bad break up. Actually Stephanie’s boyfriend died before she could end the relationship. That makes it complicated.
Joy-Li becomes concerned when her girlfriend complains of items going missing in her home. Is her friend cracking under the stress? Or is something paranormal going on here? What’s causing the open drawers, rearranged furniture, disappearing photos? And where is Stephanie’s heirloom and favorite rice bowl?
Luckily, her ghostbusting girlfriend is hot on the mystery
Joy-Li Judson is a vintage obsessed fashion blogger, and crime solving sleuth. She’s a Chinese-American with a Middle Tennessee accent. She has a day job as a personal shopper for a fancy department store. Our girl is unafraid of couture, obsessed with thrifting vintage and, is confident in the face of danger. Joy-Li Judson never turns her back on a good sale or a good murder.
Carly spends her free time in her vegetable garden and tending to the needs of her beloved Huskies... again.
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