Reviews

Dead Men Don't Decorate by Cordy Abbott

akolb51's review

mysterious medium-paced

3.0

 

Roberto Fratelli, owner of the antiques store Waited4You, is the meanest man in Marthasville, Virginia. When he puts the business up for sale, the other merchants in town are overjoyed. Local resident Camille Benson, has decided to buy him out. During a celebration in honor of Camille’s new venture, Camille and her best friend Opal find Roberto’s lifeless body on the floor. Can she solve the murder before there’s another dead body? 

This was a very good cozy mystery with a wonderful protagonist. I like Camille because she’s older and starting part of her life over again. The side characters seem likeable and wacky in a good way. I felt there was an awkwardness to the story, like the writing needed a little more editing. Many thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this advanced reader’s copy. This review is my unbiased opinion. 

dollycas's review against another edition

lighthearted mysterious

4.0

Dollycas's Thoughts

History meets mystery in Dead Men Don't Decorate
when antique store Waited4You gets a new owner. Camile Benson's parents were the original owners of the store and she is thrilled to get it back into the family's hands. The other merchants around town are thrilled that they will no longer be subjected to "the meanest man in Marthasville", Roberto Fratelli's, tirades.

While celebrating her purchase, Camille's best friend Opal shares that she found a letter that looks to have been sent to George Washington by Sally Fairfax in 1756 while at the store. She didn't want to draw attention to the potentially valuable piece until the previous owner was off the premises. Excited they decide to return right away but the previous owner was still there . . . dead on the floor . . . and the letter was long gone.

Now as Camille updates the store to her vision she has to worry about a killer and a missing letter. Was the letter really from 1756? Is that why Roberto was killed? Could she be next?

_______

Ms. Abbott has introduced a strong cast of core characters. Dr. Camille Benson is a 55-year-old art history teacher at Northern Virginia Community College who is ready for a change. She has always had a flair for decorating and grew up with her parents running an antique store Waited4You. Finding out her parent's store was again up for sale now seems like perfect timing.  Her "wing woman" Opal Wells is excited about Camille's new venture and is willing to do anything she can to help her. She is also quirky and crazy which makes her a fun character. Camille's son Paul, a lawyer, was just elected Mayor and is always nearby when she needs him.  We also meet Brennan Adler, the landlord of the Waited4You building. With the murder, we meet commonwealth attorney Janie Fairfax, Chief Harrod, and his son Nick. Our protagonist also has two schnauzer pups, Morris and Stickley and there is a collie pup named Rizzoli in the story too. The author has caught the small-town feel in both her characters and the way she describes Marthasville, Virginia. Everyone knows everyone's business.

I enjoyed the way the author plotted out the mysteries in this book. Camille has the knowledge and a great instinct for thinking clues and actions through. She shares theories and finds with the police immediately, for the most part, sometimes ruffling a few feathers. A motive for the murder was a little all over the place which made me a little crazy but Camille kept at it. When clues started to fall in place more than one person was in the wrong place at the wrong time setting up an exciting and scary conclusion. Camille really had to think on her feet. I loved that a canine character played an integral part.

I do enjoy the antique store theme of this series. That Camille is able to take over the shop formerly owned by her parents is a nice touch.

Dead Men Don't Decorate
has engaging characters I want to get to know better and intriguing mysteries set in an interesting small town. Cordy Abbott has put forth an entertaining debut for her Old Town Antique Mystery Series
. I am curious to see what she has in store for her characters next.

hmurff's review

4.0

4/5 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers, and Cordy Abbott for allowing me to read and review this book.

This is the first book in a new series. This series hold some serious potential to be a new favorite of mine. This first book is really well written, the characters are lovable, and the mystery grips you from the beginning. You learn a lot throughout the book, and not just about decorating, but about preserving archives, how books are stored, and how things are processed to find out if it is authentic or not. 

This book is truly interesting and kept me entertained the entire time. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is interested in a good cozy mystery.

annarella's review against another edition

4.0

Good start for a new cozy series, I enjoyed it and the solid mystery kept me guessing. I liked the well developed characters and the setting.
Can't wait to read the next
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

melmo2610's review against another edition

2.5

I liked parts of this book. The MC buying back her parents' old antique story was a cool premise for the story. The mystery itself was good and had potential but I feel like it could have been done better. The characters were only okay for me. I didn't really connect with them and there a few times that I wasn't wild with the direction the case was taking or something that a character said. I'll read the next book and see if it comes together a little bit better for me than this one.

cseda's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

4.0

zasou_reads's review against another edition

4.0

Roberto is a mean man. So when he puts his business, Waited4You, an antiques store, up for sale, the other town's merchants are elated. Camille is thrilled to get her own antiques business until the old owner is found dead.
This cozy mystery is the first book of the Old Town Antiques Mystery series, and I will be on the lookout for the next books. It has plenty of red herrings that keep you guessing, a light read with likeable, fun characters.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

annielynn's review against another edition

lighthearted fast-paced

4.0

Advanced copy provided by NetGallery, but all views held are my own:
This book is a love letter to Old Town Alexandria, despite its slightly changed name. Locals will enjoy recognizable street names and local businesses, as well as local lore. The cast of characters has a fun, cozy romp highlighting a spry baby boomer with a new lease on life.