Series: Button Box Mystery, #1
Publisher: Berkley
Released: September 6, 2011
Source: Review copy from publisher

Working out of her button shop in a Chicago brownstone, Josie Giancola has become one of the country’s leading experts on buttons. Her reputation draws a Hollywood starlet to the Button Box to shop for one-of-a-kind buttons to adorn her made-to-order wedding gown.

But after the Button Box is ransacked and the actress murdered, Josie’s cozy world is thrown into chaos-and a killer is out to keep Josie’s lips buttoned up…permanently.

———

BUTTON HOLED is a terrific start to Kylie Logan’s new cozy mystery series. Josie Giancola is a button expert with an extensive collection she showcases in her button shop in Chicago. A couple of disturbing events turn this quiet button dealer’s world on end: (1) walking in on two thugs robbing the Button Box, and (2) finding a famous actress murdered in her shop who had come to her to buy buttons for her wedding gown. Could the events be related? Josie’s interest in the case is piqued when she discovers a mysterious hand-carved button at the scene of the crime, one only a button nerd like herself would be fascinated by. When detective Nevin Riley requests her help in solving the case, Josie is happy to put her button expertise to work.

BUTTON HOLED was a fresh and enjoyable mystery. I loved Josie’s character. She was funny, smart, quirky and very likable. She was surrounded by a cast of interesting characters, including Detective Riley, with whom she previously had one awkward first date, and her gambler ex-husband Kaz, who may or may not be trying to redeem himself. The mystery itself was well crafted, and there were several suspects who had the motive to kill the actress. The ending was terrific, and I did not see the final twist coming! I’m looking forward to the next book in A Button Box Mystery series.

Rating: 4¼ Stars

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.