MASKING FOR TROUBLE by Diane Vallere
My rating: 3.75 of 5 stars

I’m jumping into the Costume Shop Mystery series here at book two. What’s the best time of year for someone in the costume business? Halloween, of course!

Actually, Halloween is not only a big deal for Margo at Disguise DeLimit, it’s a major social event for the whole town. Unfortunately, this year a greedy venture capitalist has ripped through town threatening small businesses, including Margo’s. Things continue to go south for Margo when she finds the man dead at his own Halloween gala, and police put her at the top of the list of suspects.

MASKING FOR TROUBLE was a fun read, especially since I adore Halloween. It was nice to “meet” a group of people who appreciate it as much as I do! The cast of characters was delightful, and the mystery itself was pretty good. Margo did a great job coming up with potential culprits, though she had some not-so-smart moves that kept pointing the finger back at her.

Maybe this was addressed in the first book, but I didn’t understand the need for Margo and her boyfriend to keep their relationship a secret. First of all, they’re adults, and second, their families and friends seem like reasonable, understanding people, so what gives?

Overall, I thought this was a cute cozy mystery with a dash of romance and lots of Halloween fun.

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