Sleuthing in Stilettos
Locals in Lucky Cove seem to harbor hostility toward Miranda Farrell, proprietor of a new shoe store. Nevertheless, Kelly invites her along to a Chamber of Commerce meeting. But soon afterward, Miranda’s body is found in her shop, with Kelly’s uncle, who’s had multiple public arguments with her, standing nearby. Could her uncle have committed murder over a business dispute? Or is Miranda’s death related to her late husband’s long-ago embezzlement case?
Kelly feels compelled to investigate, despite her detective boyfriend’s objections, not to mention her commitment to promoting Small Business Saturday. But her effort to pump up sales may fall flat. After her presentation to the committee is sabotaged, the Chamber gives her the boot, and tongues start wagging. Now she has to do some fancy footwork to find the killer.
The Details
Series: A Resale Boutique Mystery – Book #5
Author: Debra Sennefelder
Genre/Category: Cozy – Amateur Sleuth/Woman Sleuths
Publisher: Kensington Cozies
ISBN: 1516111044
Page Count: 196
Rating: 
The Review
Arguments abound in the newest addition to the “A Resale Boutique Mystery” series, Sleuthing in Stilettos. A new shopkeeper, Miranda, has moved in a few doors down from Kelly’s shop, and apparently, no one in town wants the woman or her business, especially Kelly’s uncle. When Kelly’s uncle is seen publicly arguing with Miranda and then found standing over her dead body, the gossip mill starts grinding, and Kelly has to figure out who the killer is before her uncle finds himself locked up for good.
There are suspects, an entire town of them, an ex-husband, and ex-in-laws. The evidence is sketchy and isn’t plausible or, sometimes, relevant. There doesn’t appear to be anyone who liked Miranda, and everyone in town had arguments with her. The police do not appear to be a factor; they feel that they have their man and aren’t looking for any other suspects. To be honest, I had a difficult time finding anything good in this story. I didn’t find any characters that I liked; even Kelly got on my nerves. The ending was predictable, the reveal of the murderer uninspiring. But if the reader doesn’t know who the killer is as soon as they are introduced, they probably weren’t reading this book.
I have liked other books in this series, but Sleuthing in Stilettos didn’t give me any enjoyment. The continuous arguments and strife between the victim and the townspeople, not to mention the way Kelly’s uncle treats her, made the story unenjoyable for me. And… by the time Miranda’s killer is unmasked, I was well past caring who killed her or why. I gave this story three stars because of a few of the returning characters’ small parts, but there was little I found that I could praise. Hopefully, the next installment will be better.
The Author
Debra Sennefelder is an avid reader who reads across a range of genres, but mystery fiction is her obsession. When she’s not reading, she enjoys cooking and baking, and as a former food blogger, she is constantly taking photographs of her food. She lives and writes in Connecticut with her family. Contact Debra on her website or social media.
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