An Uplifting Murder by Elaine Viets

Book: An Uplifting Murder by Elaine Viets

Series: Josie Marcus, Mystery Shopper

Published:2010
Extras: Bra shopping tips (yes, you read that right)

Plot (Goodreads):On Josie's latest assignment, her former teacher-now working in a lingerie shop-is in need of some serious support when a customer is found murdered. Unfortunately, the teacher's alibi is flimsier than the camisoles she sells, so Josie will need to bust out her sleuthing skills to expose the real killer...

My four-sentence or less take on the plot: Josie Marcus, a mystery shopper, is evaluating a lingerie chain, in which one of her old high school teachers now works. Of course, she is immediately embroiled into a murder investigation when she stumbles on a corpse in the toilet.

Rating: 3

What worked: Not much in my opinion. Even the characters are starting to get pretty repetitious. I like Viets Dead-end series much better.

What didn't: Look, I can suspend disbelief while reading a book. I can believe that detectives wouldn't get incredibly suspicious about a person who always "happened" to be around dead bodies. I can even take the "cops find it helpful that I'm investigating" bit. But WHY would anyone accused of murder ask a mystery shopper (not a cop, not a PI, not even a reporter) who they haven't seen in about 15 years, to look in to the murder they are getting charged with? It defies belief to an extent that throws me right out of the book.

Keep reading? I'm not sure. Probably give it one more shot.

Accessory to Murder by Elaine Viets

Book: Accessory to Murder by Elaine Viets

Series: Book 3 in the Josie Marcus: Mystery Shopper series

Published: 2008

Extras? Yes, information about mystery shopping, as well as details about shopping for accessories.

Plot (Goodreads):

Someone has killed Halley Hardwicke, the hot young designer of thousand-dollar Italian silk scarves, in the mall parking lot-and police have their eye on Jake, the husband of Josie's best friend Alyce. The couple lived near the wrap maven, but it seems Halley and Jake were a little too neighborly.

So Josie decides to do what she does best to help out her friend-go undercover and see if she can find some clues. Because this time, there's a lot more at stake than a scarf, even if it's to die for...

Rating: B

What worked: Elaine Viets knows how to write a cozy mystery. The characters are fleshed out and I particularly like the female relationships (Josie and her best friend Alyce, Josie, her mom Jane, and her daughter Amelia). The story was interesting--there were so many potential villains I honestly had no idea who did it until the very end of book.

Oddly, I used to occasionally mystery shop a few years ago. Viets does a good job pointing out the pluses and minuses. It would have taken a TON of work to make a full-time jobs worth of money but I did enjoy it. My favorite jobs were mystery shopping a local bank for mortgage brokers--they always did excellent (so I could write positive reviews) and I learned a lot about mortgages. The best part, as Viets points out, is the spy-like experience and the feeling that you can make a difference.

What didn't: The books (the Mystery Shopper and the Dead-End jobs) are starting to feel a little formulaic. I almost feel some reverse snobbery oozing through the books--rich and expensive equal phony and poor or middle-class are superior. Plus every man ends up being a crook or a loser.

Caution: SPOILERS! (Whited out for those who don't want to be spoiled)

And how did Amy the Slut know an important plot point? I just couldn't figure that piece out (although, admittedly, that is a small detail). It was also very difficult for me to believe that a middle-aged white woman could pass as a teenaged African-American without anyone noticing. I mean, really.