The Fashion Hound Murders by Elaine Viets

Josie Marcus gets a call from her boss Harry. He has another place for her to mystery shop. It's a pet store that has been in the news and Josie is more than reluctant to help them out. Even if they did ask for her specifically. Finally gives in but is less than happy about it. Alyce comes along with her. Pets 4 Luv has been accused of taking puppy mill dogs. She just hopes that she is wrong. While working the case, she has a chance to go visit a puppy mill and is more determined to help. But when a pet shop employee gets killed over talking to her, Josie is in way over her head. She begins to question taking the job.

Ms. Viets has done her research and puts everything well balanced. There are some funny moments but serious ones as well. She really puts her heart into the story. I was very impressed with how well the story flowed no matter what the mood was. Everything comes alive on the page.

Josie really is doing her best. I am so surprised at the work she does and how difficult it is. Being like every one else isn't easy and she has to blend in without standing out. Alyce is always a helpful friend who helps her to blend in even more. Amelia keeps her level headed. Amelia is also quite the smart mouth kid and keeps things in perspective. Jane, Josie's mom, may have quite the bark to her but in reality it is just a cover for watching over her daughter.

This series keeps getting better. It definitely gets personal. I hope things settle down for Josie. That girl has more ups and downs in her life than a roller coaster sometimes. I also am learning to appreciate the things that secret shoppers do as having experience with them in my personal job. I'm on the edge of my seat just hoping there are more books in this series to come!

Elaine Viets/ Cozy Mystery/ 304 pages/ Secret Shopper/ Family/5 out of 5

So glad to read the first one in the cozy mystery challenge. I am hoping to read more next month.

Murder with all the trimmings by Elaine Viets

Josie Marcus is not looking forward to the holiday season especially when she is asked to mystery two all year round Christmas stores. Her romance with Mike feels like it is going somewhere but lately his daughter Heather has been needed love. Josie understands but getting Amelia and Heather to get along is hopeless. Plus now Mike's ex is going after Josie, things can only get better right? There are surprises in store that Josie will not see coming.

Ms. Viets did it again! I loved this book. I kept putting it down cause I didn't want to see it end. This is a character I can relate to cause she is a mom. Also it makes me wonder how the mystery shoppers work and how much I work to make our shops at my job go well. It also makes me question some of the answers we get but oh well. I definitely want to see more with this character.

Josie is between a rock and a hard place cause she knows that her daughter comes first. Heather and Amelia really do not want to get along. So she's at her wits end. Finally finding a man who has a good job and cares about her is wonderful! Just need to tie up a few loose ends.

This is one series that I have loved since the first book. I hope there is more coming if not, there is her other series to read! :)

Elaine Viets/ Cozy mystery/ Mystery Shoppers/ 304 pages/ 5 out of 5

This was a great book! I hope there is more to come!

Acessory to Murder by Elaine Viets

Josie seems to have a lot of things going wrong. Her best friend’s husband is now up for murder charges for the death of fashion designer Halley not to mention her mother keeps hounding her to go on a blind date. Josie wants to help her friend, keep her mom appeased even though her mother’s smoking habit is driving her crazy, and try to get her daughter to understand that it is okay for her mom to look at another man. Her boss is sending her on really crude assignments and Josie just wants to strangle him. She just wonders if life could be any easier?


Ms. Viets does it again! I got sucked in from page one and I cannot get enough of these characters. The situations that are created ring true for real society, which was kind of freaky actually. Josie tries her best to be there for Alyce. After all, the woman does go secret shopping with her. Ms. Viets is truly fantastic author.


At times, I wish I could have given Josie a GBH. Seriously what that woman puts up through, I kept thinking she was a saint. Hopefully her life will pick up soon! Amelia is trying at times but that is how daughters go or so I hear.

I am about to go pre-order the next one in the series. Ms. Viets writes good funny dialog while keeping things a little less gory. I definitely made me want to boost up my customer service skills once again no matter how unhappy I am with things that go on in the store. The customer should not suffer! Definitely a good read for anyone who likes to shop or works at retail stores.

Elaine Viets/ Cozy Mystery/ Secret Shopper/ Family/ 288 pages/ 5 out of 5

Off to go read the author of the month and clean!

High Heels Are Murder by Elaine Viets

Josie Marcus is at it again. With her job as a secret shopper, she is really busy. This time though, she is after a shoe salesman. But when he ends up dead at the end of his staircase, Josie is left scrambling and is asked to help her childhood nemesis Cheryl. Something definitely is amiss but can she figure out before the person behind it all finishes their job?

Ms. Viets writes a great second book. I saw the characters change and grow a little. It was a nice change of pace. The thing that I liked was that through it all, Josie did her best to stay true to herself. Ms. Viets has a talent with making the characters come alive that really brought it home to me.

Josie has some tough decisions. Does she help the one person who looked down her nose at her? IT might just help her mom but can Josie go through with it? That is just the beginning to the hard decisions facing Josie. Jane, Josie’s mom was back and definitely there for her. Jane does drive me nuts at much but at the same time truly wanted what was best for Josie.

As not as great as the first one, I fell in love over time with it. I am addicted to this series and it gives me a whole different aspect being in the retail business for real. I truly need to make sure I do my best to help the customer and this is just one way that shows me how faulty it can be. Rude customers or sales people do not help certainly but Josie rewarded those who truly did work hard and helped her. Definitely cannot wait to read the next one!!


Elaine Viets/ Cozy Mystery/ Secret Shopper/ 288 pages/ 4 out of 5

Up next two Diane Mott Davidson books and then back to Elaine Viets. :)

Dying In Style by Elaine Viets

Josie Marcus is a woman who is doing her best to provide for her and her daughter. Her mother helps out quite a bit but Josie would not have it any other way. Amelia’s father is long gone and that makes Josie’s mother all that more prone to find her someone to marry. That is not on the top of Josie’s list. Being a mystery shopper is not the job Josie wanted but it pays the bills. Yet things seem to go wrong and even her mother disapproves when she has to mystery shop Danessa’s stores. It gets worse when Danessa is killed and Josie looks to be their prime suspect. Can she get herself out of this sticky mess?

Ms. Viets is a talented writer. Even though I won the latest in the series last year, I wanted to get the rest of them. I am so glad I did. I am hooked on Josie and the events in her life. There is always something going on and things keep her moving. I know the whole guilt trip mother routine yet I am proud of Josie standing up for herself. This is one author that I cannot wait to read more of and the second book is calling my name.

Elaine Viets/ New author/ Cozy Mystery/ Mystery Shopper/ 288 pages/ 4 out of 5

Boy am I glad I bought both books and there is fourth book comes out in November!!!