Death Flips Its Lid

Brenda's erstwhile love, Johnny is on his way to a new career in Hollywood. Just before his farewell party, Brenda's first exhusband Nado shows up at her business after having a fight with his present wife Kathilynn, an old high school nemesis of Brenda's. Once upon a time, Kathilynn sabotaged Brenda's romance with someone named Vinnie T. Brenda finds Nado a parking space in her friend's garage and he becomes a suspect in a murder. Then Kathilynn shows up to find her husband and Brenda moves back into her shop. Johnny calls but Kathilynn is selective about what messages she gives Brenda. Then, who shows up but Vinnie T. He looks like Johnny and is interested in Brenda again. In the background, one of her friends is having an artistic crisis, another is having a romance with a liar, and Dweena is still stealing diplomatic cars, her creative relocation project. Brenda naturally feels obligated to clear Nado, and then find him so she can send him and his wife back to Belup Creek where they belong.This is always an entertaining series, with many bizarre characters as are always found in the Village, I wonder how Brenda stays in business, she certainly doesn't spend much time in her millinery shop. This was a very good example of the series.

This is a fun, lighthearted mystery with lots of colorful, offbeat characters and Greenwich Village atmosphere. The sleuth is a milliner and while she's solving crimes she's also designing next season's hat collection.

I think the title says it all. I will add that, sitting alone in my house, I laughed so hard the pictures rattled.

The introduction of one of Brenda's ex-husbands was something that piqued my interest, though I'm not sure that I can picture the character of Brenda married to a character such as Nado. But, then, who knows what sometimes draws two people together? The twist at the end of the story, and the way it all came together, was something different. But not necessarily unusual for Brenda.

I enjoyed this book immensely. I have read all three and enjoy the character development that has occurred. Ms. Wilson hits her stride with character development in this book. Greenwich Village is an important part of the book as well and Ms. Wilson knows her Village; yet her characters from out of town are equally well written; I particularly liked her ex-husband and his wife. The pace was fast and my interest in the book never flagged. I look forward to the next one.