Canceled lines of credit and flowers and cards of condolence to her loved ones are just the tip of the iceberg for interior decorator Madison Night when a junior copy editor at a Dallas newspaper uses her life story in the obituary of a deceased woman with a similar name.
Addison Nigh was once a popular jazz vocalist, but she'd fallen into obscurity, and her obituary surprises many who thought she'd been dead for decades. This identity mix-up gives Madison backstage access into the singer's life, and it soon becomes apparent that Nigh played a part in an unsolved murder-- a murder that Madison can't resist trying to solve.
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It's good to know what I have to do in case I'm mistakenly declared dead, but that's not the only reason to read this latest installment in Diane Vallere's excellent Madison Night series. The entire series has shown readers Madison's journey to self-realization and how she has changed through her experiences and the people who've come into her life along the way. Madison isn't a one-note wonder; she's changed and grown over the course of the series, and she finally realizes this in Love Me or Grieve Me. She even shows us why Doris Day is the perfect role model for her transformation. (Never fear-- being familiar with Doris Day and with mid-century modern interior design are not necessary to enjoy these books but don't be surprised if your interest is piqued.)
The mystery is a good one, but as always, my delight is in the details. How nepotism doesn't work in the newsroom. How it pays to be very careful in reading the details of a real estate listing. How having a reliable dog sitter is crucial. And how one of Madison's favorite pastimes ("letting someone from a different generation share their stories") and how her line of work shapes how she sees others ("It's impossible for me not to profile people based on their living spaces") make her even more special. (And since I just completed a kitchen renovation, it makes me wonder how Madison would profile me.)
Diane Vallere's Madison Night is one of the best cozy mystery heroines in the business, and I'd never miss a book in this fun (yet grown-up) series. More, please!
Love Me or Grieve Me by Diane Vallere
eISBN: 9781954579408
Polyester Press © 2022
eBook, 263 pages
Cozy Mystery, #10 Madison Night mystery
Rating: B+
Source: Purchased from Amazon.
What an intriguing premise, Cathy! The one thing you say that really gets my attention is that Madison has grown over the course of time. I think that's so important for a good series. And it sounds as though Vallere really places the reader in the story with those details. Little wonder you enjoyed this!
ReplyDeleteThis is an excellent series. Madison has started a business, gone back to school, had a brush with television, bought an old factory, lost her business, been declared dead... and I haven't even mentioned the people who have come into her life. This is a series you can sink your teeth into and really enjoy.
DeleteA mix-up like that in real life would not be funny, but in a book it's hilarious. If I haven't read any of the previous books in this series, is it okay to start with this one? Because it sounds like a very fun read. :D
ReplyDeleteEspecially since this is a rather contemplative entry in the series, I think it's perfectly all right to start with this one.
DeleteYet again you are introducing me to a series that I'm not familiar with but it sounds like I need to become familiar with it. So, thank you for that!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Dorothy. This is not your typical cozy series, and it's one that I think you would like.
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