A Killing in Costumes

by Zac Bissonnette

Overview

Stardom fades fast when you’re on the line for murder, in this debut cozy mystery perfect for fans of Richard Osman and Jenn McKinlay.


Jay Allan and Cindy Cooper were soap opera stars in the late ’90s, a wholesome young husband-and-wife duo who combined musical talent with humor and charisma. When the truth about their sexual orientations came to light, their marriage and TV careers ended, but decades later they have remained friends. Together, they open Palm Springs’ chicest movie memorabilia store, Hooray for Hollywood—but no customers and dwindling finances spell trouble.

A Hail Mary arrives in the form of Yana Tosh, a ninety-year-old diva of the silver screen who has amassed a valuable collection of costumes and props and is looking to sell. But first, Jay and Cindy have to beat their competition, a vice president from a mega-auction house with ten times their resources. And when he winds up dead, they become prime suspects in the murder.

With their freedom and livelihoods on the line, Jay and Cindy desperately need to clear their names. There are plenty of other potential suspects, but they'll have to solve it soon before they're forced to trade in their vintage costume collection for two orange jumpsuits.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781639100866
Publisher:	CROOKED LANE BOOKS
Publication date:	08/09/2022
Series:	A Hollywood Treasures Mystery , #1
Pages:	320
Sales rank:	514,201
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.20(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

New York Times bestselling author Zac Bissonnette's most recent book is 2015’s The Great Beanie Baby Bubble: Mass Delusion and the Dark Side of Cute. He is an equity analyst at a hedge fund, and lives in New York City with his partner and a tuxedo cat named Perry Como.

Editorial Reviews

06/20/2022

Bestseller Bissonnette (The Great Beanie Baby Bubble: Mass Delusion and the Dark Side of Cute) makes his fiction debut with a lively series launch. Cindy Cooper and Jay Allan, who were spouses and soap stars when they discovered their true sexuality, are eager to land the coveted costume collection of 90-year-old retired actress Yana Tosh so they can shore up Hooray for Hollywood, their struggling memorabilia business in Palm Springs, Calif. Yana, however, is in no hurry to ink a representation deal, pitting Cindy and Jay against the cutthroat Dylan Redman and Eydie Jackson of the big-time Cypress Collections. When Dylan turns up dead, detective Simon Fletcher seems to regard Cindy and Jay as the prime suspects, though Yana’s longtime adviser, Ben Sinclair; her long-suffering son, Warren Limon; and well-connected reporter Lenae Randolph may have their own agendas regarding the collection and their own personal baggage. When Cindy and Jay receive a package containing poison, their determination to uncover the culprit redoubles. Bissonnette’s message of new beginnings after devastating losses inspires. Readers will look forward to the next case for the inquisitive and enterprising Palm Springs dealers. Agent: Jon Michael Darga, Aevitas Creative Management. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

Praise for A Killing in Costumes:
“A lively series launch . . . Bissonnette’s message of new beginnings after devastating losses inspires.”
—Publishers Weekly

“Fans of movie memorabilia will have a field day.”
—Kirkus

“A Killing in Costumes has all the hallmarks of a great cozy: a unique setting, an intriguing cast of characters and an exciting mystery.”
—Bookpage

“Mystery buffs will enjoy this lively paced whodunit . . . Will keep even the most eagle-eyed readers guessing until the final pages.”
—Shelf Awareness

“A fun read . . . impressively original, thoroughly entertaining, and strongly recommended.”
—Midwest Book Review

“[A] delightfully light plot and on-point humor . . . [with] larger themes of friends who become family, unconditional love, never-ending grief over lost ones, and fabulous costumes.”
—South Florida Sun Sentinel

“Zac Bissonnette's contemporary twist on Agatha Christie's Tommy and Tuppence is sure to enthrall traditional mystery fans. At the very core of this astonishing debut is love in various forms—and especially our eternal love of, and fascination for, Hollywood in all its glamor and glitz. The relationship of Cindy and Jay is the wonderful glue that pulls it all together. I hope they have a long and successful run in this new staging of "Murder, They Write.”
—Miranda James, NYT and USA Today Bestselling Author of The Cat in the Stacks and the Southern Ladies Mysteries

“Hooray for this smashing new cozy mystery by Zac Bissonnette! Chock full of old Hollywood references, eclectic collectible information, and delightfully set in sunny Palm Springs, there is so much to love in this perfectly executed, high stakes, puzzler of a mystery. I absolutely can't wait to join these fun and fresh amateur sleuths, Cindy and Jay, on their next page turner of a mystery!” 
—Jenn McKinlay, New York Times bestselling author of the Library Lovers Mystery series

“Perfect for viewers of Turner Classic films, A Killing in Costumes is an exuberant tale of movies, murder, revenge, and, ultimately, friendship. Told through the angle of Hollywood memorabilia collecting, readers glimpse the glamor and glitz of the silver screen, along with another—not so pretty—view of Hollywood behind-the-scenes.”
—Susan Elia MacNeal, New York Times bestselling author of the Maggie Hope series and Mother Daughter Traitor Spy

“Mystery lovers, rejoice! A Killing in Costumes is the first in a dazzling new mystery series that hits all the high notes: a charming, sunny setting; clever characters that captivate; fascinating details of old Hollywood glitz and glamour; and an intriguing plot that will keep you guessing to the very end. With effortless prose and laugh-out-loud banter, Zac Bissonnette has penned the absolute must-have mystery of the season. You will love-love-love A Killing in Costumes!”
—Kate Carlisle, New York Times bestselling author of the the Fixer Upper Mysteries

“Mystery readers, especially those with a taste for vintage Tinseltown movies, stars, glamor, and the music of the era are going to love this beautifully, affectionately written novel.”
—Tom Sawyer, Emmy-Nominated Head Writer/Showrunner of Murder, She Wrote

“It’s easy to say you love a book, but this one stole my heart. With an intriguing mystery, beautifully crafted friendships, Hollywood memorabilia, and a setting in Palm Springs, Zac Bissonnette created an outstanding read.” 
—Sherry Harris, Agatha Award nominated author of the Sarah Winston Garage Sale and Chloe Jackson Sea Glass Saloon mysteries

“A cleverly crafted mystery with a pair of film buff sleuths, this page-turner is a delightful love letter to Hollywood stage and screen.”
—Tracy Gardner, Edgar Award nominated author of the Avery Ayers Antique Mystery series

“Zac Bissonnette's A Killing in Costumes is a delight to read, filled with wit and charm. With irresistible characters and fascinating details about the golden age of Hollywood, this twisty tale is a winner!”
—Jane K. Cleland, Agatha-award winning author of the Jane Austen’s Lost Letters

“Cozy fans are in for a treat with Zac Bissonnette's debut mystery. Readers won't be able to resist Cindy and Jay, whose pitch-perfect friendship is the heart of the playful, twisty plot. Mixing a clever mystery with a dash of Old Hollywood glamor, A Killing in Costumes is a delight from start to finish.”
—Katharine Schellman, author of the Lily Adler Mysteries

From the Publisher

2022-05-11
A pair of unlikely best friends find that the road to acquiring an unmatched collection of materials for their film memorabilia shop is paved with murder.

Cindy Cooper and Jay Allan aren’t just best buddies, ex-co-stars of the same soap opera, and business partners; they’re also ex-spouses who ended their marriage when they came out to each other. Now, as they struggle to keep Hooray for Hollywood Movie Memorabilia afloat, a possible lifeline emerges in the person of Yana Tosh, an ancient femme fatale of stage and screen who’s used her late husband’s fortune to assemble an ensemble of costumes, knickknacks, and other stuff fans of classic movies would die for. Along with her financial adviser, Ben Sinclair, Yana plans to award a contract for selling items from her formidable collection to either Hooray for Hollywood or Cypress Auctions. Naturally, Cypress is older and richer, with a killer mailing list. So it’s no surprise when Dylan Redman, who runs Cypress’ entertainment memorabilia program, summons Cindy and Jay to his swanky hotel room in Palm Springs and offers to pay them off if they’ll withdraw from the competition. The idea goes against everything the pair stands for, and they indignantly refuse. Next thing they know, Detective Simon Fletcher calls on them to tell them that Dylan’s been poisoned by someone who visited him that afternoon—someone like them. The other suspects include Yana’s son, Warren Limon; Dylan’s assistant, Eydie Jackson; and Ben Sinclair. But readers who’ve seen the classic movies on which Bissonnette keeps dishing gentle dirt won’t be fooled.

Fans of movie memorabilia will have a field day. Others will wonder what all the fuss is about.

Kirkus Reviews

Want to live in Palm Springs, California? First, listen to Melanie Carey and Paul Bellantoni narrate this debut cozy mystery, set in the present day. Listeners are introduced to the charms of the city, as well as lots of Old Hollywood trivia, while being simultaneously entertained by a murder mystery. Carey and Bellantoni deftly alternate the voices of the two main characters, Cindy and Jay, along with a solid number of secondary ones. Sometimes Bellantoni's females sound a little similar to one another, but Bissonette keeps the plot moving throughout a few twists. Overall, the narrators mirror the written words with appropriate vocal inflections, making for an enjoyable listen. B.E.S. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine

DECEMBER 2022 - AudioFile