Silk Stalkings (Material Witness Mystery Series #3)
4.9
17
5
1
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780425270592 |
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| Publisher: | Penguin Publishing Group |
| Publication date: | 08/02/2016 |
| Series: | Material Witness Mystery Series , #3 |
| Pages: | 304 |
| Sales rank: | 498,246 |
| Product dimensions: | 4.10(w) x 6.70(h) x 0.90(d) |
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Customer Reviews
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Silk Stalkings
4.9 out of 5
based on
0 ratings.
17 reviews.
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It's is time for the pageant and Poly doesn't know too much about it since she is new to town. She is the owner of the fabric shop and is asked to help with the dresses for the young women. Then Poly finds the main financial supporter and creator of the pageant was murdered. Poly manages to get involved in trying to help figure out what happened. Did Poly get herself in the middle of trouble?
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Polyester Monroe loves running the material shop that she inherited from her great-uncle. She's happy living in San Ladron and wants to make a success of Material Girl. When Harvey Halliwell offers her the opportunity to help make the gowns for the Miss Tangorli pageant, she accepts. Little does she know that she'll be trying to solve a murder. So much for a peaceful life in a small town? Poly is an intelligent and feisty woman. I liked that she wants to investigate who killed Harvey. Her friend, Charlie, is keeping secrets. Is she involved in someway? With the help of Vaughn McMichaels, Poly is ferreting out clues. Vaughn is attracted to Poly as she is to him, but romance is on hold as they track down a killer. No easy task since so many people disliked Harvey Halliwell and his pageant. The small town setting adds to the drama. After all it's impossible to keep a secret since the rumor mill is alive and well. I love the touch of romance. Poly and Vaughn are perfect together. I'm hoping for more on that front. Diane Vallere did a wonderful job with this well told mystery. It's filled with plenty of suspects. Each has a motive. I was kept guessing until the surprising twist at the very end. I'm enjoying this series and am looking forward to the next release.
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I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This was the best in the series so far. When I reviewed Suede to Rest, I admitted that at first I didn't care for Polyester Monroe, but she's wormed her way into my heart.
In this installment, Poly is finally settled in and has given her shop as well as her friend Genevieve's tea shop a "shot in the arm" with Poly's idea of "Midnight in Paris". The entire main street of town is closed for traffic as townspeople and visitors alike enjoy the shops, especially the food and bubbly at Tea Totalers. At the stroke of midnight, everyone moves to Waverly House to see the gardens. While Poly and Vaughn enjoy the ambiance, they see local Citrus King (he's famous for the Tangorli fruit) Harvey Halliwell in a confrontation with a strange man. When Halliwell is later found dead, Poly suspects the stranger.
Her time quickly becomes filled as she gets involved with the Miss Tangorli pageant as the 20 finalists come to her shop to choose fabric and design their own gowns. Toss in a girl who doesn't belong, another who's new to town, seeing the strange man with her pal Charlie and Poly's on the case and there's no shortage of suspects!
The usual characters are here again, including Giovanni and "his girls" who help Poly get the dresses made...Vaughn and his parents...Charlie...Sheriff Clark. All are involved in one way or another with Poly's doings.
Ms. Vallere has really hit her stride in this series with this book. She had me guessing until the end, which isn't always the case. Kudos to Diane Vallere!
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Silk Stalkings by Diane Vallere is third book in the Material Witness series. This is the first book I have read in this series. Once again Poly becomes involved in solving a murder that occurred in San Ladron, California. Poly has become involved with the town’s annual Miss Tangorli beauty pageant by offering beautiful silks from her inventory to create pageant gowns for the contestants. Although many of the characters from the first two books appear in this story, this is a stand alone book.
This was a very enjoyable story with entertaining characters that you want to get to know better. The characters were well written, authentic and complex. The story line was riveting and kept my attention to the very end. I genuinely enjoyed reading this book. I highly recommend this book to other readers.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
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This is the third in the series, but the first one that I have read. I thought it was great!!!! I learned a lot about fabrics. I have been slowly teaching myself ( and I mean slowly! ) how to use a sewing machine, and what materials are good for what, and this really helped. Now it's obviously not a how to book so it's not jam packed with materials and stuff like that. But I could definitely feel the theme. I didn't have any trouble figuring out who was who. It was explained very well. The mystery was great! And I loved how Poly (Polyester) , the main character, was very loyal to her friends. But if something happened with her friend that was important to the murder investigation, she made she she told the detective. She never witheld information. It was a thoroughly terrific read.
I received a free copy of this book, in exchange of an honest review.
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Silk Stalkings is a truly delightful book. This is the third book in the Material Witness Mysteries, but the first one that I have read. It can definitely stand alone because Ms. Vallere provides brief back stories of the characters, and I did not feel as if I was missing anything as I got into the story. Poly Monroe is a charming protagonist who finds herself involved with the San Ladron Miss Tangorli Beauty Pageant through her fabric shop, Material Girl. When the event sponsor is murdered just days before the pageant, Poly sets out to try to find the killer. The mystery keeps you guessing until the end, and is quite a page turner. I truly enjoyed meeting the residents of San Ladron, as well as the charming sewing ladies, especially Miss Yun. Poly's creativity with fabrics shines through this book, and there is even a craft project at the end. My appetite has been whetted to read the first two books in the series, and I am also really looking forward to the next one in the series to come out. I highly recommend this book and know you will enjoy it as much as I did.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
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I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for my honest review.
I really like this series! And this third book in the series doesn't disappoint. Poly continues to get her business going and things are looking up. She is asked to help with the annual pageant. She really tries hard to get the community to work together.
I really like how we are getting to know the characters more. We are finding out things from their pasts that give the characters more depth. Even Giovanni gets involved, in a good way, with the pageant and we get to see the good side of him.
I look forward to more books in this series!
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Silk Stalkings by Diane Vallere is the third book in a Material Witness Mystery series. Polyester Monroe (aka Poly) owns Material Girl in San Ladron, California. The town is getting ready for the Miss Tangorli pageant. It is an annual beauty pageant sponsored by Harvey Halliwell and his company, Halliwell Industries. Poly has agreed to help the twenty finalist design and create their gowns (level the playing field). Poly has contacted her former boss, Giovanni for assistance with the sewing. He has agreed to bring his ladies to town to sew the gowns. Harvey Halliwell came by Material Girl to work out the details with Poly (instead of his assistant, Nolene Kelly). Poly had seen Harvey having a disagreement the night before with a man at the Midnight in Paris event. Poly tried to talk to him about it, but Harvey brushed it aside. Poly is out later and notices something under a tree. She finds Harvey Halliwell dead with a knife in his side. Why would someone kill Harvey? Poly sets out to find the person responsible. In addition, Poly is worried about her friend, Charlie Brooks. Poly noticed the man who was arguing with Harvey go into Charlie’s Automotive, and Charlie has been acting strangely. What is she up to? Poly wants to make sure that Charlie is safe and does not get caught up in the murder investigation. So much for a quiet life in a small town. Can Poly find the killer before the new Miss Tangorli is crowned? You will have to read Silk Stalkings to find out!
Silk Stalkings was a wonderful novel. The novel has likeable characters (that you want to know and be friends with) and a great close-knit community in a small town. I found Silk Stalking to be well-written and easy to read (good pace or flow). The mystery is intricate with lots of twists making it difficult to solve (I loved it). I truly enjoy a mystery that puzzles me and makes me think (keeps the brain cells active). The subplot with Charlie was equally interesting. There are also beautiful descriptions of the fabric in Poly’s store especially the silk satin that the ladies are using for their gowns. While Silk Stalkings is the third book in a Material Witness Mystery series, it can be read alone. The author brings the reader up-to-date on what happened in the prior novels and the character’s background (though I highly suggest reading the first two books as they are just as delightful). I give Silk Stalkings 5 out of 5 stars (I loved it). I will definitely be reading future novels in a Material Witness Mystery series.
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.
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Great series! Due to a mix-up on my part, I read a book 3 in a series before I had read any other book. It turned out to be OK, but it did send me on a reading binge! I love the Material Witness series from the premise to the characters! Poly and her fabric shop are very interesting and I do not sew! Having all the contestants in a pageant wear dresses made from the same fabric but in different colors is a terrific idea.
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This is the first book that I have read by Diane Vallere but it is the third book in the Material Witness Mystery series. I will definitely be going back and reading the first two books in the series! I loved the fabric store and the town of San Ledron, California. The descriptions made it come alive in my mind. The characters are likeable and well developed. The book was very interesting and kept me wanting to see what would happen next. I'm looking forward to the continued development of this series.
I received this book from a drawing at Cozy Mystery Review Crew for a fair and honest review.
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I really enjoyed this book. A pageant is in town and Poly's shop is going to create the gowns. When Harvey ends up dead, Poly is drawn into searching for answers, especially when a stranger is involved who seems to be tied to Charlie.
The characters are diverse but mix together so well and they make for a fun read. Poly is a strong likable woman and I get a real kick out of Vaughn, their comments to each other had me laughing a few times. The mystery was excellent it really kept me guessing with plenty of twists and turns which all tied together nicely in the end.
I will definitely continue on with this series.
There is the added bonus of a project in the back.
*I won a copy of this book and this is my honest opinion.
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Thoroughly enjoyed another Material Girl mystery. I love the way Diane weaves the story. Very well written. I really didn't see the ending coming as to who committed the crime. Looking forward to another one. I want to see what happens with Poly, Vaughn, Charlie and the townspeople of San Ladron.
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I dove right in to this new mystery by Vallere. The Miss Tangorli pageant has a long history in San Ladron, California. Named for the tangerine/orange/lime crop that made Harvey Halliwell very rich, the pageant boasts twenty young women, all vying for the top prize. Poly Monroe, owner of the local fabric store, is personally asked by Halliwell to provide dress fabric and design guidance for all of the contestants. I enjoyed learning more about the history of San Ladron, the cultivating of the Tangorli, and how these local store owners try to capitalize on the pageant business. I liked that Poly is still somewhat of a newcomer to town, and learning the ropes about small town news. Being the one to find the body puts her right in the middle of the action, plus her best friend Charlie Brooks is acting very strange. There are a lot of characters and stories going on here, but no one gets short shrift. The murder naturally pulls some story lines together and others resolve on their own. It wasn’t easy to figure out, as there were plenty of motives and opportunities for several suspects, which kept the story moving along. Vallere is a great writer and I look forward to reading more about Poly, Vaughn and the other inhabitants of San Ladron. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
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Silk Stalkings has all of the small-town charm you expect from a cozy mystery, but with some refreshingly unique characters thrown in. There's plenty of personal crisis to keep you interested (and maybe a bit distracted), but nothing so melodramatic that you feel like you're reading a soap opera rather than a mystery novel. I was sucked right into the story and finished this in 2 sittings. I really enjoyed this one, and highly recommend it for cozy fans.
If you haven't started this series yet, I'd suggest starting with #1. It won't take long to catch up, and you'll have a better understanding of the personal relationships between several of the characters.
NOTE: I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review - all comments and opinions are my own.
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Poly Stalks Another Killer
While I have tended to avoid the crafty themed cozies over the years, one of the exceptions has been Diane Vallere’s Material Witness Mysteries. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the first two, but Silk Stalkings is even better.
June in San Ladrone means it is time for the annual Miss Tangorli festival. This annual beauty pageant was founded by Harvey Halliwell, who first created the hybrid citrus fruit that combines orange, tangerine, and lime. In an effort to level the playing field this year, Polyester Monroe has been brought in to provide silk from her store for the gowns the contestants will wear.
Tragedy strikes when Poly finds Harvey murdered mere hours after getting the job. Worse yet, her friend Charlie, the town’s mechanic, seems to know the main suspect, a man she is protecting for some reason. With her job inside the contest, Poly begins to learn more about Harvey and meet more suspects. Can she figure out who killed him?
I realized just how much I have come to love these characters when I started the book. It was absolutely fabulous to be spending time with them again. We get to see plenty of growth in their relationships by what happens over the course of the book, which is always a joy in a series. Of course, the new characters are just as strong and interesting as the series regulars.
The plot starts quickly and keeps moving forward at a steady pace. Poly is always learning something new and there are a couple of very fun scenes along the way as well. Naturally, we reach a logical and suspenseful climax.
If you are looking for a project after you’ve solved the mystery, you’ll find instructions on how to create a garment bag. And naturally, this is a project inspired by the book.
Silk Stalkings is a wonderful third in a series that will please those who loved the first two books. And if that isn’t you because you haven’t met the characters yet, you need to fix that today.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
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STORY LINE:
Author Diane Vallere's engaging character, Polyester Monroe, is back in the thick of things in San Ladron. Her knowledge of fabrics, the design industry, and her knack for ferreting out mysteries and murderers are in top form in this novel.
Poly finds herself in the middle of the annual Miss Tangorli pageant which brings in many visitors and money to San Ladron. Add in several mysteries and the murder of the pageant founder and you have a who one done it of the first order.
Come along with Poly and friends as they solve mysteries, reveal secrets, and catch a murderer.
CHARACTERS, PLOTTING, AND DEVELOPEMENT:
I love a good murder mystery and this one kept my attention as I read it straight through. Author Diane Vallere had several plots in this engaging story. She did a very skillful job of bringing all the clues, plots, and characters together. With Poly and Vaughn dancing around each other, the mystery of her friend Charlie's life, the murder of the pageant founder, and many suspects that have motives for the murder, this book will keep you reading and wishing the story had not ended.
The secondary characters in this story are necessary to the structure of the town and the story-line and skillfully developed by Ms. Vallere. Each adds elements to the story. You will come to love or hate them as each one's history is revealed as the story progresses.
Ms. Vallere weaves an intriguing mystery full of clues and action. Each revelation was a surprise to me, as I had not put the pieces together correctly. Add in two adorable cats, Pins and Needles, and Poly's knowledge of fabrics, the fashion industry, her talent for investigation, the author's descriptive writing style, and you are ready for several hours of entertainment. Ms. Vallere added in touches of humor which had me chuckling as I read.
This is a solid, well-written, and developed book. I found the pace on target for the length of the book. Her characters are portrayed with realism and San Ladron is small town U.S.A. with all its faults, secrets, and quirky residents.
RECOMMENDATION: 4 STARS
If you are looking for a solid story that is well written and will hold you interest, this book is for you. It is a clean mystery that I enjoyed from start to finish. Although, part of a series, this book is a standalone.
I received this book from Netgalley in return for an honest book review. Book reviews of any novel are dependent on the book review author’s opinion; all book reviews on line under my name and on my blog, are my opinion.
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Anyone who thinks polyester is out of style has never met Polyester Monroe!
I had so much fun reading the first two books in the Material Witness Mysteries, so I was really looking forward to book three, SILK STALKINGS. It was totally worth the wait!
It’s hard to not have a great time with characters like series lead, Polyester “Poly” Monroe, and her BFF Charlie Brooks. Charlie is such a fun and unique character. I always laugh at the things she says and does.
SILK STALKINGS is 275 pages (if you read the print copy) of mystery, mayhem, action, and fun. The fantastic storyline makes for a fast and entertaining read. I didn’t want to put it down. Author Diane Vallere really knows how to write ‘em!
Check out the back of the book for a fun craft project, and read the excerpt of A DISGUISE TO DIE FOR, book one in the Costume Shop Mysteries, also by Diane Vallere!
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