At the Drop of a Hat

January 1, 2015
McKinlay, who has three popular series going strong, returns to her Hat Shop series starring Scarlett Parker and Vivian Tremont, owners of Mim's Whims on Portobello Road in London. Cousins Scarlett and Vivian are happy to be hired to restore a wedding hat their beloved grandmother made. But when the bride, Ariana, can't be reached for a confirmation, Scarlett visits Ariana's office to find her screaming over the body of her solicitor boss, who fell from the roof moments before Scarlett arrived. The police like Ariana for the crime, especially since some fabric from Ariana's blouse is found in the victim's hand. Scarlett disagrees, of course, and she, Vivian, and their friends talk to a colorful cast of the deceased's shady acquaintances in an effort to find the real killer. McKinlay sets the London scene skillfully, with plenty of details on shops and food, and, as in all her work, the skillful plotting keeps readers thinking while allowing plenty of time to engage with the ever-so-appealing cast. Laura Childs' fans will also appreciate the nice mix of action, setting, and character.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)