Tote Bags and Toe Tags

April 9, 2012
In Howell’s fast and fun fifth mystery featuring feisty 24-year-old Haley Randolph (after 2011’s Clutches and Curses), a misunderstanding lands Haley a well-paying job as an event planner at a prestigious Southern California corporation. Unfortunately, Haley once again becomes a murder suspect after stumbling on the bludgeoned body of the company’s security department head, who was doing a background check on her. In addition to searching for the real killer to clear her name, Haley must locate a missing housekeeper, deal with hot private detective Jack Bishop, and puzzle out her hot-and-cold relationship with boyfriend Ty Cameron—not to mention hunting for the perfect designer handbag. Howell’s complex and compelling heroine is equal parts arrested adolescent, cunning investigator, accomplished liar, good friend, and fabulous dresser. Established fans and newcomers alike will look forward to her next appearance. Agent: Evan Marshall, the Evan Marshall Agency.

May 1, 2012

In her fifth outing (after Clutches and Curses), wisecracking handbag fashionista Haley once again finds dead bodies at her new place of employment.

Copyright 2012 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2012
A SoCal hottie can't stay out of trouble between trips to Starbucks. Armed with her new degree from the University of Mixology, Haley Randolph is ready to face her latest quest for the uber-exclusive Temptress handbag when she makes the mistake of telling her official boyfriend, Ty Cameron, about her achievement. Actually, it's Haley's BFF Marcie who brags about the UM degree, and it's not Haley's fault that he thinks UM is University of Michigan and that the degree is in business and not in the beverage trade, and it's not really her fault that she sort of ends up using her "Michigan" degree to get a job with contract agency Dempsey Rowland. What does a contract agency do, anyway? No matter what, Haley's sure that she's up to the task until she finds out there are background checks that are likely to uncover her less-than-stellar credentials. In a turn of events both lucky and tragic, chief of security, Violet Hamilton, is killed, which should give Haley time to stay employed just long enough to earn a paycheck...well, and maybe solve her murder, too. Meanwhile, Haley's high-maintenance mother insists that Haley help find her housekeeper Juanita, who had the gall to disappear instead of planning the menu for the latest dinner party. The Valley Girl voice Howell affects for the series (Slay Bells and Satchels, 2011, etc.) is, as she might say, mad old school. A reboot of the basic formula seems urgently needed to increase the lolz.

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May 1, 2012
In her fifth adventure, a little mix-up about her credentials lands Haley Randolph, shopaholic and amateur sleuth, in a corporate-events job. On her first day, she discovers the head of security, Violet, dead in an office. Soon it becomes clear that there are lots of secrets in the firm that people would like to keep quiet. In between running the Birthday Club and buying lunches on her new corporate credit card, Haley fantasizes about designer bags and talks to people who used to work at the company. She quickly realizes there are few young women working there except in administrative roles and that some people do not want her to plan Violet's memorial service. The well-crafted plot, humor, and designer details will appeal to fans of Laura Levine and MaryJanice Davidson.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)