Dressed for Success . . . Turned Out for Murder by Donna Mumma Review

 

Dressed for Success. . . Turned Out for Murder by Donna Mumma is the awesome third book in her Women of Wynton's Mystery series. I was so excited that I was able to visit with Mary Jo, Audrey, Vivien, Gigi, and Mirette again, along with other beloved characters from Levi City, Florida. It was another intriguing trip to the late 1950s and Wynton's Department Store where another murder mystery gripped me and wouldn't let go.

Mary Jo declared at the beginning of the book that 1957 was going to be their year. Unfortunately, that was not going to be the case. Not when her husband was accused of murdering his boss, and because of the head injury he sustained, he can't remember what happened, and has no defense. Even though her friends and her boss are behind her, Mary Jo is now being ostracized for being the wife of a murderer, and she also has to deal with her bitter, complaining mother who is living with her and her two girls. As you can imagine, she is quite stressed and it is a struggle to make it through each day.

But Audrey, and Gigi, and Vivien, along with Immogene and Mirette, are helping her try to figure out who the real murder is, because they just know there is no way her husband killed his boss. . . is there? Unfortunately they don't have much to go on. And the police have their hands full with the two rival families. Throw in a gambling ring, loan sharks, a missing ledger, and annoying, slimy, stalkerish men, and you've got a book that kept me turning the pages. 

One of the things that keeps me glued to a book is having a character that is wrongfully accused. I NEEDED to find out who the actual murderer was. Plus, I love a book with suspense, and even though this was more of a cozy mystery, there was definitely some suspense, but not too intense. In fact, I think there was more intense suspense in the first two books. And oh boy, I have to say, I did not see the big reveal coming. What a twist. Definitely NOT on my radar. Though, looking back, maybe this person should have been. 

It wasn't just the mystery that kept me turning the pages either. I loved going behind the scenes in the department store again. I loved seeing the camaraderie that the women shared. I loved following each of the four characters in their own lives.I loved seeing them standing up against racism (remember this is set in the 1950s in the south). I just loved all the little things that brought these characters and this setting to life. And I just found out today that this series is going to continue, and I can not wait until book four is here. 

This is definitely a book, and a series, that I recommend. And yes, to get to know these characters and truly understand their lives, you will want to read the books in order. Though each books' mystery does get solved nicely with no cliff hangers. 

I received an e-copy of this book from the publisher and was not required to write a favorable review. These are my own honest thoughts.