15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fashion and murder in DC., Oct 11 2004
By Dawn Dowdle "Mystery reviewer" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Designer Knockoff: A Crime of Fashion (Mass Market Paperback)
Lacey Smithsonian is a fashion columnist. Her column "Crimes of fashion" gives fashion advice to unfashionable D.C. She didn't choose to be a fashion columnist, it was chosen for her by her boss.
She learns that a new fashion museum will soon open in D.C. Designer Hugh Bentley spots her at one of the events. He tries to get her vintage Hugh Bentley suit, but Lacey won't swap. The suit was her aunt Mimi's, along with many other vintage clothes and patterns she left behind.
Lacey is a reporter at heart. An intern that she knows goes missing and she is hot on the story. She is also working to get the scoop on Bentley and his past. In doing so she uncovers a mystery that's never been solved about a missing Bentley employee, Gloria Adams. Lacey finds letters from Gloria to Mimi as well as some from Mimi to Gloria. These letters help give her a sense of what might have happened and some more background on Bentley.
Lacey begins to try to put the pieces together about both disappearances and see if there is any connection, as well as any connection to Bentley. In doing so, she finds herself in many sticky situations and puts herself and others in danger more than once.
I love this series. Lacey is such a fun character. I had trouble putting this book down. Make sure you read where you can laugh out loud.
Lacey's best friend and hairdresser Stella and Miguel who worked for the Bentley's are terrific characters as well. They add a lot of fun to this story.
Ms. Byerrum has a real handle on fashion in D.C. Lacey's columns are right on the mark!
If you like cozies, you will love this book. I highly recommend it Killer Hair, the first in this series.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
offbeat, quirky and eccentric, Aug 3 2004
By Harriet Klausner - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Designer Knockoff: A Crime of Fashion (Mass Market Paperback)
The column "Crimes of Fashion" of fashion reporter for the Eye Street Observer Lacey Smithsonian Chase has more to do with crime than fashion. She is at the capital building covering a $40 million dollar appropriation to the National Building Museum but the committee members do not how that item got into the bill that was passed. While observing the proceedings, Lacey notices that Washington Staffer Esme Fairchild who is always around in a high profile manner surprisingly is nowhere in sight.
Lacey cannot get Esme off her mind and as the days go by, the police start to believe she is dead. Esme serves as liaison between fashion designer Hugh Bentley and the committee who wanted to revoke the museum findings. Coincidentally, Lacey wore a premier design from Bentley's first collection. He offers her more money to sell her the suit. She does not give in to his demand because her great aunt believed that he was responsible for the disappearance of factory girl Gloria Adams during WWII who was having an affair with him. Lacey, who wants off the fashion beat decides to investigate Esme and Gloria's disappearance.
Ellen Byerrum is a very talented writer with an offbeat sense of humor and talent for creating quirky and eccentric characters that will have readers laughing at their antics. There are some very good fashion tips spread throughout DESIGNER KNOCKOFF. This is a great beach read because it is the perfect way to relax and enjoy the water. It will be hard to wait for the next book in this "hate crime" series.
Harriet Klausner
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Better and better . . ., Jan 23 2005
By Terryl Paiste - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Designer Knockoff: A Crime of Fashion (Mass Market Paperback)
I laughed so hard at "Killer Hair," I couldn't imagine Ellen Byerrum topping herself with her second book. Happily, I was wrong. "Designer Knockoff" is even better - an expanded cast of wonderfully original and offbeat characters, a fascinating murder (well, two actually, separated by decades by linked by circumstance and fate), and, of course, Ms. Smithsonian at the center, stirring up action every page. Again the reader can delight in her funny fashion columns and her never-ending ability to surprise. I love this series!