Dorothy Howell

Reader Comments about HANDBAGS AND HOMICIDE

Kensington
ISBN: 9780758223753
(June 2, 2009)

Here are comments from our group of Advance Readers about Dorothy Howell's HANDBAGS AND HOMICIDE.

AK from Oak Hill, VA

What other mystery authors do you usually read?
Susan Kandel, Madelyn Alt, Elaine Viets and Denise Swanson.

What did you think of HANDBAGS AND HOMICIDE?
I loved it! The writing style is very blunt and honest. Haley is a great character --- full of flaws and a bit on the self-centered side, but a lot of fun to follow. Having worked in retail for a while, I could really identify the awful working atmosphere at Holt's. I also have been known to use a little retail therapy when I'm upset, so Haley is definitely someone I could relate to. Additionally, both of the mysteries were entertaining and well developed, with little twists and turns that moved the story along quickly.

Would you ever read a future book by Dorothy Howell?
Most definitely! Already looking forward to PURSES AND POISON in July.

Chris from Trevor, WI

What other mystery authors do you usually read?
I love cozies so I read whatever I come across --- Tim Myers, Joanna Cambell Slan, Margaret Grace, etc. I've read craft mysteries, knitting cozies, quilters, etc. I am working my way down a very long list. (Funny thing, I look but have yet to find any cozy mysteries at garage sales. Not sure what that means? Ha!)

What did you think of HANDBAGS AND HOMICIDE?
Funny. I understand the character's "fetish" but I'm not so sure someone working in a law firm would "stoop" to working in a department store. But cozies are such that you suspend some "over-the-top" premises.

Would you ever read a future book by Dorothy Howell?
Sure, why not?

Julie from Excelsior, MN

What other mystery authors do you usually read?
I really enjoy Laura Childs’s Tea Shop mysteries, the Agatha Raisin stories by M.C. Beaton, Denise Swanson's Scumble River series, Joanne Fluke's MN series, anything by P. J .Tracy (they're an awesome mother/daughter team), and of course, Agatha Christie classics!

What did you think of HANDBAGS AND HOMICIDE?
I really enjoyed Haley Randolph and her crazy life. From the Pike Warner debacle (which she cleared up) and the body of Richard in the stockroom, I think Haley was just sassy enough without being mean for a good detecting gal. I have a background in retail and I really enjoyed some of her descriptions of what they are made to do (lots of recovery and credit card apps!) and even their special holiday sale. Haley's cliffhanger of sorts of what to do with her life (and Ty) definitely make me want to read more. It was a breezy read that swept me away with great descriptions of designer bags, and had me chuckling in spots as I remembered my own recovery/customer service days.

Would you ever read a future book by Dorothy Howell?
Yes! I understand from Bookreporter.com that PURSES AND POISON comes out at the end of June!

Julie from Odessa, TX

What other mystery authors do you usually read?
I enjoy James Patterson, Jonathan Kellerman, Laura Childs, Lisa Gardner, Stuart Woods, Carolyn Hart, Lisa Scottoline, Sue Grafton, Jon Grisham, and many more.

What did you think of HANDBAGS AND HOMICIDE?
I enjoyed it. It was a fun read, but I thought the main character (Haley) was a bit over the top. I did love the purse angle, cute.

Would you ever read a future book by Dorothy Howell?
Maybe, not sure.

Nancy from Monroe, NC

What other mystery authors do you usually read?
Mary Higgins Clark And J. D. Robb.

What did you think of HANDBAGS AND HOMICIDE?
I really enjoyed reading it. It was funny, and so good I didn't want to put it down. I wanted to find out who did it.

Would you ever read a future book by Dorothy Howell?
Yes, I can't wait for PURSES AND POISON.

Lana from Otsego, MI

What other mystery authors do you usually read?
I read a lot of the old-time authors, i.e, Agatha Christie, Rex Stout and Georges Simenon. I also like to read the first book of a new series to see if I would like to follow the series. I like cozy mysteries.

What did you think of HANDBAGS AND HOMICIDE?
I did not like the character(s) and the ending --- or rather, non-ending. I actually found the main character so disgusting that I just skimmed the book. I prefer likable characters and a definite ending.

Would you ever read a future book by Dorothy Howell?
No.

Lori from Mankato, MN

What other mystery authors do you usually read?
James Patterson, Janet Evanovich, Harlan Coben, Stephen King, Lawrence Sanders, Dan Brown and Barbara Michaels.

What did you think of HANDBAGS AND HOMICIDE?
I was so excited to receive the book and so disappointed when I started reading it. I have a hard time enjoying a book when I don't like the main character, and I couldn't stand Haley Randolph! She was shallow, nasty, dishonest with everyone, materialistic and extremely immature. I confess, I actually started skimming the last 1/3 of the book.

If Dorothy Howell was aiming for a cross between Stephanie Plum and Bridget Jones, she sadly missed the mark.

The plot would have been much more gripping if you didn't have to suffer through her continuous thoughts on anything by Gucci, Prada, Dooney & Bourke, the Notorious handbag, the Louis Vuitton organizer... and the criticism of the poor guy in the JC Penney suit and co-worker wearing the suit she bought off the sale rack in their own store. Mentioning that in the beginning of the book, fine, but throughout the entire book was irritating.

Oh, sorry... What was the plot again? Someone was murdered? I vaguely remember that happening.

Would you ever read a future book by Dorothy Howell?
No! Especially when I see the title of her next book is PURSES AND POISON! No, no, no.

Marcia from Batavia, IL

What other mystery authors do you usually read?
Other mystery authors I enjoy reading are Mary Higgins Clark, P. D. James, Alexander McCall Smith, John Grisham, Alan Bradley, John Hart, Lisa See and James Patterson, to name a few.

What did you think of HANDBAGS AND HOMICIDE?
I think HANDBAGS AND HOMICIDE makes a good "beach read" as it is fast and easy to get through. I thought the book was very predictable and Haley was not really a very likeable character. I will give this book a one star rating and I would probably not read a future book by Dorothy Howell.