Review - Deadly Fashion

 "If you are a fan of Jacqueline Winspear, Susan Elia MacNeal, or Rhys Bowen, you are going to love Kate Parker's Deadly series."  

Kate Parker is the author of the Victorian Bookshop series as well as this WWII era series.  I reviewed the first in the series, Deadly Scandal (click here), I read the second but sadly hadn't reviewed it.  Here is the third book in the this exciting series.

Author: Kate Parker

Copyright: January, 2018 (JDP Press) 318 pgs

Series: 3rd in Deadly Mystery series

Sensuality: mild

Mystery Sub-genre: Historical mystery, amateur sleuth

Main Characters: Olivia Dennis, Young widow and society columnist 

Setting: 1938 London and Paris

Obtained Through: Library

Book Blurb: "A Nazi-trained assassin with an assignment to take out anti-appeasement leaders in Britain adds one more name to the list. Olivia Denis.

September, 1938. Olivia Denis wins a plum assignment from her newspaper covering a glamorous French fashion designer providing frocks for Britain’s elite. While there, she finds herself rubbing shoulders with the fabulously wealthy, advising the aristocracy, and tripping over the body of a German anti-Nazi resistance leader.

In her search for a killer, Olivia discovers that an assassin with links to the London fashion house is targeting prominent British politicians.

Now Olivia must find the assassin before Britain loses the leaders who can best protect it from the Nazi menace. As she digs for the truth inside the designer’s studio, Olivia finds herself in the assassin’s crosshairs. Can Olivia survive a killer waiting in the shadows for the right moment to remove her...permanently?"

Olivia Dennis is a smart, capable young woman trying to be independent at a time when it wasn't acceptable.  Captain Adam Redmond, who works for Army Intelligence, is the romantic interest and gets only a little page time in this book, but his appearances show dynamics with Olivia and her father.  Olivia's father, Sir Ronald Harper, wants to control Olivia's life and tuck her away thus they have disagreements about her assignments. Sir Henry is the owner of the paper where she works and involves Olivia in aiding Jewish family and friends trying to secure means to leave occupied countries.  Mimi Mareau is a French fashion designer in the middle of the situation and is clearly a nod to Coco Chanel.  General Alford also has an assignment for Olivia to add to the excitement.

This is more than a murder mystery with its elements of intrigue with Sir Henry and General Alford asking for her help.  This kept my attention and I couldn't put it down with everything going on with the various plot lines. 

 I didn't foresee the killer, so kudos.  Although this wasn't an daring and tense killer reveal, I liked how it worked out.  The conclusion answers all the remaining questions and ends a great note.  

This series is quickly becoming on of my favorites.  Give it a try if you like historical mysteries with a dash of intrigue.

Rating:  Near Perfect - Buy two copies: one for you and one for a friend.