This was a completely enjoyable cozy quirky mystery, it didn't bring anything new to that space for me which makes sense cause its a re release of an older title. I did enjoy the mystery and her pestery nature, but I felt that the mystery itself was fairly obvious and easy to spot early on. That being said I will probably listen to the next few just to see what happens with her and the detective, I'm a sucker for a pest/detective slow burn.

First and foremost, thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing and Audio for access to the aARC in exchange for my honest review.

I’m a sucker for a good cozy mystery and I loved Taken to the Cleaners! This book had the perfect blend of suspense, charm, and quirky characters. The narration was spot-on. A delightful listen for anyone who enjoys a lighthearted yet intriguing mystery!

This was a cute, easy listen and the narration was well done. I had no idea this was a book wrote in the 90s until I looked into more about the author to see other books. This was well done nothing outstanding story wise but nice easy cosy listen. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for this audio arc.

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

This book was almost exactly what I expected it to be, knowing it was a re-release from 1997. It lost one star for being period-typical "edgy", which I got tired of faster than I expected, and lost another star for an abortion joke. Pretty sure nobody on either side of that political line would find that joke funny.

Taken to the Cleaners is a cozy and engaging whodunit that kept me entertained. As the first book in the series, it definitely left me excited to explore more. While it has some dated elements, it didn't take away from the charm of Mandy's story and all of the likable characters. I'm looking forward to continuing the series and seeing how the story develops.

Thank you NetGalley and Brilliance Audio for the chance to listen to this book in exchange for my honest review. 3.25

First and foremost, thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing and Audio for access to the aARC in exchange for my honest review.

Review:
3.75 ⭐s rounded up to 4

Originally published in 1997 with its audio debut hitting in April 2025, Taken to the Cleaners was certainly a nostalgic kick for me as a product of the 90s.

Mandy Dyer owns a dryer cleaner in Denver, CO after the passing of her uncle. Everything in her life is going well, even with the recent edition of Spot the grumpy cat in her studio apartment. Until Betty the local bag lady shows up at the dry cleaner with a bloody suit in one of the cleaner's bags that puts Mandy smack dab in the middle of a murder investigation being headed by 'hunky' Detective Foster.

This was definitely entertaining to listen to. While it was a fairly stereotypical cozy mystery, the character, Betty, gave it something unique and fun. Foster was endearing enough, Mandy was sweet even if she didn't make some of the best decisions. I will admit, this one did definitely keep me guessing.

As for the narrator, I enjoyed her well enough, but every scene with Mack was...a lot. I didn't fully understand the vocal inflections she used for his character and at times, it was annoying.

All in all, it is definitely the product of its time period, but it was fun and lighthearted.

What a fabulously fun, super cute, cozy read. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from the author.

This was a fun read! I always love a good cozy mystery!

Mandy inherited her uncles dry cleaning business. A homeless woman brings in a bloody suit. Who did this belong to??? Mandy is sharing clues with the homicide detective and trying to figure out some things on her own.

I loved the characters and the plot. I was guessing until the end. I think the narrator did a wonderful job. I had no idea this book originally came out in the 90s, so cool!

Thank you NetGalley, Dolores and Brilliance Publishing for the ALC!

Publication Date: April 15 2025
Rating: ✨✨✨

Out Damn Spot...and capture the murderer

This is the first in the Mandy Dyer series first published in 1997 and being republished. This is the first cozy mystery series I’ve read that is set in a dry cleaners. It makes sense how much dry cleaners can deduce about their customers and how many people they come in contact with. This is super helpful when it comes to protagonists gleaming information before law enforcement.

I like the secondary characters, especially Betty. I admire how Mandy acknowledges Betty as a person.

While I did figure out the culprit, not sure about why. Loved how Betty told Mandy she’s a little slow on the uptake - I agreed. Despite that, I didn’t mind continuing to read. It was a nice easy read. I am want to know what happens with Mandy, Mac, Nat, Betsy, and Det. Foster.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #BrillianceAudio #OpenRoadMedia for the opportunity to share my thoughts on the story.

Happy Reading!

This was such a fun listen! The mystery was very well done, and I immensely enjoyed Mandy as a character (I am noisy and would also try to solve the murder). I loved the cast of characters—shoutout to Betty.

I was proud of myself for solving the mystery before anything was given away and made apparent.

I loved the narrator and how distinctive she made all the different voices; it made the story so much more immersive.

Dolores Johnson’s Taken to the Cleaners is an engaging mix of murder mystery, business intrigue, and romance, made even more compelling in audiobook format. The narration is excellent, with distinct voices that bring each character to life. The delivery is smooth, making the story easy to follow despite a sizable cast, and the dialogue flows naturally, enhancing the immersive experience.

The plot is chock-full of action, romance, and unexpected twists that keep the listener hooked. The murder mystery unfolds cleverly, offering plenty of red herrings and allowing the audience to piece together clues alongside the protagonist. The complexity of professional and personal relationships is woven seamlessly into the narrative, making the stakes feel real and the drama all the more engaging. The love triangle backdrop adds another layer of intrigue without overpowering the central mystery.

The main character’s nosiness makes her feel incredibly relatable, and her determination drives the story forward. Side characters, like Betty and Nat, provide well-placed comic relief, adding levity to the tense moments. Spot the cat is a charming addition, a sweet yet silly presence that brings warmth to the story. Some characters, like Mac and Nat, were a little difficult to keep straight at times, but that may just be a personal issue rather than a flaw in the writing.

The action scenes are thrilling, keeping the pace fast and the stakes high. The twists and betrayals hit hard, leading to a shocking and unexpected conclusion that ties back to earlier details in a satisfying way. The ending leaves just enough uncertainty to set up future books, making it a perfect lead-in for a potential series.

Overall, Taken to the Cleaners is a gripping audiobook experience, blending mystery, action, and romance seamlessly. Fans of twisty mysteries with strong characters, humor, and high-stakes drama will find plenty to love..

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC opportunity!

This was a fun, quick easy read. I liked the main character and the side characters. There were parts that were very unrealistic but i imagine some of that was purposefully put so that you would get scattered on who the killer may be.

I was wrong about who it was, but they were one of my top 3 choices.

So I had listened to about 50% of this book and I mentioned to my husband that the book seemed like a cozy mystery from back in the day except it had some modern references.
Afterwards I came on to list the book and its progress and came to find out that the book is a rerelease as it was originally published in 1997!

It has obviously been updated since it has mentioning things that just weren’t a thing back then but over all it shows that the book is timeless. I really enjoyed this cozy mystery. It was definitely a low stakes palette cleanser. It was a bit predictable but that didn’t bother me as it was a joy to listen to.

I am thankful to have gotten a complimentary audio ALC from Brilliance Audio through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again