Veiled in Death

This was a new to me author, but it won't be my last. This was a really fun cozy mystery with quirky characters and a well-written mystery. I will be going back to read the other books in this series.

Veiled in Death is the sixth installment in the Wedding Planner Mystery series set in the small town of Port Quincy, PA and featuring B&B owner/wedding planner Mallory Shepard. Things are busy at Thistle Park and Mallory and her sister Rachel are searching for an assistant, planning the upcoming Cordials and Cannonballs festival and also trying to prepare for Mallory's upcoming wedding to her fiance, Garrett.

Mallory is helping plan a Summer wedding for her friends Bev Mitchell and Jesse, which is putting her in a difficult spot since Mallory's mother Carole used to date Jesse and the two women do not get along. While hunting through an antique shop Mallory and Bev discover an old piece of lace that both women agree would make a perfect veil and they decide to split the purchase so both can wear it at their weddings. As they make their way from the store, Mallory is accosted by Helene Pierce, mother of her ex-fiance Keith. Mallory and Helene have a tumultuous relationship but Mallory is surprised when Helene rips the lace from her hands and claims that she in fact is the rightful owner of the lace purported to have been made by Betsy Ross and that the piece was stolen from her twenty five years ago.

Things quickly go down hill when at the festival's opening Revolutionary War reenactment someone opens fire on the participants, killing one and injuring two others. Mallory feels there's a connection between the lace, the recent shooting and the accident that killed Helene's husband, Richard twenty five years ago and sets out to track down a killer.

A fast paced plot features several intertwined mysteries and the return of series regulars. A perfect blend of history, relationship conflict, romance and the heartbreak surrounding IVF treatment and adoption. A must read addition to the series.

I received an advanced copy of Veiled in Death from NetGalley via Kensington Publishing. While not required to write a review I am happy to offer my honest opinion.

This is the 6th installment in the Wedding Planner Mystery series. Mallory is helping her friend Bev with her wedding and at an antique shop they find a beautiful lace veil that they think they both might use. As soon as they leave the store they run into Helene (the mother of her ex fiancé) and she rips the veil out of her hands and claims that it is really a family heirloom and supposedly made by Betsey Ross. Bev and Mallory think this veil is just not worth the trouble since the veil is potentially linked to another death 25 years prior and then another murder happens in town. Mallory vows not to sleuth but it happens anyway. I like Mallory but she does need to stand up for herself with her family. This is a good series and the story kept me engaged until the very end. Looking forward to the next installment.

Wedding planner Mallory Shepard is helping her friend Bev plan her wedding when they come across a beautiful old lace veil at the local antique store. Buying it together in hopes they can both wear it for their respective nuptials, things turn ugly when The mother of Mallory’s ex fiancé grabs it out of her hands, tearing the delicate, old lace and clicking it is hers. To make it even more interesting, it turns out the lace veil is said to have been made by the infamous Betsy Ross, making it a valuable piece of Americana.

As Mallory soon finds out, the veil has already resulted in one death, which may have been a murder, a quarter of a century ago. As Mallory and Bev learn more about the lace, they soon learn it’s not worth having when they have to fear for their lives when another murder happens at a town celebration. While Mallory vows to not sleuth, things just fall in her lap and she has to decide whether it’s worth risking her life for.

This is the best one yet in this fabulous series. I couldn’t wait to see what happened and whodunit. A great series to add to your cozy reading list!