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Duffy Brown: Consignment Shop Mystery Series

Iced Chiffon (A Consignment Shop Mystery Book 1) The Consignment Shop Mystery Series by Duffy Brown is yet another of the most recommended Cozy Mystery series in our monthly recommendations. The first book from the series is Iced Chiffon from 2012 and the series is already up to book five. (Great news for us!)

In Iced Chiffon we are introduced to the heroine, Reagan Summerside, whose mother is a local judge and a staunch Republican (thus the name “Reagan”). Reagan has just recently divorced from Hollis Beaumont, a seemingly well-off and well-connected in Savannah, real estate broker. The marriage lasted seven years. Against the stern advice from her mother, Reagan had married Hollis and had signed a prenuptial agreement that had left her pretty much destitute after the divorce. The only things she has left are her house (which her ex-husband has agreed to sign over but has not yet done so in the first book) and some of her clothes.

The book opens with Reagan living in her much loved sparsely furnished Victorian house that she and Hollis had bought and that she has partially refinished. Most of the furnishings have gone to pay some of her bills, and she is going through her clothes to take them to a consignment shop to pay even more bills. Instead, she eventually opens her own consignment shop (the Prissy Fox) due to the rapidly spreading of the word that Reagan has some nice designer clothes to sell. When she discovers the body of her ex-husband’s new girlfriend in front of her house in his car’s trunk, not only does the hunt for the killer begin, but Reagan’s new business gets some free publicity! (Hmmm, I think it’s a good thing…)

Our plucky heroine gets involved in solving the mystery to prevent her house from needing to be sold to pay for Hollis’ attorney fees when he (inevitably) is arrested for the murder. Reagan, along with her Aunt Kiki (who conveniently lives and runs a dance studio right next door), begins searching for clues and suspects in order to get her ex-husband off before the attorney’s fees rack up too high.

Set in and around a district with lovely historic homes in Savannah, Georgia, Reagan and her Aunt Kiki make a classic modern Cozy Mystery sleuth duo. With those two, along with Reagan’s practical, stern, and political mother, and Reagan’s two retired teacher neighbors who make money being paid to attend wakes, there are plenty of interesting recurring characters to get to know. (Yes, that’s what I said! Paid mourners!)

And, there is the handsome ex-gang member lawyer, Walker Boone. Walker represented Reagan’s ex in their divorce proceeding and has been retained to defend him over the murder charge. Reagan can’t stand Walker Boone because of the divorce negotiations where she lost practically everything. But she has to work with him (after a fashion) to try to get her ex-husband off before the attorney fees skyrocket and she loses her house. A handsome lawyer with a bad-boy past whom our heroine hates but has to work with. Hmm, I wonder where that leads?

Duffy Brown’s Consignment Shop Mystery Series is frequently recommended in our monthly recommendations >>> and I know why. It is a modern Cozy series with interesting and quirky but not too kooky characters. It has a setting filled with southern charm (and possible romance), with a sleuth who adopts a stray dog, is not daunted by having to take the bus (she has sold her car) to search for clues, and stops at nothing to get the truth to save her house and business. Recommended for anyone looking for a light and fun modern Cozy Mystery read.

P.S. If you’d like to see other entries about some of the most recommended Cozy Mystery authors, be sure to check out the Most Recommended Cozy Mystery Series page on my site.

Comments

  1. ‘Sounds good. I’ll give it a try….starting at the first one. Thanks, as always, for the recommendation.

    Reply

    • Merrilee B, I’ve started trying to highlight Cozy Mystery authors who (a) I like and (b) are recommended by other Cozy Mystery authors. I think that some of them are so good, they deserve to be tried! I hope you enjoy this series.

      Reply

    • Hi, Merrilee. You don’t have to read the series in order but it helps to set the mood. Thank you for the support, I really appreciate it. Have fun with Reagan and the Savannah gang. Hugs, Duffy.

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  3. I love, love, love this series. It is so much fun!! The author has a great sense of humor. I highly recommend these mysteries. Can’t wait for the next book to be released.

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  4. LOVE that you featured this series. I picked it up with the first book for one reason really, it is set in Savannah. Although I am a New England Yankee Girl, I adore this wonderful Southern city. I was hooked with my very first visit. And Savannah is as much of a character in the stories as any other. And she writes the city as it really is.
    But, once I started reading the book I found many other reasons to continue. It is such a smart and witty series, I find my self laughing out loud! I love the characters, especially Walker Boone he is such a wonderful and unique character. And come on, how many other cozies have gang members as characters.

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    • Thank you, Margaret!! Walker Boone is so much fun to write. Our mystery man. The voice of reason…usually. Hugs, Duffy

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  5. I love this series. Duffy Brown’s writing makes me laugh out loud with all of the crazy characters. The first book in her bicycle shop series was also very good.

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  6. Hi All,
    I was just able to watch the Agatha Raisin Quiche of Death Movie.. While I liked it, it is just like our Hallmark movies where the characters are not exactly like they are in the book which throws you off a bit..Agatha was blonde and thin (naturally) and she was much nicer than the real Agatha. I still enjoyed it because of the English Village atmosphere. It was a COZY Movie…

    Reply

    • Hi. LI. I just love anything Agatha. Even when they don’t do it exactly and the characters are off I just love watching a mystery. I’m totally addicted to anything who-dun-it. LOL Hugs, Duffy

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  8. Huge fan of the Consignment Shop mysteries! Walker Boone and Reagan are great fun. Love Aunt Kiki– she can pour me a martini any time.

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  9. I love the Consignment Shop mysteries. I love that it takes place in Savannah. The characters are really entertaining. I can’t wait for her to write another one. I met Duffy Brown last year at a Book Fair. She is the nicest lady. Even got a picture made with her. I would totally recommend this series for something fun to read.

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  10. Absolutely love this series!!! Trouble seems to seek Reagan out, Aunt Kiki is the Aunt everyone wants and Walker Boone is sexy and mysterious all at the same time. Can’t wait for the next book!

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  11. Just added the Consignment Cozy Mystery Series to my TBR list … and it keeps on growing. Thanks for the recommendation.

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  13. Oh, now I can’t wait to read this series – it’s been waiting in the wings for a little while now, so I moved it to the ‘next-in-line!’ All of these glowing recommendations make me wonder what took me so long.

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  14. Read all her books, just finished Demise in Denim! OMG!! I couldn’t believe the ending. Can’t wait for the next consignment shop mystery. Soon, please!!

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    • Hi, Janice!! I’m working on Lethal in Old Lace right now. It picks up where Demise in Denim left off. Thanks tons for all the support. Hugs, Duffy

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  15. There hasn’t been a continuation of this discussion, which last had a post, if I am seeing correctly, since April 21, 2016, but I wanted to ask a question. A couple of nights ago I finished the last book in the Consignment shop series that is presently listed (anywhere), “Demise in Denim.” Does anybody have some inside information about whether or not Duffy Brown is going to continue both of her series? I have read all the books in both of them, except for “Dead Man Walker.” I sure would LOVE for both series to continue. If Duffy is having trouble figuring out …what to do after Demise in Denim, I can tell her some ideas. (Well, just in case). I HOPE she continues to write them. I can’t find a place to write her from her website, nor any indication that she plans to write more in those books. They are fun!!

    Reply

    • Merrilee, I have Duffy Brown’s email address. I will send her your question.
      I’m a member of her Goodreads Group ( its called Duffy Browns Cozy Mystery series ).

      Her website shows that Lethal in Old Lace ( #6 in The Consignment Shop Mystery Series ) will be out in 2016…but I’m not sure of the exact date. ( I added this title to the Goodreads Group back in July of this year )

      I’m not sure when the next book in her “Cycle Path Mystery” series is coming out.. =)

      Reply

    • Hi, Merrily!!! Thanks so much for asking. I’m continuing both series and Working on Lethal in Old Lace…sixth book in the series…right now. It will be out next year and starts where Demise in Denim ended. My plan is to get one book in each series out a year. Thank you for being so supportive. Hugs, Duffy

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      • Thank you for your answers, Duffy Brown. I was surprised, amazed, and thrilled to see the replies, from you and others, to my question about your series. Thanks to others who replied as well. I’m glad to see both series will be continuing, and to see contact information for you, and the Goodreads Group. I will go friend you asap, after I leave this message. (4:35 p.m. EST, Friday, Nov 11, 2016)

        Reply

  17. This series was recommended to me on Amazon after previous purchases and I decided to give it a try. Once I started reading the series, I couldn’t put it down! I am super excited to see that the series is going to continue and I highly recommend it!

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  18. I love both of the Duffy Brown series (Consignment Shop & the Cycle Path Mysteries) I am anxiously awaiting the next issue.

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  19. I stumbled on this series by accident and fell in love!! I live in Georgia but unfortunately, I’ve never been to Savannah. This series sure makes me want to go. I love Reagan, Kiki, Boone ❤️, Big Joey and Pilsbury!! Please don’t stop writing this wonderful series that really depicts the true south…..with all our quirks! I have eaten a lot of doughnuts dreaming of Reagan’s Cakery Bakery sprinkles!

    Reply

  20. After a three year break, the newest Consignment Shop mystery is being released in March. I can’t wait to see what Reagan, Walker, Kiki and the rest of that crazy Savannah crew get up to this time, especially after the way “Dead Man Walker” ended!

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  21. Hi! I have read (devoured) and enjoyed each of the Consignment Shop Mystery series through Lethal in Old Lace – please tell me this is not the end of the series, I cannot wait to read more about Reagan and Walker! When is the next book scheduled to come out?!

    Reply

  22. I absolutely LOVE the consignment shop series. Just finished Lethal in Old Lace and sure hope there is a next one. I was laughing out loud so often – one time my hubby asked if I were crying or laughing!

    Reply

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