Reviews

• Great read with no “rubbery” chicken!

  Wow! What an entertaining read! This is a light, airy, fun story…with a little murder tossed in for flavor, kind of like every destination wedding I’ve ever attended! But seriously, the book’s pacing is incredible and I was 40 pages in before I even realized it. Great characters, funny turns-of-phrase, and a well-designed plot kept me thoroughly entertained. I read a lot of mysteries so I LOVE it when an author keeps me guessing right to the end. Marla Cooper did not disappoint! I’ve bought her second book, but I’m really hoping to see more from her soon! Highly recommend.

• Loved it

  I thought this was a good book. I enjoyed the characters and the storyline. Looking forward to more by this author. I do think the main character is a bit shallow. I would have enjoyed reading more about the location and the main characters past and reasons for the job she had picked.

• ENDLESSLY ENTERTAINING!

  That I even read this at all, much less absolutely loved it, is such a fluke I feel compelled to encourage others to do the same! In June I purchased this as a gift for my mom, whose friends recommended it. She brought it home with her and didn't mention it again until my next visit. I'd packed a big stash of old-school ink & paper books to enjoy in secluded, lo-tech bliss but my suitcase took a wrong turn somewhere between L.A. and Maine & the airline couldn't find & deliver it for 3 days. On her way out the door with my brother & niece, my mother sympathetically tossed me TERROR IN TAFFETA. "If you feel like reading, this was sooo good." She knows my taste in mysteries runs rather dark. James Ellroy-dark, Ann Rule-true-crime-dark... you get the idea. I had to admit the title TERROR IN TAFFETA was genius, and decided WTH, I'd give it a couple chapters and hoped "cuteness" would be kept in check. I had grave doubts. This was 8:30 a.m. By the time my mom returned, it was after 4. Somehow six hours had gone by, I was more than halfway in... and totally hooked! The first of what I hope will be a very long series about witty, thirtyish wedding-planner Kelsey McKenna, told in instantly likeable first-person, begins by comparing the color of sea-foam bridesmaids' dresses with the nauseated girls' hung-over green facial pallor and we were off. The bridesmaids should've listened to Kelsey and cut their bachelorette boozing party short the night before. As we soon learn, Kelsey's advice is almost always on-target. But in her long, thought-she'd-seen-it-all career throwing creative nuptials for affluent and trendy Bay Area couples, Kelsey's never had to deal with a bridesmaid dropping dead during the ceremony. Pretty Nicole and hunky groom Vince find their "special day" marred by what increasingly looks like murder, and we're inside Kelsey's head as this resourceful, observant & hilariously put-upon narrator must battle apathetic local cops, the uber-bitchy mother-of-the-bride (this constantly sniping, imperious Pacific Heights matron is maybe the most perfectly realized of a large cast of well-sketched characters), death threats & blood-sugar issues. Of course, you WOULDN'T want be anywhere else -- the entire novel is like listening to a very close friend relate their worst week to you, only you don't have to keep apologizing for laughing at the misery because no matter how much you wish Kelsey WAS your actual friend, she's a fictional character. That said, it's hard to believe author Marla Cooper isn't a real wedding-planner. Or a travel expert (the jacket says she's dabbled). Or ultimately, a private investigator. The level of breezy detail & Kelsey's expertise are that impressive. Ms Cooper is clearly also a foodie. The enthusiastically sprinkled descriptions of everything from cafe con leche to seared scallops made suggestions very easy when my parents kept asking "What do you want for dinner?" As someone with no prior experience with the "cozy mystery" genre, I have to say I'm worried about trying other authors, simply because finding a friend like Kelsey is no easy task. Like many people, I dread hearing the phrase "destination wedding", but I can't wait to see where in the world Kelsey's heading to next, which corpses will be turning up there, and what quirky suspects, finicky felines and unguessable plot-twists are on the menu. Along with the local cuisine of course. Seriously. As soon as I get back to Los Angeles, I'm treating myself to a major Mexican feast, at which I'll raise a margarita (on the rocks, with fresh lime-juice) to my new imaginary gal-pal Kelsey McKenna... and of course to her adorable, massively talented creator Marla Cooper! (And my mom, and the incompetents at that airline. I do owe them.) TERROR IN TAFFETA has my highest possible recommendation!

• At her most recent ceremony held in the beautiful San Miguel de Allende

  Kelsey McKenna is a wedding coordinator by most standards. She schedules the church or beach for the big day, destination of the couple’s dreams, helps with the dresses and even deters some of the drama every wedding party is bound to have. It’s a piece of wedding cake, as she has seen and done and seen it all. Not so fast there. At her most recent ceremony held in the beautiful San Miguel de Allende, Kelsey never imagined she would be responsible for handling the mystery of a death, make that two. The worst part? The mother of the bride is the one holding her to it. That’s what she’s paid for, right? Terror in Taffeta is just that, one terror and problem after another and poor Kelsey is the one who is having to do all the foot work with absolutely no thanks from the horrid mother of the bride. I loved hating the character of Mrs. Abernathy. She was haughty, cold, filthy rich and the perfect mother-zilla in this story. Kelsey and Mrs. Abernathy butt heads the entire book. It’s gets pretty ridiculous. I kept waiting for Kelsey to take her out. I found myself saying this aloud while reading. (My husband just looked at me strangely and let me be.) Thank goodness for Kelsey’s best friend and photographer, Brody. This dynamic duo work their magic to not only get into more trouble but to eventually solve a very complex mystery. And, Kelsey might have a love interest along the way, maybe. That’s up in the air several times. I’m not sure what to make of him honestly. You’ll see what I mean. I am not a big fan of weddings or wedding stories. There I said it. I worked as a wedding photographer for many years after college. I know how crazy they can be and so when I first saw this was about weddings, I was cautious. Well, I am so glad I read this because Marla’s writing style and voice made me laugh, cover my mouth with shock and scratch my head many times. The sarcasm and humor in this is amazing. I love it. There was never a moment where I was bored or wishing I was reading something else. I could relate to the crazy family members brought up in this. Oh, Mrs. Abernathy…..Bless her heart. Terror in Taffeta: A Mystery

• Very twisting

  This book had lots of twists and turns in it. A fast read, which is what cozies are supposed to be. I felt like Kelsey was a bit Sidney washy. I kept yelling at her to make up her mind. I wasn't sure if that was a mistake by the author, or if that's how she is supposed to act. If so, I like it, but maybe mention it a bit more. Put it in my face? Loved the character Mrs. A. Well developed. Got to love to hate her, the perfect MOB. And I'm in love with Brody. Exactly what I want him to be. The only thing I felt a little odd for a cozy was there didn't seem to be enough visual descriptions for me. I didn't get the feel of the place. But some don't like that, so that's a personal preference. A definite light mystery that kept me saying What? No! Now I get it! No, wait! Now what! Can't wait to get the next one. Kudos.

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