Customer Reviews

Handbags and Homicide (Haley Randolph Mysteries)

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I have to say I usually don't spend money for a hardcover for a first in a new series, but the cover looked so appealing, and the story sounded like fun (I'm a designer purse lover myself), so I bought it and am I glad I did. I laughed out loud so many times my husband kept coming into the living room asking me what was so funny!

Haley Randolph is a delight, as is her best friend, Marcie Hanover. Haley's a young gal(twenty-something) that finds herself involved in two police investigations (one a murder). After being placed on a non-paid leave from her day job (at a law firm), Haley takes a part-time job in a department store, and this is where the fun begins. Haley has an addiction to designer purses, and the things she'll do to get one, is just a riot.

I particularly loved the part of this story that dealt with the department store. From the cute owner of Holt's Department store...to the other workers (both nice and nasty ones), Haley's thoughts and comments about different situations she's in or observes is just hysterical. It's rare that a writer can pull off a character like this, IMO. Either they sound like total idiots, or they sound like nasty you-know-what's, but the author has done a wonderful job with Haley. You really will like Haley and root for her as she's put in situations that seem like she'll never be able to overcome.

This mystery, in addition to having lots of fun moments with Haley, is a true cozy mystery. There's plenty of clues and red-herrings, and the story moves along at a good pace. I really had no clue, until the end, who was responsible for the crimes that are committed in this novel.

Dorothy Howell is a wonderful writer. She's written a great mystery...but in addition, the characters she created are fun and refreshingly different than a lot of the characters in cozies. And at the end of this novel, there's an unusual twist with one of the characters, and I'm really anxious to see when this character shows up in the next book in the series.

This book was so much fun that I am going to take it along with me on vacation next month, and read it again. I rarely do this.

Haley Randolph is not someone you would want as a friend and you CERTAINLY would not like to work with her! She's completely self-centered, thoughtless and inconsiderate. Her credit cards are maxed out and she has a "troubling miscalculation" in her checking account. She is on administrative leave from her job in the accounting department (WHAT were they thinking??!) at a prestigious law firm. So her only source of income is from her second job at Holt's Department Store.

At Holt's she manages to avoid work as much as possible and it is when she is in the stockroom (after taking a rest on the Laura Ashley Bed in a Bag) she discovers the body of her boss. She manages to call the authorities and keep everything under control - which is the only positive thing she does in the book. Of course, she never imagines that she will be under suspicion from the police for the crime. Of course, she never imagined she would be suspected of embezzlement at her law firm either. But she is.

Even tho Haley is so unlikeable, by the end of the book I actually found myself cheering for her. And that shows what a good author Dorothy Howell really is.

This book is funny and the scenes of the various departments of Holt's are unbeatable.

For a quick, funny read I highly recommend this book.

This is a GREAT 1st Novel in a Series!! I'm always anxious about purchasing a hardback when it is a 1st in a series....but this one absolutely hit the spot!! I laughed until I almost cried!! My husband also asked what in the world could be so funny!! Course I was reading it in bed also....not something I normally do!!

Haley is a World Class Shopper....no matter how LITTLE MONEY she has/or is able to get!! Thank Heavens that this is so very funny....and about such important things as designer handbags!! I love them also...I just can't afford them comfortably. I would rather buy more books I guess!!

This is a must read!! I can hardly wait for the 2nd in this series. I hope she doesn't make us wait too long!!

A triumph of a first novel. A clever writer, who plays to many stereotypes - the two opposing male heroes, the ditzy heroine - then delights in giving them fresh and clever twists right to the last page. Haley is so maddening but so endearing, and I was cheering her on when she finally decided to sort her life out. Chick-lit or romantic comedies as a genre spawn an awful lot of derivative stuff, but this is the real thing: warm, witty, sparkling and JUST SO FUNNY!! Lucky I was alone when I read it - I didn't want to speak to anybody until I had finished, and the cat kept running away from my loud bursts of laughter. I loved it!

I struggled through 100 pages of this book, and I mean struggled. Then I tossed it in my recycle bin. This character, Haley Randolph, is about as shallow as can be. She is so far in debt because of her handbag fetish, and she is always trying to get out of whatever work she can possibly get out of. She whines about her finances but then buys more handbags...geesh. I'm totally surprised about people actually giving this book anything more than a one star.
I can handle a little whining and a little self indulgence, heck that's part of being a woman, but this book and character are way over the top, to the point where it isn't interesting, isn't funny, but is boring and a waste of time. Whew...I've never written a review about any book I've read. If I don't like a book I very quietly put it in my recycle bin and move on, but couldn't pass on this one. There are too many fun cozies out there to read don't waste your time or money on this one. Try Denise Swanson; Joanne Carl; Claudia Bishop; Elise Hyatt; Christine Collier; Gail Oust; Lucy Lawrence or Jennie Bentley just to name a few authors that are great reading, fun characters and terrific who-done-its that you will enjoy, giggle and sometimes just plain laugh out loud. Sorry Dorothy Howell, you just have to lighten up on the whining and give Haley some kind of a work ethic, she's pathetic.

This may be the funniest book I've ever read. Hilarious from the get-go striaght to the end. Different reviewers comment on Haley's character (or lack thereof) and about whether you want to root for her or not. That didn't even come into play for me; I was too busy laughing my head off. I will be reading every one of the Haley Randolph books and all I can say is, Dorothy Howell, thank you, thank you, thank you!!

This is a funny and delightful book by a writer with a great voice. I must admit that when I started, I really disliked the heroine, but a review here said to keep on reading. She grows on you. By the end, I found I really liked her--she hadn't changed but I guess I had! I still don't know why any man would be attracted to her, but I don't care. If you want a lot of laughs, pick this one up. By the way, the mystery is secondary to all the fun.

I got this at the library and was so surprised at how good it was. I am a huge fan of Laura Levine's mystery series and was hoping this one would be similar and boy was I right. It's been a while since I read it though (I've been trying to post a review on here but it wouldn't go through for some reason.) I've worked retail before... Filene's *argh*, it sucked big time and this character had the funniest attitude toward work and did everything that a worker in retail wishes she could do. It almost made me want to run out and get a job in retail...well, maybe I'll think that over, haha. But I can't wait for her next to come out! This was a fast, page-turner.

As other reviewers have pointed out, Haley is just not a very good friend or employee. She's incredibly naive, not because she's been sheltered, but because she's so ego-centric... she thinks the world revolves around her. She doesn't forsee any possible problems in her future, which is why she spends money on expensive handbags. Haley learns the hard way when she's forced to keep a retail job in a mod-level department. And, not only does she uncover one dead body, but she also uncovers "dead ends" in her own life.

Haley is no hero. And the author doesn't ever let her become one. The conclusion is Haley being just as confused as ever, with maybe a clearer eye on her finances.

You can't help but dislike her and want her to lose. That's what was so great about this book. The author creates a vile protagonist that you want to read about over and over again!

Although this was expensive for a Kindle download on a new author, I liked the description and gave it a try. Boy am I glad I did. This is a first in a new series and I will be buying them all. If you ever worked in a department store or love handbags/shopping, you will love this book. I worked at an upscale store during college and the stories told in this book hit close to home. Some are just laugh out loud funny. I found myself wanting Hailey to make good and get justice for herself. The other characters were also fun.

I liked the mysteries (there were 2) and I did figure it out before the end of the book but there were several red herrings that made it fun to try and out guess the author.

Can't wait until the second in the series becomes available. Don't hesitate, give this one a try. My mom also read it and loved it just as much as I did.