Purses and Poison (Haley Randolph Mysteries) [Hardcover]

Dorothy Howell (Author)

Book Description

Series: Haley Randolph Mysteries | Publication Date: July 1, 2009

Fashion sleuth Haley Randolph is back for another murderous romp with the stylish set at Holt's Department Store...When Haley arrives at the Holt employee luncheon and fashion show, she spies a sick server hiding in a back room. Deciding to help out, Haley grabs a uniform. The catered array of food and personalized fruit bouquets from Edible Elegance is a hit until top fashion model Claudia Gray is found dead in the ladies room. Now, it's going to take more than a Chanel sample sale to ease Haley's panic once she learns Claudia's been poisoned. This title is suitable for someone thinks murder is the height of fashion - with Haley's name on the label.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

At the outset of Howell's sprightly sequel to 2008's Handbags and Homicide, handbag-obsessed 24-year-old Haley Randolph is working part-time at L.A.'s Holt's Department Store, owned by her quasi-boyfriend, Ty Cameron, to pay back the debt she's accumulated—buying designer handbags and clothes, of course. When fashion model Claudia Gray, Ty's former girlfriend, turns up dead in a women's restroom at Holt's, the police soon determine that Claudia ate poisoned fruit from a fruit bouquet from Edible Elegance, Haley's mom's company, sent to the victim. To eliminate her mom as a murder suspect as well as herself, Haley launches her own investigation while dealing with her relationship with Ty and another new boyfriend. While some readers may decide the author ends too many chapters with the exclamation Oh, crap, Howell has concocted a solid mystery sure to appeal to younger, fashion-conscious mystery fans. (July)
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Review

"Sex and the City" meets "Murder She Wrote" in Dorothy Howell's latest mystery, in which fashion sleuth Haley Randolph returns for another murderous romp with the stylish set at Holt's Department Store, where she discovers a dead fashion model who's been poisoned! "A treat for those with passion for fashion. No doubt this sassy heroine's in for a long run." Kirkus Reviews." --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Kensington (July 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0758223765
• ISBN-13: 978-0758223760
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,434,656 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dorothy Howell has sold 28 novels to three major New York publishing houses. Her books have been translated into a dozen languages with sales approaching 3 million copies worldwide.

She currently writes for two publishing houses, in two genres, under two names.

Dorothy writes the hilarious fashion sleuth Haley Randolph mystery series, available from Kensington Books. Foreign rights to the series have sold in the U.K., France, Poland and Thailand. The books are available in hardcover, paperback, large print and e-book formats.

Dorothy also writes historical romance novels under the pen name Judith Stacy. Her titles include a Harlequin Historical Top Seller for the Year, a No.1 on the Barnes & Noble Historical List, and a RITA Award Finalist. They are available in paperback and e-book formats.

Dorothy is a member of the Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and Romance Writers of America.

Visit her on Facebook and at: www.DorothyHowellNovels.com and www.JudithStacy.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not as good as Handbags and Homicide, July 26, 2009

By 

JerseyGirl "Bookworm" (Charlotte, NC) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Purses and Poison (Haley Randolph Mysteries) (Hardcover)

I really enjoyed Dorothy Howell's first Haley Randolph mystery, Handbags and Homicide, but this latest left a bit to be desired.

Haley becomes the prime suspect in a murder that happens at the department store where she "works", Holts. I say works very lightly, since Haley attempts at every chance to find a way of not working while she is at Holts.

I thought Haley was portrayed as just a bit too zany and not very bright in this mystery. Although I did enjoy the mystery of who killed the the pageant director. However, I think Haley comes across as just too silly in this story and the story did not capture my attention as did Handbags and Homicide. This is a quick, but not altogether enjoyable read.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars But the first was soooo good!!, February 27, 2010

By 

Gloria Beaverson "RockyMountainGirl" (Roxborough, Colorado) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Purses and Poison (Haley Randolph Mysteries) (Hardcover)

I enjoyed and reviewed the first in the series giving it 5 stars. But this one I could not even finish. Why did I buy it in hardcover? Haley was so whiney and kept lying, lying, lying. I know her lies added to the development of the storyline, but after a very few short pages, I couldn't take it anymore. I at least felt I understood her in the first outing. In this one, she was just too irritating to continue. Don't think I will give the 3rd installment a try in hardcover or paperback.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not so great sophomore effort!, August 21, 2009

By 

Melodie Stickrath "Meledstick" (Aurora, CO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Purses and Poison (Haley Randolph Mysteries) (Hardcover)

I liked the first in this series, HANDBAGS & HOMICIDE, but this one was nowhere near as good. Haley came across as not very likeable, and not too bright. I liked her before. The mystery was pretty good, but Haley not so much.