Scent to Her Grave (Bath & Body Series) [Bargain Price] [Paperback]

India Ink (Author)

Book Description

Series: Bath & Body Series | Publication Date: October 4, 2005

From custom blended oils to relaxing spa services, the store Venus Envy takes care of all the beauty needs of Gull Harbor, Washington. Behind the counter is Persia Vanderbilt, a woman with a nose for mixing scents--and a mind for solving murder.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The pseudonymous Ink's first bath and body mystery introduces an appealing, credible heroine. In the wake of a failed marriage, 31-year-old Persia Rose Vanderbilt returns home to scenic Gull Harbor, Wash., where she helps out at her independent aunt Florence's bath and beauty shop, Venus Envy. When a disgruntled customer, ill-tempered beauty queen Lydia Wang, is found bludgeoned to death in the shop, the evidence implicates a valued Venus Envy staff member. The smart and savvy Persia must track down the real killer while dealing with demands from her difficult ex-husband and the more welcome attentions of the local police chief. A second murder ups the ante, propelling the well-paced plot to a fitting climax. Under her real name, Yasmine Galenorn, the author writes the Chintz'n China mystery series (Murder Under a Mystic Moon, etc.).
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Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Berkley (October 4, 2005)
• ISBN-10: 0425205339
• ASIN: B001PIHSL0
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,484,347 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Totally Delightful!, January 9, 2006

By 

Kelly Houser (United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Scent to Her Grave (Bath & Body Series) (Mass Market Paperback)

Persia Vanderbuilt has come home to Gull Harbor, WA. After living in Seattle for years, having a nasty break-up with her ex, and suffering through a terrible job, Persia decides to pack it up and go home to her Aunt Florence. Florence raised Persia after the death of her mother, and Florence operates a dayspa for women called Venus Envy. This is perfect for Persia, who blends her own intoxicating fragrances, and now she can do it for customers.

She hasn't been in Gull Harbor too long when a mystery pops up on her radar. Lydia Wang, beauty queen and ultimate nastypants, is found murdered in Venus Envy. Lydia's ex-boyfriend, Trevor, is accused of the crime. Persia becomes all tangled up in the drama, trying to prove Trevor innocent. Can she clear his name before it's too late?

I was completely enchanted by this novel. It was definitely a cozy mystery! The characters were very real and believable, the plot was good and moved along quickly, and the story left me wanting more! It was definitely a light read, but it shouldn't be dismissed for that reason. Highly entertaining and completely endearing, this is the start of a great new series!

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beauty and Murder, February 15, 2006

By 

Dawn Dowdle "Mystery Lovers Corner reviewer" (Lynchburg, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Scent to Her Grave (Bath & Body Series) (Mass Market Paperback)

Persia Vanderbilt is helping her aunt in her local bath and body store, Venus Envy, in Gull Harbor, Washington. Persia blends custom oils for the customers.

Lydia Wang won a local beauty pageant, but she is not very nice. She wants the Mirror of Aphrodite that Persia's friend brought back for her. It reflects only the most beautiful aspects of the person looking into it. It's not for sale.

The next morning Persia arrives at the shop to find not only Lydia dead, but the mirror missing. The police suspect Trevor, one of the shop's treasured employees. Persia sets out to prove that Trevor didn't do it.

Can she find out the truth without becoming a victim herself?

This is the first book I've read in this series, but it definitely won't be the last. I really enjoyed Persia. She is a fun and likeable character, and she didn't do stupid things in her investigating.

The plot was well written and the story moved along at a good pace. It is a great cozy mystery. I highly recommend it.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not as good as I thought it would be, July 3, 2006

By 

S. Collier - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Scent to Her Grave (Bath & Body Series) (Mass Market Paperback)

This book has a delightful title and comes from a publisher who has printed some of my favorite mysteries (i.e. Laura Childs, Cleo Coyle). This book was hard to get into and I was disappointed with what I thought was a very thin plot. Some of the dialogue was weak, although I felt the author's research into the subject was excellent.