Customer Reviews

Shoulder Bags and Shootings (Haley Randolph Mysteries)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Haley Randolph has just returned form a fabulous trip to Europe with her boyfriend, Ty's grandma. Haley picked up a bunch of new, fashionable items. The only thing missing is...the Sinful bag. It is the seasons must have item. Haley needs to get her hands on one. Ty's grandma has Haley drop her off and drive herself home in her car. She tells Haley, she can return in the next day.

Haley's day quickly goes down hill. First she finds the body of her arch rival, Tiffany Markham in her boyfriend's grandmother's truck of the car and second Haley can't find a Sinful bag anywhere. Oh what is a girlfriend to do?

Shoulder Bags and Shootings is the third Haley Randolph mystery. This book just happens to be the first novel I have read by Dorothy Howell. After reading this book, I plan to go back and read the first two books. Haley was so hilarious. This book made me laugh and kept a smile on my face. I love that no matter that she was the prime suspect in a murder investigation, her one top priority was getting her hands on a Sinful bag. Haley is definitely dedicated. Shoulder Bags and Shootings is a great cozy mystery novel. Pick up a copy of this book today. You won't be sorry you did.

Pursenally (pun fully intended), I thought this was the funniest of the series. It's a fun, funny read and I can't wait for more!

Another hysterical offering in the Haley Randolph Mystery series!

Let's be honest...besides Mr. Darcy, women's two favorite things are purses and shoes. So it comes as no surprise when Haley Robinson, who is thousands of feet in the air flying back to her home in LA, comes across an ad for the latest Sinful handbag about to appear on the market that Haley wants nothing more than to pull the escape hatch and get to the store as fast as possible before they're all sold out. Of course, besides the fact that she's high in the sky, she's also unbelievably broke and knows that the Sinful brand is way too high a price for her to own.

Haley has left her boyfriend Ty back in Europe. Ty Cameron is part of the family empire that owns Holts Department franchise, and has just opened a new upscale clothing store. Leaving him in Europe, Haley travels back to L.A. sitting by the side of Ty's grandmother Ada, who is literally a hoot and a howl.

After they land, through various circumstances, Haley gains possession of Ada's Mercedes and heads into work at Holts in order to pick up some items Ada needs while ducking her boss in order to take a personal shopping day devoted to attaining the Sinful bag. What surprises Haley the most, however, is not the high price tag of the item she craves, but the fact that she finds a dead woman stuck inside Ada's trunk. ...There goes the shopping day.

Soon Haley is once again embroiled in a mystery that points directly to her as being the guilty party. Tiffany, the victim, is a woman who left behind a lucrative life and stable career and appeared in LA to become part of the Holts' workforce. But to end up in a trunk, and have a "link" to a man who supposedly got into a traffic accident and burned to death in his car, is as far out of a mystery as Haley can imagine. With the FBI on her tail, and an ex-boyfriend who is clearly up to some kind of espionage, the paths become many and the amount of suspects grow. All the beloved characters are back including some new ones. Ben, the intrepid reporter who knows there's something more to this than meets the eye; Shuman, the hot and spicy detective who Haley would love to actually be "cuffed" by; Kirk Keegan, an ex-coworker of Haley's who wants to exact revenge; and, an old Southern family who arrive on the scene to take their Tiffany home.

Absolutely hysterical describes this story, especially the contest that's going on inside the department store where Haley has to get an A-plus in her customer service and impress a secret shopper in order for the staff to get a big prize. The mystery won't be solved until the very end, readers! Another home run for Dorothy Howell!

Amy Lignor, Bookpleasures.com reviewer

Haley Randolph is a Los Angeles gal, she craves the best and newest handbags, and will go to almost any length to get them! Haley works in retail (Holt's department store) , so she knows her fashion. In "Shoulder Bags and Shootings" her arch rival in the home purse business, has been murdered, making her a suspect as well as an investigator. She cannot resist getting involved in police business.

These are my idea of cozies, fashion and murder....how can you go wrong?! Dorothy Howell has managed to create a new character, smarter than your average bear, and much better dressed! As a handbag lover (The Man calls it a handbag freak) I can understand her compulsion to get the newest bag! (handbags always fit us fluffy gals!) Of course there are love interests, you can't have a mystery without one, and lucky Haley has a couple. Ty Holt, the yummy owner of her workplace, and the handsome Luke, a hunky FBI agent.

Encouraged by the writing and the story, I went to the library and picked up the first two books in the series, "Handbags and Homicide" and Purses and Poison". They were equally entertaining, and my only criticism is, that after spending most of my working life in retail, I would have fired the lazy Haley!

These books were a fun respite for my recovery, and light reading for those ouchy days.

I received "Shoulder Bags and Shootings" from Caitlin at FSB Associates for review. I got "Handbags and Homicide" and "Purses and Poison" from my library.

This is a fun series, fast and clever! Haley is a welcome addition to my shelf!

Haley Randolph enjoys everything life has to offer. She just spent the last couple of weeks in Europe with her handsome boyfriend, Ty, who happens to be the owner of the department store where she works as a salesperson. She then gets a chance to drive his grandmother's expensive Mercedes home from the airport and now she's on her way to buy the latest designer pocketbook - a Sinful pocketbook. She absolutely must have one. Things don't get better than this...until she looks in the trunk of the car. Facing her is the dead body of her business competitor, Tiffany Markham.

Haley and Tiffany have had their problems in the past since they both have purse party companies and are constantly competing with each other, but Haley didn't want her dead. Unfortunately, the police don't believe her and are ready to pin the crime right on her doorstep. Haley realizes if she wants to prove her innocence, she'll have to do it on her own.

This madcap adventure will have readers laughing along with Haley's antics, as well as trying to figure out who really killed Tiffany. Howell writes with a comedic flair and in the same vein as Sophie Kinsella's Confessions of a Shopaholic series. Think chick lit meets cozy mystery.

Although it's the third book in the "A Haley Randolfph Mystery" series, I have not read the previous two but that did not take away from my enjoyment of this book. I do have the first two books and intend to read them.

I totally enjoyed this book. It's a fast-paced tale that will leave readers smiling after the last page is turned. This is one author I'm adding to my book buying shopping list.

review
Haley Randolph is back and her chase for the newest It-bag and for a murderer is hilarious and fast-paced.

Haley is back home from Europe and thinks that her relationship with Ty is finally a serious one. But once again Ty, who had to stay back in Europe, seems to put work first. When a murdered woman is found in the car Haley was driving she is the number one suspect. Things get even more complicted when the FBI takes over the case and Haley decides that it's her best chance to solve the crime on her own.

"Shoulder bags and Shooting" is just as hilarious and entertaining as the first two books in the series. Haley once again is on the hunt for the newest It-bag however being the prime suspect in a murder is no fun. This time Haley is not lying to the cops but still everything points her way. Haley is still unsure about what to do in the future and her relationship with Ty is not so perfect.
I like how Haley handled the murder and how she stood up for one of her colleagues. It's great that she is still as witty and fashion-obsessed as in the first book of the series. I'm very curious about how her relationship with Ty will continue in the future because I think that he might not be what she needs. There are three men in Haley's life and I definitely have a favourite (not the obvious one). I also enjoyed that although Haley is flirting with the new guy she stays faithful to Ty.


final appraisal
"Shoulder bags and Shootings" is a very entertaining book full of funny and hilarious scenes. It's a great book to relax for some hours and to stop taking everything too serious.


upcoming books
The fourth book in the Haley Randolph Mystery series will be published in July 2011 and Haley will be taking up Las Vegas.

After the first Haley Randolph Mystery, I purchased the set. They were sooo cute, unlike the serious mysteries I normally read (Patterson, Sanford, Corbin, etc)I passed them on. Can't wait for her next episode.

hen I first heard of this book and the description I immediately thought of Stephanie Plum from the Janet Evanovich books. There was a time, many years ago where I admit, Stephanie and I made the rounds as I started with One For The Money and made my way all the way through book twelve of the series before I let this series go. In many ways, Haley reminded me of Stephanie and that over the top ditsyness sometimes is a little too sweet for my tooth.

However- the book also reminded me of a quick cozy mystery which occasionally.... goofiness and all.... I do crave. (Darn sweet tooth!) While I did laugh at the sheer goofy happenings at times in the book, I think I would have enjoyed it more in the summer on the deck with my sun glasses on and a very large iced tea close at hand.

I discovered as I was reading that this book is actually #3 in the Haley Randolph mysteries, but never fear - I did not feel I needed the previous two books to follow what was happening.

Haley is a shallow, bubble-headed spoiled girl who believes the world revolves around her. Although irritating, this was endearing and provided entertainment. The character shows no personal growth but, again, that wasn't so terrible. In fact, I found her tactics for avoiding the customer while on the clock ingenious.

Besides Haley, however, there are a myriad of characters that I simply couldn't keep straight and lacked any depth at all. Even compared to Haley. In fact, too many characters that had a past with Haley but little interaction with her. My big complaint is that so much of the book seems to be an indirect marketing tool for previous books. When a new character is introduced, a previous crime is alluded to but never quite explained and I'm left wondering if it is pertinent to the current mystery. In fact, when the character makes a second or third appearance in the current book, the previous criminal involvement (or victimization) is voiced yet again. I found it distracting and never really warmed to the peripheral characters.

I enjoyed the ease of read. Fun, shallow Haley who cares nothing for anybody but herself and how she looks. She never changes, never grows, and continues to entertain me. Writing style was consistent. Story line unrealistic but enjoyable. Too much reference to previous books and not enough character development for other players.

Euphoric, Los Angeles-based fashionista Haley Randolph spent two weeks in Europe with her boyfriend Ty Cameron, owner of the Holt's Department Store chain. She goes back home where Ty's grandmother Ada lends her a Mercedes, which she will leave in her employee parking lot. When she opens the trunk, she finds the corpse of Tiffany Markham, whom she hated. The police followed by the FBI question Haley showing her a picture of Kirk Keegan who she does not recognize.

Haley is more interested in obtaining a Sinful handbag that is selling out. When Kirk visits her in a Starbucks, he angrily claims she ruined his life and hr intends to reciprocate beginning with her boyfriend. She realizes she did see him in the parking lot when she opened the trunk but he looks nothing like the picture law enforcement showed her. Sister-in-law Virginia is kidnapped while looking for her and her ex-boyfriend Doug accuses her of stalking him. .Other incidents occur that intrude on Haley getting her handbag so she decides to stalk her stalker.

The latest "bag lady" amateur sleuth (see Purses And Poison and Handbags And Homicides) is an enjoyable amateur sleuth mystery as Haley with her somewhat one icon baggy brain provides a wonderful first person investigation. Her motive is to get everyone off her back so she can purchase the Sinful bag. Although her whining can be numbing when overdone, with a crazy cast to accentuate the case, her clueless mind makes for a fun lighthearted mystery.

Harriet Klausner