A Veiled Deception (A Vintage Magic Mystery) [Mass Market Paperback]

Annette Blair (Author)

Book Description

Series: A Vintage Magic Mystery | Publication Date: January 6, 2009

A fun new mystery series from the author of Gone with the Witch.

The right dress can be magic; the wrong one?murder! From the national bestselling author of Sensation?s Witch series comes the new Vintage Magic mystery series, featuring Madeira Cutler. While opening her own vintage clothing shop, Maddie must clear her family?s name when her sister?s wedding festivities hit a snag: murder.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Annette Blair writes historical and contemporary romances, including My Favorite Witch and The Kitchen Witch.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Berkley; Reprint edition (January 6, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425226409
• ISBN-13: 978-0425226407
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #90,524 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dear Reader,

I finally became a full time writer in 2006 after retiring from my job as a Development Director. I didn't always know I wanted to be a writer, but I discovered Jane Eyre soon after I got my first library card. I was eleven and put a romantic spin on every story I read. I wrote romances about friends and their boyfriends. Racy stuff for which my friends' mother's did not thank me. I could title that time in my life 'THE FIRST TIME A GOODY TWO SHOES GETS IN TROUBLE-YAY!" When my children were young, I jotted plot ideas on corners of envelopes, recipe cards, and such, and threw them in my nightstand.

After discussing a romance novel with my high-school aged daughter, she challenged me to write a romance of my own. That day, I sorted through my plot ideas, picked one, and started. I didn't know what I was doing, but I had a good time. I made my first sale in 1998. I have since moved from Regency England and settled in twenty-first century Salem, Massachusetts; Newport, Rhode Island; Mystic, Connecticut; with mysteries and romances and a host of sassy, sexy witches who tantalize and torment the men in their lives. Hopefully those same characters will sprinkle some magic dust and get a laugh or three out of you.

I have recently seen the re-release of JACOB'S RETURN and BUTTERFLY GARDEN, both Amish Historicals set in Pensylvania & Ohio. Recently, my 4th Vintage Magic, a paranormal cozy mystery series, set in Mystic Connecticut, SKIRTING THE GRAVE followed the release of VAMPIRE DRAGON my 3rd Works Like Magick Novel set in Salem MA.

I'm currently working on my 6th Vintage Magic Mystery, OPERATION PETTICOAT, and the 1st SISTERS OF SPIRIT Anthology both due out next year (2012) along with CLOAKED IN MALICE, my 5th paranormal cozy mystery. Meanwhile, watch Kindle for a new series of magical books in the months to come.

Some of my favorite authors are: Ruth Cardello, Hannah Howell, Nora Roberts, Janet Evanovich, Linda Wisdom & Madelyn Alt.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Humorous, light magical story but a bit too unfocused as a mystery, January 29, 2009

By 

D. Merrimon Crawford (Colorado) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Veiled Deception (A Vintage Magic Mystery) (Mass Market Paperback)

Madeira Cutler has worked for a prestigious New York clothes designer for many years. Returning home to Mystick Falls, Connecticut, Maddie becomes embroiled in all the small town and family dynamics as her sister Sherry's arch-enemy Jasmine is all too present at the festivities and a little tied to her future mother-in-law and ultimate snob Deborah Vancortland. When Maddie discovers Jasmine strangled by her sister's bridal veil, Maddie investigates to clear her sister's name. Her understanding of fashion takes an unexpected turn when a ghost appears. The wedding gown, a vintage gown given by Deborah to Sherry, possesses a magical power to make its past all too visible. Can Maddie and the magical wedding dress clear her sister? How will a little touch of magic and a vintage gown transform Maddie's life?

Annette Blair's A VEILED DECEPTION is a humorous, light magical feel good story. Maddie's return home elicits the bittersweetness of one's hometown as both good and bad memories are both never too far away. The power plays between Maddie and her friends make the opening chapters fun and endear the reader to both Maddie and her sister. The isolated scenes of Maddie's vision of the gown's past and the ghost itself are a few of the emotional highlights in this mystery. As the tale develops, however, A VEILED DECEPTION loses focus from those parts that give this book its most power and charm. The mystery itself is a bit too easily solved and the reader guesses the connections a bit too quickly despite the clever twist at the end. The mystery becomes more of a subplot for Maddie's self-discovery, a discovery that feels self-indulgement and a bit too self-centered. The sense of compassion that emerges from Maddie's connection to the past disappears too quickly as the mystery becomes more a story of Maddie discovering her true calling. The past revealed by the ghost and the sense of connection he evokes rapidly gets subsumed by Maddie's increasing individualism and focus on her quest for identity. Although in a way, the search for self presents a couple of pleasant ghostly twists, the tone becomes increasingly shallow as the book progresses.

A VEILED DECEPTION with its magical element and vintage take on the clothing so often seen in the chick lit genre will appeal more to romance lovers than mystery buffs looking for a clever mystery with a clever hunt for the culprit. Sweet, funny and heart-warming at times, A VEILED DECEPTION is a charming story of a young woman's homecoming, a homecoming fraught with funny and outrageous incidents. As a mystery, however, A VEILED DECEPTION leaves one wanting more clue twists, more discovered history and more of the center of the story.

COURTESY OF BOOK ILLUMINATIONS

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Delightful Romantic Cozy Mystery, March 26, 2009

By 

Linda Hurst "Your Bookie" (Aubrey, TX) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Veiled Deception (A Vintage Magic Mystery) (Mass Market Paperback)

I have always enjoyed Annette Blair's books and so I picked up this one expecting the usual solid read Blair always delivers. But, this book was a delightful surprise, more then a solid read and a great kick off to what looks like a great cozy series.

Perhaps as another reviewer noted there is a little too much romance for mystery readers--but I always like my cozies with a little romance in them and this certainly qualifies as Romantic Suspense.

I loved the paranormal elements and I thought Blair did a great job setting up the series, while still not losing control of the story as she introduced a lot of characters.

I especially love the 103 year old woman and her ghostly lover--what a delight and I can't wait to read more about them.

I also sense a Stephanie Plumesque choice between the solid if sometimes dorky Werner and the ooh la la Nick. Although I have a feeling that there is a lot more to Nick then just his libido.

I loved it when Madeira apologized to Lytton Warner for dubbing him "Little Weiner" in elementary school. He acknowledged that the nickname made him tough (he got in a lot of fights) and may have influenced his becoming a star football player and cop--but I can understand his grudgingly not quite accepting her apology.

The deep backgrounds and long history of these characters add depth to the story and the relationships.

As for the paranormal elements, I lost my Mother last May and the final ghost at the wedding did make me shed a few tears. If only all of us could have that kind of closure--but it made for a great ending.

I also loved the gorgeous cover with the foil accents, I can hardly wait to read the next one in the series.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars outstanding read, January 10, 2009

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Veiled Deception (A Vintage Magic Mystery) (Mass Market Paperback)

Madeira "Maddie" Cutler, a vintage clothing designer for a famous fashion house, is on her way to her hometown of Mystick Falls, Connecticut where she hopes to create the gown for her baby sister she raised. Maddie arrives in time for pandemonium; an angry Sherry watches her fiancé Justin's former girlfriend Jasmine hang all over him as if she is the bride. Upset Sherry makes a rash statement that she will kill Jasmine in front of witnesses.

Maddie goes to see the wedding dress Sherry's mother-in-law expects her to wear only to find Jasmine choked to death by a veil. Sherry is the number one and only suspect; she does not help herself as she refuses to provide an alibi. Maddie has visions of another woman wearing the same dress and concludes her visions are related to the Jasmine homicide, but has no idea how. She investigates Sherry's in-laws especially their past since the dress belonged to Justin's mother to understand what she saw and hopes to apply it to identify the killer.

Annette Blair, renowned for her sensational bewitching romantic fantasies provides a new series filled with humor, the paranormal, two related mysteries, and of course romance. The protagonist is a beguiling intelligent free spirit who prefers a laughter and lay back lifestyle, but knows when the situation calls for a serious spin. She is glue that not only holds A VEILED DECEPTION together but turns the tale into an outstanding read.

Harriet Klausner