While I loved the mystery that takes place in the book, a less inept "detective" would have been more appealing. Maybe I missed this quality in the main character in the first book in the series or it might not have been so pronounced. Either way, I'm not a fan. ( )

4.5/5
For my thoughts on this book: https://obridget1.blogspot.com/2018/06/death-of-mad-hatter-hat-shop-mystery-2.ht... ( )

I liked this one. I began this series because I've enjoyed the Library Lovers series by the same author. I do think that's the better of the two (perhaps not quite fair an assessment though, as this one hasn't got as far yet), still, I think this one is worth the read. I felt there was a bit more to the mystery in this one in comparison with the last and I will definitely read the next entry in the series. Definitely recommended if you're looking for a cozy mystery to add to your weekend. ( )

My local library has a copy of the first hat shop mystery, Cloche and Dagger, but has concentrated on acquiring Ms. McKinlay's library lovers mysteries. It wasn't until I decided to check the county online catalog that I realized there were already four more hat shop books available since I read book one almost two years ago. Book two, Death of a Mad Hatter, arrived via interlibrary loan. It was as enjoyable as the first book, but also not one that would make me eagerly await the next entry.

Scarlett Parker (American dad, British mom), is still working at Mim's Whims, the London hat shop she and her cousin, Vivian Tremont, inherited from their maternal grandmother, Ginny (Eugenia, also known as 'Mim'). Viv has the hat creating talent and Scarlett the talent for dealing with others. Their apprentice, Fiona Felton, is the help Viv needs because Scarlett is an embarrassment in that department.

The main customers this time are the Grisby family, who are giving an Alice in Wonderland-themed afternoon tea combined with a silent auction to raise money for a new hospital wing. The recently-widowed matriarch is aptly named 'Dotty' ('eccentric or slightly mad', according to peevish.co.uk/slang). She mistakes Vivian for her old friend, Ginny. The rest of the family are her son, Geoffrey (a pompous germaphobe), his nice wife, Tina, Dotty's three daughters: Daphne, Rose, and Lily; and Daphne's handsome grown sons, Liam and George. Daphne is the abrasive sister, Rose (a talented pianist), the shy one, and Lily is an artist who normally lives in Paris. Cara Whittles, mistress to the late Mr. Grisby, is not welcome, but inserts herself anyway.

Scarlett doesn't like Marilyn Tofts, the posh event planner hired by the family. She thinks Marilyn is a poseur. I liked the way Dotty handled Tofts when the planner got on her high horse.

The cousins' charming neighbors, photographer Andre Eisel and his dentist life partner, Nick Carroll, return. Also returning is Harrison Wentworth, the cousins' handsome business manager. Scarlett suspects Harrison and Fee are attracted to each other, but she's not jealous, no no no. *snicker*

Too bad Scarlett hasn't figured out that her vow of celibacy for a year can't keep her from dating Harrison. She just can't get married. Since she failed to take a vow of chastity for a year at the same time, she could even sleep with him.

There are quite a few suspects for the murder when it takes place. Harrison puts his foot down about Scarlett when she wants to help, which she doesn't take well. This leads to a revelation that Scarlett is quite upset about. Later, she pulls a foolhardy stunt which put me quite out of patience with her, but it did prove useful to solving the mystery.

Notes:

Chapter three:

a. There's a reference to Mansfield United.

b. What the British call 'crisps' we call 'chips'.

c. Johhny Depp played the Mad Hatter in Tim Burton's movie, 'Alice in Wonderland'. If you, too, avoided seeing that, here's a link to part one of the censored version of the Nostalgia Critic's review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwJ-nzgnXHY (Why did the movie characters call the Jabberwock the 'Jabberwocky,' especially after the Mad Hatter quotes some lines from 'Jabberwocky,' that clearly call the creature the Jabberwock????)

Chapter 4: Scarlett is correct. Tweedledum and Tweedledee come from the sequel, Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There. However, they and the Jabberwock appear in the Tim Burton movie.

Chapter 5:

a. We met Mim's wardrobe with the carved bird on top that Scarlett calls 'Ferd' in book one. This scene is one of those in which Scarlett and Viv suspect their dear old grandmother isn't entirely gone. (Well, Viv is more of a believer than Scarlett.)

b. Boy bands The Backstreet Boys (and their Nick Carter), and the Jonas Brothers are mentioned.

Chapter 6:

a. we get a mini-history of Grisby Hall and the Grisby family.

b. Viv's quip about singing for his supper probably comes from the nursery rhyme about Tummy Tucker: http://www.rhymes.org.uk/little_tommy_tucker.htm

c. Look in this chapter for which character each Grisby played.

Chapter 11: Scarlett thinks her hat looks as if it's something movie star Audrey Hepburn would have worn.

Chapter 13: There's a comparison to Cinderella.

Chapter 14: Viv explains where the expression 'mad as a hatter' comes from.

Chapter 16:

a. Scarlett and Viv reminisce about Mim.

b. Our heroines visit the famed Savoy Hotel. Scarlett is reminded of author F. Scott Fitzgerald and his wife, Zelda.

Chapter 17: Dotty talks about a party she and Mim attended decades ago. Scarlett thinks of famed musician Jim Hendrix.

Chapter 19: The Elvis Presley movie 'Blue Hawaii' is mentioned.

Chapter 21: The 'Inspector Lewis' TV show that's a spin-off of the 'Inspector Morse' TV show is mentioned. Both have been shown on PBS.

Chapter 22 provides information about more environmentally-conscious funeral arrangements.

Chapter 23: Scarlett is reminded of a hobbit home.

Chapter 24:

a. There's a 'Doctor Who' marathon on the telly (TV).

b. Scarlet mentions writer/director Richard Kelly's science fiction thriller, 'Donnie Darko'.

Death of a Mad Hatter is funny with scenes of danger and glimpses of romance attached. Alas, dog and cat lovers are out of luck. Ferd the carved bird is the closest the cousins come to having a pet.

If you like comic cozy mysteries, you should like this book. ( )

3 1/2 stars

The plot was quite good, but it was overshadowed by the schmaltzy, almost forced, romantic tension between the MC and the token hunky guy. I thought the investigation was a little far-fetched, (let's visit a funeral home to find clues!) but overall, I enjoyed it.

The only big gripe I have is the dialogue and vernacular between characters. I'm sorry, but you can't insert things like "codswallop" into a person's dialogue and expect that will make them sound British. And, in this book, it doesn't. The British people sound like they're more American than the American is. It just puts me off, more so than the MC's immaturity, the love-triangle-that-isn't and the cheesy will-they-or-won't-they romance. ( )