Murder at Feathers Flair (Ginger Gold Mysteries #3) by Lee Strauss

Murder at Feathers Flair (Ginger Gold Mysteries #3) Reviews

• 
  QNPoohBear

  3.75 stars
  
  Ginger Gold's dress shop Feathers & Flair is finally about to open. She is holding an invitation only preview of her exclusive custom order gowns, but won't be upset if any of the ladies want to peek upstairs at the *gasp* ready made gowns *gasp*. She has her hands full with the opening but when her young sister-in-law Felicia asks Ginger to solve the mystery of Felicia's missing actor friend, Angus Green, Ginger reluctantly agrees. She puts her investigation on the back burner when at the opening of her new shop, a Russian Grand Duchess is found murdered! Since Basil was on the scene when the murder occured (with his wife in tow-oh no!), the Chief Inspector tries to take over the case and accuses Ginger or murdering her own client. Ginger is determined to figure out what happened to save herself and her shop's reputation!
  
  I wasn't going to read this novel but I needed some short and light. Plus I saw it was set only days before my grandmother was born so I was curious about what was going on in January 1924. London is a world away from middle class New York and there's a lot going on that involves murder and intrigue. I never ever guessed the identity of the murderer. I did guess that someone was not who they seemed. THAT was so obvious that Ginger nearly picked up on it and didn't. The who and why was such a shock. Then the story ends on a cliffhanger so I HAVE to read the next one even though it sounds too dark for me. I got a kick out of the fictional Hope Diamond storyline.
  
  I can only give this book about 3.75 stars out of 5 because I did pick up on anachronisms and possible modern Americanisms.
  
  As with the previous book, there are two mysteries. In the theater world, Angus Green is missing without a trace. Stage manager Peter Maguire only cares for his production. I do not think he would murder his leading man with only two shows left to go. Geordie Atkins and Matthew Haines, fellow actors, do not seem all that friendly or concerned with the disappearance of one of their company. Angus seems like he was a nice man. He was serious about acting, not women, unfortunately for Felicia. If he was planning to go to New York, perhaps he got a better offer and left to go there?
  
  Grand Duchess Olga Pavlovna Orlova is the murder victim. She is mysterious and assumes all the airs of her birth. She is also in possession of a rare blue diamond, said to be unlucky. The Grand Duchess has secrets that may have led to her death. These were secrets I never guessed! Other new characters include Reverend Oliver Hill who runs Ginger's charity to aid hungry street children. Oliver is an extremely amiable, cheerful, kind man. Sadly he seems to have an unrequited crush on Ginger. I really like him, especially at the end. Monsieur Molyneux is Ginger's dress designer. He has a secret but Ginger knows this and understands it's a business decision that will help her. He seems friendly and kind. His assistant, Mademoiselle Bernard,
  
  Mrs. Emilia Reed finally makes an appearance. Poor Basil! Since the story is from Ginger's point-of-view and briefly from Basil's, I can't get a good read on Emilia's personality. Of course I want her to be awful so he will divorce her but she doesn't give an indication that she's not just another society matron.
  
  Possible murder suspects include several characters. Lady Fitzhugh and her daughter Meredith were at the opening of Fathers & Flair. Lady Fitzhugh is a horrible mother and I feel terrible for her daughter. Meredith does not have the face or figure her mother would desire and is yet unmarried. Meredith is cold and dispassionate. She could possibly be motivated to murder out of jealousy, or perhaps it was Lady Fitzhugh for some reason? Princess Sophia von Altenhofen from Berlin is a haughty, rude woman. I didn't like her at all. She has a strong motivation to murder the Grand Duchess and seems to be hiding secrets herself. Lady Isla Lyon and her husband, Lord Robert Lyon are also suspects in the murder of the Grand Duchess, as are Lord and Lady Whitmore. Ginger knows a secret about Lord Whitmore and if he's involved, the mystery has more far reaching implications than Ginger realized. Lady Lyon is a complicated character. She has kleptomania. Could that extend to murder to get what she wants? Her husband is a bit too protective of her. Blake Brown is a reporter and eager for a juicy story from Feathers & Flair. Could he have manufactured a scandal that backfired? Finally there's Countess Andreea Balcescu, another snotty European ex-royal who is very mysterious.
  
  Recurring characters include Felicia, who is still selfish and kind of bratty and her grandmother, who is kept to a minimum in this story. Ambrosia's nemesis, Mrs. Schofield appears with her grandson Alfred. He gives off bad vibes to Ginger and I didn't like him when he first appeared. His grandmother is as much of a nosy gossip as ever. Ginger's young street urchin friend Scout and his cousin Marvin are back. Their circumstances have changed since they met Ginger and not for the better. I would worry about them too but thankfully Ginger knows she can't swoop in and rescue Scout if she wants him to trust her. I think that's her American upbringing. She doesn't use her position as a Lady to impose her own personal standards on the child.
  
  Ginger's best friend Haley is pushing on with her studies despite the fact she'll soon be losing her mentor to retirement. His replacement, Dr. Gupta is VERY handsome but I suspect very traditional and may now allow Haley to perform autopsies with him. Superintendent Morris will be a recurring character in the future. He's a pompous, bumbling fool who will mess up every investigation with his imagination.
  
  I can't wait to read the next book and find out what happens next.
• 
  Robin

  Lady Ginger Gold is hard at work in her brand new dress shop she has named "Feathers and Flair". Her grand opening is covered by press and attended by many of Europe's rich and famous. But as the party winds into the night, the body of the Grand Duchess is found on the second floor of the shop. The blue diamond she was wearing around her neck is missing. Ginger, her best friend Hailey Higgins, and Scotland Yard's Chief Inspector Basil Reed investigate the case.
  
  The fourth book in the Ginger Gold Mystery series is the best yet. There are lots of suspects to work through. Ginger finds a coded message and wonders how it ties into the murder. And, Basil Reed's estranged wife is back in his life and Ginger is not happy about this event.
  
  I listened to the audio version and once again enjoyed the narration by Elizabeth Klett. My rating: 4.5 Stars.
• 
  JoAn

  Murder at Feathers & Flair by Lee Strauss was an engaging mystery set in London after the First World War. Ms. Strauss has written a complex mystery with believeable characters, international intrigue and historical accuracy. I was totally wrapped up in the story and didn't put it down until I finished it. I'm enjoying this series and ready to start another one.
• 
  Coco.V

  💝 FREE on Amazon today (1/23/2018)! 💝
  
• 
  Lee Strauss

  CHAPTER ONE
  
  “You’re a thief!”
  The thief stepped forwards and replied, “Exactly. And you, madam? The mistress of the house, I presume. Or are you a thief as well?”
  With a white-gloved hand Ginger Gold held the programme up in the dim light of the Abbott Theatre, an older establishment on Shaftesbury Avenue.
  The thief was played by Angus Green, a handsome man, tall with a confidence that radiated from the stage. Ginger doubted his aplomb was only attributed to acting. He was young and had a determination about him. Probably new to theatre, Ginger thought—she hadn’t heard his name before.
  
  The one-act play written by a Mr. Stuart Walker was called Sham, and Ginger’s sister-in-law, Felicia, had landed the lead female role of Clara.
  “What have you taken?” Felicia’s enunciation was loud and with proper indignation. “Give it to me instantly! How dare you?” She gestured to the actor standing next to her. “Charles, take it away from him.”
  
  Haley Higgins, Ginger’s American friend and housemate, leaned in and whispered in her Bostonian accent, “Felicia has pluck.”
  Ginger agreed. On the stage and in real life, if truth be told.
  Charles, according to the programme, was played by a blond man named Geordie Atkins. He was shorter and stouter than the attractive thief and a good deal older if you could go by his receding hairline.
  
  “I dare say, old man,” Geordie Atkins said, looking uncertain yet a little amused. “You’d better clear out.”
  Ambrosia, the Dowager Lady Gold and Ginger’s grandmother through marriage, had not been a great supporter of her granddaughter’s interest in theatre. “A lot of simpletons looking to escape their responsibilities,” she’d stated. Yet, in the light filtering off the stage to their seats on the balcony, Ginger saw a smile and a glint in the older lady’s eye she’d almost say was pride.
  
  There were only four characters in the play—the fourth was a reporter who appeared near the end. A man in his early thirties donning a moustache and spectacles had won the part. He wore a trilby hat and an overcoat that hung sloppily over drooped shoulders. Ginger examined her programme: Matthew Haines. Felicia had talked about her fellow actors often since joining the company, and Ginger was glad to put names to faces.
  
  In the end, Felicia’s character conned the confidence man. When the curtain dropped, Ginger sprung to her feet in applause.
  “Bravo! Bravo!”
  The actors waited in the lobby to greet the members of the audience, who Ginger thought solemnly, were far too few. A jolly good number of seats had been unoccupied. Quite a shame since the performance was so charming.
  
  “Felicia, darling!” Ginger said as she embraced her sister-in-law. “You were absolutely magnificent!”
  Felicia had changed into a Jean Patou chiffon evening gown from Feather & Flair. It had three layers of fabric each a different shade of pink, and a dropped waist cummerbund-like sash. Felicia’s dark hair was perfectly coiffed with finger waves and decorated with a jewelled headpiece. The pink on her Clara Bow lips matched her dress. Ginger thought she rivalled any film star she’d ever seen.
  Felicia held Ginger’s green-eyed gaze. “Thank you, Ginger! I’m so glad you came.”
  
  A wayward strand of red hair escaped from Ginger’s bob. When she pushed it behind her ear, her dangling Cartier Paris emerald and diamond earrings swayed. She gushed, “Wouldn’t have missed it for the world.”
  
  Ambrosia allowed a quick hug from Felicia and begrudgingly admitted, “It was better than I expected, child. I do hope you have this folly out of your system now.”
  Felicia’s smile lit up the lobby. “Oh, Grandmama! I’m so happy, even you cannot steal my joy tonight.”
  Haley shook Felicia’s hand with a firm grip and said, “Good job, Felicia. Well done.”
  
  Felicia introduced her fellow actors, Mr. Geordie Atkins and Mr. Matthew Haines, but her gaze and smile stayed on the man who played the thief. “And this is Mr. Angus Green.”
  Angus shook each lady’s hand as he charmed Ambrosia and showered Ginger with accolades.
  “It’s such an honour to meet you, Lady Gold. Felicia has told me so many great things.”
  Ginger arched a brow. “Is that so, Mr. Green?”
  
  “Indeed. I hear you’ve started your own business! Very commendable. And that a rather prestigious gala is coming up.”
  Ginger laughed. “The rumours are true. Shall you be attending?”
  Angus Green’s dark eyes gazed down at Felicia. “If I’m invited.”
  Felicia beamed and threaded her fingers through his. “You know I’ve already invited you, silly.” They laughed, and Ginger and Haley shared a look. Felicia was clearly smitten by her colleague.
  Tapping her walking stick on the burgundy theatre carpet, Ambrosia’s frown deepened, and her eyes narrowed at the public display of affection. Felicia had the sense to remove her hand from Mr. Green’s.
  
  “Let’s move along, Grandmother,” Ginger said before a displeasing scene could erupt. “We are holding up the queue.”
  
  GET IT ON AMAZON -
  https://smarturl.it/FeathersFlair-AM
• 
  Paula Shreckhise

  Ginger is at it again! She keeps finding bodies and is set to solve another mystery alongside Inspector Reed of Scotland Yard. But just as one set of clues is figured out, another conundrum pops up!
  Very well written and so engrossing. I’m addicted!
  * I purchased this ebook from Amazon. All opinions are my own.
• 
  Merry Chapman

  A fantastic fourth book in the series filled with so much twists, turns and fun characters you can't put it down!
  
  Book four in a fantastic period cozy mystery series set in 1924 is a fast paced, fun read! The author is precise in her descriptions of the time throughout the book. She is so descriptive that as I read I can visualize not only the clothing she describes in detail, but the story creates a movie in my mind! Ginger Gold, (Lady Gold), loves fashion and opened a high end dress shop, Feathers & Flair, which becomes famous world-wide. The story opens with Ginger, her best friend Haley and her Grandmother-in-law watching Felicia, (her sister-in-law) in a play, much to the chagrin of the Dowager Lady Ambrosia Gold, although she appeared to be proud of Felicia's performance. She openly hopes Felicia got the acting bug out of her system. Felicia was wonderful and glowing and at the end she introduced her family to the actors and especially Angus Green who she seemed to have a large crush on. After the celebration of Felicia's success, Ginger has her driver take her to her shop so she can see if everything is ready for the Gala event that is coming with a special guest's appearance when she gets a call from Felicia that her actor friend, is missing. She begs Ginger to help find the missing actor, and although she never did a missing person case, she did solve some crimes with her "friend" Detective Basil Reed. But as her Gala event begins in the shop, an international guest drops dead there and a murder investigation ensues, putting the case of the missing actor aside. With many twists and turns, red herrings, another murder, more mystery a missing gem, a cryptic note and dead ends we are taken through a crazy time of murder, espionage, the involvement of the secret service with the odious Francis, Smithwick, who continues to hint about Ginger's past life but involves himself in the mystery giving her not much to work with anyway. I loved the introduction of a couple of new characters that seem interesting like the Rev. Oliver, does he have a crush on Ginger and I loved the take charge Madam Roux. I also loved to see what transpires with the relationship of the shy Basil and Ginger. Of course there are a few unanswered questions, cliff hangers so to speak, that will continue in the next book like, what about the missing actor - what happened to him? I LOVE this series and you will too. I received an ARC of this book, but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own!
• 
  Cindy

  Charming, deadly, unexpected and that’s just the killer. I think this series is the quintessential cozy mystery template. Fun, engaging, and resolved in a manner not disappointing for the reader. Narrator is perfect for the parts.
• 
  Krista

  This was entry into the Historical Mystery series was more complex, and harder to guess the killer. I like that! Now on to the next book. This series is just what I need now. It's a fun historical with good characters and a time and setting I'm enjoying.
• 
  a.

  I am tired of Ginger fawning over a man she knows is married. I don't care what his wife did, it is disrespectful and disgusting, and it detracts from the mystery in the book, which is why I began reading these. But page after page of will Basil leave his wife... It's old and I don't care. She knows little about him, yet, pages are devoted to how she feels about him. And she knew he was otherwise engaged from book one. It's frustrating and stupid. Not only that, Ginger is a self centered, whiny, horrible character, she is a classist and an outright snot. And dumb. The mystery was over with the hint the lady's scarf smelled of aftershave. I am over this character and series. Ginger ruins a cute period mystery.
  
  I HATE LOVE TRIANGLES. I HATE LOVE TRIANGLES. I HATE LOVE TRIANGLES.
  
  These are poorly written, for many reasons, but not just that the characters are either fully fleshed out and horrible people, or husks of what characters should be. The main character is ridiculous, though I have more than mentioned that. It's so unbelievable that Basil would take her to all of these places. It's also stupid. He's a fine detective on his own, he doesn't need her to help. Then there is the oh so typical rub between Ginger and the police chief. It's a tired trope. This series gives cozies a bad name, and I'm incredibly disappointed in it, as the beginning had promise. But once Ginger is rejected (yes, she's rejected. He tells her he loves his wife and is staying with her, that's rejection, not an admission that should arouse her devotion) she says she should have never put Daniel's pictures away. How stupid and trite. Yes, trite. Grief isn't for when it is convenient. I am all for her being able to move on, but her reactions are overly dramatic and they are offensive if one has suffered grief. These are terribly written. The dialogue is out of a play written by a middle schooler. On a scale of 1-5, this book doesn't rank. Did I mention she is a classist? It's vomit inducing.
• 
  Mara

  Fashionista Ginger Gold's boutique Feathers & Flair is having a gala and everyone is there, including some royals from Germany, Russia and Romania, and designer Edward Molyneux, when her shop manager finds the Grand Duchess Olga Pavlovna Orlova of Russia dead in one of the changing areas!
  
  Ginger's sister-in-law, Felicia, has caught the acting bug when one of her fellow actors, Angus Green, inexplicably goes missing. Ginger had just started trying to find out what happened to him when she puts it aside to work with Chief Inspector Basil Reed to find out who wanted the Grand Duchess dead and what happened to the Blue Desire necklace she had been wearing.
  
  There are a lot of new characters in this story and I had a hard time remembering which royal person was from which country. The route to solving the murder included quite a few twists, including another murder, a missing gemstone necklace, and a coded message. Just when I thought they'd found the guilty party something new would happen. I really was more interested in Ginger and Basil's relationship, as things weren't going smoothly at the end of the last book,
  Murder at Bray Manor. Seems Basil's wife is back and it's making Ginger and Basil's working relationship a bit strained. Ginger belongs with Basil Reed and not Reverend Hill.
  
  Ginger's best friend, Haley, has a new pathologist to work with. A Dr. Manu Gupta, who's sounds incredibly handsome. Could Haley have a love interest in future books? The unpleasant Captain Smithwick makes another appearance, so hopefully the future books will give us more information on what Ginger did during the war.
  
  This isn't my favorite Ginger Gold Mystery but I liked it and can't wait to read the next one
  Murder at the Mortuary.
• 
  Susan

  I am really enjoying this series - the characters are well drawn and there are all the different strands to each story - the relationship between Ginger and Basil being of the main interest. But I have to say I didn't find this the strongest story - I had worked out who the main protagonist was fairly early on so there were really no surprises for me. Saying that it didn't really spoil the book as I enjoy all the other elements of the life of Ginger and her friends and family. I look forward to reading the next in the series
• 
  gwen graves

  Decent mystery
  
  I’m not a big fan of cozy mysteries, but this one turned out to be good. The characters were interesting and the story was good. The one thing I didn’t care for was to much description of what everyone was wearing. It made those parts of the story drag.
• 
  Torrie Tovar

  My favorite one yet!! Cannot wait for the next!!
• 
  Bev

  Lady Ginger Gold has opened a new dress shop in Regent Street called Feathers & Flair and plans to kick things off with a gala event. She'll have designer dresses for the well-to-do as well as well-made clothing in the off-the-rack section for those who can't afford a frock from Paris. She's also arranged for a well-known Parisian designer to give a debut viewing of some of his latest models. Everything is set for a breath-taking evening.
  
  There is a terrific turnout with everyone from a former German princess to a Russian duchess attending--along with the elite of British society. The event goes well, several purchases and orders are processed, the guests leave for home, and Ginger is breathing a sigh of relief when her shop manager discovers the Grand Duchess Olga Pavlova Orlova lying dead behind the curtain leading to the backrooms. Not only has the Grand Duchess been murdered, but the fantastic blue diamond necklace which had been on display around her neck is gone. Was the lady killed for the Blue Desire, a jewel which carries (as so many of these fabulous gems do) a history of bad luck for its owners? Or is there something else behind the Russian's demise? When a coded message is found hidden in the Grand Duchess's shawl, it begins to look like the lady has been playing in the spying game.
  
  Ginger dives into sleuthing once again--this time with two investigations vying for her attention. Her sister-in-law, Felicia has asked her to look into the disappearance of Angus Green, an actor in the repertory theater group which Felicia has joined. Felicia and Angus were in the middle of a play run with two more performances left. Others think that Angus was just a flighty young man and took off for his own purposes, but Felicity does not believe that he would let his fellow actors down. She's convinced something awful has happened to him. When another actor in the group disappears as well, it begins to look like something is rotten in the acting circle. Ginger is going to have her hands full and a lot to think about...and then, of course, there is the complications in her personal life.
  
  Her previous investigations put her in close contact with the very personable and handsome Inspector Reed. Reed has been separated from his wife (due to her romantic indiscretions) and has given Ginger to understand that a divorce is in the offing. So...why did he show up at the dress shop gala with his wife? It seems that Emelia Reed has begged forgiveness and asked for a second chance. Reed is torn and Ginger is faced with the fact that she loves a man who still very much belongs to another. It puts a strain on their detective co-op. But the duo do find a way to work together and eventually bring the culprit to justice.
  
  I think this was Strauss's best effort at mystifying me. Even though she plainly displayed two clues that should have told me who was responsible, I managed to disregard them. Well, not entirely, I did pay attention to one clue...for about two seconds. It didn't seem to lead anywhere so I promptly forgot about it. I could blame it on listening to an audio version (I don't seem to take things in quite so well if I don't actually read the words), but I don't think that's the reason. I just hang on to it and put it together with the other clue. One interesting note on this installment...it's a cliffhanger. The missing actor storyline doesn't get resolved and we're left with a tantalizing episode at the end that leads into the next book.
  
  First published on my blog
  My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting portions of review. Thanks.
• 
  Veronica Barton

  A request to hunt down a missing actor is put on hold when tragedy strikes at a fashion event Lady Ginger Gold hosts at her upscale boutique, Feathers & Flair. One of her high society clients is found murdered, and a necklace with a notorious past goes missing.
  
  Family drama and international intrigue emerge as the investigation unfolds. When Ginger and Basil's working relationship hits a rocky patch, will they be able to put their personal issues aside to catch the killer?
  
  Author Strauss once again pens a clever whodunnit with many twists and turns. I've become a huge fan of this series--the characters, settings, and storylines have me hooked! An entertaining read for cozy mystery fans, highly recommended!
• 
  ShanDizzy

  I did not intend to get hooked on another series so soon but I simply CANNOT stop reading about fiesty and fashionable Ginger Gold and her adorable dog Boss (short for Boston). The recurring characters are a hoot too. Seriously, do an intervention....just kidding! I'm on to the next one.
• 
  Alice 🌙

  4/5 ⭐️
• 
  Jen

  Listened on audio
• 
  Heather Belleguelle

  Oh mercy! There’s a murder at the grand opening of Ginger’s boutique, and, of course, Ginger will be the one who wants to solve it. This story is set against the backdrop of post-First World War Europe, giving readers a fascinating little insight into the history and events of the 1920s. The mystery is intriguing and, as one has come to expect from Lee Strauss, there is the usual array of well-drawn possible suspects. As ever, it’s not just a straightforward murder mystery as there are other twists, turns, and threads to the story, throwing in plenty of red herrings to keep the reader off the scent.
  
  It’s always a pleasure to meet up with Ginger, Haley, and the rest of the regular characters, including the enigmatic Basil Reed, and not forgetting Ginger’s little dog, Boss. Readers are also introduced to a couple of new characters who will no doubt feature in further books in the series, bringing with them interesting possible storyline developments. And of course, there’s the ever-continuing “will-they, won’t-they” relationship between Ginger and Basil.
  
  While this book isn’t my favourite in the series, I did enjoy reading it, probably more so from the point of view of the relationships between the main characters than the mystery itself. However, a series like this one is never just about the mystery, and following the story of those who have now become friends is equally important. That being the case, the author has achieved what she set out to do. I can recommend Murder at Feathers & Flair and am looking forward to Ginger’s next case.
  
  A review copy of this book was sent to me by the author. All of the above opinions are my own.
  
• 
  Helen Drake

  This is the first book I have read in the Ginger Gold Mystery series, but the 4th book in the series. After reading this one, I’m going to have to read the others in the series. This was a fascinating story with richly written characters and plenty of plot twists. There was so much going on, I had to pay close attention so as not to get confused by the various characters. The conclusion of the story was satisfying if unexpected.
  
  I loved getting to know Ginger Gold, a 1920’s modern woman. She is so accomplished and has led a fascinating, yet sad life in that she has lost both her father and her husband, Her friends and family are also strong and independent women, complete with flaws.
  
  Lee Strauss paints pictures with her writing. All characters are well described including their fashion, hair styles, and makeup. You can “see” the settings where the action takes place. This story would make a great TV period mystery.
  
  I received a review copy of the book in exchange for a review. I’m delighted to have been given the opportunity to discover Ginger Gold!
• 
  Marsha

  SPOILER ALERT!
  
  This was disappointing in terms of the mystery component but the interpersonal relationships among the main characters were developed well. Regarding the mystery, Ginger ignored too many VERY obvious clues.
  
  SPOILER ALERT: The pathologist tells you the killer was left-handed and would have scratches on his/her arms. You interact with someone who is left-handed and has scratches on his arms; you even ask him about the scratches but nothing else is said about this, even much later when the mystery is solved and he is indeed the killer. You find a major clue upstairs, but you don't follow or even give a second thought to the people going upstairs when you yourself state that there is NO GOOD REASON for them to be going upstairs. More than once. How could these major oversights have slipped through -- and so many in one book?
  
  Did the same author write this one as the previous books? Anyway, as I type I have forgiven Ginger and the author and am on to the next book in the series.
• 
  norma linza

  Easy fast read
  
  I knew right away who the murderer was. That is one reason for the 3 star. The story is just too simple. No closure. Cliff hanger. I feel like I missed the first 2 acts of the play and I had to leave before it ended.
  Characters were not fully developed to show personalities. We were told what someone was like.
• 
  Caroline

  Lady Ginger at her best!
  
  Ms. Strauss just keeps getting better and better!!
• 
  Eric

  Thank you to the author for the ARC.
  
  My reviews of the first three in the series concentrated on some of the errors in the “Britishness” of the books. This one I read pre-publication, and before final corrections, so, in fairness, I will focus this time on the plot and characters.
  
  We continue to learn more about Ginger and Basil, although there is a bit of a pause in the building of their relationship. Haley now has a chance of some romantic interest and there is a new friendship for Ginger.
  
  There are a lot of potentially fascinating characters around, who one hopes to see developing in future books: Scout and Marvin, the Rev. Oliver Hill, Dr. Gupta and Madame Roux, for instance. Ginger’s grandmother-in-law and sister-in-law, Ambrosia and Felicia, as well as her stepmother and half- sister in America, also might have plots built around them further into the series.
  
  Ginger is now established as the owner of a fashionable clothes shop, thus allowing for the inclusion of even more information about twenties clothing, the detail of which, some people may find too much. She is also now effectively a private detective and Basil does seem to grant her more involvement in cases than might be realistic.
  
  The plot here starts with the disappearance of an actor friend of Felicia but that will be followed up in the next book. Ginger’s shop comes into the spotlight when an illustrious guest is murdered during a gala event. The Secret Service is involved, giving us more glimpses of Ginger’s past and a reappearance by the odious Francis Smithwick. A further murder of a titled customer takes place. Not for the first time, Ginger finds her life in danger.
  
  There are plenty of red herrings, buy there are also some hints about the identity of the murderer for the careful reader to find.
  
  So, a melange of murder and mystery, espionage and romance, fashion and high society, robbery and deception, set firmly in 1924 London , a combination which many will find irresistible.
  
  The book is easy to read and there are few dull moments.There is an intriguing link into the next book, just to hook the reader’s interest.
  
  Three stars.
• 
  Rebecca

  Set in the 1920s. The widowed Lady Ginger Gold has returned to England from America, and has set up a dress shop in London called Feathers & Flair. The lower floor has custom-designed gowns, and the upper floor has less expensive "factory" dresses (pre-made). Living with Lady Gold is her husband's sister, an aspiring actress and incorrigible flirt whose name I've already forgotten, and the actress' termagent grandmother. Also Ginger's American friend, medical student Hayley (sp?). Ginger's life is a bit fraught at the moment. Her sister in law has asked her to investigate a missing actor, but she also has a major gala at her shop upcoming. It's not as big a success as she'd hoped, though. Two ladies become faint and leave early, Ginger learns that the Scotland Yard inspector who seemed to be interested in her (and she in him) is getting back together with his wife, and worst, a grand duchess is found dead in a changing room, with her infamous blue diamond necklace missing.
  
  I enjoyed this one all right, but not as much as the Daisy Dalrymple ones. I hadn't realized this was a mid-series book, so I didn't understand all the relationships and what had come before, and not all was completely explained. Then, I just didn't enjoy the Russian spy-MI-5 connection--I'm not a fan of spy stories, and this felt a bit hackneyed. I also thought the political correctness stood out like a sore thumb, with elements rather wedged into the story rather than contributing to it on their own. I appreciate the attempt, but it was too obvious. I did enjoy all the descriptions of the clothes, though some of that could have used more description--what are "string sleeves" for example? Not sure I would continue with this series, but I can see people liking it better than I did.
  
  
• 
  Teri Donaldson

  Lee Strauss has written another magical and superb Ginger Gold mystery. This time, we get a closer look at her new store and all of the beautiful fashions. While a gala celebrating Feather and Flair is in full swing, several unexpected events, including murder, set the book in motion. From there, it is one twist and turn after another.
  Ginger Gold is one of the most charming characters in literature today. I always feel like I am reconnecting with an old friend when reading a new book. Other favorites from from the first three books return and add fun and interest to the story. Much more is revealed about the handsome Inspector Basil Reed and Haley's own story continues to develop.
  I waited to start this book until I had a free afternoon as I knew once I read the first page, I would be hooked and not look up until finished.
  While the book can easily be read as a standalone, and if you do so, I would encourage you to go back to the beginning and read the first three books. Ginger will warm your heart. Each book is as fabulous as the other. I could easily see these as a television series.