Death By Sample Size

 

Death by Sample Size

By Susie Black

How about a liberal dose of laugh out loud humor with your intriguing mystery? Here's an amateur sleuth who is wise-cracking, irreverent, and becomes determined to follow all clues and find a cunning killer. The victim was certainly no friend to Holly Schlivnik. In fact Bunny Frank really had no friends, leaving a long line of suspects in her wake. It's when Holly's friend Sonia is charged with the murder that this swimwear sales executive gets into action to help her friend. How can the police get it all so wrong? But, Holly hasn't investigated a crime before. Can she really be any help? When she rolls up her sleeves, which suspects will stand out to her? Can she convince authorities with the clues she finds? The police are not happy with an amateur on the case, and the situation could become desperate for poor Sonia behind bars.

Unlike the murdered Bunny Frank, Holly Schlivnik has lots of friends. She meets up with many of them often at The Java Jolt as they take begin their work day in the garment industry, or taking a break. They talk about the business, and about the people in the business. Holly is able to recruit some help from them, especially from Queenie Levine who, along with Holly keeps the reader laughing out loud while they dig up irresistible clues. There's plenty of opportunity for readers to analyze the clues along with the swimwear sales exec and narrow down suspects.

Miguel Martinez is the detective challenged by this amateur sleuth and her friends. There appears there's a romantic spark between the two of them, at least when confrontational sparks aren't flying between them over the case.

The details in the case about the the setting of Los Angeles, and especially about the fashion industry matches the excitement of the suspect chase and hunt for the killer. It's very interesting to learn about this business, and the unique characters enhance the plot. The author's story telling style flows beautifully through this delightful fast paced mystery.

Born in the Big Apple, Susie Black calls sunny Southern California home. Like the protagonist in her Holly Swimsuit Mystery Series, Susie is a successful apparel sales executive. Susie began telling stories as soon as she learned to talk. Now she’s telling all the stories from her garment industry experiences in humorous mysteries. You can also hear directly from the author herself on YouTube's podcast, A Novel Talk with Susie Black