Book 27, 2021

Buttoned Up by Kylie Logan

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I'm behind on book reviews! On Wednesday night, I finished reading Buttoned Up by Kylie Logan. It's the fourth part of her "Button Box" mystery series featuring button aficionado, Josie Giancola.

Josie is thrilled to take time from running her shop, the Button Box, to attend an art exhibit in which the eccentric artist, Forbis Parmenter, has covered voodoo pieces in buttons. All that's left is to place the final button, which Josie will bring with her to the gallery. At the moment of truth, however, the artist panics and bolts from the gallery. Some speculate that it's just another of his publicity stunts, but Parmenter is found dead the following day in the arms of one of his button-encrusted statues, with his own eyes and mouth sealed with buttons. Now that it's a clear case of murder, Josie's boyfriend, police officer Nevin Riley, is on the case. He enlists Josie's aid, since she's an expert in buttons. Josie would be delighted to assist if it weren't for Nev's former fiancee, an expert in vudon, who arrives on the scene--a woman Josie knew nothing about. Now Josie must juggle running her shop, investigating a murder, and wondering how solid her relationship with Nev is. Fortunately, help arrives in the form of hunky journalist Gabriel Marsh.

There was a lot going on in the book. Josie chased down several leads at Gabriel's urging, much to Nevin's chagrin. She didn't seem to spend a lot of time at her shop. Most of the narrative focused on Josie's investigation and her consternation. The killer was easy enough to guess. While several people seemed to have motive for murder, only one had motive for the macabre buttons.

Favorite line: "You look like you swallowed a pickle."

The story was enjoyable enough, although not engrossing. The book isn't a "keeper", but I might read others in the series. Average score.