Dead Is the New Black (Fashion Avenue Mysteries, #1)

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Dead Is the New Black (Fashion Avenue Mysteries #1)

by Christine DeMaio-Rice (Goodreads Author)

3.39 of 5 stars 3.39 · rating details · 233 ratings · 77 reviews

***A RED ADEPT SELECT FOR OUTSTANDING BOOK IN ITS GENRE***

Laura Carnegie gave up on the man of her dreams a long time ago. He's fashion designer Jeremy St. James, and not only is he her boss, everyone knows he's gay.
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When he's arrested for murder, secrets come to light and nothing is what it seems. If Laura can just solve this crime, keep the cops off her tail, break up a...more

Kindle Edition, 320 pages

Published September 9th 2011 by Createspace

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Best Cover Art 2011 (Non-YA)

69th out of 265 books — 1,353 voters

Raiders of the Lost Corset by Ellen Byerrum

Fashionable Mysteries

13th out of 28 books — 13 voters

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Jul 10, 2012 Sarah Billington rated it 5 of 5 stars

Really enjoyed this. The voice reminded me if Stephanie Plum, only different. I'm in awe of mystery writers. How do they do that?? A LOT of research has gone into this book, or it draws on expert knowledge of the fashion industry or both. Well done!

3 likes · like · see review

Feb 02, 2013 A Voracious Reader (a.k.a. Carol) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: e-book, review-requested, red-adept, mystery

Laura Carnegie is a pattern maker for big fashion designer Jeremy St. James. She fell in love with him practically from the day she interviewed for the job and even though they work closely together and she’s still in love with him five years later, she’s done nothing about it because Jeremy is gay. However, she loves her job and the time in the early mornings that they spend together before everyone else arrives to work, so she continues to love him from afar. Until the morning she’s a little l...more

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Jan 20, 2013 Casceil rated it 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book. It is an interesting mystery with an engaging main character, and is mostly well-paced. I have noticed that many other Goodreads reviewers either gave it five stars or one star--they either loved it or hated it. Both camps seemed to give the same reason for why they loved or hated it, that being the amount of detail included about how the garment industry works, what pattern-makers do, and the mechanics of the main character's job. I thought this wealth of detail gave the bo...more

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Sep 11, 2012 Albert rated it 5 of 5 stars

Overall Feedback: The author of this book contacted me on Facebook to see if I would be interested in reviewing it. She did caution me that "I hope it is not too girly for you". Understandable seeing that my favorite author is Stephen King and well I am a guy (last I checked). Well first and foremost Christine, it was not too girly and thank you for the gift of a well woven tale of mystery in the fashion world. I was entertained and I learned something to boot. This one will have the reader thin...more Overall Feedback: The author of this book contacted me on Facebook to see if I would be interested in reviewing it. She did caution me that "I hope it is not too girly for you". Understandable seeing that my favorite author is Stephen King and well I am a guy (last I checked). Well first and foremost Christine, it was not too girly and thank you for the gift of a well woven tale of mystery in the fashion world. I was entertained and I learned something to boot. This one will have the reader thinking they have the whodoneit but missing the mark. The descriptions of the fashion scene may not appeal to the average reader but for those of us that like detail in our story this will rock your world. Christine obviously knows the inner workings of the fashion scene and she flaunts it for our entertainment. You will learn to love to hate the main character but in the grand scheme of the fashion world, does she not fit? I enjoyed every "girly" word of this novel and will be looking at more of Christine's work as should you.

Point of View: Laura, seemingly pretentious b****, but accurate example of my idea of a "Fashionista". This may make me falling into a stereotype but they are there for a reason. You as the reader will hate to help Laura but she is the lead in this tale so get used to her.

Voice: Having too much is never enough. That is what I take from it but I could also see that having that attitude shall break your soul.

Character Development: When an author can cause me to hate the lead character but drive me to finish the story then I say the character development is spot on.

Plot: Although this would classify as a stereotype, I can see this happening in the real fashion scene and so could you if you are honest with yourself.

Dialogue: Not being in the fashion scene but understanding enough to get by, I would say that I could see each and every point as true to what have been if this was in the real world.

Pacing: I have never learned so much in a hour. As that is how long it took me to read this and even if you do not read like a mad bibliophile you shall not find yourself lost in thought during this read.

Setting: Not being in the fashion world, but now being learned, I would say that I could see this really really happening. Watch the headlines folks!

Continuity: Closed up nice and tidy without a crack in the plot anywhere. Once again Christine bravo and I will look for more from you.(less)

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Sep 01, 2012 Akl rated it 1 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I feel bad for giving it a terrible review, especially since it looks like most peope loved it. I absolutely hated this book, almost didn't finish, but I try not to start something I don't finish.

The main character is so unlikeable, it is difficult to care what she has to say, and boy, does she have a lot to say. I like fashion as much as the next person, but the detailed descriptions on EVERYTHING almost put me to sleep. My lil' sister is a fashion designer, and even she couldn't finish the boo...more

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Aug 06, 2012 Dianne Socci-Tetro rated it 1 of 5 stars

If you love sewing, "The Devil Wears Prada" or just want to know how clothes are made from the ground up (and I really mean from the ground up)...then this may be your book. If you want to know what a pattern maker does, then you will most likely enjoy this book.
BUT if you are looking for a mystery that makes sense, then you may want to take a pass.

The mystery in this book takes second stage to all the folderol that goes on behind the scenes of a fashion show. It can be interesting to read wha...more

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Dec 11, 2011 Tima rated it 5 of 5 stars

Laura is an amazing pattern maker with a crush on her boss. She arrives at work one morning to find him standing over a dead body. The cops think Jeremy killed his financial backer, but Laura just can't picture the man of her dreams doing something so terrible. She sets out to do a little investigating on her own and gets in way over her head. There isn't one person in her life who turns out to be what she thought they were, including her family.

This story was well written, fast paced and fun. I...more

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Aug 25, 2012 Bekah rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-and-reviewed

Lauren is a fashionista turned amature sleuth. As a patternmaker in New York City's garment district, she gives us a close look at how high-end clothing is made, from cutting on the bias to picking the right thread to sew on a button. Think along the lines of "The Devil Wears Prada" or "Project Runway".

The story begins about a week before a major fashion show. Her whole office is in a whirl preparing. Hardworking Lauren comes into work on a weekend, only to find her boss (the dashing gay man sh...more

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Nov 18, 2011 Jenna Anderson rated it 4 of 5 stars

I love cozy mysteries. When I heard that Dead is the New Black was about the fashion world and set in NY, I was all over it. I admit I've watched every season of Project Runway numerous times - thank goodness cable has a thing for reruns.

Ms. DeMaio-Rice knows the ins and outs of the fashion design world, this is apparent. The murder mystery is tightly wrapped up in this industry. I admit, some of it went over my head along with the NYC slag and customs, but I didn't mind. The story was rich, co...more

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Jan 13, 2013 Lesley rated it 2 of 5 stars

I had such high hopes for Dead is the New Black when I started reading it.

I've read and loved several light-hearted mysteries where the main character finds herself involved in a murder and despite having zero history with crime-solving, manages to solve the mystery before the police were able to (or just about the same time as the police do!). I kept holding out hope that I'd feel the same way about this one, but with no luck.

I did learn a lot about the behind the scenes happenings in the fas...more

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Aug 30, 2012 Allen rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book is one that I am sure would appeal to a seamstress or someone in the garment industry. Secondly it is a book that females would like. Being neither I was left with too much detail on the fashion industry and too little on the mystery of the murder itself. In addition it was littered with "like a much neglected alley" type expressions that some editors deplore but that I was looking forward to reading the next one. I think sometimes something overdone just works and those worked for me...more

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Mar 24, 2012 Karen Fowler rated it 5 of 5 stars

Although this novel is billed as a cozy mystery, it is far more than that. Dead Is the New Black is a complex novel, woven with delicate finesse by the author. At it's core is a heroine that underestimates herself on many different levels. She's smart, talented, and takes it upon herself to get to the bottom of everything. Which gets her into trouble. But I don't need to elaborate-- that's what book blurbs are for.

I will say that I really enjoyed this book. It's been polished to perfection by t...more

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Dec 12, 2011 Al rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle, read-2011

A murder mystery in the world of the New York fashion industry, "Dead is the New Black" has all the elements of a good mystery: unique characters, plentiful suspects, and several clues that seem to point in different directions until they are all fit together like puzzle pieces. The book also has all the elements of good chick lit: a good dose of humor and a protagonist who has some goals, in this case both romantic and professional, that are met in the end — not necessarily in the way they desi...more

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Mar 04, 2013 Tony rated it 4 of 5 stars

Jan 15, 2012 Elizabeth of Silver's Reviews rated it 5 of 5 stars

A garment show in a week, late hours, working on the weekends, and then a dead body shows up. Oh no…..a very unwelcome setback.

Jeremy was the one who was standing over Gracie when Laura walked into the office that Sunday morning. Could he have killed her or just found her on the floor with a scarf wrapped around her neck? Hmmmmm.....with material fragments on his hands and clothes, and his being the only one in the office, who else could they suspect? No one for now, but Laura couldn't believe J...more A garment show in a week, late hours, working on the weekends, and then a dead body shows up. Oh no…..a very unwelcome setback.

Jeremy was the one who was standing over Gracie when Laura walked into the office that Sunday morning. Could he have killed her or just found her on the floor with a scarf wrapped around her neck? Hmmmmm.....with material fragments on his hands and clothes, and his being the only one in the office, who else could they suspect? No one for now, but Laura couldn't believe Jeremy killed Gracie, and since Laura was in love with him she tried to find out who really did strangle Gracie.

Regardless, the police arrested Jeremy, and their investigation continued while he was in jail. Laura also was conducting her own investigation, but it wasn't going very well for her. She kept trying to figure out who besides Jeremy would have a reason to kill Gracie. Perhaps Carmella killed him and not Jeremy for no other motive than a good old-fashioned garment district reason? Or how about her husband who found out about her affair. Or more likely what about Mario who may have done it out of sheer jealousy. And....there definitely was a lot of jealousy and competition in the office and throughout the entire garment industry from what I could see.

The book allows a glimpse into what goes into the preparation for a garment show and the mindset of the garment industry’s men and women. If you are a "fashionista" you will definitely enjoy this book. The clothes sound marvelous. There are also funny scenes...one particular one was when Laura and her sister were trying to get into an upscale restaurant without reservations.

Miss Demaio-Rice is a talented story teller. She will make you laugh, have you sympathizing with the characters, make you wonder about some of them and what they are thinking, make you believe that you have the mystery solved, and then she throws something in to get you off track.

She will definitely make you want to be part of the craziness and fun going on in her book and make you want to be friends with all of characters or at least work with them.

The book was first-rate in terms of humor, characters, and plot. DEAD IS THE NEW BLACK is a witty, entertaining book you won't want to miss. 5/5(less)

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Oct 08, 2011 Sue rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: suspense-thriller-mystery

This is a very intelligent and well-written book. I love the fashion industry so learning even more about this very closed off industry was absolute magic.

Laura isn't exactly a wall-flower but she is very much under-appreciated in her current position underneath the tutelage of Jeremy St. James. You see, she is a sewer and is very good at her job but her gay boss takes her for granted and she is just another employee until a tragic murder occurs at the office and all the sudden, everyone is a su...more

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Jul 02, 2012 Cresta rated it 3 of 5 stars

Before I launch into this review I want to share a little anecdote: I had just finished reading The Green Shore by Natalie Bakopoulous (who emailed me just the other day!) and was looking for something a little lighter. I try to alternate my literary fiction with some "chick-lit" or easy reads, just to give my brain a break. I had stock-piled many books downloaded on my Kindle for free and was excited to dive into the selection. I started and stopped FIVE DIFFERENT BOOKS before stumbling upon De...more Before I launch into this review I want to share a little anecdote: I had just finished reading The Green Shore by Natalie Bakopoulous (who emailed me just the other day!) and was looking for something a little lighter. I try to alternate my literary fiction with some "chick-lit" or easy reads, just to give my brain a break. I had stock-piled many books downloaded on my Kindle for free and was excited to dive into the selection. I started and stopped FIVE DIFFERENT BOOKS before stumbling upon Dead is the New Black. The other five books, of which I won't name, were so terrible I couldn't read more than one chapter. The ending was obvious, the writing was poor, and the cliche's were endless. I wanted some light reading, not bad writing! Anyway, when I started Dead is the New Black, my hopes weren't high, but I found myself in for a nice surprise. I kept reading.

Dead is the New Black by Christine DeMaio-Rice is a great story that combines the fashion industry with a kicky murder mystery all set in The Big Apple. Laura, the novel's protagonist, is a pattern-maker for Jeremy St. James, a fashion mogul (whom in all respects, is gay). She worships the ground Jeremy walks on knowing there is no way he'll ever return her affection; love is blind. And, much to Laura's delight, she is the only member of Jeremy's staff that he doesn't treat like scum beneath his feet. It has something to do with her immense talent as a pattern-maker. I didn't even know what this was until I read this book. A pattern-maker takes the design and perfects it on paper and then recreates it on a mannequin until it is absolute. Apparently, this is a career that takes a lot of skill and is quite literally the backbone of major designers entire lives. Who knew? I guess it's always the "little people" that make the biggest difference in most situations.

One morning, as Laura is arriving extra early at the office so she can have coffee with Jeremy and no one else, things take a nasty turn. Her coffee is spilled over her desk, the place is in disarray, and Jeremy St. James is standing over Gracie, his financial baker, holding a piece of material that was used to strangle her. OOPS! A dead body, and of course, an important person being literally over-shadowed by another important person. Jeremy St. James looks as guilty as O.J. Simpson (we all know he did it!), but Laura just can't believe the man she loves would do something like this. Thus begins her quest to prove the man she most admires innocent of the murder charge that sends him to jail.

Demaio-Rice tells a great story. The characters are fleshed-out and realistic. She throws in just enough twists and turns to steer you away from the killer's identity, and although I figured it out long before the end of the book, I kept reading for two reasons: 1) It was well written and a good story. 2) I had to be sure I was right.

The book is fully of witty writing with lines that made me laugh out loud: "You were supposed to take off the label when you got home. Those people were just too stupid." Seriously, how many times do you want to say this to someone?

I learned a lot about the fashion industry in this book, too. There is so much work that goes into a runway show, more than you could even imagine. I have a newfound respect for people that work in the garment industry.

Dead is the New Black is a book I'd recommend others to read. While it falls predominately into the "chick-lit" category, it has enough grit to be a great detective story, too. I would give this book 3 out of 5 stars, and the only reason I pull back to 3 is because I thought the killer was a bit obvious; but that's just me. I look forward to other books by this author.

Christine Deamaio-Rice has worked in the fashion industry for 20+ years. She is a graduate of the USC Screen Writing program, but has decided novels are her genre. I look forward to other books by her; if I understand what I'm reading correctly, this book is the first in a series.

I love this picture of the author, too. The main character, Laura, is obsessed with getting her scissors back throughout the entire book. A quirky, fun little detail.
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Oct 10, 2012 P.J. Jones rated it 5 of 5 stars

After reading some of the reviews that this book was boggled down with fashion jargon, I was a bit hesitant to read Dead is the New Black. I'm so glad I did. Yes, there's a lot of fashion jargon, but the author explains it in a way that is interesting and relevant to the plot. Considering that Laura, the main character, designs clothing that costs more than my first car (actually more than my first four cars), and considering that I do most of my designer shopping at Target, I was also worried t...more

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Dec 06, 2012 Janna Mashburn rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review can also be found on The Indie Bookshelf
http://theindiebookshelf.blogspot.com...

This book was like "Fashion Industry for Dummies" with a side of murder mystery, great characters, enjoyable dialogue and an interesting plot. The author does a very good job at explaining the fashion industry from the pattern maker to the runway show. It was so interesting to read how the fashion world unfolds.
This book is pretty fast faced getting right to the meat and potatoes of the plot, and very we...more

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Sep 13, 2011 Heather Adkins rated it 5 of 5 stars

I was lucky enough to be the formatter for this book and so I got to read it before it was published. FABULOUS! I was blown away by this book. Rice has penned a novel that is phenomenally well-written, real to the core, and just damned good. I was immediately sucked in to the plot and the character's life. This novel is full of original witticisms and some killer one-liners. Her description is spot-on and so eloquently put I'm jealous of her skills. The novel is littered with the kind of details...more

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Mar 24, 2012 A Voracious Reader (a.k.a. Carol) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: review-requested, e-book

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Jan 22, 2013 A.G. Lindsay rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mysteries

I liked this book a lot. It has a very "New York" feel to it and the details of the fashion industry and how a fashion house prepares for a show really added to the atmosphere.

I was a little less enthusiastic about the characters. Laura (the protagonist) heads into "oh poor me" territory a bit too often and the constant repeat of how insecure she feels in comparison to her sister get a little old.

The mystery itself is well-structured and keeps you guess until the end (although there is a rather...more

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Oct 13, 2011 Jan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Enjoyed this murder mystery story immensely! A murder occurs just before a major garment show and the big named designer is a suspect. This takes place in the garment district of Manhatten and the author does a wonderful job of explaining things from that type of job without sounding preachy or belittling via the main charactor. The story is mainly around one of two sisters who are twins and both work in the garment industry as does their mother. Lots of twist and turns and its hard to figure o...more

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Oct 09, 2012 Karen rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: started-not-finished

I really had high hopes for this book. The story line was intriguing. A high profile backer of a designer company is murdered. The owner, Jeremy is suspected since he was found with the dead body and had a fiber from the scarf she was strangled with. Laura, Jeremy's boss, is a pattern maker, she is in love with Jeremy and yet he is gay and so the opportunity for a relationship has never developed but that hasn't stopped Laura from falling for him. She believes Jeremy is innocent and is tired of...more

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Oct 14, 2012 Sophie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-books, kindle-fire-book

I liked the insider view of the fashion industry that this book affords, but I often found the mystery elements bewildering. It seemed like the heroine would find out a few details, then make a huge leap to a conclusion, and then everyone would move forward as if her conclusion must be absolute fact. Maybe if I had more knowledge of how the garment industry works, the mystery would have made more sense, but since I don't, I often felt like I had no idea what was going on. Aside from that, though...more

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Jan 01, 2013 Nancy added it

Laura Carnegie gave up on the man of her dreams a long time ago. He's fashion designer Jeremy St. James, and not only is he her boss, everyone knows he's gay.
-
When he's arrested for murder, secrets come to light and nothing is what it seems. If Laura can just solve this crime, keep the cops off her tail, break up a counterfeiting ring, and get the show on the runway by Friday, she might stop being Seventh Avenue's perpetual loser.

She discovers that one of the men in the fashion designer office i...more

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Dec 23, 2011 Kristi (Books N Beans) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: family, free, friendship, intrigue, mystery, romance, suspense, requested-review

I received this book for free from the author in exchange for a review.

Laura Carnegie (no relation, as Laura says) is in love with her boss, fashion designer Jeremy St James. When Laura finds a dead body in Jeremy's office she soon discovers that a lot of things in her life, including the people in it, are not what they seem.

When the police arrest Jeremy, Laura tries to prove his innocence. Her life becomes filled with suspense, intrigue, backstabbing, drama, love triangles galore, unrequited...more

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Oct 26, 2011 Rachel K rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery

Delightful!

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Jun 29, 2012 Alisa rated it 5 of 5 stars

I have read a mountain of mysteries featuring smart, strong, yet self-deprecating female protagonists who work in professions (in this story, our heroine is a pattern maker for a major design label in the fashion industry which is delicious in and of itself for THAT backstage look) - in a nutshell, they have little or nothing to do with law enforcement -- (yet they manage to find themselves inexplicably entangled in a murder that they have no choice but to take an interest in solving). I'm alway...more

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Nov 22, 2012 Mary rated it 4 of 5 stars

I was a little hesitant to pick this one up at first since I'm not very interested in the fashion world and had read some reviews that said that it was overrun with fashion jargon, but I'm glad I did. It is a good murder mystery and not one that I had figured out in the first five pages. The information regarding the fashion industry is presented well and merges well with the plot. There are also some laugh out loud lines. All in all, it's a good mystery and a good read.

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topics	posts	views	last activity
Fashion Book Lovers!: Dead is the New Black by Christine DeMaio-Rice	9	12	Jul 26, 2012 03:12pm
The Indie Exchang...: The Official Mystery Series of the Fashion Industry	11	61	Oct 23, 2011 04:44am
Fashion Fanatics: The Official Mystery Series of the Fashion Industry	8	8	Oct 04, 2011 08:31pm

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About Christine DeMaio-Rice

I moved to Los Angeles to study screenwriting at USC, and even though you couldn't drag me back into the screenwriting business with the promise of money or candy, I love screenplay structure. Use it all the time. It is the crowbar that removes my head from my rectum when such a procedure is required.

I love all types of speculative fiction, and yes I admit to reading vampire books and YA. However,...more

More about Christine DeMaio-Rice...

Books by Christine DeMaio-Rice

Death of a Supermodel (Fashion Avenue Mysteries, #2)

The Case of the Missing Blahnik (Fashion Avenue Mysteries, #0.5)

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