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10th out of 28 books
—
13 voters
Shot Through Velvet (Crime of Fashion #7)
by
Ellen Byerrum (Goodreads Author)
Fashion reporter Lacey Smithsonian is touring a failing velvet factory in Virginia on its final day of operations-and finds one of the factory owners dead, lashed to a spool of velvet and soaked in blue dye. The workers are delighted, since they blamed the "Blue Devil" for killing their jobs.
But when another nickname, the "Velvet Avenger", makes the rounds, and ribbons of...more
But when another nickname, the "Velvet Avenger", makes the rounds, and ribbons of...more
Paperback, 336 pages
Published
February 1st 2011
by Signet
(first published December 8th 2010)
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Quick. What’s your favorite color? If you answered blue, I have a must-read for you, especially if you’re into vintage fashion, snappy dialogue and the softest, most sensuous fabric in the world. Did you guess? Well, it’s velvet, of course.
Lacey Smithsonian, intrepid fashion reporter for that other Washington D.C. newspaper, The Eye, has a dream assignment. She’s to cover the final days of the last remaining velvet factory in Virginia. The assignment is even more appealing because her main man,...more
Lacey Smithsonian, intrepid fashion reporter for that other Washington D.C. newspaper, The Eye, has a dream assignment. She’s to cover the final days of the last remaining velvet factory in Virginia. The assignment is even more appealing because her main man,...more
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Book Summary: Fashion reporter Lacey Smithsonian is touring a failing velvet factory in Virginia on its final day of operations-and finds one of the factory owners dead, lashed to a spool of velvet and soaked in blue dye. The workers are delighted, since they blamed the "Blue Devil" for killing their jobs.
But when another nickname, the "Velvet Avenger", makes the rounds, and ribbons of blue velvet start popping up, it could be more than Lacey's job at stake-it could be her life...
What I liked ab...more
But when another nickname, the "Velvet Avenger", makes the rounds, and ribbons of blue velvet start popping up, it could be more than Lacey's job at stake-it could be her life...
What I liked ab...more
I enjoyed the book. It was nice to see the usual characters, I find that I get attached to them as much as I would the main character. Funny, isn't it? It's truly an ensemble performance that keeps me coming back for more.
I liked how the author is incorporating what is happening around us in the book, factory closures, newspapers going out of business, people losing their job because those jobs are going over seas. This is real stuff, but combined with the fiction it was very entertaining, and...more
I liked how the author is incorporating what is happening around us in the book, factory closures, newspapers going out of business, people losing their job because those jobs are going over seas. This is real stuff, but combined with the fiction it was very entertaining, and...more
This is the first Crime of Fashion that I've read and I'm happy I started with in because in looking at the reviews, this seems to be the worst of the series.
Aside from the cheesy character names and some of their over-the-top personalities (uhhh - Stella, anyone?). this was a cute little murder mystery that I enjoyed curling up with. At first, the names drove me nuts but then they started to amuse me, which I hope was the author's goal.
I'll definitely be reading the others in this series.
Aside from the cheesy character names and some of their over-the-top personalities (uhhh - Stella, anyone?). this was a cute little murder mystery that I enjoyed curling up with. At first, the names drove me nuts but then they started to amuse me, which I hope was the author's goal.
I'll definitely be reading the others in this series.
I have always enjoyed Ellen Byerrum's Lacey Smithsonian fashion series. I liked the humor and the Washington DC setting. Byerrum took a break from the series so I was glad to see she had published this 6th volume. It wasn't spectacular. Yes, it had all the great characters and the history of velvet manufacturing was interesting but the mystery was only so-so. I guess I expected more after Byerrum's break which she says on her website she took so she could keep the series fresh.
Oh Ellen, what happened?!
Lacy Smithsonian is a fashion reporter working in Washington DC. She favors vintage clothes, is smart, funny, and always falling into mysteries & murder. She's got strong opinions and her own particular quirks - and probably has been the mystery series I've enjoyed above all others. Yes, I've come to really enjoy her tales over the last few years.
This book, the latest in the series, was a painful disappointment. There really was no plot or twists (man found dead in...more
Lacy Smithsonian is a fashion reporter working in Washington DC. She favors vintage clothes, is smart, funny, and always falling into mysteries & murder. She's got strong opinions and her own particular quirks - and probably has been the mystery series I've enjoyed above all others. Yes, I've come to really enjoy her tales over the last few years.
This book, the latest in the series, was a painful disappointment. There really was no plot or twists (man found dead in...more
Lacey Smithsonian is reporting on the closing of a velvet factory when a body is found rolled in velvet in an ink vat, rendering the victim both dead and blue. I like Lacey. I like her ambition, her snarky private thoughts and her love of all things vintage. The plot is a bit on the far-fetched side, but given the setting is Washington D.C. I guess anything is possible.
Lacey Smithsonian, fashion reporter for the Washington Eye, is reporting on the closure of the last velvet factory in Virginia when the dead body of the night manager appears. The victim apparently had no redeeming features, but nonetheless Lacey is driven to investigate his death. Then death strikes again, this time too close to home for Lacey's comfort.
FINALLY finished this today. It took awhile because it got pushed around while i was reading other books. That never would have happened if it had been more like the others in this series. I was so thrilled to see a new one after several years without! I was in the mood for a really easy to read but keeps me very interested story so I bought this for my kindle. I just have to say that overall I'm disappointed. It didn't hold my interest very well. This one had SO many references to the color blu...more
I love this series and was so happy to see that she was still writing the crime of fashion mysteries. This one didn't disappoint, it was fun but she still managed to address the economic issues with grace and empathy. And I didn't guess whodunit until I was supposed to. :)
Lacey does it again. This is was a quick read. I love the continuing development of the supporting cast. Stella, Brooke, and Vic are cooky in their own right and keep getting better. The mystery itself was pretty cut and dry, developing like any mystery should. Lacey did have another spectacular resolution catching the killer in a photo worthy way. And on a side night I have always had a love affair with velvet even though it isn't very practical in the desert. Fashion and murder hit a high note...more
This was just a quick fun read with lots of interesting information
about the making of velvet fabric and the condition of the textile trade in the USA at this time. The mystery wasn't particularly well-plotted but it was still enjoyable for any reader interested in fashion.
about the making of velvet fabric and the condition of the textile trade in the USA at this time. The mystery wasn't particularly well-plotted but it was still enjoyable for any reader interested in fashion.
The usual antic Byerrum cast inhabits a story about a plant closing and the dislocation the closing causes. Evokes Evanovich, but with political and social content.
Have to say, did not enjoy this Lacey Smithsonian as much as the others. It might have been the setting, but it seemed to drag in the middle.
You can't go wring with crime and fashion! A fabulous, fun book! Can't wait to read more in the series!
2 1/2 stars... Fun little mystery set locally. Makes it more fun. Maybe a little too easy to figure out the killer, but it was fast. If I run across another in the series I'd read it, mainly because it's local and a kind of fun mindless read. My fave "little" mysteries are still Diane Mott Davidson's Goldy the caterer series.
Quick fun mystery with "Crimes of Fashion" columnist Lacey Smithsonian.
It was OK. It felt kind of rushed at the end. I just hope that they will do a few more books in the series and will wrap it up nice and neat.
Loved the latest book of the series! Can't wait for more.
"After all, it was just the fashion beat. And a little extra." My favorite quote from the latest installment of Ellen Byerrum's Crime of Fashion series... The new book takes place in a small town (loved the setting) & brings to light another dying (pun intended) US industry- textile dyeing. I love Lacey Smithsonian's (Main Character, Fashion column journalist) quips, she makes me smile. Mystery, fashion, maybe even some romance ;) (after-all the story takes place during Valentine's week)......more
Still really enjoying this series, I'm bummed there is only one more left. I love hearing the DC area described in these books as well as the fashion and the growth of the characters.
Aug 03, 2011
Melissa Lezama
added it
awesome
Mar 27, 2011
Kathleen
added it
I enjoyed this story. It did feel as though there was a great deal of time spent in some areas and others felt rushed, especially as I neared the end. Lacey as always ends up in the middle of a murder investigation and her group of friends want to be a part. This time, there is a new member of the group, Stella's future mother-in-law that adds a comic element. I am still drawn to this series because of the 'fashion' angle and will likely read additional installments in the series.
Fashion, mystery and my hometown. What more could a girl want?
Funny and enjoyable cozy series. Good supporting cast.
Better than the last one.
A pretty fun read, but I've read better series in this type of genre.
this book was a waste of my time - repetitive and not funny.......
May 16, 2013
Kayla Kerbs
marked it as to-read
May 14, 2013
Dorami Chan
marked it as to-read
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Ellen Byerrum is a Washington, D.C., news reporter, novelist and playwright. She also holds a Virginia private investigator's registration. Her Crime of Fashion mysteries star a savvy, stylish sleuth: Lacey Smithsonian, a reluctant fashion reporter in Washington D.C., "The City Fashion Forgot."
Lacey would rather be working "hard news," but her nose for nuance, eye for a great story, and talent f...more
More about Ellen Byerrum...
Lacey would rather be working "hard news," but her nose for nuance, eye for a great story, and talent f...more
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