Hot Button

Button Box Mystery #2

by Kylie Logan

Button collector Josie Giancola is ready to snap into action when a murder interrupts her business in the second Button Box mystery...

As chairwoman of an international conference for button collectors, Josie has plenty to worry about. Between greeting collectors, overseeing the dinner cruise, and attending to the many needs of the guest of honor, Thad Wyant, she barely has time to deal with her gorgeous ex-husband...let alone a dead body.

But when Thad is found dead in a hotel linen closet, Detective Nevin Riley needs Josie to help him solve the case. Mr. Wyant's historic Geronimo button has gone missing, and considering how many enemies he's made in the small and peculiar world of button collectors, Josie will have to act fast--before she becomes history herself...

Includes tips on antique button collecting!

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Fiction, Chick Lit

275 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 10, 2012

About the author

Also writes as Miranda Bliss, Casey Daniels, Zoe Daniels, Connie Deka, Mimi Granger, Anastasia Hastings, Connie Lane, Connie Laux, Constance Laux, Lucy Ness.

Reviews

[Joy Gerbode · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading Kylie Logan's books ... only she could make even buttons interesting. All the characters are so real, and the mysteries are, while a little far-fetched as all good cozies are, they are fun and very quick easy reads. There are usually so many suspects that it's difficult to figure out who is guilty ... but this one I had pretty well figured out before the murderer was revealed. Lots of fun.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun cozy series and a lite read. I am looking forward to the next book. I am enjoying the button theme.

[Ferne (Enthusiastic Reader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Josie Giancola, one of the country’s leading experts on antique, vintage and collectible buttons recently opened her own store in Chicago called, “The Button Box” and is now the lead chairperson for this year's conference of the International Society of Antique and Vintage Button Collectors. This is Josie’s first year as conference chairperson and she never anticipated that her expertise as a button collector and conference chair would have her solving multiple murders and conference misadventures. A few of my favorite supporting cast of characters (e.g. Stan, next-door neighbor, retired cop and 'assistant' at Josie's store; Kaz, ex-husband; and Nevin Riley, Chicago Detective) bring a unique blend of intelligence and comedy. This selection also brought fond memories of attending international conferences minus any murder investigation participation.

No single character could ever replace the lively and enchanting characters created by Jenn McKinlay in the Hat Shop Mystery series - Milliner Vivian Tremont and her American cousin and partner, Scarlett Parker, in their beloved Mims’s Whims, a ladies’ hat shop on Portobello Road, London, bequeathed to both cousins by their beloved grandmother. However, as Jenn McKinlay’s series has ended, I found the Button Box Mystery series starring Josie to be a charming companion in the cozy mystery genre.

[Ed · Rating 3 out of 5]

#2 in the Button Box mystery series. Characterization of series regulars ex- Kaz and homicide detective Nevin improves from series debut as does the button lore. The plot is adequate but the presentation of clues is heavy handed and they seem to serve as signposts. I'd suggest that the author add some characters that are not the villains of at least a sub-plot. Ex-husband Kaz is still annoying but is also presciently helpful and the attachment with cop Nevin improves. The climactic wrap-up in a Nero Wolfe "gather all the suspects" format will bring me back.

Button Box mystery - As chairwoman of an international conference for button collectors, Josie has plenty to worry about. Between greeting collectors, overseeing the dinner cruise, and attending to the many needs of the guest of honor, Thad Wyant, she barely has time to deal with her ex-husband...let alone a dead body. But when Thad is found dead in a hotel linen closet, Detective Nevin Riley needs Josie to help him solve the case. Mr. Wyant's historic Geronimo button has gone missing, and considering how many enemies he's made in the small and peculiar world of button collectors, Josie will have to act fast-before she becomes history herself. (book cover)

[elf · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not too bad; the mystery part was pretty well done, just a little easy to figure out.
The button information was mildly interesting--I need to go find my great-grandma's button tin.
My big issue?
The lead character's ex keeps coming back, and she lets him stay with her, hang around her, etc. I was very disappointed to see him back in book #2. I got very tired of reading how annoying he was and then, in the same sentence, how he was so charming that she was willing to overlook his cheating, using her, charging things to her account, etc. It got exhausting. I started skipping paragraphs with him in. I am now off to see if he is featured in book #3. If so, I will skip the rest of this series.

[Wanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you are into buttons and collecting them then this is the book for you !!!!! I guess you have to be into buttons to get this book and sadly I am not.
I just thought a cute mystery story but, would you want to be on a cruise with button collectors? I understand why there was a murder. I would have either jumped overboard or killed myself, I just couldn't stand all the button talk.
I am sorry if I seem to be putting the book down I AM NOT I am putting myself down for not making a wiser choice.
I was unable to finish this one and there won't be any others about buttons LOL

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Josie and her buttons are back in a mystery set at a hotel during a button collectors' convention. Who murdered the famously reclusive button collector, and what happened to the rarity he was planning to show off? And why the heck does everybody find Josie's shiftless ex-husband so irresistible? Only some of these questions will be answered!

[Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Technically a 3 1/2 star read for me. It's a good mystery, easy to read and finish, but I did figure it out fairly early and at times the button lore is a bit much. I liked the reappearance of ex-husband Kaz, and other supporting characters. Would read another in this series, but wouldn't re-read this one if that makes sense in how good it was.

[Karen Holman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story had a creative ending in this series. The cozy mystery had the reader thinking about who did the murder and disruptions only to have have the ideas squashed. There were crafty characters, a Chicago setting, and a clever ending that will require more reading of these tales. copy right 2012

[Michael Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

No good football today sow read almost all day. This completes the series of 4 books so far. One of the better 'cozy' mysteries set in a big city, the police are competent, the characters are for the most part sensible people with no real death wishes like so many in these books.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyable. We picked this up from a local Salvation Army, and now I want to go back and read the first entry in the series. The mystery was cute, and had just enough action to keep it interesting. A great summer read at the camper!

[February Four · Rating 4 out of 5]

Conferences are fun to read about! Button conferences sound like fun and maybe some day I'll go to one just for the hell of it. In the meantime, this conference made it fun.

[Jeanie Harper · Rating 5 out of 5]

The continuing saga is still just as captivating. Who knew buttons were so unique.

[Cindy Wynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I must admit I solved this one fairly early on, the story was original and the characters engaging. I look forward to reading more from this author.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being a chairwomen of any event would be hard enough, but to have so many things go wrong. Everyone seems to be very tense and when the guest of honor is found dead, oh my!

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

First book of this series I've read and I could not put it down! It is incredible and I am going to definately find the rest of the series so I can read them as well!!

[Jean Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read the first two in this series now and enjoyed both of them. This one is set at a button convention where pretty much everything that can go wrong, does!

[Monica Mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

The topic of buttons is now interesting to me. I very much like Josie. Her ex, Kaz certainly makes life interesting in mostly an annoying way. well written.

[Marsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another series I am enjoying. I'm learning a lot about buttons. Characters are interesting and it's fun to see how the murder ties in to the story.

[L.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one takes place during a button conference. It was very predictable but still a fun read.

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Carol Moore Kollar · Rating 3 out of 5]

When the key note speaker is found dead at the button collector conference, Josie helps her detective friend solve the murder. Satisfactory read despite not having read book #1.

[Kathie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A mystery until the end.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another adorable cozy mystery where I get to peek into a new world of button collecting!

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting cozy read.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Hot Button" is a cozy mystery about button collecting. This book was the second in the series, but you don't need to read the first novel to understand this one and this one didn't spoil the mystery in the first novel. There was some information about button collecting, but not as much as I expected. I think I learned more about running a conference.

Josie was so willing to believe whatever she's told (unless it's said by her ex-husband) that I wondered how she could be an effective amateur detective. I even laughed when another character described her as perceptive as she's the least perceptive cozy heroine I've come across. I saw the "twist" about Thad coming from the first few pages, and the same for the "twist" about the constant mishaps. She had all the needed information, yet she needed her boyfriend police detective to point these things out, and even then she hardly believed him.

Josie functioned more as an information gatherer for her boyfriend, and then an information disperser for him in an effort to flush out the whodunit. I was pretty certain of whodunit. The author had written Josie into a spot that would have been hard to get her back out of if it was someone else, and I was correct in my guess. Josie didn't have this same perspective so understandably only figured out whodunit when her boyfriend's trap finally worked and the killer confessed.

Josie was likable enough, but I felt she was irresponsible to basically leave her job of running the conference in order to "help" with the murder. Anyone at the conference could have provided the needed information, and she knew things were going wrong at the conference that needed her attention. I also didn't think very highly of her detective boyfriend who was basically asking for her help because it was the only way to get to spend some time with her. Yet he knew that taking her from her duties was damaging her reputation. His actions often came across as selfish, in my opinion.

Josie also felt like she was personally responsible for making everyone happy. While I know someone like this, I didn't feel particularly drawn to spend more time with such a needy, gullible character.

There was no sex. There was some fake bad language and a minor amount of explicit bad language. One of the main suspects was a homosexual. (Token homosexual characters seem to be the latest "must have" in cozy mysteries for some reason.) He does kiss his boyfriend in the story. Overall, this didn't really turn out to be my type of book, but I'm sure others will enjoy it.

I received this book as a review copy from the publisher.

[Fred · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hot Button is the second book in A Button Box Mystery series. A very good follow up to Button Holed.

Button collector Josie Giancola is busy getting ready for the International Society of Antique Button Collectors annual meeting, for which she is the chairperson. She is meeting Thad Wyant, who is the Guest of Honor, at O'Hare Airport. He is a bit of a recluse and is the owner of a historic Geronimo button. Out of the blue Josie ex-husband, Kaz, shows up to provide a limo to go to the hotel in. Kaz only shows up when he needs something and this is bad time as Josie is dealing with a high maintenance guest speaker. That evening at opening event of meeting, a boat ride to view the skyline of Chicago. The cruise is underway and Josie is walking around talking with the guests and hears a loud discussion going on between Thad and a lady. Then Thad makes a big deal about the meat he is about to be served and Josie is wondering what else can go wrong.

The next day, just as time is getting near to introduce Thad and his Geronimo button,Josie is asked by the head of security to come down to the laundry room. When she gets there, she find that Thad has been stabbed in the throat with an awl similar to those sold by one the vendors at the show. Josie has quite a few suspects to sort through before she can help the police to narrow the search and apprehend the murderer.

The enjoyable cast of characters from the first book are back once again. Kaz is behaving himself in this book and actually of some help to Josie. On Josie's home front, Nev, her maybe boyfriend is back, too.

Looking forward to the next book in the series.

Not a lot of talk about buttons, so don't pass up this series if you haven't lost yours.

[Kaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Josie Giancola, owner of the Button Box and chairwoman of the Antique and Vintage Button Collector's conference, is all excited at convincing Thad Wynant to be the keynote speaker at this year's gathering. Thad, a noted recluse, has never attended the conference before but he is well known for his expertise in western themed buttons and his writing about the famous and much coveted "Geronimo" button. The only documented one in existence just happens to belong to Thad.

Josie, as a novice chairwoman, wants everything to go smoothly, however, things start to go downhill even before the conference officially begins. Thad has run-ins with two other attendees on the after dinner cruise on the first night. He managed to push a lot of people's buttons in a bad way in a very short time. The morning after the cruise, Thad is found murdered and the famous Geronimo button is missing. No surprise here because Thad proved to be one totally obnoxious person. Not a propitious start for Josie's first attempt at chairing this prestigious event!

Josie's detective friend, Nevin Riley, asks Josie to help him because she has the specialized button knowledge to help nail the murderer.

I liked this format where the police asked for help and it made sense. Some cozies feature a TSTL heroine who tries to solve the murder against specific police instructions. Josie uses her head and her expertise, not relying on foolish antics.

Although this is the 2nd book in the series, it is not necessary to have read the first. Logan incorporates enough back story in the plot to feel caught up with the characters. Even though I did figure out "whodunnit" halfway through the book, it did not take away from my enjoyment of the story.

[AngryGreyCat · Rating 3 out of 5]

I purchased this at a used book store. I just finished it sitting at Starbucks waiting for my daughter. I still like the main character, Josie but I have to say that I did not enjoy it as much as the first book in the series. This is unusual for me. I often find the first book not as good as some of the later ones in a series. I think my lower opinion of this book is due to the fact that the button theme has become much more prominent and quite frankly, I’m just not all that interested. This book was not set in Josie’s store but rather at a button convention and perhaps that led to more of the technical button details. Some of the plot was very obvious, the documentary filmmaker and the sabotage story lines for example.

As I said, I do like the recurring character and the main murder mystery had an interesting twist to it. The author makes use of red herrings to misdirect the reader pretty successfully. There seems to be an interesting love triangle developing, like the Hannah Swenson series. The writing is well done. After all this, there is enough good about this series that I am going to give it another try with Panic Button. I am hoping that book is set back in Josie’s store.

[Jeannie and Louis Rigod · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series is improving in my opinion. I enjoyed this tale, the location being a button conference in Chicago, Illinois was colorfully described and made me want to join the dinner cruise etc. The characters were vivid, Josie, our sleuth. Helen the past conference chair who is eager to step in to help. The Key note speaker, Thad who was right out of the west. Then the back and forth from Josie's ex-husband, Kaz and her current boyfriend, Nev, who also happens to be the local detective.

The crime was startling and opened many possible suspects to our view for examination. I did feel that it wasn't credible the way Nev brought in Josie to the various crime scenes, but I simply suspended my disbelief and flowed with the story.

I give this book a 3-1/2 stars because I really did enjoy reading it. I knew who the culprit was a bit too early but it really didn't affect the story for me as the storyline kept me interested.

I look forward to the next book out. Ms. Logan is definitely growing on me.