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For Josie Giancola, owner of the Button Box shop, every button is a tiny work of art with its own story to tell—a story that just might end in murder…
 
Artist Forbis Parmenter has invited Josie to the opening of his latest exhibit of voodoo-inspired works. He plans to make a show of completing the centerpiece—a button- encrusted statue—when Josie arrives with the final button. But just as the big moment comes, Forbis bolts out of the gallery in panic. Is it another of his publicity stunts, or is something more sinister afoot?
 
Josie gets her answer when the eccentric artist is found dead—his lifeless body in the arms of a statue and his eyes and lips sealed with buttons. Now she’s using her expert eye to solve the mystery before a crafty killer slips through her fingers.

Includes tips on antique-button collecting!

 

276 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 3, 2013

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5 stars
68 (22%)
4 stars
115 (37%)
3 stars
102 (33%)
2 stars
16 (5%)
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5 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
Profile Image for Debbie.
917 reviews77 followers
June 8, 2021
This was an interesting series and I am sorry to see it end. there are several buttons that are about to fall off and now I won't know the answers, so I'll get to chose my own conclusion. Yep that works!
Profile Image for Liz.
1,156 reviews9 followers
May 24, 2015
This entry completely erased any progress the last book made.

I spent 95% of this one wanting to strangle Josie. The voodoo influence did nothing to soften the absolutely maddening swings of her thoughts. Really, knowing you're being unreasonable but doing nothing to correct it legitimately makes me angry.

Not to mention the horrible love triangle set up. I wish I could say I was going to miss this series, but I won't.
Profile Image for Sarah A.
2,227 reviews19 followers
December 12, 2015
This was a good story and clever writing but I didn't enjoy any of the voodoo aspects and was irritated by the main character so had to drop it to a 2*.
Just a little bit too much voodoo for me.
Profile Image for Joy Gerbode.
2,017 reviews17 followers
August 31, 2017
I have enjoyed all of Kylie Logan's books, and the button series has been especially intriguing because the button collection is so unique. This one wasn't my favorite ... I'm not all that into vodou etc ... but it was a good mystery, and while the perpetrator of the crime was one I suspected, I really didn't have this one figured out.
Profile Image for Melodie.
1,278 reviews82 followers
June 16, 2014
This was a pretty good story, about a 3.5. Liked the voodoo element. It always surprises me that buttons could be this interesting! I still like book #3 the best, but this wasn't bad. I'm wondering if this series will continue, what with the 2 new series this gal is writing under the Kylie Logan name. I know the Pepper Martin series, which was one of my favorites, that she wrote as Casey Daniels is apparently finito. I guess we'll see! Recommend.
Profile Image for Gavin.
125 reviews
July 28, 2016
The whole series is a guilty pleasure, but this one fell very, very flat. The attempt to break out of the normal cozy mystery character formula left a lot lacking, and the premise seemed dangerously close to cultural appropriation. I enjoyed earlier books in the series but would recommend giving this one a miss.
3,293 reviews30 followers
July 21, 2016
This is the fourth book of the Button Box Mystery series. It continues the story of Josie Giancola the owner of the Button Box who is at a gallery opening that features items covered in buttons. The exhibit is of voodoo inspired works. The artist ends up murdered and Josie is helping the police including the officer she is dating.
Profile Image for Jae.
866 reviews1 follower
March 21, 2021
Buttoned Up by Kylie Logan is 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, that specializes in selling buttons. She's been invited 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.

The story was enjoyable enough, although not engrossing. The book isn't a "keeper", but I might read others in the series. Average score.
5,305 reviews62 followers
February 27, 2018
#4 in the Button Box mystery series. The final book of the series is immersed in a study of Vudon - explained as the Barrier Islands variant of Voodoo. While interesting, it comes at the cost of shortchanging button lore. Buttons appear in wholesale lots, but are essentially used as a covering and have no further interest - pretty much like using postage stamps as wallpaper. Josie's love life also encounters some bumps in the road. Not bad, but not exceptional - slightly below average.

For Josie Giancola, owner of the Button Box shop, every button is a tiny work of art with its own story to tell. Artist Forbis Parmenter has invited Josie to the opening of his latest exhibit of voodoo-inspired works. He plans to make a show of completing the centerpiece - a button-encrusted box - when Josie arrives with the final button. Just as the big moment comes, Forbis bolts out of the gallery in panic. Is it another of his publicity stunts, or is something more sinister afoot? Josie gets her answer when the eccentric artist is found dead - his lifeless body in the arms of a statue and his eyes and lips sealed with buttons.
3 reviews1 follower
June 10, 2018
I wasn't sure when I picked up the first Button Box book but I fell in love with the characters because they were funny and relatable. I loved Stan, Josie, Nev, and even Kaz to a point, though in all honestly two of the characters were missing (or played a very minuscule part) as opposed to the other books. I missed them though I did liked the inclusion of Gabriel and hated Evangeline (which is a shame because I love the name) but I did like some of the tension she brought. The ending wasn't my favorite, in fact it kind of ruined my mood especially when I realized that this is very likely the end of the Button Box mysteries. So I have to give it 3 stars, the mystery was good I liked the voodoo element and how Josie had to be more independent in this case, but I was missing the comic relief of certain characters and the ending was very bittersweet.
20 reviews1 follower
August 15, 2020
I have enjoyed two other series by this author, so I picked up this book at a book sale. It didn’t help that it was book #4 of the series, but I had a hard time getting into it. The main character alternated between being forthright to the point of rudeness in her “investigations” and dithering like a teenager about her love life. I didn’t know (or really care) about the background of her relationship with the cop, who doesn’t seem to do much but bicker with the main character and flirt with his slinky ex-fiancé, who happens to be a world-renowned expert on island religions. The ridiculous voodoo-inspired plot and the spy-like international art criminal as a new love interest made for an unbelievable combination that I couldn’t wait to finish. Don’t waste your time or money on this book.
Profile Image for Amy.
20 reviews
October 29, 2018
I became a fan of Kylie Logan’s writing after reading her first book. I have thoroughly enjoyed this series and did not want I see it end. Until I read this last book. I could not believe how she left things with Josie and Nevin. This book actually made me not like Nevin at all anymore and I was disappointed at feeling this way. It definitely soured the whole series for me.
Profile Image for Emma.
4,948 reviews12 followers
July 1, 2017
No! No! No! Nev! Why are you so dumb when it comes to women?! If only there were another book so I could see who Josie ends up with because I have a sinking feeling that it isn't with Nev. I love Nev. Even if he is an imbecile.
787 reviews2 followers
October 16, 2018
This is the 4th book in this series by Kylie Logan and the story is very well written. The creative characters add intrigue to the mystery set in Chicago. This ending adds questions that will need another tale to finish this series. copy right 2012
659 reviews3 followers
August 21, 2017
Poor Josie - what an event to happen without your knowledge.

A great story.
Profile Image for Miriam Kahn.
2,158 reviews68 followers
December 21, 2017
Another hit for Kylie Logan. This time the missing button is wrapped up in a murder, a voodoo curse and a tangled web meant to deceive Josie and Nev.
You won’t be able to put this one down
Profile Image for Mary.
485 reviews7 followers
January 22, 2018
I didn't care for the "voodoo" theme, and Josie was her most unlikable in this book. What a shame that the button series finished up so dismally.
3,197 reviews46 followers
May 23, 2018
Not my favorite in the series, but it was okay. I do enjoy reading about buttons.
Profile Image for Jane.
786 reviews8 followers
August 16, 2019
Really would prefer 3.5 stars. Great plot, but not enough for -really- liked it. No complaints about spelling or punctuation.
Profile Image for Deb Lester.
614 reviews25 followers
December 19, 2013
Buttoned Up is the fourth book in the Button Box mystery series by Kylie Logan. Logan once again comes up with an interesting theme involving collectible buttons. This book is a mix of mystery and history with a little voodoo thrown in. Readers will enjoy not only the list of suspects and motives, but also a little romantic tension between lead characters, Josie and Nev, when a woman from Nev's past makes an unexpected return. Voodoo curses, dead bodies and more buttons than you can count make for a very interesting combination in this latest offering from Kylie Logan.

What I liked:

I really enjoyed the theme of this book. Buttons have always been something that I enjoyed looking at and even making pictures with as a child. My grandmother loved to keep buttons in a jar for craft projects, mending and for fun. I liked the idea that Logan's buttons in this book are turned into works of art that are being shown in an actual art exhibit. That was a great idea and it worked well with the mystery aspects of the story.

When Josie finds Forbis in the arms of the statue and his eyes and mouth have been glued shut with buttons, I knew this was going to be a good one. That was very creative and when it is found by the autopsy that he was literally scared to death, it got even more interesting. I often marvel at how cozy authors can come up with such imaginative ways for people to die...LOL. This was certainly one of the best I have read in a while.

I also enjoyed the look into Josie's personal life. With the arrival of Evangaline, Nevil's one time fiancee, it looks like turmoil is ahead for the couple. They have been fairly settled for a little while and I think Logan wanted to shake things up a bit with them. It never pays to be complacent in love or sleuthing. I thought this made for a good side story and helped readers connect to Josie as not only an amateur sleuth but as a person and a woman. I look forward to seeing where things go with this couple almost as much as what Josie is going to get into next.

Who doesn't love a good scare once in a while? I think this one was little too much for Forbis, though. I liked all of the references to voodoo and curses and that sort of thing. It gave the book an eerie feeling that is always good in a mystery. Logan goes a good job of making this a central part of the theme of the book and incorporates it well into the mystery. I've always thought voodoo was a subject that was intriguing and Logan makes it even more so with this offering.

What I didn't like:

There isn't much about this one I didn't like. In fact I can't really think of a thing. It was imaginative and creative and have a very original spin on it. A overall great book.

Bottom Line:

If you are a Kylie Logan fan you can't afford to miss this one. This is in my opinion the best of the series so far. I didn't figure it out until the bitter end and the surprises just kept coming throughout the book. I was skeptical at the beginning of the series, but it has turned into a really good cozy series that readers are sure to enjoy.
Profile Image for Christine.
1,921 reviews57 followers
August 10, 2016
Josie Giancola, owner of the Button Box shop, loves everything about buttons and is extremely knowledgeable about both modern and antique buttons. She is excited to have supplied a button to famous artist Forbis Parmenter. Josie is even more delighted to have been invited to the opening of the quirky artist's opening of his exhibit of voodoo-inspired works, all featuring buttons. When Forbis disappears from his own event, it seems like just the thing he would do to get even more publicity for his exhibit, but then he is found dead. Not only was Forbis killed at this own art show, but the murderer created a gruesome display with his body and buttons. Josie's policeman boyfriend is now asking for her help since she is the button expert. However, it looks like Josie’s involvement in the investigation, is putting her in danger from the voodoo element of this case!

"Buttoned Up" is the fourth book in the Button Box series. I absolutely loved the series debut, Button Holed, but since then have found the series to be uneven. It seems to have regained its stride with this installment, with the main focus back on Josie and her expertise about buttons of all shapes and sizes. Buttons are definitely the key to this case, so seems logical that Josie’s knowledge would be useful in solving the case. That being said, watching Josie question all of the suspects, believing her status of button advisor gives her the right to conduct her own investigation, is hard to believe. It strains credibility to see Josie using her connections with her boyfriend Nev to allow suspects to think she has an official status to investigate .Her pushiness becomes a bit hard to take.

If only Josie would use some of this gumption in her personal life! Although he isn't a part of this installment, Josie used to allow her ex-husband "Kaz" to take advantage of her and now I see that trend continuing with Nev. I have never been convinced Josie and Nev make a great couple. Nev seems to take advantage of Josie's knowledge of buttons when it suits him for a case, without regard to her safety. With Nev's ex-girlfriend Evangeline in the picture in this book, I think Nev's treatment of Josie hit an all-time low. By the end of the book, it seems Nev might have a little competition, so I'm interested to see what happens in future books.

The mystery has a good amount of information about buttons and voodoo and a plot that keeps your interest until the book's satisfactory conclusion. Although Josie isn't a perfect main character, the series with its button shop setting is unique enough to keep me coming back for future. I am curious to see what happens next in Josie's life and how a seemingly harmless item like a button can play a major role in so many dangerous situations.

This review was originally written for The Season EZine. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Fred.
1,012 reviews65 followers
November 29, 2013
Buttoned Up is the fourth book in the A Button Box Mystery.

Josie and her detective boyfriend Nev, are attending the opening of Forbis Parmenter's latest voodoo inspired works. His creations all made up with an untold amount of buttons and Josie has the last button that is to be affixed to one of the pieces. As he is about to put the last button on, he shouts "le button" and takes off running. The next morning, Josie returns to the gallery to see if she can determine what caused him to flee. Instead she finds his dead body in the arms of the Congo Savanns. When the autopsy comes back, the cause of death is that he was literally scared to death.

Also at opening, an attractive young lady comes up to Nev, all to happy to see him. It turns out that Evangeline had, at one time, been engaged to Nev. Needless to say this isn't sitting well with Josie. Josie can't help to want to investigate just what button had scared Nev, but also to find the reason why. Could it have been some type of voodoo curse?

Another interesting story from Kylie Logan. Not so much talk about buttons in this book, but an interesting at vodan and voodoo.

Looking forward to the next book.
Profile Image for Tess.
64 reviews8 followers
December 31, 2013
The 4th book in the series, by Kylie Logan, is as entertaining as the first 3. To be able to combine her passion for button collecting, and her knack at mystery solving, Josie is the one to rely on when her friends need help. Cop/boy friend Nev tries, without success, to keep Josie out of police business, but as Josie is urged along by retired cop and good friend Stan, it seems as if Josie solves more mysteries than the police force do.

Josie is a strong, independent woman who proves that a man is not always necessary. With Nev running into an ex-fiance, that he never mentioned to Josie, she might not need this specific man anymore. Stan can always be relied on for Josie to bounce ideas on, and also is a great back-up in the button store.

I feel that Ms. Logan has written a charming series, with believable characters. I can see this series surviving a long run, with many devoted fans, such as myself.
Profile Image for Dharia Scarab.
3,255 reviews8 followers
August 30, 2014
Since I don't normally write reviews unless I have something specific to say, here's the break down of how I rate my books...

1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.

2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.

3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.

4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.

5 stars... I loved this book! It had earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.
Profile Image for AngryGreyCat.
1,500 reviews39 followers
December 31, 2013
The Button Box Mysteries are a fun series that took a darker turn in this outing, incorporating elements of voodoo and black magic and I quite enjoyed it. As in many cozy mysteries, you do have to practice some suspension of disbelief in Josie’s involvement in the mystery but it did not hamper my enjoyment. There were plenty of clues sprinkled throughout and I was able to solve the mystery about half way through but wasn’t 100 percent sure I was correct. The romantic element of the book has some twists and turns in it as well. Unlike many other cozies, this series does not have a large cast of quirky recurring secondary characters, however Nev and Stan are both in this book. This is definitely a series that I will continue to read.
Profile Image for Jessica.
53 reviews1 follower
September 5, 2014

My four-sentence or less take on the plot: Josie loves buttons to a degree that is hard for me to understand. She gets invited to an art instillation full of buttons and surprise! Someone ends up dead (I don't know why people hang out with people in cozies, it's all finding bodies, all the time).

Rating: 6

What worked: It was cute. I don't have a lot of thoughts on this one. I like this new love interest quite a bit, so, Kylie, if you read these reviews, stick with him!

What didn't: This is going to sound stupid but...
1. The cover doesn't look a damn thing like I think the art looked like. Would't it be mosaiced with buttons?
2. I actually figured this one out immediately, which is annoying.

Extras: None but I'm not sure what there would really be.
Profile Image for Nicky.
212 reviews
August 5, 2014
Very solid addition to this series. Love the voudon theme, very interesting. Oh the dreaded love triangle. I don't think I would have minded so much if Nev didn't make me so angry in this book. And Josie seemed to think she was an official detective and seemed to forget that she ran a button shop. And Josie.... please stop getting so offensive about the buttons already! Who cares what others say, you own a shop and are happy with your life. Get over it. I like the new character, he really intrigues me.
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