Baffled in the Boutique: A Temp Job Cozy Mystery Book 8

The Temp Jobs Cozy Mysteries #8

by K.B. Blake

Temp Jobs Can Be Murder!

Scarlett Chase’s temp job at a home décor boutique is about as close to her former dream career as an interior designer as she can get while still lacking most of the fun and creative aspects of it. The boutique owner, Flora Campbell, is a sweet older woman who is often opinionated and blunt. Despite Scarlett’s differences with her boss, the job is making her realize just how much she misses interior design.

When Flora finds a murder victim in the back room of the boutique one morning, Scarlett decides to let the police handle the case this time. She can’t help but notice, though, how many people actually have a motive for killing Flora.

Could the murderer have made a mistake? The boutique was closed at the time of the murder, and the victim shouldn’t have even been there. Was Flora the intended target?

Scarlett is determined to uncover the truth even when the clues become confusing. The more she investigates, the more scandals and scams involving Flora and the boutique she finds.

Danger is lurking much too close to Scarlett and the people she loves. Can she solve the mysteries before someone she cares about gets hurt?

Murder—unlike her job—isn’t temporary.

Baffled in the Boutique is the eighth book in the fun and clever Temp Jobs Cozy Mystery Series.

237 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 13, 2024

Reviews

[Julie Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. This is book eight in this fun series and the author is still managing to keep it fresh, entertaining and exciting. She does this by having Scarlett working in a different temp job with each new book. Which gives her a chance to not only create different work place environments but also new and unusual characters to entertain the reader or listener. That's not to say you have to get use to a whole cast of new characters because there are a number of regulars like Scarlett's family who add to the fun. As well as showing a good understanding of people's personalities, there is unusually a lot going on with the mystery side of the story too. A side story that we learn a little bit more about with each book, in this case the murder of a high school coach that sent Scarlett's boyfriend's friend to jail. The main murder does get solved and it took so many turns, with people confessing, that it had me changing my mind and questioning who I thought was responsible. Definitely a series that goes from strength to strength and one that is on my must listen to list.
With this temp good Scarlett is a step closer to the job she really loves, although advising people what would look good in there home rather than designing it herself is not the same. Especially as she is working for an elderly technology challenged boss. Flora isn't afraid to speak her mind, even when addressing her landlord. Which might explain why she needs Scarlett's help when her direct payments on the lease doesn't get paid and the landlord threatens to evict her. What it doesn't explain is why they find the dead body of a young woman in the closed up shop. Was Flora the intended target with her brusque and straight to the point manor? Or was Scarlett who herself thought she looked like the dead girl? What was the woman doing in the shop in the first place? And who was the man wearing the hoodie seen lurking around the shop earlier in the day? Just a few of the questions Scarlett hopes to answer if she wants to find out who killed the young woman and not become the next victim herself.
I like the narrator. She does a wide range of voices that just make the characters come to life and so easy to imagine.
I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[Tari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scarlett was in her element working for a shop that sold interior decorating pieces and she enjoyed helping customers with their decorating questions. But when someone was killed in the back room of the boutique, Scarlett was curious but not in her usual sleuth mode until a side mystery cropped up.

Yet another side mystery was going on and it proved to be the scariest one that looks like it’ll carry over to the next book. But no worries, the main murder was solved. Can’t wait to see what the next book brings.

[erika bairefield bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Read!

Such a great cozy mystery series! Smart writing and details. Fantastic character development throughout series. This particular book leaves you on a cliffhanger wanting more!

[Short, Sweet and Cozy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Baffled in the Boutique is the 8th book and a great new addition to K.B. Blake's A Temp Job Cozy Mystery series. The characters are very likable and the cozy mystery kept me guessing. Scarlett Chase is currently working temporarily at a home decor store and she loves being back in Interior Design. Her boss Flora is nice but quirky as are some of the customers. When Flora opens the store she finds someone dead. Scarlett can't figure out what happened which makes her curious. Scarlett and her boyfriend Austin see more of each other which is fun but she investigates on her own. Her family and friends are supportive and add to the story. This is my favorite book in the series (so far) and it was hard to put down! Very enjoyable! #BaffledInTheBoutique #ATempJobCozyMystery #MountainsidePress #KBBlake