Dior or Die

Vintage Clothing Mysteries #2

by Angela M. Sanders

Portland, Oregon, vintage clothing store owner, Joanna Hayworth, is in a tight spot. Her plans to upgrade her store have derailed and costs are mounting. When she wins three trunks of vintage haute couture at auction, she thinks her luck has changed-but it's about to get much worse. The clothing's high-society matron owner turns up poisoned to death, and police seize the wardrobe, leaving Joanna with more debt, a friend wrongly jailed for diamond theft, and a convent of quirky nuns depending on her help. There's only one way to calmer waters: find the murderer, and fast.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Romance, Cozy, Art

316 pages, Paperback

First published September 21, 2014

About the author

Angela M. Sanders is the author of the Witch Way Librarian cozy mysteries and the Joanna Hayworth vintage clothing mysteries . As Clover Tate, she wrote the Kite Shop cozy mysteries.

Before turning author, spent more than a decade as a congressional investigator and also wrote magazine articles on perfume, food, and local personalities. When Angela isn’t at her laptop, she’s often rummaging in thrift shops, lounging with a vintage crime novel with her shelter cats Squeaky and Bitsy.

Sign up for her newsletter at www.angelamsanders.com and follow her on Instagram at @angela.m.sanders

Reviews

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again, Ms. Sanders does not disappoint. One thing I neglected to mention in my review of her first book is her great way of introducing her readers to the unique atmosphere of Portland,Oregon. Her books envelope so much more than just vintage clothing (which would be enough). Sanders' books are elevated from many I've read of the cozy-with-a-theme genre for this reason alone. Her characters are well-drawn, and they grow and develop. Congratulations, Angela!

[B. Berry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing story!

I love the style of writing and the way Ms. Sanders uses subtle detail to bring a scene alive! I've read the first and second in the series and can hardly wait for the next installment!

Thanks so much for stories that keep me coming back for more! Good job Ms. Sanders!

[patsy clift · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too many characters with connections being very confusing.

I like the clothing store and Joanna's finds. I disliked the way she kept info from the police and would have found it more "real" if she had helped the police rather than distrusting them or thinking they were not smart enough to find the killer.

[Maxine Bailey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't have high expectations since this was a last minute purchase at the Portland airport. It was just fine. I mentally predicted outcomes, pages ahead. However, if you like vintage clothing, and have a quirky style sensibility, this is a nice weekend read. It will have you digging in your closets to create new styling combos.

[Katie Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five Stars

If you like quirky heroines, vintage clothing, and an absorbing murder mystery, Dior or Die is a story you'll savor. Can't wait to read the other books in Angela M. Sanders' Vintage Clothing Mysteries series.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this second Joanna Hayworth mystery even more than the first. Angela Sanders is really hitting her stride! We get to know Joanna and her friends better, and there are more odd but likeable characters rounding out the cast of suspects. As in the previous book, Portland itself is practically a character of its own, as the story winds its way from the snooty West Hills to an amusement park to the county jail, with some unexpected stops in between.

We also get a better sense of Joanna's dry sense of humor and her taste for adventure. In fact, the book is quite funny (murder notwithstanding). The mystery is absorbing, with clues that for me fell into place once the murderer was revealed (I love it when I get stumped.) And, as always, I love love love the descriptions of the vintage clothes - a passage describing Joanna "thrifting" (shopping) is so good that I practically had to grab my car keys and head to the nearest Goodwill. It's tons of fun.

[Tammy Wooding]

Portland, Oregon, vintage clothing store owner, Joanna Hayworth, is in a tight spot. Her plans to upgrade her store have derailed and costs are mounting. When she wins three trunks of vintage haute couture in an auction, she thinks her luck has changed—but it’s about to get much worse. The clothing’s high-society matron owner turns up poisoned, and police seize the wardrobe, leaving Joanna with more debt, a friend wrongly jailed for diamond theft, and a convent of quirky nuns depending on her help.

There’s only one way to calmer waters: find the murderer, and fast.

[Charlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joanna feels victorious when she is able to buy several trunks of haute couture in an auction, leaving her rival, Eve, empty-handed. But the former owner of the fashions is found murdered and the clothing is taken by the police as evidence. Then her friend, the owner of the auction house, is arrested for the murder. Joanna can't leave her friend whom she knows is innocent in jail. Her investigation, however, injures her relationship with Paul and puts herself in harm's way.

[Deb Alderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun story that was smartly written

I loved all the vintage clothing descriptions. The story was fast paced and has fun, quirky characters. If you like the Stephanie Plum character you will probably like this book.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second Joanna Hayworth I have read and I am more convinced than ever that these books should come with pictures! Exquisite descriptions of clothes from a bygone era combined with a page turner of a story.

[Nikki]

I enjoyed this cozy mystery set in the world of vintage clothing.

[Victoria Land · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vintage mystery and fun

Really enjoy the attention to detail,vintage and otherwise. Nice to see a quirky female character with a big heart
Fun read!

[Homerun2 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Very unique cozy set in a vintage dress shop with a retro owner. The ending felt a little staged, and the romance angle felt stilted at times, but still a fun read.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun series.

[Cynthia Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything I was looking for!

This book has just the right balance of mystery and romance. Would read again! Looking forward to the next book!

[Virginia Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice comfortable read with some intrigue .. not too surprising outcomes

[Hilary (A Wytch's Book Review) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phew Angela M Sanders has written another roller coaster of a book here and I can't wait to start reading number three in the series!

We start with Joanna at an auction, she has got a line of credit and can afford to bid up to $20k of some stunning vintage clothes, in fact three trunks full of vintage clothes! She thinks she has got this in the bag when her arch nemesis Eve turns up and bids $25k for the lot.  As she is sadly leaving an unexpected twist means she ends up buying the clothes after all - so far so good, but when she goes to collect them they have been taken as evidence by the police! Now the original owner of the clothes is dead, Joanna's friend Poppy (the auctioneer) is in jail and a Mother Superior wants Joanna to sort everything out .... if only it was that straightforward.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joanna is having a tough day. She had the winning bid on trunks full of high end vintage clothing, but, oh, no! There was a murder involved and she can’t take possession until the police are done with the trunks. With the rent due and a plumber’s bill outstanding what’a girl to do but solve the murder?

[Penny · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fine - a pleasant cozy mystery. The main strength is the vintage clothing store theme and the rich descriptions of the clothes and other antiques. You really feel Joanna’s love for her work. A weakness is that parts of the story come off as far-fetched (e.g. the house search) EVEN in a genre where you know you have to seriously suspend disbelief.

[Lydia Brooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rounding up from 2.75, truly what was this plot?? None of the characters actions made sense, and the actual unraveling of the mystery was so boring. The only redeeming quality was the description of the vintage clothing. A vintage clothing–themed cozy mystery should have been right up my alley so this was so disappointing 😭

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

clever mystery. a fun read. Loved the Portland locations.

[Micha Goebig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute, though I found it a little too easy to figure out who was the murderer and I’d say the motive wasn’t strong enough. But other than that, very solid entertainment.

[Missy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun little who-dun-it.

[Janet McAuley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm going to wear vintage and go to Portland due to the fun of these books. And I've been inspired to research some of the themes, very fun.

[Julia Alberino · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick, easy read, but I did figure out who the killer was before it was revealed.

[Cheryl harding Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dior or die

I really enjoy this series with the vintage clothes..can't wait to read the next one..kept me wondering who did it..

[Kitty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I may write a real review later (I'm tired, having stayed up late to finish this). For now: all that would make these books better is having a small bar tending guide at the end of each book. Bee's Knee's? Yes, please!

[Mollie Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love vintage, you'll be fascinated by the rich detail in Sanders' cozy mysteries. As a Portlander, I enjoy the local references.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am just hooked on these little books. This is my second one and I just love the characters. Even though they are what I consider a light reads, I would recommend them.

[Elizabeth Butcher · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I loved the Portland details, I didn't find this book as engaging as the first in this series. Hoping that the next is more to my liking. I also could have used a little bit less of being beat over the head with the "it always rains during Rose Festival" motif...even though I've spent my fair share of time slogging through a muddy Fun Center or two down at Waterfront Park.