"Weddings Can be Murder!"
Reviewed by Jennifer Vido
Posted November 24, 2012
Mystery Cozy
Josie Marcus has just landed the cream de la cream of
mystery shopping assignments. With her wedding to local vet
Ted Scottsmeyer just weeks away, she is given the chance to
evaluate wedding cakes and bridal flowers. From tasting
samples of confectionery delights to admiring breath-taking
bouquets, Josie takes full advantage of the opportunity to
finalize her own wedding plans. Now if only she could find a
tactful way to temper her pushy soon-to-be mother-in-law
Lenore before she gets carried away. All Josie wants is a
simple day filled with family, friends, and the man of her
dreams. As if Josie doesn't have enough trouble in her life, one of
Ted's clients shows up at the clinic adorned in a fairy tale
wedding dress. Molly professes her undying love for the
veterinarian, and demands that he makes her his wife. With
two brides on his hands, Ted finds himself smack in the
middle of a wedded calamity. Thank goodness for his pistol
carrying mother who puts the lunatic bride behind bars and
saves Josie's big day. Just when all seems to be back to normal, Lenore winds up
taking the wrap for a murder she hasn't committed. With the
wedding plans on hold, it's up to Josie to clear her future
mother-in-law's name so that she can finally become Ted's
beloved wife. As the suspect list begins to grow, Josie will
stop at nothing in order to get her chance for a life of
happily-ever-after. Using her skills as a master shopper,
Josie hopes to lure the killer in for a deal he or she can't
refuse. MURDER IS A PIECE OF CAKE is the eighth installment of the
highly popular Josie Marcus Mystery Shopper series. The
bonus wedding shopping tips included with the story make
this the ultimate gift for any bride-to-be. From
eco-friendly flower suggestions to buyer beware tips; this
book is the perfect companion guide for planning a
stress-free day. Without a doubt, the combination of love,
humor, and wedded bliss truly distinguish MURDER IS A PIECE
OF CAKE
as one of Viet's very best.
SUMMARY
Mystery shopper Josie Marcus is thrilled to be getting
married. But when a deranged bride meets a grim end, Josie
will have to catch a murderer before she tosses the bouquet... As a bride-to-be, Josie’s latest assignment is absolutely
fitting—investigating wedding flowers and wedding cakes.
Josie can’t wait to pick out the details to make her own
wedding perfect, even as her fiancé Ted’s outrageous mother
has plans to turn the celebration into an over-the-top
extravaganza. Still, the pistol-packing Lenore does come in
handy when she draws her gun on Molly—a homicidal bridezilla
who threatens to kill Ted unless he agrees to marry her—and
saves the day. Josie thinks the worst pre-wedding disaster is behind
her—until Molly is shot and Lenore becomes the prime
suspect. With her mother-in-law behind bars and her wedding
on hold, Josie’s about to become fully engaged in finding
the bridezilla killer and getting her own wedding back on track…
ExcerptTuesday, October 16, 2012 "Joshcy." The man's voice was followed by a crunch like
a roof caving in. "Hwcjsh wejing ghocinng?"
Josie Marcus was pretty sure she wasn't getting an
obscene phone call at nine in the morning. Then the man
added a wet slurp, followed by another massive crunch. What
was he doing with that phone?
"Excuse me?" Josie asked. "Who is this?"
The gulp sounded like a boa constrictor swallowing a
whole pig, followed by juicy smacking. "That was good," he
said.
Now Josie recognized the caller – Harry the Horrible,
her boss at Suttin Services. Josie mystery–shopped for
the company's St. Louis office.
Harry repeated his question. "I asked how's the wedding
going? You and Dr. Ted ready to tie the knot?"
"Almost. It's five weeks away," Josie said. "What are
you eating?"
"A deep–fried cheeseburger." Satisfaction oozed
from Harry's voice. Even Josie's phone seemed greasy. She
wanted to wipe it down. She wanted to wipe out the picture
of Harry forming in her mind: Her boss had a thick brown
pelt all over his body – at least the parts Josie had had
the misfortune to see. Harry had hair on his flabby arms,
fish–belly ankles and stubby hands. Hair peeked
through his straining shirt buttons, but so far Josie had
been spared the full view of his chest.
Only Harry's dome was follicle free. Mother Nature had
compensated by giving him a luxuriant unibrow.
"Thanks for your wedding invitation," Harry said. "I
can't come, but I got you a present. Wait till you hear what
it is."
"You're going to tell me before I unwrap it?" Josie asked.
"You don't have to unwrap this gift," Harry said. "It's
your latest mystery–shopping assignment. I want you to
shop wedding flowers and wedding cakes for a St. Louis
wedding Web site. You can go as yourself – a bride shopping
for her wedding."
He paused dramatically, like a game show host announcing
a gigantic prize.
Harry's serious, Josie thought. He really is giving me a
good assignment as a present. Well, it is a gift. Working
for Harry has been awkward since I reported that surly sales
assistant. I didn't realize Saber was his niece. She
deserved to get fired.
Since then, Harry had given Josie nothing but bad
assignments. She even had to mystery–shop pig ear
sandwiches – and eat one.
Niece or no niece, Josie lived by her code. Her mission
was to protect Mrs. Minivan, her name for the backbone of
America's shoppers. Mrs. Minivan was overlooked, ignored and
disrespected. Josie fought to right those wrongs against the
average shopper.
"You want me to mystery–shop wedding flowers,"
Josie said. "Do you mean all the flowers – the bouquets and
boutonnieres, church flowers and reception centerpieces?"
"Naw, just the whatchamacallits for the reception," he
said. "The centerpieces. That's why this assignment is a
gift. It's easy."
It would be easy, Josie thought. She'd spent hours
deciding whether her bridesmaids should carry bouquets or
wear wrist corsages. International trade treaties were
signed after less debate.
She'd take this gift – and hope Harry's anger had
finally cooled.
"I'll do it," Josie said.
"Good," Harry said. "I'll fax you the details. I need
you to start today with a flower shop called Denise's
Dreams. They sell other stuff, but our client only cares
about the flowers."
"That's near my house," Josie said.
"See, I told you it was a present," Harry said.
Josie heard a rustling noise and guessed Harry was
stuffing his take–out box into his office trash.
"Did you really eat a deep–fried cheeseburger for
breakfast?" she asked.
"You need protein for the first meal of the day," Harry
said. "I need man food. The Carnival Diner makes
deep–fried cheeseburgers. The chef used to work at the
state fair. You should try his chicken–fried bacon."
"Does he deep–fry the patties?" Josie asked. "How
does he keep the cheese from melting away?"
"The chef takes the whole cheeseburger," Harry said.
"Meat, cheese, pickles, bun and all – batters and
deep–fries it. The cheese turns into a warm pocket of
melted goodness. His french fries are sensational."
"They're battered, too?" Josie asked.
"Of course not," Harry said. "That would be stupid. You
gonna go to work? That shop opens at nine thirty. You're
supposed to be a bride on a budget at Denise's Dreams. At
the other two, you have to say money is no problem."
"I've had plenty of experience with wedding budgets,"
Josie said. She and her veterinarian fiancé, Ted
Scottsmeyer, had agreed to follow a budget. But their plan
kept encountering unexpected expenses. Josie knew their
wedding cake would cost about seven hundred dollars, but she
hadn't factored in the fifty–dollar delivery fee. This
job would help pay for the cake and the delivery.
She dressed quickly, pulled the still–warm
mystery–shopping paperwork out of her fax machine,
read it, and tucked the pages into her purse.
On the way to Denise's Dreams, she passed Ted's
veterinary clinic and checked the parking lot. It was
crowded with cars, but the big blue St. Louis Mobo–Pet
van was gone. Ted was making house calls today while his
partner, Christine, handled the clinic patients.
She turned the corner and saw Denise's Dreams. The shop
looked like a midcentury bride's dream: a one–story
white rambler with ruffled tie–back curtains and a
picket fence.
Inside, the front room was devoted to flowers. The
hothouse flower smell was sweetly overpowering. A big cooler
along one wall was crammed with cold, colorful blossoms.
Pink roses and blue hydrangeas were massed around the
counter. On closer inspection, Josie saw those flowers were
silk.
A young blonde in a ruffled dress with blue ribbons in
her hair was behind counter, arranging pink gladioli in a
glass vase.
Behind her, Josie could see a room with snow drifts of
bridal veils. In a third room labeled "Hair Jewelry," Josie
glimpsed a blue velvet Victorian sofa and a showcase
sparkling with tiaras and jeweled combs.
The beribboned and ruffled blonde smiled and said, "May
I help you? My name is Molly."
At first Josie thought the slender saleswoman was a
girl. But the harsh morning light showed tiny lines around
her eyes and mouth. Molly was at least thirty, but she
dressed like a little girl going to a birthday party.
"I'd like some information about flowers for my wedding
reception," Josie said. "I'm getting married in five weeks.
I've chosen everything but the reception flowers."
"Are you on a budget?" Molly asked.
"Definitely," Josie said. Two points in Molly's favor,
she thought. She'd greeted me promptly and asked if I was
interested in budget offerings.
"May I suggest silk flowers for your reception?" Molly
said. "These look real and after the wedding, you'll have a
lasting memento."
"I like live plants," Josie said.
"We have a fine selection of tropical plants you can
rent," Molly said. "You can also rent the vases for your
centerpieces. That will save money, too. Let me show you."
She plunked a heavy binder with sample photos on the
counter and they paged through it. Josie was impressed with
Molly's sales pitch. She didn't pressure, but she gave
several useful options. Josie selected one and Molly
prepared a contract.
"I can't sign it until I show it to my fiancé," Josie said.
"That's fine. Denise, the owner, or Rita, the other
sales associate, will be happy to help you when you come
back," Molly said. "I'm getting married next week. This is
my last day at work. I'm going to be a full–time
homemaker, the career I've always wanted."
"Who's your fiancé?" Josie asked.
"Ted," Molly said, her eyes turning dreamy soft. "He's
so kind and handsome. He loves animals."
"I'm engaged to a Ted, too," Josie said. "He's a
veterinarian. Next week Channel Seven is coming to his
clinic to tape a pilot for his new show, Dr. Ted's Pet Vet
Tips. Each week, Ted will talk about how to care for pets.
His first show is how to clip a cat's toenails."
"I don't like Channel Seven – or cats," Molly said, and
made a face. "I'm sure my Ted would have nothing to do with
that awful TV station. And cats are sneaky."
Josie didn't like this double insult, but she was on the
job. She searched for a polite answer. "Channel Seven does
sensationalize the news," she said. "But
Ted's show will be part of their community service
programming. Once his show gets going he can move to a
better station. I wasn't a big fan of cats, either, until we
got our cat, Harry. Now my daughter and I love him. He's funny."
"I'll take your word for it," Molly asked. "I'm a dog
lover. I have a little white Maltese, Bella. When is your
Ted's TV show taping?"
"Next Tuesday at eleven," Josie said.
"That's my wedding day," Molly said.
Josie could see she was lost again in bridal dreams.
"Congratulations," she said. "I think you were such a
big help because we have so much in common."
Next Tuesday, Josie would find out exactly how much they
had in common.
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