On fashionable Portobello Road in London is a sweet hat shop called Mim's Whims The shop was left by their grandmother Mim to two cousins, American born Scarlett Parker and her cousin British born Vivian Tremont. One rainy day Ariana Jackson comes into the shop carrying an old hatbox bearing a hat that was created by Grandmother Mim over thirty years ago. She is getting married in a few weeks and would like an estimate on what it would cost to rehab the hat. She sadly told the girls her mother died and her father's new wife donated her mother's wedding dress to charity. This hat is the last connection to her mother and she would dearly love to wear it on her wedding day. Thrilled Viv and Scarlett prepare an estimate and call the number Ariana left. Frantic because time was running out before the wedding day, and receiving no replies from Ariana, Scarlett travels to Kingsbridge to the law offices of Anthony Russo, her employer.

When Scarlett opens the office door she hears screams coming from the back yard. Scarlett finds Ariana huddled against a wall and next to her is a man with his head smashed in, his limbs twisted as if broken, bloody and not breathing. It is obvious he had fallen from the rooftop of his building. After an investigation by the police, they arrest Ariana and put her in jail for the murder of Anthony Russo.

Vivian and Scarlette refuse to believe Ariana is guilty and immediately set out to find evidence to free her. They discover Russo was a womanizer, a cheat, a gambler and has not been nice to Ariana. He has many enemies and he was not a nice guy. Who killed him?

Handsome, green-eyed Harrison with his sexy British accent, his snappy one-liners, has bought a share of Mim's Whims and he has an obvious attraction to Scarlett who he calls "Ginger", from their early childhood days. Their flirtations are sweet and he is always around when Scarlett needs a friend. I look forward to the next book where I am confident their mutual attraction will develop into a more serious relationship. He is dishy and together they are sensational duo.

AT THE DROP OF A HAT is an easy, fun read with characters that are very engaging and I will be happy to meet again. I love hats, fascinators, tea served with scones and clotted cream, and the London scene. A delicious and cozy mystery that you will read cover to cover quickly, and like me, want more.

Book Summary

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Library Lover’s Mysteries and Death of a Mad Hatter comes a tale of hat shop owners who put a cap on crime.

MURDER CAN BE SO OLD HAT

Cousins Scarlett Parker and Vivian Tremont’s fashionable London hat shop, Mim’s Whims, is visited by a new customer bearing an old hat box. Ariana Jackson is getting married and wants to restore her mother’s bridal hat and veil for the occasion. The elegant item was made by Scarlett and Vivian’s grandmother over thirty years ago, so Viv is delighted to take the job.

When Scarlett goes to Ariana's office to consult about the restoration cost, she finds her outside, standing over her boss’s dead body. Though Ariana claims to know nothing about his demise, the investigation unveils a motive for murder. Now, with the bride-to-be in custody and the wedding on hold, Scarlett and Viv must find the real killer before Ariana's future is boxed up for good.