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theavidreaderandbibliophile's review against another edition
3.0
The Decorator Who Knew Too Much by Diane Vallere is the fourth book in A Madison Night Mystery series. Madison Night and her boyfriend, Hudson James are heading to Palm Springs for two weeks. It is going to be part getaway and part work. Hudson has agreed to help his brother-in-law, Jimmy work on his dream project. Jimmy wishes to create a midcentury modern strip mall and Madison is the perfect decorator to assist him. Their visit, though, is fraught from the very beginning. Their car is sideswiped as they near Jimmy and Emma’s home. The next day, Madison arrives at the job site and her hat falls into the Whitewater River. As she bends over to retrieve it, she sees a body floating under the surface of the water. Before the police arrive, the corpse disappears. Madison goes on a sketching excursion and ends up getting attacked. She arrives at the house to discover that Jimmy is upset with her. He lost a day of work. The next morning, Jimmy vents his frustration. Madison and her dog, Rocky decamp to a local motel. This is not the trip that Hudson had planned for them. Madison has been having a tough time since her last brush with danger in Texas. She has been suffering from nightmares and is having to rely on sleeping pills. It is recommended she consult a therapist and is given the name of Dr. Albert Hall. Madison leaves him a message, but she soon discovers that he is no longer taking patients. The missing river victim is found in a quarry by hikers. The victim is none other than Dr. Hall. Madison starts delving into the case and finds it more complex than it first appeared. She has all these various pieces of information. Madison will need to shift them around and fit them together to get the complete picture. Can Madison figure out the identity of the culprit before it is too late?
The Decorator Who Knew Too Much is part of a series and some parts of the story are a little confusing if you have not read the previous novels. While the author provides details on why Madison loves vintage fashions, midcentury modern design and Doris Day, details what has caused her PTSD are lacking. I did find The Decorator Who Knew Too Much to be easy to read (good pace/flow) and nicely written. I liked the authors writing style and the humor she injected into the story. I appreciate Madison’s love of vintage fashions (her clothes sound unique and beautiful). I give The Decorator Who Knew Too Much 3 out of 5 stars. The mystery comes across as complex, but I thought the identity of the perpetrators easy to uncover. In the beginning of the book, it states that Madison and Hudson are going on vacation. This is mentioned more than once, but then we are told that they will be working. How is this a vacation? Is it because they are in a different city? I was curious how Madison, a decorator, could assist on a project that has not been started. I found some information to be repeated a few times throughout the book (Madison’s love of Doris Day, vintage fashions, and her dog, Rocky). The book is written from Madison and Tex’s (Captain Tex Allen) point-of-views. I was not a fan of this format. Tex’s sections did not enhance or help the story (for the most part). I prefer novels that are told from one person’s perspective or from the third person. Personally, I believe Tex and Madison would make a great couple. Hudson is not the best partner for Madison with her love of sleuthing. At the end of the book, readers are left with some unanswered questions. I wish the author had provided a better recap of the offender’s actions.
The Decorator Who Knew Too Much is part of a series and some parts of the story are a little confusing if you have not read the previous novels. While the author provides details on why Madison loves vintage fashions, midcentury modern design and Doris Day, details what has caused her PTSD are lacking. I did find The Decorator Who Knew Too Much to be easy to read (good pace/flow) and nicely written. I liked the authors writing style and the humor she injected into the story. I appreciate Madison’s love of vintage fashions (her clothes sound unique and beautiful). I give The Decorator Who Knew Too Much 3 out of 5 stars. The mystery comes across as complex, but I thought the identity of the perpetrators easy to uncover. In the beginning of the book, it states that Madison and Hudson are going on vacation. This is mentioned more than once, but then we are told that they will be working. How is this a vacation? Is it because they are in a different city? I was curious how Madison, a decorator, could assist on a project that has not been started. I found some information to be repeated a few times throughout the book (Madison’s love of Doris Day, vintage fashions, and her dog, Rocky). The book is written from Madison and Tex’s (Captain Tex Allen) point-of-views. I was not a fan of this format. Tex’s sections did not enhance or help the story (for the most part). I prefer novels that are told from one person’s perspective or from the third person. Personally, I believe Tex and Madison would make a great couple. Hudson is not the best partner for Madison with her love of sleuthing. At the end of the book, readers are left with some unanswered questions. I wish the author had provided a better recap of the offender’s actions.
maryfrances_odea's review against another edition
5.0
This series is so much fun! If you're a mid-century fan (or not) you'll like the characters and the story.
lakea's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident
Moderate: Gun violence, Violence, Murder, and Toxic relationship
cservat129's review against another edition
3.0
Review:
Madison is a decorator who favors vintage clothes and all things Doris Day and decorating in the mid last century style. Madison also gets entangled in murder mysteries. I liked the setting of this book Palm Springs, whats not to like? The plot was good and not at all predictable. Madison has her love interest Hudson with her on this trip and things seem very cozy between them but there is a certain police captain back home by the name of Tex that seems to be very interested in her, so I am not too sure what will develop between these two in future books. There are some good red herrings in this story, they actually had me fooled! I was not sure if I liked Hudson's sister and brother in-law during this book , I found their relationship an annoyance. As for Hudson I am not sure he is the one for Madison, I think I am team Tex!
For me this was a good read, I enjoyed the mystery, the romance part was not too heavy and that for me works for this type of cozy mystery.This review was originally posted on Cindy's Book Binge
Madison is a decorator who favors vintage clothes and all things Doris Day and decorating in the mid last century style. Madison also gets entangled in murder mysteries. I liked the setting of this book Palm Springs, whats not to like? The plot was good and not at all predictable. Madison has her love interest Hudson with her on this trip and things seem very cozy between them but there is a certain police captain back home by the name of Tex that seems to be very interested in her, so I am not too sure what will develop between these two in future books. There are some good red herrings in this story, they actually had me fooled! I was not sure if I liked Hudson's sister and brother in-law during this book , I found their relationship an annoyance. As for Hudson I am not sure he is the one for Madison, I think I am team Tex!
For me this was a good read, I enjoyed the mystery, the romance part was not too heavy and that for me works for this type of cozy mystery.This review was originally posted on Cindy's Book Binge
verityw's review against another edition
3.0
****Copy from NetGalley in return for an honest review****
Another book where I'm jumping in to a well-established series, but actually this wasn't as hard to get into as some of the others - once I'd got my head around Madison's Doris Day obsession. Obviously there are some traumas/issues from her past that I wasn't across, but that didn't stop my enjoyment of the book. The mystery is good, the setting is nice and it was a perfectly fun and fine way to spend a few hours. My first Diane Vallere book, but probably not my last.
Another book where I'm jumping in to a well-established series, but actually this wasn't as hard to get into as some of the others - once I'd got my head around Madison's Doris Day obsession. Obviously there are some traumas/issues from her past that I wasn't across, but that didn't stop my enjoyment of the book. The mystery is good, the setting is nice and it was a perfectly fun and fine way to spend a few hours. My first Diane Vallere book, but probably not my last.
readingactually's review against another edition
3.0
Review:
Madison is a decorator who favors vintage clothes and all things Doris Day and decorating in the mid last century style. Madison also gets entangled in murder mysteries. I liked the setting of this book Palm Springs, whats not to like? The plot was good and not at all predictable. Madison has her love interest Hudson with her on this trip and things seem very cozy between them but there is a certain police captain back home by the name of Tex that seems to be very interested in her, so I am not too sure what will develop between these two in future books. There are some good red herrings in this story, they actually had me fooled! I was not sure if I liked Hudson's sister and brother in-law during this book , I found their relationship an annoyance. As for Hudson I am not sure he is the one for Madison, I think I am team Tex!
For me this was a good read, I enjoyed the mystery, the romance part was not too heavy and that for me works for this type of cozy mystery.This review was originally posted on Cindy's Book Binge
Madison is a decorator who favors vintage clothes and all things Doris Day and decorating in the mid last century style. Madison also gets entangled in murder mysteries. I liked the setting of this book Palm Springs, whats not to like? The plot was good and not at all predictable. Madison has her love interest Hudson with her on this trip and things seem very cozy between them but there is a certain police captain back home by the name of Tex that seems to be very interested in her, so I am not too sure what will develop between these two in future books. There are some good red herrings in this story, they actually had me fooled! I was not sure if I liked Hudson's sister and brother in-law during this book , I found their relationship an annoyance. As for Hudson I am not sure he is the one for Madison, I think I am team Tex!
For me this was a good read, I enjoyed the mystery, the romance part was not too heavy and that for me works for this type of cozy mystery.This review was originally posted on Cindy's Book Binge
3no7's review
4.0
Madison Night finds murder, fashion, and fun in Palm Springs -- don't we all?
“The Decorator Who Knew Too Much” is the latest installment in Diane Vallere’s Madison Night series. It is NOT necessary to have read the other books before enjoying this one, there are quick snippets of the previous “action” embedded throughout this book when needed to advance the plot without wasting pages and pages of summary about what happened previously. However, if you have not read the previous books, you will want to go back and catch up because you will love Madison, with all her faults and wardrobe idiosyncrasies.
If murder, betrayal, and danger could be fun, Madison Night would be the one to mix that with work, vacation, romance, and incredible period clothes. You can read a plot summary other places, so I will share that in this book, Madison Night is finally becoming a modern woman in “50s clothes. She struggles to move on from her perilous past and its complications while working to maintain her bank account, her piece of mind, and her relationships and combine all this with a vacation!?!?
Of course, the book is full of suspense and crime, but it is also incredibly funny. It is easy to read, but readers may find themselves looking into the back of grandma’s closets for something made from Simplicity 6013 or 7499.
If you think a mystery has to be dark, oppressive, and over stressful, to be “real” crime fiction you are wrong, wrong, wrong. And really, how could any book with a title that is a take-off of my favorite Hitchcock movie be anything but fantastic?
“The Decorator Who Knew Too Much” is the latest installment in Diane Vallere’s Madison Night series. It is NOT necessary to have read the other books before enjoying this one, there are quick snippets of the previous “action” embedded throughout this book when needed to advance the plot without wasting pages and pages of summary about what happened previously. However, if you have not read the previous books, you will want to go back and catch up because you will love Madison, with all her faults and wardrobe idiosyncrasies.
If murder, betrayal, and danger could be fun, Madison Night would be the one to mix that with work, vacation, romance, and incredible period clothes. You can read a plot summary other places, so I will share that in this book, Madison Night is finally becoming a modern woman in “50s clothes. She struggles to move on from her perilous past and its complications while working to maintain her bank account, her piece of mind, and her relationships and combine all this with a vacation!?!?
Of course, the book is full of suspense and crime, but it is also incredibly funny. It is easy to read, but readers may find themselves looking into the back of grandma’s closets for something made from Simplicity 6013 or 7499.
If you think a mystery has to be dark, oppressive, and over stressful, to be “real” crime fiction you are wrong, wrong, wrong. And really, how could any book with a title that is a take-off of my favorite Hitchcock movie be anything but fantastic?
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