Handbags and Homicide-Dorothy Howell

Handbags and Homicide
Dorothy Howell
Kensington, Jul 2008, $22.00
ISBN 9780758223746

To fund her obscene addiction, Haley Randolph has gone into deep credit card debt; if she never eats, drinks, puts gas in her car, or shop she figures she could pay off her debt in about three lifetimes. However, Haley knows herself too well; she can do without food or liquid or even gas in Los Angeles, but being a “crazed, obsessive, handbag whore” means she cannot stop herself from buying designer bags.

Adding to her woes the accountant is fired from a LA law firm because of evidence of her embezzling funds surfaced. She obtains work during Christmas at Holt's Department Store where she meets the owner Ty Cameron. However, soon afterward, someone murders the store’s detested assistant manager, Richard, whose nickame on the floor was obvious. The police suspect Haley as she found the corpse. She vows not to take the hit again as she did when she lost her accounting position; she investigates seeking the real killer while debating whether sex with her boss would be tied to her keeping her job as she would never use her body to stay emplyed but wants Ty to use her body.

Haley’s amusing asides make for a fun chick lit amateur sleuth tale as she investigates the homicide. Haley the sleuth is a bumbler while Haley the person is a dolt even when she fumbles on high heels from one clue to aniother, . Fans will enjoy a combo Inspector Clouseau-Stephanie Plum starring as Ellie Woods of Legally Blonde.

Harriet Klasusner