Terror in Taffeta

May 30, 2016
The pseudonymous Cooper’s debut novel introduces Kelsey McKenna, a bright young San Francisco–based wedding planner, whose carefully crafted nuptial in the romantic Mexican town of San Miguel de Allende suffers a few unexpected setbacks. One of the bridesmaids is murdered, the sister of the bride is arrested for the crime, and the bride’s monstrous mother blames Kelsey for everything. The book is smart and witty, and respectable as a whodunit, but theater and television actress Nordlinger turns Kelsey’s self-deprecating narration into something even more delightful, a stand-up routine that is entertaining and often hilarious. Her version of the hapless wedding planner, in which she describes her awkward attempts at amateur detecting with a buoyant optimism, makes the misfortunes funny and charming rather than downbeat. The secondary characters, including a pleasantly snarky photographer named Brody, a couple of ill-tempered Mexican lawmen, a part-time smuggler who is almost a love interest, and the remaining wedding party, are all given distinctive voices. Yet they all sound a bit like Kelsey imitating them, which is appropriate, this being her breezy, amusing, fast-paced recollection of her first (and hopefully not last) planned wedding from hell. A Minotaur hardcover.

January 4, 2016
When wedding planner Kelsey McKenna, the narrator of the pseudonymous Cooper’s entertaining debut, discovers bridesmaid Dana Poole passed out in a floral arrangement, it’s logical to think she drank too much at the bachelorette party, but Dana isn’t just hung over. Finding a murderer shouldn’t be Kelsey’s duty, but the mother of the bride, a momzilla extraordinaire, insists the crime falls under “dreadful, unforeseen situations,” and Kelsey decides it’s easier for her to become a snoop than to say no. Things are even more difficult because this is a destination wedding in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, with very suspicious police officers Antonio Ortiz and Frank Nolasco and a multitude of potential suspects. Did ex-boyfriend Trevor Reckholtz hate the disagreeable Dana enough to kill her, or did someone outside the wedding group have reason to do it? When there’s another death, Kelsey and her helpful pal, Brody Marx, uncover hints of blackmail. Red herrings and intelligent sleuthing make this cozy a winner. Agent: Jill Marsal, Marsal Lyon Agency.