Jane Reads: Grand Theft Retro by Diane Vallere | #Samanthapalooza! Tour w/ Review & Giveaway

Saturday, June 10, 2017

Grand Theft Retro by Diane Vallere | #Samanthapalooza! Tour w/ Review & Giveaway

The Blurb

Amateur sleuth Samantha Kidd is about to go retro.

When Samantha Kidd's job at Retrofit Magazine leads her into the archives of Seventies style, she's prepared to report on patchwork velvet and platform shoes. She never expected to uncover the theft of a major collection of samples from the days before disco died — or an evil coworker out to destroy her newfound success. A second chance with shoe designer Nick Taylor provides a distraction until the thief threatens his safety to keep Samantha quiet. The investigation heats up faster than fondue over Sterno and all too soon this amateur sleuth learns that while the beat goes on, there's no guarantee that she'll go on with it.

Grand Theft Retro by Diane Vallere
Series: A Samantha Kidd Mystery, #5

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Publisher: Polyester Press

Publication Date: May 17, 2016
Paperback: 228 pages
ISBN-10: 1939197260
ISBN-13: 978-1939197269
eBook File Size: 670 KB
ASIN: B01E1UHPV6

The Review

I just read an amazing book, y'all — Grand Theft Retro, the fifth book in the Samantha Kidd Style & Error Mystery series by Diane Vallere. Let me tell you a little about it.

Grand Theft Retro begins with Samantha in peril (as did Some Like It Haute), then backtracks to ONE DAY EARLIER. Samantha learns about a new major project at Retrofit magazine, and meets her new coworker — Pritchard Smith.

Samantha quickly learns that Pritchard is very competitive, and does not play well with others. To discover what Pritchard is up to, and what he may be concealing, Samantha resorts to "spying on my coworker," even though she knows "There were seven and a half reasons why it was a bad idea."

Unlike previous Samantha Kidd Mysteries, Grand Theft Retro is not a whodunit. Samantha realizes that Pritchard has committed the theft, but she has no proof. He's after her for some reason. He knows an awful lot about her, and stays one step ahead — but how? Pritchard uses his knowledge to threaten Samantha and everyone she cares about.

Grand Theft Retro is exciting, with suspense, thrills, and danger, in addition to a very good mystery. Samantha's escapades and scrapes make the book especially fun. Her friend Eddie, plus new characters Nick Taylor Sr and Mo the taxi driver, also add a lot to this romp.

I recommend Grand Theft Retro to all cozy mystery fans, especially those who like madcap caper cozies. If you're a fan of Gretchen Archer's Davis Way Crime Caper series or Diane Vallere's other series (Madison Night Mad for Mod Mysteries, Polyester Monroe Material Witness Mysteries, and Margo Tamblyn Costume Shop Mysteries), I think you will particularly enjoy reading about Samantha Kidd in Grand Theft Retro.

I absolutely love Grand Theft Retro, which has earned our highest rating of Five Kitties!

Five out of five kitties

Note: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of Grand Theft Retro.

All opinions shared are 100% my own.

Follow the #Samanthapalooza! tour!

Stay tuned tomorrow, for my review of Book #6, Pearls Gone Wild.

The Author

About Diane Vallere

I’m a former fashion buyer turned mystery writer, trading fashion accessories for accessories to murder. I was bit by the mystery bug as a kid reading Trixie Belden, Connie Blair, and The Three Investigators. Now I’m writing four series: the Samantha Kidd Mysteries, the Madison Night Mysteries, the Material Witness Mysteries, and the Costume Shop Mysteries.

The Margo Tamblyn Costume Shop Mysteries debuted with A DISGUISE TO DIE FOR, which introduces Margo Tamblyn, costume shop owner, who helps solve a murder after one of her clients is found dead at his own costume party (dressed as Sherlock!). MASKING FOR TROUBLE, the second in the series, was released in October 2016, just in time for Halloween. DRESSED TO CONFESS, book three, is expected to be released on August 01, 2017.

The Polyester Monroe Material Witness Mysteries feature Polyester Monroe, who inherits the fabric shop where she was born. Books include SUEDE TO REST, CRUSHED VELVET, and SILK STALKINGS. Each one contains a craft project.

The Madison Night Mad for Mod Mysteries feature a modern day interior decorator who specializes in mid-century design (studying Doris Day movies to get the look right). Books are PILLOW STALK, THAT TOUCH OF INK, and WITH VICS YOU GET EGGROLL. The fourth, THE DECORATOR WHO KNEW TOO MUCH, was just released in April 2017. A prequel novella, Midnight Ice, can be found in OTHER PEOPLE’S BAGGAGE.

The Samantha Kidd Style & Error Mysteries feature former fashion buyer turned amateur sleuth Samantha Kidd. Books in that series include DESIGNER DIRTY LAUNDRY; BUYER, BEWARE; THE BRIM REAPER; SOME LIKE IT HAUTE; GRAND THEFT RETRO; and PEARLS GONE WILD. The seventh, CEMENT STILETTOS, will be released in June 2017. (A short story, JUST KIDDING [free download at Amazon, Kobo, and iTunes], tells the story of how Samantha first met shoe designer Nick Taylor.)