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Praise for New York Times bestselling author Jenn McKinlay’s Hat Shop Mysteries

“Fancy hats and British aristocrats make this my sort of delicious cozy read.”

—Rhys Bowen, New York Times bestselling author of the Royal Spyness Mysteries

“A delicious romp through my favorite part of London with a delightful new heroine.”

—Deborah Crombie, New York Times bestselling author of A Bitter Feast

“The sharp writing and smart plotting are outstanding, and the surprising reveal and even more suspenseful chase will have readers at the edge of their seats. This stellar mystery sets a high bar for mysteries.”

—Kings River Life Magazine

“Brimming with McKinlay’s trademark wit and snappy one-liners, Anglophiles will love this thoroughly entertaining new murder mystery series. A hat trick of love, laughter, and suspense, and another feather in [Jenn McKinlay’s] cap.”

—Hannah Dennison, author of the Honeychurch Hall novels

Titles by Jenn McKinlay

Hat Shop Mysteries

CLOCHE AND DAGGER

DEATH OF A MAD HATTER

AT THE DROP OF A HAT

COPY CAP MURDER

ASSAULT AND BERET

BURIED TO THE BRIM

FATAL FASCINATOR

Library Lover’s Mysteries

BOOKS CAN BE DECEIVING

DUE OR DIE

BOOK, LINE, AND SINKER

READ IT AND WEEP

ON BORROWED TIME

A LIKELY STORY

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER

DEATH IN THE STACKS

HITTING THE BOOKS

WORD TO THE WISE

ONE FOR THE BOOKS

KILLER RESEARCH

THE PLOT AND THE PENDULUM

Cupcake Bakery Mysteries

SPRINKLE WITH MURDER

BUTTERCREAM BUMP OFF

DEATH BY THE DOZEN

RED VELVET REVENGE

GOING, GOING, GANACHE

SUGAR AND ICED

DARK CHOCOLATE DEMISE

VANILLA BEANED

CARAMEL CRUSH

WEDDING CAKE CRUMBLE

DYING FOR DEVIL’S FOOD

PUMPKIN SPICE PERIL

FOR BATTER OR WORSE

STRAWBERRIED ALIVE

Bluff Point Romances

ABOUT A DOG

BARKING UP THE WRONG TREE

EVERY DOG HAS HIS DAY

Happily Ever After Romances

THE GOOD ONES

THE CHRISTMAS KEEPER

Stand-Alone Novels

PARIS IS ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA

WAIT FOR IT

Dedication

For Jan Buckwalter, one of the best people I know. I’m proud to call you my friend. Thanks for always helping me with the critters both domestic and wild.

Chapter 1

“Bella, sit. Sit, Bella.” She didn’t sit. “Want a treat? I’ll give you a treat if you sit or just aim your bottom in the general direction of the ground.” I swear she smiled at me as if this had been her ploy all along.

Bella was the corgi puppy that my fiancé, Harrison Wentworth, and I had adopted several months ago in a case of cute-puppy-induced delirium. She wiggled her heart-shaped bottom and cocked her head to the side. I was undone by the adorableness and tossed the treat in the air. She nabbed it before it completed its arc.

“Scarlett Parker, did you just give that dog a treat when she didn’t even do what you asked?”