Designer Dirty Laundry: A Humorous Fashion History Amateur Sleuth Cozy Mystery

· Killer Fashion Cozy Mysteries Book 1 · Polyester Press
4.4
66 reviews
Ebook
279
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About this ebook

Enjoy this humorous cozy mystery series starter with an amateur sleuth and rom-com elements by national bestselling author Diane Vallere.


Meet Samantha Kidd as she trades high fashion for dirty laundry and learns a great wardrobe isn't enough to turn her life around, let alone catch a killer.


Ready to redesign her life, style expert Samantha Kidd accepts a job in her Pennsylvania hometown as a trend specialist. But her first day goes completely A-line when she stumbles across her legendary boss dead in the elevator. And after the body disappears, she can't help but pull on the mystery's thread and unravel an entire wardrobe of suspects.


Supervising her deceased employer's vogue competition, Samantha tries to hem in a sexy shoe designer and countless ego-driven creatives to stitch together the clues. But when her own name appears on the police's suspect list, the sleuthing fashionista's days on the catwalk could be numbered.


Can Samantha put a killer in the spotlight before she's sewn up for a crime she didn't commit?


Designer Dirty Laundry is the first book in the hilarious Killer Fashion mystery series, although each book can be read as a standalone. For fans of Gina Lamanna, Margaret Lashley, and Gretchen Archer, this humorous cozy mystery has a determined amateur sleuth looking for a fresh start by moving back home--only to be suspected of murder! If you like witty protagonists, clever dialogue, and fair-play whodunits, then you'll love Diane Vallere's chic story.


What people are saying:

"...the book is enriched by the author's cleverly phrased prose and convincing characterization. The surprise ending will satisfy and delight many mystery fans. A diverting mystery that offers laughs and chills." ~Kirkus Reviews


"an impressive cozy mystery from a promising author." ~Mystery Tribune


"Designer Dirty Laundry shows that even the toughest crime is no match for a sleuth in fishnet stockings who knows her way around the designer department. A delightful debut." ~Kris Neri, Lefty Award-Nominated author of Revenge For Old Times' Sake


"Combining fashion and fatalities, Diane Vallere pens a winning debut mystery...a sleek and stylish read." ~Ellen Byerrum, National Bestselling author of the Crime of Fashion mysteries


"Vallere once again brings her knowledgeable fashion skills to the forefront, along with comedy, mystery, and a saucy romance. Buyer, Beware did not disappoint!" ~Chick Lit Plus


"Fashion is always at the forefront, but never at the cost of excellent writing, humorous dialogue, or a compelling story." ~Kings River Life


"A captivating new mystery voice, Vallere has stitched together haute couture and murder in a stylish mystery. Dirty Laundry has never been so engrossing!" ~Krista Davis, New York Times Bestselling Author of The Diva Runs Out of Thyme


"In Designer Dirty Laundry , author Diane Vallere stitches together a seamless mystery. Samantha Kidd is a witty heroine that you will root for as she fashions a fresh stylish start in her hometown of Ribbon, Pennsylvania." ~Avery Aames, Agatha Award-Winning Author of The Long Quiche Goodbye


"Samantha Kidd is an engaging amateur sleuth." -Mysterious Reviews


"It keeps you at the edge of your seat. I love the description of clothes in this book...if you love fashion, pick this up!" -Los Angeles Mamma Blog


"Diane Vallere takes the reader through this cozy mystery with her signature wit and humor." -Mary Marks, NY Journal of Books


"Maybe your handbag holds only a phone and a wallet, but if you're Samantha Kidd, from Diane Vallere's Style & Error series, there may be something deadlier in the bag.?"~Sheila Connolly, New York Times Bestselling Author of Murder at the Mansion


For readers who like humorous character-driven cozy mystery series accessorized with a dash of romance and a dollop of fun!


Diane-Fans describe “her vintage Vallere goodness,” and say she is a “great storyteller” with “a way with creating strong female characters and intrigue” who is “a superb and very humorous writer.” Her gift of creating “spunky sleuths in fun settings” take readers to Dallas, Palm Springs, Los Angeles, Pennsylvania, and outer space.

Ratings and reviews

4.4
66 reviews
JulieY
July 16, 2025
Samantha was successful in New York’s fashion industry, but Patrick gave her a new start in her hometown as a trend specialist. Her first day at work ended before it started when she found him dead, but the body vanished. Now she has no job, a failing mortgage, and someone is out to get her. Can she use her fashion analyzing skills to solve this mess? This series is off to a good start. The characters are likeable, the plot is well-developed, and the cat has catitude. What’s not to like?
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MaYe Reyes
January 29, 2025
A future reread for sure! My favorite characters are Patrick, Detective Loncar, and Nick. Not humorous enough for me, it bores me twice so I stop but I enjoyed reading the story on the 3rd time. I can't immediately guess who's the killer and what's the motive and it keeps me reading this book.
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Colleen Voisin
September 30, 2021
Frustrating. sorry. Honestly I went back to this book after leaving it at chapter 2 and finished it and the plot line is good. it's just that it's too hokey for me. eg. main character is in dangerous building but asks friend to leave just before she is attacked, now alone. Asked a question, she answers in her mind and what she says never helps.
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About the author

National bestselling author Diane Vallere writes funny and fashionable character-based mysteries. After two decades in luxury retailing, she traded fashion accessories for accessories to murder. As past president of the national Sisters in Crime organization, she edited the Agatha-Award-winning essay collection PROMOPHOBIA: Taking the Mystery out of Promoting Crime Fiction. Diane started her own detective agency at age ten and has maintained a passion for shoes, clues, and clothes ever since.

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