Ardith isn’t ready to tell all yet, not good because a day later, Ardith is murdered and all signs point to someone Ardith knew well, perhaps a lover.  Ardith did tell Mandy she met her new squeeze at a recent open house held at the dry cleaners, a service once of Mandy’s counter girls thinks would be a good addition to free button replacement, a singles service. 

Mandy discreetly checks her guest list for that even while police find similarities between Ardith’s murder and two other recent murders.  Mandy’s eccentric employee Betty latches on to the case and become determined to help Mandy crack it.  On the home front, Mandy’s step-cousin Laura (with her mother’s six marriages Mandy has plenty of steps in her life) announces her engagement to Mandy’s pal and newspaper source and Mandy’s mom becomes determined to make this a wedding to remember. 

All this leaves Mandy very little time to spend with her PI boyfriend, something Mandy hopes will change after the happy couple says “I do”…if Mandy lives that long.  

Mandy is a dependable character, but the oddball characters she surrounds herself with often cause her to pale in comparison.  Betty, the former bag lady, is very entertaining without being too screwball. The tension between Laura and Mandy’s mother, and in turn Mandy, over wedding plans offers a pleasant diversion from the serious business of murder.  Mandy is quick thinking and very good hearted, two traits that often put her in the path of a killer. 

There is a fair amount of dry cleaning lore, making an unusual occupation for the amateur sleuth.  The mystery is well laid out enough that readers will be able to follow along with Mandy’s investigation, though the final conclusion may be a bit surprising.  Pressed to Kill, the eighth in the series, is easy enough to pick up on its own and will prove to be a quick, entertaining read.    

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry