Catering to the collagen filled women is harder than Helen thought, especially when she suspects her manager Christina of embezzlement, blackmail, and even selling drugs out of the store. Because Helen needs the under the table job, she turns a blind eye to the extracurricular activities of her supervisor and tries to learn to play the games that bring the high commissions. When Christina takes an unexpected trip and later turns up dead in a barrel in the Biscayne Bay, Helen knows she should have gone to the police with her suspicions. Now she’ll be labeled an accomplice unless she can prove no prior knowledge and that Christina was in business on her own.

Helen begins probing into the lives of the rich and not so famous, finding out what secrets her pampered, spoiled customers were paying Christina to keep secret. While she easily puts most of the pieces together, there are still one or two that are cleverly hidden. Taking on the responsibility of the store, coupled with the fear of being found keeps Helen on her toes. Add to that a few, less than scrupulous suitors, and Helen finds herself anxious to wrap up this investigation and start looking for another dead end job.

Helen is a no nonsense heroine, capable of taking care of herself, with secrets of her own that might hold others back, though she is able to maintain a positive perspective and make her negatives work for her. Her attempts at staying hidden from the St. Louis courts seem a bit exaggerated but make for an interesting premise. Helen is willing to lower her standards as she tries to start a new life for herself. She meets some very interesting, eccentric characters; most are willing to accept her for what she is and willing to stand by her. The women she meets in the clothing boutique are exaggerated to the point of hyperbole, bringing a light side to Helen’s new station that many view as lower.

The mystery is fast paced and carefully woven with Helen’s new life, making the investigation as much fun as solving the crime. Shop Till You Drop is an energetic start to a sassy new series with a spunky new heroine that will keep readers coming back for more.

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry