"Bodice of Evidence" By Melissa Bourbon: Review/Giveaway

Review by Sarah Erwin

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of the book and a link to purchase it.

Harlow Cassidy lives in Bliss, Texas in an old farmhouse she inherited from her great-grandmother. While Harlow owns her own dressmaking business, she’s no ordinary dressmaker. Like the other women in her family, Harlow is a descendant of Butch Cassidy, and each female has a special ability called a charm. Harlow’s mother has a magical green thumb and her Nana is a goat-whisperer. Harlow’s charm is that she sews hopes and dreams into the clothing she designs.

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When a woman in her community education fabric painting class drops dead in the parking lot, Harlow is worried that her charm is much darker – could her magic have caused this death? The police assume the woman passed away due to a heart attack, but a dress in a bag with a half-finished note to Harlow tells another story.  Harlow jumps into crime solving, determined to uncover the truth.

While Bodice of Evidence is book seven in the “Magical Dressmaking Mysteries,” this was my first experience with Harlow and her family and it was a true treat! This entry consists of only 138 pages that tell a fast-paced mystery – I read this in one sitting. The magic of Harlow’s quiet charm and the ghost of her great-grandmother add the perfect sprinkle of paranormal into the story. In a novella format, readers don’t spend a lot of time in each scene which has me wanting to read more in this series so I can experience the setting of Bliss and Harlow’s shop even more.

I had a guess at the resolution but certainly enjoyed unraveling the clues with Harlow. Book eight, Bobbin for Answers is available and has an autumn setting which is perfect to download and read in the coming fall months.

To enter to win an ebook or print copy (winner's choice) of Bodice of Evidence, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line "bodice,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen August 17, 2024. US residents only and you must be 18 or older to enter. If entering via email please include your mailing address in case you win. If entering via comment please include your email address so we can contact you. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section in Kings River Life and in our mystery category here on KRL News & Reviews. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. And check out our new mystery podcast which features mystery short stories and first chapters read by local actors! 

You can click here to purchase this book.

Sarah Erwin started her career as a children’s librarian, later becoming a public library director and now she’s a stay at home mom. While her career might have changed, her love of reading has been a constant since 4th grade and she reads over 200 books a year. Read along with her on her blog Sarah Can’t Stop Reading or on Instagram. Sarah lives in St. Louis, MO with her two kids, her husband and a family dog and cat.

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.