Jenn McKinlayBuried to the Brim (A Hat Shop Mystery)

Happily engaged to Harrison Wentworth, Scarlett Parker is more than happy to help his Aunt Betty and her corgi Freddy enter and hopefully win the Pets and Wellness Society’s Annual Dog Show – Freddy has been runner-up for the past several years and Betty is determined that this year Freddy will win. But when someone is murdered at the dog show, the police investigating the case seem to wonder just how far Betty would go to win. Now Scarlett, her cousin Vivian, and Harrison are determined to clear Betty’s name and collar the real killer.“Buried to the Brim” is the delightfully done sixth book in Jenn McKinlay’s Hat Shop cozy mystery series. This book is the very definition of cozy – it is cute, filled with great characters, with a wonderful sense of humor – I chuckled while reading much of this book. I love Scarlett, Vivian, Harrison, and the rest of the crew as characters – even if they do tease Scarlett about her puns. The London Hat Shop is a wonderful setting – I love reading about the various hat designs. The dog show is also a nice setting – and I love the idea of dogs wearing hats! The mystery itself is well done with plenty of suspects – I have to say I was completely surprised at the solution to the murder – well done by McKinlay.“Buried to the Brim” is a nicely done cozy mystery.

Buried to the Brim is the long awaited sixth entry in the Hat Shop Mystery series by Jenn McKinlay. Jenn McKinlay is one of the first cozy mystery authors that I read (it was one of her cupcake bakery series novels) and she has remained one of my favorite authors. I love all of her series but I have to admit that the Hat Shop series is my favorite. I was SO excited to hear that they were publishing a new entry in the series and pre-ordered this book forever ago. This book was definitely worth the wait. I devoured this book and really hope that there will be future books in the series.I think the best thing about this series is the characters. I really love the main character, Scarlet Parker, and think she's such a breath of fresh air. I also really enjoy how much these characters care for each other (the relationship between Scarlet and her cousin Viv, Scarlet and Harrison's blooming relationship, and the strong friendships that have been built with Fee, Alistair, Andre, and Nick as well). I loved that even though Scarlet just met Harrison's aunt Betty in the beginning of this book, when she realized aunt Betty was in trouble she rushed in to help her. I thought the dog show setting was fantastic as well. It was really interesting to read about some of the things that go on at a dog show and see those aspects integrated into a strong mystery.The mystery for this book was strong as well. It centers around the death of Gerry Swendson, a part owner of a dog food company that is a primary sponsor for the PAWS dog show that Aunt Betty and her corgi, Freddy, have entered. Aunt Betty has some serious concerns about the dog food because it made Freddy sick and she ended up throwing a year's supply away. She approaches Swendson and lets him know that there's something wrong with his dog food and he does not handle the accusation well at all. Unfortunately, Swendson's body is discovered the next morning and Aunt Betty quickly emerges as the prime suspect. Scarlet steps in for Aunt Betty and takes over as Freddy's handler for the dog show so that she can investigate who else had a motive for wanting Swendson dead. When the killer was revealed it was definitely not someone that I saw coming, but everything was wrapped up logically and made sense.I really adore this series and loved that we got another entry. I hope we will see more in the series at some point and definitely plan to pre-order if/when any additional books are announced. I highly recommend this series to anyone that enjoys a well written cozy mystery with strong characters and fantastic mysteries.

I've enjoyed all of the books in the Hat Shop Mystery series, including Buried to the Brim! Scarlett, Harry, Viv, and the rest of the characters feel like family; all of the mysteries have been interesting, and have also learned a bit about hat making along the way! There is a bit of romance, but no sex or swearing.This book six takes place a year or two after book 5, I hope the author continues to write more books in this series...I prefer it to the Library Lover's Mystery and other series which Jenn McKinlay writes. I hope the time gap between books 5 and 6 does not mean the author will quit writing more books in the series!I also highly recommend the audio books in the Hat Shop Mystery Series, I have bought them all and listened to each several times as I am cleaning or traveling. Narrator Karyn O'Bryant does a wonderful job and is easy to listen to.

I loved this cozy because it is a delight, sort of like those tiny fascinator hats the Brits wear with such aplomb! It has warmth, humor, dogs and puppies, a truly horrible villain and a slightly eccentric Aunt. Plus a clever plot replete with intrique, plenty of horrible suspects and lots of good gossip. Also, it turns the sweetly romantic tone of so many cozies and twists it into an amusing variation. This series features a Yank, Scarlett, living and working in London at her British cousin's famed hat shop selling her cousin's creations to fashionable women and now crafting toppers for dogs too (I know it sounds slightly ridiculous but it works!).If you like the Westminister Dog show you will love this mystery which features a prestiguous dog show that goes to the dogs when the wealthy promoter and sponser is found quite dead under a dias during the first round of the competition. Suspects are many including Scarlett's, fiancee's beloved Aunt who has a very public argument at a pre-competition cocktail party with the victim. Aunt Betty has also entered her pooch Freddie for the PAWS dog show but becomes disqualified and Scarlett, who knows absolutely nada about dog shows is leashed into performing with Auntie's pug Freddie. And so it goes from one slightly outrageous episode to another.The characters are funny and endearing or cunningly snarky and just about everybody gets skewered in this comedic cozy If you like silly and whimsical and escape from reality you will sit up and beg to read this cozy!

The author intimated that this might be the last book of the series, which makes me very sad. I waited three years for this book. The Hat Shop series is my very favourite of Jenn McKinlay's books. All her series are wonderful, yet I love Scarlet, the main character in the Hat Shop series, the very best. She is funny, delightfully flawed, and adorable! Plus, the series is set in England, which is awesome! I really, really, really hope Jenn will write more in this series. Pleeeeeease!

Glad to see a new book in this series although I must admit it wasn't my favourite one. The usual cast of characters are back with a great new human and a couple of lovely canine characters. A light, funny, easy read.

This is my favorite book in Jenn's Hat Shop Series.