My Sunday Book Review is for Barbara Silkstone’s – Smokey Eyes – Book 2 in the Cold Cream Murders. I was hooked on this series from book one, and despite these books being standalone capers, I plan on reading them all. And most likely, in order. This series is a fun and witty romp with Olive Peroni who sells magical face cream made from her Nonna Peroni’s secret recipe – the beloved by all the beautiful women in Starfish Cove, Florida, fountain of youth cream she left as her legacy to Olive. Lizzie is Olive’s best friend, turned business partner and it seems wherever these two go they stumble into a murder. Silkstone’s witty choice of words. descriptions and fun names for her characters, add a colorful element to this mini whodunit.
Blurb:
SMOKEY EYES – Book 2 COLD CREAM MURDERS
Olive and Lizzy’s Cold Cream shop on the beach is jumping—business couldn’t be better. But when land shark mogul Brent Toast is found floating in the Starfish Cove marina, with his sneer-side up and a knife in his chest, the prime suspect—among his many enemies—is his brassy daughter-in-law. Can Olive & Lizzy save their friend or will this be the end of the Loud Mouth of the South?
Contains a recipe for Olive & Lizzy’s Smokey Eye Shadow
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A series of quirky murders plague Olive Peroni and her Cold Cream shop partner. A psychologist by training and a miracle cold cream designer by luck, Olive leaves her family practice to start a new life in Starfish Cove, Florida. The gals make designer creams for ladies who spend far too much time at the beach. Business is brisk and life is good until bodies start popping and dropping—and Olive must rely on her people skills to separate the killers from their victims.
My 5 Star Review:
Olive isn’t a cop, but once again finds herself involved in a case that Chief Officer, Kal ‘Miranda’ is overseeing, and somehow inserts herself once again, as part of the investigation. With such colorful, painted characters and quick-witted dialogue, and just keeping up with Olive, this book is what I consider one of my great escape reads, offering a fun-paced story with interesting and humorously named characters, this book just takes you in to Olive’s sporadic life and keeps you engaged til the very end when only then we’ll learn who the killer is.
Olive has a compulsive need to help solve the crimes she stumbles into at Starfish Cove. Her people skills from being a psychotherapist come in awfully handy when it comes to analyzing suspects.
The story begins with the disembarking of passengers off Nancy’s boat, The Very Crabby, where Olive and Lizzie were attending a get-together with a few friends and unsuspecting characters. Lizzie is afraid of water, she doesn’t like getting her face wet, and sure enough in the kerfuffle with the boat next door with some other friends, turns out the boat owner Brent was just murdered and thrown in the water by someone on Nancy’s boat. Maybe? In the midst of it all, Olive gets thrown overboard and comes face-to-face with the killer underwater – only when it comes to identifying him, all she could see were a pair of smokey eyes in a foggy mist. Now, Olive is concerned that maybe the killer may not be done with her – and he’s not! Olive persists to snoop out who she thinks may have motive for killing Brent and discovers a few reasons why a few people may have wanted Brent dead. And besides being stalked by an unknown killer, Olive has to contend with other problems going on in her beauty business, like the gigolo chasing after her old Aunt Tillie who is really on a mission to steal Nonna’s secret magical cream recipe.
Never a dull moment in Olive’s life between the other little subplots in this book and the interesting and clever characters Silkstone bring to life in this witty little fun and cozy mystery. A bevy of suspects will keep you guessing whodunit til the end in this boat party gone wrong.
©DGKaye2020
DGKayewriter.com 
Debby, I love your Sunday book reviews! 😀 The cover is so attractive and welcoming and your effusive and detailed description of the book has me hooked. Sounds like a perfect escapist read this summer! Like you I would want to read them in order … off to check out no.1.
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Woohoo happy to grab your attention Annika. Yes the covers are so fun and colorful for this quirky fun series. I know you’ll enjoy! ❤
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This sounds terrific – I love the victim being found “sneer side up.” Another wonderful review, Debby. Toni x
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Yay thanks Toni. Definitely a fun read! xx
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An anti-ageing cream, murder and suspense? That plot sounds familiar, lol!
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Lol, really? Cold cream? I think you’d enjoy it Stevie 🙂 xx
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This sounds like a great murder mystery, Debby. I also enjoy reading this kind of book from time to time.
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Then you’d enjoy this fun romp great escape whodunit series for sure Robbie ❤
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Another great read by the sound of it Debby and another series I must get into… great review.. congratulations Barbara and will share in an update soon.. ♥
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Thanks so much Sal. Yes, this is just a fun, easy read series that offers lots of smiles and changing of the mind on whodunit ❤
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Thank you for the lovely review! Olive, Lizzie, and Grams send their love!
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Yay, thanks so much Barbara. I look forward to more of their adventures! ❤
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Sounds intriguing, but maybe not my thing–although mysteries are. Brings up another wonder about the oddities English. I suppose once upon a time it was called “cold cream” in contrast to something warm or hot? Surprised though that the term is still around, given all the products that are sold to maintain or enhance appearance.
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Lol. Yes, it is an old term. And I would wager a bet that was half the fun of naming the subtitle that with Barbara, since all her characters are ‘aptly’ named. But let us not forget this is Nonna’s recipe – Olive’s grandmother’s, making the name have an edgy sword to it. At least, that’s how I see it after reading a few of her books 🙂
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😘
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Cozy mysteries are a bit hit or miss with me (I prefer police procedurals or hard noirish thrillers, in general), but there are some I’ve enjoyed, and they can be a great read when life is getting too serious, especially when the writing sparkles. Thanks for the recommendation, Debby.
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You mention 2 impotant notes Olga, sparkling writing and a fun escape. Win, win. 🙂 xx
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I’m a big fan of Barbara’s work.
Well worth catching up with your blog posts.
Huge hugs across the pond ❤
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Of course you are, lol! You will enjoy this little clever and fun series Christoph ❤
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There’s something about the phrase “cold cream” that I just love. It reminds me of my grandmother. I also love the cold. And cream.
This sounds like such a fun read. I’m off to check it out. Thanks for the rec!!
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My pleasure Amy I know, the term is perfect, as the recipe is from Olive’s grandmother. Fun and clever escape! x
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Hi Debby,
You had my attention at bodies popping and dropping. 🙂 I love a good thriller, but with humor infused, this book and book 1 sound like must-reads. Thanks for an enticing review, once again. And that cover is too cute! 💗🌼
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Happy to entice Lauren. This isn’t a fast paced thriller, but a fun romp whodunit ❤ The covers are gorgeous and the reading is fun. ❤
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This sounds like a fun, engrossing book. Everyone loves a great whodunit!
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Especially one that makes us smile along the way. 🙂
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