Review: It’s a Mod Mod Mystery! (or two!)

We’re behind on our book reviews and yet we’ve read some fabulous ones lately!

If you’re a cozy mystery fan and love to dream of fabulous mid-century decor and fashion, Diane’s books are for you! I already reviewed her first book in this series “Pillow Stalk” but haven’t had a chance to tell you about the next two in the series!

“That Touch of Ink”,  (as usual the title is a spoof on a Doris Day movie “That Touch of Mink”! 🙂 )25854333 puts our heroine, interior decorator Madison Night in trouble when a rare five thousand dollar bill arrives in the mail.

In happier times, she once joked that she could be bought for $5000 but the bill leads her to an abandoned office, a scared dog,…and a dead body, a “John Doe”.

The police—led by Lt. Tex Allen—are on the case, but she uncovers a kidnapping plot, a unique counterfeit operation, and the true price of her own independence.

Filled with fun Mid-Century style, and her own Mid/Mod Style, Diane Vallere’s character is fun for any mid-century enthusiast!

Paperback – That Touch of Ink
icon

But wait, there’s more….

23447159“With Vics You Get Eggroll”, (this title uses the movie “With Six you get Eggroll”, you guessed it, Doris Day!)

Interior Decorator Madison Night has her hands full with a demanding client who’s renovating a fabulous mid-century home and an endorsement for paint (which our readers here at Mid-Century Style helped pick!), but when Lt. Tex Allen is linked to a series of abductions and one dead body, she helps him to find the killer and struggle with his suspension and anger issues. 

Madison’s sweet and good looking handyman, Hudson James shows back up to complicate things further.

Again, the mid-century references will be fun for any enthusiast and Diane continues to create depth to these characters until we’re sitting on the edges of our seats waiting for her to write the next one!

Be sure to pick this one up and see the colors our readers helped choose!

Paperback – With Vics You Get Eggroll
icon

share this:

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest

More articles:

Focus on Architects – Paul Kirk

Paul Kirk (November 18, 1914-May 22, 1995). Kirk studied architecture at the University of Washington, receiving his degree in 1937. Kirk’s architecture was inspired by regional culture, and, as a result, many of his models incorporated elements such as rough-cut stone, wood, and glass. These designs classified his works as regionally-appropriate modern architecture of the Northwest Pacific. After World War II, Kirk teamed up with James J. Chiarelli—a partnership that produced an assortment of Modernist

Read More

Interior Decorating, the retro way

Taken from the “Better Homes and Gardens Decorating Book” Copyright 1956, we thought we’d turn Mid-Century Photo Friday into a learning experience. Each chapter has these wonderful illustrations taking you step by step through the process: Which style are you? As usual you can leave a link to your Mid-Century Photo Friday in the comments.

Read More

Mid Century Color – or why 50's TV was black and white

I can hear Pam screaming in argument, but I really think one of the issues with incorporating TRUE 1950’s decorating styles into our lives today is that the colors were SO bright. In their defense, I don’t even think these two rooms are really that bad. The bottom one is supposed to be a little girl’s room and the top one is definitely cheerful. But I do think this amazing leap in color is one

Read More

Detail of Kitchen handles from other house

My friend over at Ranch Handy posted about this Kitchen (not hers) quite some time ago, but I’m not sure she ever found these handles…aren’t they cool? I also LOVE the knotty pine cabinet doors. We had a ton of this in our old house – knotty pine built ins and we loved it. Even when we ripped out a wall with closets between two very small rooms, we carefully saved all the lumber. The

Read More