I received this book for free from my own shelves in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: my own shelves
Suede to Rest
by
Diane Vallere
cozy mystery in a Kindle edition that was published by Polyester Press on December 16, 2022 and has 280 pages.
Explore it on Goodreads or Amazon
First in the Material Witness cozy mystery series set in a small town in California and revolving around Poly Monroe.
My Take
It’s an intriguing start to Suede to Rest — partly because I do adore fabrics, sewing, creating art. The history Vallere relates of Poly’s childhood growing up in a fabric store! Poly talks of fabric’s transformative power! The history of the store itself! Sigh.
Poly’s job at To The Nines sounds equal parts horror and fabulous. She has to work too fast, with nasty cheap material, do machine repair . . . and, design the direction of the fashions. So it makes sense that Poly is just going to sweep in, tidy the estate up, and head home.
We learn all this and more through Vallere’s first person protagonist point-of-view from Poly’s perspective. Okay, okay, I gotta ask . . . why Polyester? Why not name the girl Silk, Velvet, or Satin?
The underlying theme is Aunt Millie’s bracelet. There’s also the question of the betrayals, large and small as well as the acts of charity that save so many. It’s a contrast of taking and giving. Of creating family — by blood and by friendship — and doing the opposite. Why on earth would Charlie’s parents have given her up?? There is also grief.
Aww, Vaughn is a kitten rescuer — despite being Vic’s son. Just one example of the many displays of negative action and positive support.
Suede to Rest will make you cry, laugh, and want to fight.
The Story
It’s a mystery why Great-uncle Marius refused to keep the store but never open it after Great-aunt Millie was murdered.
When Poly inherits the store, her childhood memories cascade and suddenly her plans change to the dismay of many.
The Characters
Polyester “Poly” Monroe has inherited the Land of a Thousand Fabrics from her great-aunt Millie and great-uncle Marius Monroe. She also collects vintage dresses. (Poly moved to LA to attend the Fashion Institute and stayed to work at To The Nines.) Carson Cole is her calculating boyfriend who works in finance. Pins and Needles will become Poly’s kittens. Glendora is a neighboring town where Poly grew up; her parents are John and Helen Monroe, now of Burbank.
San Ladrón is . . .
. . . a small town in California. Ken Watts is the Watts Realtor Agency. Felicity is his wife. Tom Pickers, a former banker, is the head of the Senior Patrol, a group of retirees who keep an eye on things.
Charlie runs the auto shop — and the deputy sheriff says she’s trouble. Deputy Sheriff Clark is with the sheriff’s mobile unit.
Vaughn McMichael wanted to make it for himself. Vic’s McMichael is Vaughn’s arrogant father, who owns half of San Ladrón and wants Poly’s store. Adelaide Brooks had been Vic’s wife and started up Waverly House.
In the neighborhood around the fabric store is Antonio’s Ristorante and Angie and Susie, which are two hair salons. Charlie introduces Poly to The Broadside Tavern, which is owned by Duke. Tea Totalers is a tea shop where Genevieve works and which Joe “Big Joe” Lopez owns. Maria Lopez, Big Joe’s wife, runs a cleaning service; her sisters include Juanita, Maricella, and Anna. Carlos and Antonio are Maria’s and Big Joe’s sons. Jitterbug is a new fancy coffee shop cutting into Tea Totalers’ business. I LOVE what Poly does to help Maria and Joe out! Shirley works for the local utility company.
Los Angeles
Poly works at To The Nines, an LA dress company owned by that cheapskate, Giovanni. Threads (previously Wholesale Decorators) is a giant fabric warehouse.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a sweet pink with a bit of yellow rising up from the green shelves of fabric behind Poly, who is posed in her black “uniform” of pants, top, and high-heeled shoes, one leg crossed in front of the other and a hand on hip. There are more shelves of fabric on either side of her in pinks, greens, and orange. Two kittens — Pins and Needles — perch on top of the foremost pile of fabric. At the very top is a bolt of fabric next to the series info in burgundy. The title is angled below that also in burgundy. Below Poly is the author’s name and below that is an info blurb. Both in black.
The title is a reference to the fabric store and the mystery that has puzzled so many — and it’s all finally Suede to Rest.
