Sweet Nothings has it all: silk ribbon, Venetian lace, the best bra fitter in town… and two unsolved murders.

Emma Taylor thought she knew what to expect when she abandoned life as a big-city fashionista to help her aunt, Arabella, breathe new style into Sweet Nothings, her waning lingerie boutique. As Emma settles back in to Paris, Tennessee—a world where pie is served with a parable and a pitcher of sweet tea is the cure for most of life’s ills—her escape seems smooth as silk.

But when the town acquires a touch of unneeded je ne sais quoi with the arrival of Emma’s philandering ex, an unseemly murder turns her world inside out. As the police’s top suspect, Emma is going to need more than fishnets to snare the real killer. And when she and Arabella refuse to let death threats wrapped in knifed nighties stall Sweet Nothings’ vintage lingerie fashion show, it becomes increasingly clear that any garter may hide a gun and that bullet bras might have to live up to their name…

Review

For fans of:  Lila Dare

Emma Taylor left New York and moved to Paris, Tennessee so that she could help save her Aunt Arabella’s failing business – a decades-old lingerie shop called Sweet Nothings.  Or, at least, that’s what she keeps telling people.  Truthfully, though, Emma’s sudden departure from the city had less to do with Arabella’s financial situation than it did with the fact that Emma’s boyfriend, fashion photographer Guy Richard, turned out to be a cheat and a liar. 

Now that she’s settled in Paris, Emma’s determined to banish men from her mind and bring Sweet Nothings into the 21st century.  Unfortunately, however, that’s easier said than done – especially when Guy shows up on her doorstep, begging for a second chance.  At first, Emma’s taken in by Guy’s charms and seriously considers a return to Manhattan, but before too long, it becomes obvious he’ll never change his philandering ways.  Emma tries to send him packing, but Guy’s murdered before he can leave town.  The police like Emma for the crime and don’t seem all that keen to hunt for other suspects, so Emma must work quickly to catch the real killer – or the only move she’ll be contemplating is a transfer to the county jail.

Murder Unmentionable is the first in Meg London’s new Sweet Nothings Lingerie Mystery series, and it’s not without its appeal.  London’s prose is warm, engaging, and intelligent.  She successfully establishes a cozy, homey, small-town vibe, giving the book a strong sense of place.  And she writes about vintage lingerie with obvious expertise and enthusiasm.  (Who knew ladies’ undergarments had such a rich and interesting history?)  Emma’s a likable main character, Arabella and her fortune-telling neighbor Sylvia are perfect sidekick material, and hunky architect Brian makes for a solid series love interest.

That said, the rest of the characters comprising London’s supporting cast are flat and somewhat lifeless.  Their actions seem arbitrary, their motivations feel unearned, and their interactions come across as forced and unnatural.  Detective Chuck Reilly is a particularly ridiculous specimen; the fact that he very clearly has it in for Emma should increase the tension of every scene in which he appears, but instead, his hatred for her is so over-the-top it borders on cartoonish, giving his presence the opposite effect.

Also, for a book with a body count, surprisingly little happens.  The pace is slow, the story’s lacking in narrative drive, and there’s no real sense of danger or intrigue.  A big part of the problem is that London never successfully convinces you of the stakes.  Yes, Emma’s the police’s main suspect, but she never truly seems in jeopardy of being arrested for the crime.  Add in the fact that London pretty seriously telegraphs her ending (she only introduces one truly viable suspect over the course of the entire tale), and you have a book that starts out strong, but ultimately underwhelms. 

Reviewed by Kat N.

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