Josie Giancola is one of the leading button experts in the country, and she is now realising her dream of owning a button shop, the Button Box, in Chicago. She is shocked when it gets ransacked one day, but she is determined to soldier on, even though one of the biggest names in Hollywood has an appointment to come by and look at buttons for her wedding gown. Kate Franciscus, aka "Kate the Great", is marrying a prince and has decided that she must have nothing but the best for her gown. Because of some Hollywood connections that Josie has from helping out with the costumes in a movie several years ago, she has landed this referral.

However, on Kate's second trip to the store, which was to be a private viewing so as to keep the gown design and button selection a secret, Kate is murdered. A unique button is found under her body so the local police ask Josie to consult on the case. This is only slightly awkward since Josie once went on a blind date with the detective in charge of the case - a date that ended quickly when he got a suspicious phone call before the meal ever hit the table.

Soon, the police make an arrest in the case, but neither Josie nor Nevin, the detective, believe that the true culprit has been apprehended. Josie decides to track down more information on the button, which she has leeway to do since she is not constrained by the same politics and red tape as Nevin. The case quickly heats up, and Josie finds she has more than enough suspects and motives.

This mystery was fun to read while still educating me about buttons. I also enjoyed Josie's character - she's fun, funny, and sharp. Although her ex-husband is clearly handsome and charming, she doesn't let him get away with using her, which is refreshing. It was also nice to see someone embrace their "button nerd" side and be content with it, even if it meant fewer date nights, rather than selling oneself out.

BUTTON HOLDED is paced quite well. Even though there were quite a few characters, it was easy to keep them separated in my mind, and I had no trouble following the logic of the various motives and alibis. In the end, I was satisfied with how everything turned out. I will definitely be reading more of Kylie Logan's work.

Book Summary

Working out of her button shop in a Chicago brownstone, Josie Giancola has become one of the country's leading experts on buttons. Her reputation draws a Hollywood starlet to the Button Box to shop for one-of-a-kind buttons to adorn her made-to-order wedding gown. But after the Button Box is ransacked and the actress murdered, Josie's cozy world is thrown into chaos-and a killer is out to keep Josie's lips buttoned up...permanently.