Madison Night shares a birthday with Doris Day and that, combined with her love of mid-century design inspired her Dallas-based business, Mad for Mod. She sees a lot of herself in the characters Doris played in her romantic comedies but her attitude when it comes to business and her personal life is all twenty first century independent woman. When a man from her past appears and asks for her trust, Madison is caught up in a mix of murder and the mystery of rare $5,000.00 bills popping up all over town.

In another author's hands, this could have been a fairly cheesy book with heavy-handed humor and too-sweet nostalgic situations but Diane Vallere is too skilled to allow that to develop. She has a wonderful touch, bringing in the design elements and influences of the '50s and '60s era many of us hold dear while keeping a strong focus on what it means in modern times to be a woman in business for herself, starting over.

Unlike the downfall of many books that slot into the cozy mystery genre, Madison's connection to the main mystery does not at all feel contrived. The plot of THAT TOUCH OF INK fits smoothly into the series' story line about a 47-year old woman building a new life for herself when a shadow from the past threatens her new relationships, business and otherwise.

I found THAT TOUCH OF INK a clever and enjoyable read, especially for those of us who share the author's love for the era. It was a perfect match for my summer mood, not too light, and not too demanding, yet with characters and a strong story that resonated with me long after I finished. By the end of the book I was craving a Doris Day movie marathon. Thank goodness The Glass Bottom Boat was being shown on cable that weekend. THAT TOUCH OF INK is the second book in the Mad for Mod series. I also highly recommend book one in the series, Pillow Stalk. Diane Vallere writes the Style and Error mystery series as well.

Book Summary

When interior decorator Madison Night receives a five thousand dollar bill in the mail, she knows it's a message from her past. But when she discovers a corpse while trying to learn of the bill's value, Madison suspects her former lover wants more than a reconciliation. His actions belie his intentions, and even a gallon of daisy yellow paint can't hide the writing on the wall. Madison follows a circuit of rare dollars and common sense and discovers a counterfeit operation, a jealous lover, and the true value of her independence.