This is a first in a series about a …button expert. I will say I would never have picked up this book on my own. It is just not something that would have attracted me. However, that is one of the reasons I belong to book clubs on Goodreads. This was a selection from the Cozy Mystery Corner group. I joined because cozies are a genre that are close to my heart (think MC Beaton, Simon Brett, Diana Mott Davidson, Agatha Christie). That is a plus for this book, definitely a genre I enjoy.
The book is written well, as far as editing and language, and the series protagonist Josie Giancola is a likable character, however a little too stereotypical “shy girl swooped off her feet by extroverted cad”. The theme (button collecting/antiquing) does not overwhelm character or plot, which can be a problem with some of the more cutesy and theme specific cozy mysteries.
My main issue with this particular outing is that you will need to practice some serious belief suspension. Josie, button expert extraordinaire, is recruited by a police officer, Nevin, and embroiled in the mystery in a rather unbelievable, heavy handed manner.
To be fair, perhaps the problems I had with the book were caused by it being a first book in a series. It really had a feel that the author was setting things up for future books, establishing background, setting and relationships. With that in mind, I gave Button Holed 3 stars and given the opportunity, I would give another book in the series a chance .
The Angry Grey Cat Reads 
I enjoy cozy mysteries, but it would take a lot for one to be over 4 stars for me. First in the series tend to be the roughest, but I usually end up lost in the world and crazy characters, even when it’s fairly unbelievable. 😉 This one looks cute!
I find that to be true of cozies. The first is usually not indicative of how good the series will be overall. My library usually doesn’t have the first book for some reason and so when I hear about a new series I end up reading them not in order. It has probably made me read some series that I would not have read if I read the book one first.
[…] at the Orient Express, is a relatively new series from author Kylie Logan, who also writes the Button Box mysteries, which are quite good. In this series, there is a team of sleuths, Bea Cartwright, Chandra […]