The 6th installment in this series and it does seem to lack some of the fun loving antics from Phee’s Mother and at her senior center. Phee’s mother’s dog Streetman is entered in a doggie costume contest (Precious Pooches Doggie Extravaganza) and when Phee is visiting he finds a dead body under a grill. The body is a seafood distributor who ingested a poison and also had a dog entered in the contest. The police hire Phee and Marshall’s firm so she is helping her Mom while getting paid and the joy of watching all these doggie costume contests. When another contestant’s owner is also poisoned but lives you begin to wonder what is up with this contest. There are other options in the victims life that offers clues as well. This was good but I have to say I missed Aunt Ina (who appears later in the book) antics and many of the other seniors. Still a solid installment but I like the zany antics of Harriet (Phee’s Mom) and her friends. 3.5 stars to 4 stars

2 stars only because I didn't have the heart to give this book the one star it truly deserves.
Dressed Up 4 Murder by J.C. Eaton starts off so well with crazy deluded dog Streetman finding a dead man on a neighbors porch under a grill. Unfortunately, the rest of the book was predictable and a tad boring.

The whole story felt a bit rushed. It seems with some series, the author eventually starts assuming the fun parts of his books are no longer needed and begins to neglect needed details or fun parts of the series. For example, the book club members barely made an appearance, there were no hilarious book club meetings, Phee's mom is relatively normal and her crazy Aunt Ina didn’t show up until 64% into the book. I thoroughly enjoyed those plot points in prior books and I missed it in this book. The ending of the book came abruptly and was a complete letdown and absolutely ridiculous.
I am really disappointed in this book. I loved all the other books in this series but this one. I am starting to rethink reading this author. The last two books I have read of his, this one and the last one in his Allie Cobb series were lackluster at best. It is quite disappointing.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. The views given are my own.

Phee Kimball is visiting her Mother when her Mother’s dog, Streetman, finds a body in the next door neighbor’s yard. This puts Phee right in the middle of the investigation when the local police department hires the investigation firm Phee works for to consult on the case.

As time flies by, Phee and Marshall are stuck attending three pet costume contests at her Mother’s retirement community and Streetman is a major contender. If only the team could figure out who murdered the man found in the back yard and why. When a contestant’s human is poisoned the same way as the victim, they wonder if it could be tied to the costume contest.

But things start getting fishy as the team uncovers a seafood scam in local restaurants where diners are being served inferior seafood instead of what they are paying for. Or maybe it tied to the hookup site that was uncovered? So many options, so little evidence and proof. Will this one go unsolved or will the murderer make a mistake and give the team the clue they need to solve it?

Another fun entry in this series. The husband and wife team who write this series, as well as a wine trail series set in NY, work well together and make each entry in their series a fun one.