by: Lucinda Race
Series: Dress Designer
Genre: Paranormal Cozy Mystery
Release Date: August 6, 2025
Publisher: MC Two Press
Enjoy this humorous, small-town, psychic, cozy mystery by best-selling and award-winning Lucinda Race.
A fashion-savvy psychic, one haunted Thanksgiving, and a pleated skirt that’s dressed to kill.
Hosting Thanksgiving dinner for seven guests—and one ghost—is all in a day’s work for Claudia Grant. Between whipping up her famous mac and cheese and debuting her boutique’s latest fall fashion, Claudia’s ready to impress her visiting mom and stylish grandmother. Her cozy coastal town of Drakes Bay is the perfect backdrop for family, food, and fresh starts—especially when Gram falls in love with a pleated skirt and sweater ensemble from Claudia’s shop.
But when a spilled glass of orange juice leads to a shocking discovery—a guest at the neighboring Whistlers Inn is found dead, and the very same pleated skirt wrapped around her neck—Claudia’s holiday cheer unravels fast.
Now, with her best friend Beth and a ghostly sidekick in tow, Claudia must piece together a tangled mystery before the killer skips town… and before the secrets hidden in the folds come back to haunt them all.
She’d rather be sewing hemlines than following clues—but if Claudia can’t stitch together the truth in time, someone else might be the next to check out… permanently.
Pleats & Poison is the third book in the A Dress Designer Cozy Mystery series from award-winning author Lucinda Race. Cozy up, settle in, and prepare to be haunted… in the best possible way!
I’m great, thank you!
Please introduce yourself to readers.
I’m 63, a full-time author after retiring from corporate marketing, and I love to garden, cook, and read.
Can you please tell us about some people we’ll meet in your story?
I’m a professional dress designer who planned to work with my Uncle Herman, who owned a dress shop in Drakes Bay, Maine. Upon my arrival, I met his ghost, having died under mysterious circumstances months before. You’ll meet Beth Stewart, who owns the knitting shop, and we immediately became best friends. Lola is Uncle Herman’s cat who adopts me as her person.
There’s a police officer in town, Eddie Jacobs, Beth’s cousin, who initially was skeptical of me. As we get to know each other, sparks fly, especially when I’m trying to solve a murder or two.
What’s it like to live in Drakes Bay? Where is your favorite place to go?
Drakes Bay is a wonderful small town on the coast of Maine. From my deck, I have a view of the Atlantic Ocean. I enjoy lunch from Brewed Bliss often and love shopping for vintage clothes from Twice Loved. But my favorite place is on my deck watching the water.
What’s your most prized possession?
My home, where I raised my daughters. It’s not about the structure but the life we’ve lived within these walls.
Can new readers pick up Pleats and Poison, or do they need to start with your first book, Ghosts and Gowns?
Pleats and Poison is a satisfying read that can be enjoyed as a standalone book, but reading from book 1 also provides insight into how I and the other characters have evolved.
What can readers expect from Pleats and Poison?
Ghostly fun, a murder mystery that should keep the reader guessing, and a found family Thanksgiving.
Thank you so much for your time.
Thank you!
I closed the oven after basting the turkey hoping it would be flavorful and juicy. Like my one hit wonder, macaroni and cheese, this was the best holiday dinner I could prepare, and I wanted my grandma to be impressed. Mom was less concerned about what we ate than about being together. It needed to be a win in everyone’s eyes.
“Claudia, what kind of car does your mother drive?” Herman asked.
I closed the oven door. “A black sedan.”
“One’s pulled up in front of the store.”
I slipped on a jacket, burst out the door, and raced down the back steps. It had been ten months since I had seen my family in person, and it wasn’t until this exact moment that I realized how much I missed them.
Running with my arms wide, I cried, “Mom. Gram.”
They enveloped me in a hug and held me tight.
“Claudia, it’s so good to see you,” Mom said.
“I’m thrilled you’re here.” I pecked Grandma’s cheek. “Both of you.”
She brushed my hair back behind my ear. “Your hair’s gotten so long. You didn’t have time for a trim? And this pink streak? It’s very noticeable in your blond hair.”
“Oh, Grandma. I’m growing it longer, and I like it. The pink is to support breast cancer awareness month.”
“I like it.” Mom said, “It suits you.” She looked over the building from the sidewalk to the roofline. “This is your everything? Home, work, social life?”
“It is, and I can’t wait to show you every square inch. Uncle Herman created a lovely store, a comfortable home, and a few surprises, too.”
I picked up their tote bags, slung one over each shoulder, and said, “Follow me.”
“You mentioned you have friends joining us for dinner?” Mom gasped as we reached the bottom of the stairs. “Is that the ocean?”
Grandma rushed to the edge of my parking area. “Herman said it was a nice view, but I had no idea.”
“Gram, why didn’t you ever come and visit him? He had a spare room.”
Her smile slipped. “Herman insisted he come to us for family get-togethers, and when it wasn’t a holiday, he was busy working. Your grandfather and I never wanted to intrude. But seeing this stunning view, I wish we had.”
“Wait until you see it from the deck. At the end of a busy day, I sit and watch the water, and on occasion have drinks and dinner with friends.” I gave them a few minutes to soak it all in before saying, “We should get upstairs. We can have tea before everyone arrives.”
“Can we have tea on the deck? I can’t stop looking at the ocean,” Mom said.
“Yes. I kept the chairs out—at least until the first snow flies, which can be any day now according to Beth.”
Their boots clomped as we climbed the stairs. Mom and Gram couldn’t tear their eyes away from the Atlantic. Who knew they’d find it so captivating? I eased the door open, and Lola was sitting in the hall. She meowed in greeting, and Herman rested on the small bench.
“Is this Herman’s cat?” Mom asked as she knelt to run her hand along the length of the feline’s soft fur.
“Yes. Isn’t she beautiful? And she’s been a wonderful companion.” I dropped the tote bags on the floor. “I’ll show you to your rooms.”
“Honey,” Mom said, “We think it best to check into the inn tomorrow. It’s right next door which is super convenient, and we’ve already made our reservations.”
“That’s not necessary. I’ve got it all worked out. Grandma has my room, and you have the spare room.”
“Hey, that’s my room.” Herman zipped away. I didn’t get the opportunity to remind him that he didn’t sleep in a bed, and he never minded when Beth stayed over, especially when I first moved to town and was suspected of killing a local man.
“For one night.” Gram patted my cheek. “Trust me, it will be better for us all. I snore like a freight train and your mom is a light sleeper.”
Instead of arguing with them, I asked, “How about a tour of the apartment?” I linked arms with them and guided them into the main living space. “To the right is the kitchen, and that door leads to the shop, so I don’t have to go outside to commute to work. Life is so much easier than when I lived in New York City. This is a breeze.”
“Honey, the table’s beautiful. Did your uncle have this dinnerware?”
“Mom, I bought the set from this sweet shop in town, Twice Loved. You’ll meet Fiona today. She also found a rug for my bedroom and a few other odds and ends. You and Gram must check it out while you’re here, as well as Knit or Purl. Beth has the best yarns.”
“The flowers are pretty, Claudia.”
“Thanks, Gram.” Unsure why I didn’t say that Eddie brought them earlier, I said, “Time to wrap up the tour with the bedrooms. My room is on the left.” Lola slipped in the door first and hopped onto the bed, looking like the queen of Drakes Bay.
“Oh, my.” Mom hurried to the expanse of windows with the ocean view. “You wake up to this every day?”
“I do. Herman had Fiona help him decorate the space.”
Gram did a slow three-sixty turn. “It’s perfect. You know, he called and asked what your favorite colors were, but I had no idea this would be the result.”
Herman drifted into the room. “Erma looks the same.”
“Dana, look. There’s a connecting door to the bathroom. Very handy.”
Mom opened the closet doors. “I’d die for a closet like this.” She joined my grandmother in the bathroom.
“You can see why I’m comfortable here. I couldn’t have designed this space any better.”
“Is Herman’s room this nice?” Mom asked.
I shook my head. “It has a view of Cade and Main Streets, and it’s the smaller of the two rooms. Ethan said it was because he liked the street noise. After moving from the city, the town was a little quiet for him.”
They checked out his room, and Mom said, “The entire apartment is charming. Can we see the store next?”
Excited to show them the rest of the place, I grinned. “Don’t let Lola follow us. I like to keep her out of the shop in case she decides a garment I’m working on makes for a cozy place to nap.”
“I can see where cat hair, no matter how soft, wouldn’t be a bonus to a customer.” Grandma patted the kitty’s head and winked at Herman’s ghost. “If Herman were standing in front of me, I’d give him a huge hug and thank him for creating a wonderful home for you.”
Herman gave her a courtly bow. “It’s nice to see you, Erma.”
I gave Mom a side glance, but she didn’t acknowledge him.
What the heck? My grandmother can see ghosts, too?
“Claudia, what kind of car does your mother drive?” Herman asked.
I closed the oven door. “A black sedan.”
“One’s pulled up in front of the store.”
I slipped on a jacket, burst out the door, and raced down the back steps. It had been ten months since I had seen my family in person, and it wasn’t until this exact moment that I realized how much I missed them.
Running with my arms wide, I cried, “Mom. Gram.”
They enveloped me in a hug and held me tight.
“Claudia, it’s so good to see you,” Mom said.
“I’m thrilled you’re here.” I pecked Grandma’s cheek. “Both of you.”
She brushed my hair back behind my ear. “Your hair’s gotten so long. You didn’t have time for a trim? And this pink streak? It’s very noticeable in your blond hair.”
“Oh, Grandma. I’m growing it longer, and I like it. The pink is to support breast cancer awareness month.”
“I like it.” Mom said, “It suits you.” She looked over the building from the sidewalk to the roofline. “This is your everything? Home, work, social life?”
“It is, and I can’t wait to show you every square inch. Uncle Herman created a lovely store, a comfortable home, and a few surprises, too.”
I picked up their tote bags, slung one over each shoulder, and said, “Follow me.”
“You mentioned you have friends joining us for dinner?” Mom gasped as we reached the bottom of the stairs. “Is that the ocean?”
Grandma rushed to the edge of my parking area. “Herman said it was a nice view, but I had no idea.”
“Gram, why didn’t you ever come and visit him? He had a spare room.”
Her smile slipped. “Herman insisted he come to us for family get-togethers, and when it wasn’t a holiday, he was busy working. Your grandfather and I never wanted to intrude. But seeing this stunning view, I wish we had.”
“Wait until you see it from the deck. At the end of a busy day, I sit and watch the water, and on occasion have drinks and dinner with friends.” I gave them a few minutes to soak it all in before saying, “We should get upstairs. We can have tea before everyone arrives.”
“Can we have tea on the deck? I can’t stop looking at the ocean,” Mom said.
“Yes. I kept the chairs out—at least until the first snow flies, which can be any day now according to Beth.”
Their boots clomped as we climbed the stairs. Mom and Gram couldn’t tear their eyes away from the Atlantic. Who knew they’d find it so captivating? I eased the door open, and Lola was sitting in the hall. She meowed in greeting, and Herman rested on the small bench.
“Is this Herman’s cat?” Mom asked as she knelt to run her hand along the length of the feline’s soft fur.
“Yes. Isn’t she beautiful? And she’s been a wonderful companion.” I dropped the tote bags on the floor. “I’ll show you to your rooms.”
“Honey,” Mom said, “We think it best to check into the inn tomorrow. It’s right next door which is super convenient, and we’ve already made our reservations.”
“That’s not necessary. I’ve got it all worked out. Grandma has my room, and you have the spare room.”
“Hey, that’s my room.” Herman zipped away. I didn’t get the opportunity to remind him that he didn’t sleep in a bed, and he never minded when Beth stayed over, especially when I first moved to town and was suspected of killing a local man.
“For one night.” Gram patted my cheek. “Trust me, it will be better for us all. I snore like a freight train and your mom is a light sleeper.”
Instead of arguing with them, I asked, “How about a tour of the apartment?” I linked arms with them and guided them into the main living space. “To the right is the kitchen, and that door leads to the shop, so I don’t have to go outside to commute to work. Life is so much easier than when I lived in New York City. This is a breeze.”
“Honey, the table’s beautiful. Did your uncle have this dinnerware?”
“Mom, I bought the set from this sweet shop in town, Twice Loved. You’ll meet Fiona today. She also found a rug for my bedroom and a few other odds and ends. You and Gram must check it out while you’re here, as well as Knit or Purl. Beth has the best yarns.”
“The flowers are pretty, Claudia.”
“Thanks, Gram.” Unsure why I didn’t say that Eddie brought them earlier, I said, “Time to wrap up the tour with the bedrooms. My room is on the left.” Lola slipped in the door first and hopped onto the bed, looking like the queen of Drakes Bay.
“Oh, my.” Mom hurried to the expanse of windows with the ocean view. “You wake up to this every day?”
“I do. Herman had Fiona help him decorate the space.”
Gram did a slow three-sixty turn. “It’s perfect. You know, he called and asked what your favorite colors were, but I had no idea this would be the result.”
Herman drifted into the room. “Erma looks the same.”
“Dana, look. There’s a connecting door to the bathroom. Very handy.”
Mom opened the closet doors. “I’d die for a closet like this.” She joined my grandmother in the bathroom.
“You can see why I’m comfortable here. I couldn’t have designed this space any better.”
“Is Herman’s room this nice?” Mom asked.
I shook my head. “It has a view of Cade and Main Streets, and it’s the smaller of the two rooms. Ethan said it was because he liked the street noise. After moving from the city, the town was a little quiet for him.”
They checked out his room, and Mom said, “The entire apartment is charming. Can we see the store next?”
Excited to show them the rest of the place, I grinned. “Don’t let Lola follow us. I like to keep her out of the shop in case she decides a garment I’m working on makes for a cozy place to nap.”
“I can see where cat hair, no matter how soft, wouldn’t be a bonus to a customer.” Grandma patted the kitty’s head and winked at Herman’s ghost. “If Herman were standing in front of me, I’d give him a huge hug and thank him for creating a wonderful home for you.”
Herman gave her a courtly bow. “It’s nice to see you, Erma.”
I gave Mom a side glance, but she didn’t acknowledge him.
What the heck? My grandmother can see ghosts, too?
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Though her writing journey began with nonfiction, her passion for storytelling never wavered. She returned to her true calling—creating the beloved McKenna Family Romance series and the Paranormal Cozy Nook Bookstore Series—writing the kinds of stories she loves to read. Whether she’s weaving a heartwarming romance or a cozy mystery, her fingers practically fly across the keyboard.
Lucinda lives in the rolling hills of western Massachusetts with her little dog— a shih tzu mix rescue—who is always by her side. When she’s not immersed in writing mystery, suspense, or romance, she’s curled up with a book, devouring everything she can get her hands on.
Places to find Lucinda Race:
Website | BlueSky | Facebook | Facebook Reader Group | Twitter | Goodreads | Instagram | Pinterest | Amazon Author Page
You can follow the Pleats and Poison Blog Tour here.
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