Pleats & Poison: A Craft and Ghost Cozy Mystery

Lucinda Race

Aug 2025 · A Dress Designer Cozy Mystery Series Book 3 · MC Two Press

About this ebook

Enjoy this humorous, small-town, psychic, cozy mystery by best-selling and award-winning Lucinda Race.

Claudia Grant didn’t want to talk to another ghost or two—and she definitely didn’t want to investigate a murder.

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!

Ratings and reviews

This author's books are well written, well thought out with interesting story lines and loveable characters. She also does not follow the Stupidity Formula that is so common nowadays with characters that cannot communicate, and act and think stupid. There aren't any silly misunderstandings. Source: Booksprout. Ghostly Gowns Series: PLEATS AND POISON, #3 - A quickly read, fast paced story with interesting story lines and surprise characters to add to the good cast of characters. My favorite of t

This was a great little mystery set at Thanksgiving. Claudia is juggling having her mom and grandma visiting for the holidays while also doing thanksgiving prep and the busy shopping time, things become more complicated when a guest at the local Inn is found dead, the victim becomes a ghost but can't remember how she died or who killed her. Claudia tries to help the victim so she can pass on and also meets another goes with the help of her friend and grandmother.

This serious is so good. I love the characters. I really enjoy when authors mention characters in other series as Easter eggs. I'm enjoying watching the relationships bloom in this as well. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

About the author

Award-winning and best-selling author Lucinda Race is a lifelong fan of fiction who fell in love with cozy mysteries and romance novels as a young girl. While her childhood friends dreamed of becoming doctors and engineers, Lucinda was already dreaming of crafting captivating novels filled with heart, hope, and happily ever afters.

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.