Marla Cooper Books In Order

Publication Order of Kelsey McKenna Destination Wedding Mysteries Books

Marla Cooper is a professional author of various types of travel guidebooks to advertising copy to poetry. She is the author of Destination Wedding Mystery Series, a series that features protagonists Kelsey McKenna who plays the role of a wedding planner in California. At the age of 18, the author was surprised that she could indeed get paid to write; this discovery made her switch from the business of advertising and began her fulfilling careers as an advertising copywriter. She became a freelancer so that she could do so that she could take the benefits of perks like working anytime even when in her pajamas.

While Cooper was ghostwriting for a book on the famous destination weddings, she found inspiration for her debut novel, Terror in Taffeta. The novel was later published in 2016 and was listed as the first book in Kelsey McKenna series. The second book in the series is Dying on the Vine: A Mystery published in 2017. The series features the protagonist Kelsey McKenna, a wedding planner. Apart from being a wedding planner, Kelsey has a nose for investigations, and in most instances, she jumps in to help her friends and solve murder crimes, in other words, she is an amateur sleuth.

Marla Cooper debut novel Terror in Taffeta was nominated for 2016 Agatha Award for the Best First Book. Originally a resident of Texas, Cooper now lives in Oakland, California with her husband and a lovely cat.

Terror in Taffeta (2016)

Kelsey McKenna is a wedding planner popularly known for her destination weddings. In her latest job, the clients had requested to be unified in marriage in San Miguel de Allende, a town in Mexico. Everything is going in correlation pace she intended, the reception is all done, the tequila donkey read while the bride and the bridegroom are on the altar ready to pledge their eternal love for each other. However, as soon as the priest is ready to pronounce them as husband and wife, one of the bridesmaid’s collapses

Kelsey had warned the girls not to take too much alcohol at the bachelorette party held a night before the wedding. She discovers that the bridesmaid not only fainted but that she is dead. On the other hand, Mrs. Abernathy, the mother of bride request Kelsey not to inform the wedding party; and after all, she paid for marriage, not a funeral.

Losing a bride seems bad enough, but when the bride’s sister is apparently arrested for murder, Mrs. Abernathy approaches Kelsey and demands her to fix the issue at once. Even though Kelsey knows well that solving murder cases is not her career, she understands better that crossing the ‘well connected’ Mrs. Abernathy could be a career-killer.

Before she can leave Mexico, the country of cowboys, Kelsey must first deal with another dead body, a rekindled romance and stubborn detectives in this cozy mystery debut novel.

Marla Cooper debut novel, Terror in Taffeta, is a cute, cozy mystery featuring a strong, brave and an independent woman operating her business of planning weddings from the different point across the globe. Her sleuth aspect has awakened, and mother of bride demands her to solve a murder mystery; she does not resist the offer but rather decides to give it her best shot. In general, it is an excellent page turning mystery with an extensive list of suspects. Even better, Kelsey is much better in solving a crime than the police and stops at nothing to fight for the freedom of the innocent ones who face the risk of being imprisoned.

Terror in Taffeta is a fantastic read for the fans of Carolyn Haines. The cast features funny and quirky characters that will make you fall in love with the novel as well as the author. Furthermore, as you peruse through the pages, you will hear all sorts of yummy & delicious Mexican dishes, so be sure not to read if you are too hungry. Overall, the book is an awesome first series installment.

Dying on the Vine: A Mystery (2017)

Dying on the Vine is the book two in the bestselling cozy mystery series by Marla Cooper that features Kelsey, a wedding planner turned detective and now helping her clients solve murder mysteries.

In this second installment, we find Kelsey helping out Brody, her photographer friend at the Wine Country Wedding Faire. She is flabbergasted when a young couple approaches her and requests a helping hand with their wedding. Apparently, the bride’s father had fired their wedding planner, and the wedding is due in a few days.

Kelsey accepts the offer despite her other commitments. However, she later discovers that the couples’ previous wedding planner was the Queen of Wine Country Weddings, Babs Norton. She gives Babs a call and is amazed when Babs requests her to stop by and have a look at the couples’ file. Kelsey is shocked when she finds Babs dead, and to make matters even worse, Babs’ assistant blames Kelsey for the murder. With all the fingers point to Kelsey, she must, however, find a way to clear her name as soon as possible, but she is also afraid that she might be next on the killer’s list.

The second novel is a fantastic read and an ideal match for cozy mystery fans. The setting for this novel is outstanding, in the California wine country where many distinct vineyards have places to host weddings. The couple seeking Kelsey services has booked the most popular of them, and Kelsey is on the other hand working with the owner of a more homely site to start hosting events.

Some of the characters such as Kelsey, Brody, and Laurel are first featured in book one, Terror in Taffeta while the rest of the characters are new. Babs, her assistant and staff at the venues and the wedding party all bring the personalities to this amazing story. They are all entirely introduced and well developed. In this story, Laurel takes a greater role and she Brody and Kelsey makes a good team. Additionally, the author, Marla Cooper provides a long list of suspects to ponder.

If you love cozy mysteries, then Marla Cooper series, Kelsey McKenna Destination Wedding Mysteries would be an ideal match for you.

One Response to “Marla Cooper”

1. Natalie Trofymow: 3 years ago

   Hi Ms. Cooper! How are you and the
   family doing in these crazy times?
   I really enjoyed your Wedding mystery series
   with Kelsey Mckenna! Are you planning any
   more books in this series? I look forward
   to your reply.
   Best wishes to all of you,

   Natalie

   Reply