My Nails and My Book Review - Smoke and Mirrors by Casey Daniels

**NetGalley**

Title: Smoke and Mirrors

Series: Miss Barnum Mystery #1

Author: Casey Daniels

Goodreads Summary: Introducing museum curator and amateur sleuth Miss Evie Barnum in the first of a deliciously quirky new historical mystery series. 

Evie Barnum is in charge of her brother's museum, a place teeming with scientific specimens and "human prodigies" including a bearded woman and the lizard man. In this weird and whacky workplace, Evie hopes she can bury her secrets.

But when an old friend shows up and begs for her help, she does all she can to stay away. The next time she sees him, he is dead in front of the exhibit of the Feejee Mermaid. Suspicion for the murder falls on Jeffrey, known as the Lizard Man, but Evie knows it isn't possible.

When Jeffrey also goes missing, Evie becomes determined to solve the mystery of her friend's murder, even if it brings her face to face with her past... 

My Review: **I voluntarily read this ARC**

This was a very intriguing book. There was a lot to take in at the beginning, which slowed down the pacing a little, but since it is a first in series it had a lot to set up. The mystery was really good, with a lot going on and a surprising ending.

My Manicure: This one took me forever to figure out. I ended up with a sort of unsettling lizard skin type of look. I skipped a base color this time since my nail bed showing adds to the unnatural feel. I started out by painting glue around my nails for easier cleanup. It has the added bonus of being fun to peel off. I took a big piece of textured sponge and painted Sinful Colors Pistache and LA Colors Mint on to it, then randomly dabbed it on my nails, making sure to leave a bit of texture. Then I put Zoya Dove on the sponge and dabbed my nails again. This added a slightly unnatural gray tone to the look. I skipped my usual top coat because I didn't want to lose the textured look.

~Kelly