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Antique Bookshop Mystery #1
For Whom the Book Tolls
In this cozy series debut from Laura Gail Black, Jenna Quinn finds her uncle murdered in his antique bookstore, and Jenna--his primary beneficiary--becomes the prime suspect.
Trouble follows Jenna Quinn wherever she goes. Fleeing some unsavory doings in her hometown of Charlotte, Jenna accepts her uncle's gracious invitation to stay with him in small-town Hokes Folly, NC. In exchange, she'll help him out in his antiquarian bookstore. But soon after she arrives, Jenna finds her uncle's body crumpled at the base of the staircase between his apartment and the bookstore.
Before the tragedy even sinks in, Jenna learns that she's inherited almost everything her uncle owned: the store and apartment, as well as his not-so-meager savings and the payout from a life insurance policy...which adds up to more than a million dollars. This is all news to Jenna--bad news, once the police get wind of her windfall. An ill wind, indeed, as a second murder cements Jenna's status as the prime suspect in both deaths.
Jenna can hit the road again, taking her chances that she can elude trouble along the way. Or she can stick it out in Hokes Folly, take over the bookstore, and try to sleuth out her uncle's killer. On the one hand, she's made some wonderful new friends, and she feels she can thrive in the genial small-town environment. On the other hand, trouble knows her address--and so does the killer, who is determined to write the final page of Jenna's story.
Trouble follows Jenna Quinn wherever she goes. Fleeing some unsavory doings in her hometown of Charlotte, Jenna accepts her uncle's gracious invitation to stay with him in small-town Hokes Folly, NC. In exchange, she'll help him out in his antiquarian bookstore. But soon after she arrives, Jenna finds her uncle's body crumpled at the base of the staircase between his apartment and the bookstore.
Before the tragedy even sinks in, Jenna learns that she's inherited almost everything her uncle owned: the store and apartment, as well as his not-so-meager savings and the payout from a life insurance policy...which adds up to more than a million dollars. This is all news to Jenna--bad news, once the police get wind of her windfall. An ill wind, indeed, as a second murder cements Jenna's status as the prime suspect in both deaths.
Jenna can hit the road again, taking her chances that she can elude trouble along the way. Or she can stick it out in Hokes Folly, take over the bookstore, and try to sleuth out her uncle's killer. On the one hand, she's made some wonderful new friends, and she feels she can thrive in the genial small-town environment. On the other hand, trouble knows her address--and so does the killer, who is determined to write the final page of Jenna's story.
314 pages, Hardcover
First published September 8, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 444 reviews
September 4, 2020
For the author's debut novel and the first book in a series I thought this was pretty good. The story was excellent and the setting was interesting - who doesn't love a book set in a bookshop!
I enjoyed all of the characters, even the good cop/ bad cop. I expect the good one with the melting chocolate eyes(!!!) will play a big role in future books. The book was nicely written, easy to read and good fun.
I will definitely be looking out for the next in the series. Recommended for lovers of an easy to read cosy mystery.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I enjoyed all of the characters, even the good cop/ bad cop. I expect the good one with the melting chocolate eyes(!!!) will play a big role in future books. The book was nicely written, easy to read and good fun.
I will definitely be looking out for the next in the series. Recommended for lovers of an easy to read cosy mystery.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
August 24, 2020
Jenna Quinn arrived at her uncle’s apartment at around 2am and after finding the key, let herself in quietly and went to bed. It was the next morning that Jenna, on searching for her uncle, found him lying at the bottom of the stairs. In shock and after dialing 911, Jenna was horrified when Detective Sutter accused her of his murder. Jenna had been invited to stay with her Uncle Paul for a few weeks, helping him out in his antique bookstore and recovering from the terrible time she’d left behind in Charleston. But Jenna’s grief at her uncle’s death and the shocks that kept coming, made her wonder whether she was in a nightmare…
When Jenna discovered Uncle Paul had left her everything – apartment, bookstore, money – she realized the police would have more fuel for their fire. She needed to find who the killer was before she ended up behind bars. Her next door neighbour, Rita, had already become a good, supportive friend and when a second body was found, she went to bat for Jenna. Why were these things happening to her, and in the small town that rarely saw crime, especially violent crime? Was Jenna next?
For Whom the Book Tolls is an outstanding beginning to a new series – An Antique Bookshop Mystery – by Laura Gail Black and I loved it. I was completely involved from the very beginning until the last page and am already looking forward to book 2. Great characters, plenty of twists and a fast pace made for an excellent cozy mystery. It’s hard to believe it’s the author’s debut! Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for my honest review.
When Jenna discovered Uncle Paul had left her everything – apartment, bookstore, money – she realized the police would have more fuel for their fire. She needed to find who the killer was before she ended up behind bars. Her next door neighbour, Rita, had already become a good, supportive friend and when a second body was found, she went to bat for Jenna. Why were these things happening to her, and in the small town that rarely saw crime, especially violent crime? Was Jenna next?
For Whom the Book Tolls is an outstanding beginning to a new series – An Antique Bookshop Mystery – by Laura Gail Black and I loved it. I was completely involved from the very beginning until the last page and am already looking forward to book 2. Great characters, plenty of twists and a fast pace made for an excellent cozy mystery. It’s hard to believe it’s the author’s debut! Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for my honest review.
December 31, 2020
Jenna Quinn had a spot of trouble in Charlotte and her kindly uncle offered a new start in Hokes Folly, NC. She jumped on the chance, of course. But...her bad luck followed her. Jenna's uncle is killed and the police think she might be a killer.
I love the concept of small businesses with apartments above them! And I envied Jenna's inheritance of an entire shop filled with antique and interesting books! The murdered uncle part was not so good....but she rose to the occasion and made a pretty good amateur detective! All in all, a great start to a new series.
The mystery developed at a nice pace. I don't enjoy cozies that make me wait almost the entire book for the corpse.....this story gets down to business almost immediately. And despite using one cozy trope (property inheritance), it avoided the one I really dislike -- love triangles. As in most cozies, there were some quirky side characters and a cute cop. The background plot of a antiquarian bookshop that needs a bit of TLC was enjoyable. It added to the mystery rather than overshadowing that part of the plot. Very enjoyable cozy!
I'm definitely on-board for more Antique Bookshop mysteries and can't wait for the next book!
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books. All opinions expressed are entirely my own**
I love the concept of small businesses with apartments above them! And I envied Jenna's inheritance of an entire shop filled with antique and interesting books! The murdered uncle part was not so good....but she rose to the occasion and made a pretty good amateur detective! All in all, a great start to a new series.
The mystery developed at a nice pace. I don't enjoy cozies that make me wait almost the entire book for the corpse.....this story gets down to business almost immediately. And despite using one cozy trope (property inheritance), it avoided the one I really dislike -- love triangles. As in most cozies, there were some quirky side characters and a cute cop. The background plot of a antiquarian bookshop that needs a bit of TLC was enjoyable. It added to the mystery rather than overshadowing that part of the plot. Very enjoyable cozy!
I'm definitely on-board for more Antique Bookshop mysteries and can't wait for the next book!
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books. All opinions expressed are entirely my own**
September 3, 2020
Great start to a new series. In this book, we follow Jenna who comes in to the small town of Hokes Folly on the request of her Uncle Paul. And lo and behold, Uncle Paul is found dead and Jenna becomes the prime suspect. And it doesn't help that Jenna had a troubled past, due to which the police are keen on pinning it on her. We see Jenna trying to shed her past away and stand up for herself amid all the accusations against her. Rita was a fun character and I liked knowing how the town came to be named Hokes Folly, that was quite interesting. I had pegged the wrong person as the murderer so the reveal caught me by surprise. My thanks to Netgalley for an opportunity to read this book.
July 31, 2020
This was a very good start to a new series that I look forward to reading more of in the future. We are introduced to Jenna who was falsely accused of murder. She receives an invitation from her uncle to come stay with him for a while to get a new start. Only when she arrives she can't find him until she looks in the bookstore he owns below the apartment. He is dead at the bottom of the stairs. Now Jenna is being accused of murder again since she will inherit everything until a possible heir comes forward.
I never guessed the culprit until the reveal. Very enjoyable read!
I received an eARC from the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, through NetGalley.
I never guessed the culprit until the reveal. Very enjoyable read!
I received an eARC from the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, through NetGalley.
March 19, 2021
This is the author's debut cozy murder mystery. Writing was pedestrian, some of the interactions between characters seemed unrealistic -developing relationships take time, and the killer -really ??!!
Easy read, did a few chapters/night before pulling up the covers.
Easy read, did a few chapters/night before pulling up the covers.
August 24, 2020
For Whom the Book Tolls is a great debut book and I look forward to future books by Laura Gail Black. In this story, Jenna Quinn left her home of Charlotte, North Carolina, to live and work for her Uncle Paul in his apartment and bookstore in Hoke's Folly, NC until she can get her feet under her. She lost her job, home, friends, fiance, and bank account paying her attorney after being falsely accused of embezzlement and murder at the marketing firm where she worked. Unfortunately, bad things follow her when she finds her uncle's body at the bottom of the stairs leading from the apartment down to the store. Now, she is a suspect again. Unbeknownst to her, she is his beneficiary and so a suspect in his murder. Things get stickier when a man shows up saying he is an illegitimate son of her uncle. She has her hands full as she sets out to find the real murderer and wait on evidence to prove that her uncle did not have children. This is a very good mystery with realistic characters, a believable plot, and plenty of suspects in this small town setting. Jenna does make a few friends and there might even be romance again in her future.
I received a complimentary ARC from Crooked Lane Books through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.
I received a complimentary ARC from Crooked Lane Books through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.
August 6, 2020
A promising start to a new cozy mystery series.
FOR WHOM THE BOOK TOLLS is the first book in the Antique Bookshop Mysteries. It can sometimes be hard to start and get into a new series. Especially one by a new author. The first couple of chapters grabbed me and I was really enjoying the story. But there were a few spots where it felt a bit drawn out, and I wished those scenes had been a little shorter.
As for the characters, I enjoyed getting to know them. Like in real life, I clicked with a couple of them, and a couple of them not so much. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series to see how author Laura Gail Black fleshes continues to flesh them out.
I’ve seen a mixed bag of reviews on, FOR WHOM THE BOOK TOLLS. I’m on the side of, give this book a chance. It may not end up being your favorite of the year, but you’re going to be happy you read it.
FOR WHOM THE BOOK TOLLS is the first book in the Antique Bookshop Mysteries. It can sometimes be hard to start and get into a new series. Especially one by a new author. The first couple of chapters grabbed me and I was really enjoying the story. But there were a few spots where it felt a bit drawn out, and I wished those scenes had been a little shorter.
As for the characters, I enjoyed getting to know them. Like in real life, I clicked with a couple of them, and a couple of them not so much. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series to see how author Laura Gail Black fleshes continues to flesh them out.
I’ve seen a mixed bag of reviews on, FOR WHOM THE BOOK TOLLS. I’m on the side of, give this book a chance. It may not end up being your favorite of the year, but you’re going to be happy you read it.
February 1, 2021
Looking forward to more in this series; this was a great start.
June 27, 2020
This is the first book in the Antique Bookshop Mystery series by author Laura Gail Black and I found it to be a good start. What drew me to this particular book was the vibrant color and the fact it was centered around a bookstore. As an avid reader, any cozy mystery involving libraries, book stores or book retreats are an automatic try for me.
Jenna Quinn is an interesting character. She comes to Hokes Folly hoping to leave a painful period in her life behind her only be the person to find the body of her dead uncle at the bottom of the stairs in his apartment. Automatically, she is considered the chief suspect by a detective who I found to be too lazy to do his job so he looked for the easy way out. I liked that Jenna stood up for herself and decided, with the help of some good secondary characters, to try and find out what happened to her uncle. The cast of secondary characters is diverse, but not too many to overwhelm or to leave room for new ones to join in future books. There is a bit of romance blossoming for Jenna with a local police officer, who doesn't think she killed her uncle. This was the one part of the story that felt a little too soon for me. I would have also liked some resolution to Jenna's past problems in Charlotte that led her to take up her uncle's offer to come to Hokes Folly.
The mystery carries throughout the entire story. There were a good number of suspects to choose from and it took a bit to determine just exactly why Jenna's uncle was killed. I was surprised that I was able to guess the identity of the killer and a partial motive. Maybe, just maybe, I'm getting better at solving crime (doubtful). It didn't detract from the enjoyment of the story and it is always fun to see how the author has the protagonist discover whodunit.
This was a solid start to a new series and I think I would like to see where the author takes the characters in future books.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, through Netgalley.
Jenna Quinn is an interesting character. She comes to Hokes Folly hoping to leave a painful period in her life behind her only be the person to find the body of her dead uncle at the bottom of the stairs in his apartment. Automatically, she is considered the chief suspect by a detective who I found to be too lazy to do his job so he looked for the easy way out. I liked that Jenna stood up for herself and decided, with the help of some good secondary characters, to try and find out what happened to her uncle. The cast of secondary characters is diverse, but not too many to overwhelm or to leave room for new ones to join in future books. There is a bit of romance blossoming for Jenna with a local police officer, who doesn't think she killed her uncle. This was the one part of the story that felt a little too soon for me. I would have also liked some resolution to Jenna's past problems in Charlotte that led her to take up her uncle's offer to come to Hokes Folly.
The mystery carries throughout the entire story. There were a good number of suspects to choose from and it took a bit to determine just exactly why Jenna's uncle was killed. I was surprised that I was able to guess the identity of the killer and a partial motive. Maybe, just maybe, I'm getting better at solving crime (doubtful). It didn't detract from the enjoyment of the story and it is always fun to see how the author has the protagonist discover whodunit.
This was a solid start to a new series and I think I would like to see where the author takes the characters in future books.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, through Netgalley.
October 6, 2020
I loved this one so much! I will be pre-ordering the next one for sure.
January 26, 2021
I love books about books! I really enjoyed the setting of this book. The beautiful downtown historic with the apartments above the shops. Jenna came to stay with her uncle. She had no one and gradually gained friends who she could trust. I like how it wasn't instant and how you didn't know who to trust for a while. I did guess the killer at one time but wasn't 100%. I'm usually wrong and don't try to guess. I was excited I was right!
February 2, 2021
Very pleasantly surprised by this one! I absolutely adored it!!
June 29, 2020
Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for a free e-ARC. All opinions in this review are my own and not affected by the giveaway.
Jenna Quinn flees trouble in Charlotte to stay with her estranged uncle in Hoakes Folly, North Carolina, a small mountain town. Jenna is looking forward to a new start, to catching up with her uncle whom she hasn't seen in years and working at his bookstore. She's worried people will judge her based on her past and grateful her uncle has given her a chance. Unfortunately, trouble follows Jenna like a black cloud. Arriving late, in the middle of the night, Jenna goes to bed without seeing her uncle. In the morning she discovers his lifeless body at the bottom of the stairs to his shop. Unfortunately for Jenna, the lead detective on the case has his sights set on her! Jenna is determined to clear her name and start a new life. She begins by cleaning and organizing the bookstore. Then she meets a pushy real estate agent dying to open an indoor mall. Could he have killed her uncle for blocking the mall plan? A mysterious break-in and someone claiming to be her cousin and finally, another dead body throw Jenna for a loop. Moody neighbors, Olivia and Ophelia Hoakes aren't helping Jenna settle in much but her next door neighbor Rita has her back. Can Jenna figure out why her uncle was killed and whodunit before she's the next victim?
This book had a lot of potential but failed to live up to that potential. I was excited to read about the antiquarian bookstore but unfortunately, that was misleading. Baxter's Book Emporium seems to be a used bookstore. Uncle Frank occasionally came across an antique gem, researched it, sold it privately or put it up for auction. The mystery was pretty easy to solve who and why. I wasn't 100% positive because I was sure it couldn't be THAT obvious. It's a really long novel and takes too long to solve. Jenna's initial mystery in Charlotte is never resolved but I'm sure it's actually easy. I did like the local color and the funny history of the town. I would love to visit and stay in the hotel! I did have some issues with historical accuracy though. Sadly, peep shows and adult films DID exist in the year 1900 (nickelodeons were films, technically speaking) even though I don't think the city council would go for that. Also and most importantly, women didn't wear makeup c. 1900! At least not respectable women and not much. Ladies' maids were for helping get into and out of clothing, caring for clothing and styling hair. Unless the women visiting the hotel are planning to pretend to be ladies of ill repute, Rita shouldn't be working there as a makeup artist. There are two huge mistakes in the timeline of the book. turn-of-the-nineteenth-century means 1800 not 1900. 1900 is turn-of-the-twentieth-century, when the town was built and great-great-great-uncle should be three-times great uncle.
I found the characters kind of difficult to like. Jenna was hard to warm up to. While I felt Detective Frank Sutter was unfairly cruel to her and knew she didn't kill her uncle, her past troubles make her a rather gloomy person. I have no doubt Jenna loved her uncle and their estrangement was typical of young adults. I adore my only uncle and only talk to him and see him on holidays now. She has a good reason to investigate but she sure lacks people skills and good instincts. Jenna should be less trusting and naïve since her experience in Charlotte but she seems to latch on to certain people and trust them and not trust other people who seem untrustworthy. She's warned several times to be careful who she trusts and doesn't listen. If she listened to what people are telling her, she would have known whodunit and why. I didn't understand why she kept talking to the nasty detective without a lawyer or even try to find herself a lawyer? She shouldn't have answered his questions. One minor quibble is her comments about tea. First, yes you make tea with boiling or almost boiling water. Second, you don't use BAGS and if you do, you don't DUNK it (GRRROOOOSS). You let the tea brew for the required number of minutes, take the bag (cringe) out, stir, sweeten, stir and drink. It won't burn your mouth if you do it properly, unlike coffee, which is nasty.
Uncle Frank was a good person. He loved his family, especially his late wife Irene, to whom he was devoted. He enjoyed owning a bookstore in the small community and was excited about some rare find. He didn't deserve to die. I did not like how resistant to modern technology he was and how disorganized he kept his shop. How did he expect to sell anything that way?
The secondary characters are flat. Detective Sutter is the bad cop. He's stupid and he's mean and I'm tired of this trope. He bullies Jenna and tries to get her to confess to crimes she didn't commit just because he wants to wrap up the case quickly and neatly. Detective Keith Logan is NOT from the Pacific Islands, perhaps his ancestors were from there? There's no indication he himself is from anywhere except Hoakes Folly. Of course the good looking detective has to be the nice one. He's very kind but doesn't seem to be doing much investigating since Sutter seems to be the lead detective. Why doesn't Logan go to his superiors and tell them Sutter is not doing a good job and bullying Jenna? The romance angle didn't work for me either. It was too sudden and random.
One secondary character I did like was Horace Grimes, Uncle Frank, now Jenna's lawyer. He was also Uncle Frank's best friend, however, so I think if Sutter really wanted to nail Jenna, he would refuse to accept Grimes as her legal council. Horace Grimes is above and beyond a nice guy. He's very, very kind and accepting of Jenna. He never questions her innocence. The only other person to truly believe in Jenna is Rita. I don't trust Rita. She's too nice and too eager to befriend Jenna, a much younger woman, based on instincts. It's like instalove but in this case instafriendship. She had a past relationship with Uncle Frank. Could she have killed him in revenge? Elmer Peabody is the town's only crime scene cleanup person. He seems to be conspicuously missing. Where is he and why hasn't he cleaned up the shop? Could he be the murderer? Gladys Washburn is the regular cleaning lady. Why hasn't she cleaned up the crime scene if Elmer didn't do it? She can identify a suspect. Is she afraid?
There are two remaining descendants of the town founder. Miss Olivia Hoakes and her sister, Miss Ophelia. Livy has two personalities. Most of the time she's mean and nasty. The town crank. Some of the time she's friendly and open. She's the Miss Havisham of her town and her poor sister feels the effects. Philly is very sweet and kind. Livvy is mostly interested in the town history and their vintage shop, to the point of near obsession. Philly is much put-upon and doesn't know how to live her own life. I was waiting for her to kill her sister. I think they're both viable suspects but no one else seems to think so.
The most obvious suspects are Steve Jergis and Barbie. Steve Jergis is a real estate developer who wants to put a shopping mall on the outskirts of town. The city council opposed it and now he's angry. Steve is slimy, bullying and hangs out with a human Barbie doll. He's too eager to get his hands on the shop and NO ONE seems to like him. He's the easiest person to pin the murder on. The police never check to see if he had an alibi since Detective jerk is so set on pinning the crime on Jenna. The police suspect Mason Craig, one-time employee of Baxter's Books, fired for stealing. Mason seems like a confused kid who needs guidance and help. I don't think he's a murderer but he was in town on the wrong day and never explains why. He could be hiding something. Linus Talbot, Director of Antique (should be rare) Books at the Hoakes Folly Community Library, is the only person besides Frank who had any idea of Frank's important find. He must have some inkling, even though he denies knowing anything. If anyone had a motive to kill, it was Linus Talbot. Please let's not have the rare books librarian be a murderer! BAD stereotype!
The best suspect for murder is Norman Childers. He claims to be Frank Baxter's illegitimate son, therefore, heir to Frank's millions and property. Norman is a sleazy, disgusting womanizer who should be arrested for sexually harassing Jenna and the customers. I would have called the cops on him when he went after the customers. There's no way he didn't have something to do with Frank's murder and no way he was Frank's son. He must be lying, especially since he isn't too eager to do DNA test. CAN you do a DNA test on a dead and buried person? Jenna isn't related to Frank biologically and Frank didn't have children or siblings so... how are they doing this DNA test? Elliot Burke, manager of the swanky hotel, knows the secret passages and knows who is staying in which room. One guest, in room 412, is especially difficult. Could he have gotten rid of an unwanted guest?
Are there two murderers?
Ultimately, this book was too long and easy to figure out whodunit for me but I would be interested in reading another book now the set-up is over and we can get more into the books!
Jenna Quinn flees trouble in Charlotte to stay with her estranged uncle in Hoakes Folly, North Carolina, a small mountain town. Jenna is looking forward to a new start, to catching up with her uncle whom she hasn't seen in years and working at his bookstore. She's worried people will judge her based on her past and grateful her uncle has given her a chance. Unfortunately, trouble follows Jenna like a black cloud. Arriving late, in the middle of the night, Jenna goes to bed without seeing her uncle. In the morning she discovers his lifeless body at the bottom of the stairs to his shop. Unfortunately for Jenna, the lead detective on the case has his sights set on her! Jenna is determined to clear her name and start a new life. She begins by cleaning and organizing the bookstore. Then she meets a pushy real estate agent dying to open an indoor mall. Could he have killed her uncle for blocking the mall plan? A mysterious break-in and someone claiming to be her cousin and finally, another dead body throw Jenna for a loop. Moody neighbors, Olivia and Ophelia Hoakes aren't helping Jenna settle in much but her next door neighbor Rita has her back. Can Jenna figure out why her uncle was killed and whodunit before she's the next victim?
This book had a lot of potential but failed to live up to that potential. I was excited to read about the antiquarian bookstore but unfortunately, that was misleading. Baxter's Book Emporium seems to be a used bookstore. Uncle Frank occasionally came across an antique gem, researched it, sold it privately or put it up for auction. The mystery was pretty easy to solve who and why. I wasn't 100% positive because I was sure it couldn't be THAT obvious. It's a really long novel and takes too long to solve. Jenna's initial mystery in Charlotte is never resolved but I'm sure it's actually easy. I did like the local color and the funny history of the town. I would love to visit and stay in the hotel! I did have some issues with historical accuracy though. Sadly, peep shows and adult films DID exist in the year 1900 (nickelodeons were films, technically speaking) even though I don't think the city council would go for that. Also and most importantly, women didn't wear makeup c. 1900! At least not respectable women and not much. Ladies' maids were for helping get into and out of clothing, caring for clothing and styling hair. Unless the women visiting the hotel are planning to pretend to be ladies of ill repute, Rita shouldn't be working there as a makeup artist. There are two huge mistakes in the timeline of the book. turn-of-the-nineteenth-century means 1800 not 1900. 1900 is turn-of-the-twentieth-century, when the town was built and great-great-great-uncle should be three-times great uncle.
I found the characters kind of difficult to like. Jenna was hard to warm up to. While I felt Detective Frank Sutter was unfairly cruel to her and knew she didn't kill her uncle, her past troubles make her a rather gloomy person. I have no doubt Jenna loved her uncle and their estrangement was typical of young adults. I adore my only uncle and only talk to him and see him on holidays now. She has a good reason to investigate but she sure lacks people skills and good instincts. Jenna should be less trusting and naïve since her experience in Charlotte but she seems to latch on to certain people and trust them and not trust other people who seem untrustworthy. She's warned several times to be careful who she trusts and doesn't listen. If she listened to what people are telling her, she would have known whodunit and why. I didn't understand why she kept talking to the nasty detective without a lawyer or even try to find herself a lawyer? She shouldn't have answered his questions. One minor quibble is her comments about tea. First, yes you make tea with boiling or almost boiling water. Second, you don't use BAGS and if you do, you don't DUNK it (GRRROOOOSS). You let the tea brew for the required number of minutes, take the bag (cringe) out, stir, sweeten, stir and drink. It won't burn your mouth if you do it properly, unlike coffee, which is nasty.
Uncle Frank was a good person. He loved his family, especially his late wife Irene, to whom he was devoted. He enjoyed owning a bookstore in the small community and was excited about some rare find. He didn't deserve to die. I did not like how resistant to modern technology he was and how disorganized he kept his shop. How did he expect to sell anything that way?
The secondary characters are flat. Detective Sutter is the bad cop. He's stupid and he's mean and I'm tired of this trope. He bullies Jenna and tries to get her to confess to crimes she didn't commit just because he wants to wrap up the case quickly and neatly. Detective Keith Logan is NOT from the Pacific Islands, perhaps his ancestors were from there? There's no indication he himself is from anywhere except Hoakes Folly. Of course the good looking detective has to be the nice one. He's very kind but doesn't seem to be doing much investigating since Sutter seems to be the lead detective. Why doesn't Logan go to his superiors and tell them Sutter is not doing a good job and bullying Jenna? The romance angle didn't work for me either. It was too sudden and random.
One secondary character I did like was Horace Grimes, Uncle Frank, now Jenna's lawyer. He was also Uncle Frank's best friend, however, so I think if Sutter really wanted to nail Jenna, he would refuse to accept Grimes as her legal council. Horace Grimes is above and beyond a nice guy. He's very, very kind and accepting of Jenna. He never questions her innocence. The only other person to truly believe in Jenna is Rita. I don't trust Rita. She's too nice and too eager to befriend Jenna, a much younger woman, based on instincts. It's like instalove but in this case instafriendship. She had a past relationship with Uncle Frank. Could she have killed him in revenge? Elmer Peabody is the town's only crime scene cleanup person. He seems to be conspicuously missing. Where is he and why hasn't he cleaned up the shop? Could he be the murderer? Gladys Washburn is the regular cleaning lady. Why hasn't she cleaned up the crime scene if Elmer didn't do it? She can identify a suspect. Is she afraid?
There are two remaining descendants of the town founder. Miss Olivia Hoakes and her sister, Miss Ophelia. Livy has two personalities. Most of the time she's mean and nasty. The town crank. Some of the time she's friendly and open. She's the Miss Havisham of her town and her poor sister feels the effects. Philly is very sweet and kind. Livvy is mostly interested in the town history and their vintage shop, to the point of near obsession. Philly is much put-upon and doesn't know how to live her own life. I was waiting for her to kill her sister. I think they're both viable suspects but no one else seems to think so.
The most obvious suspects are Steve Jergis and Barbie. Steve Jergis is a real estate developer who wants to put a shopping mall on the outskirts of town. The city council opposed it and now he's angry. Steve is slimy, bullying and hangs out with a human Barbie doll. He's too eager to get his hands on the shop and NO ONE seems to like him. He's the easiest person to pin the murder on. The police never check to see if he had an alibi since Detective jerk is so set on pinning the crime on Jenna. The police suspect Mason Craig, one-time employee of Baxter's Books, fired for stealing. Mason seems like a confused kid who needs guidance and help. I don't think he's a murderer but he was in town on the wrong day and never explains why. He could be hiding something. Linus Talbot, Director of Antique (should be rare) Books at the Hoakes Folly Community Library, is the only person besides Frank who had any idea of Frank's important find. He must have some inkling, even though he denies knowing anything. If anyone had a motive to kill, it was Linus Talbot. Please let's not have the rare books librarian be a murderer! BAD stereotype!
The best suspect for murder is Norman Childers. He claims to be Frank Baxter's illegitimate son, therefore, heir to Frank's millions and property. Norman is a sleazy, disgusting womanizer who should be arrested for sexually harassing Jenna and the customers. I would have called the cops on him when he went after the customers. There's no way he didn't have something to do with Frank's murder and no way he was Frank's son. He must be lying, especially since he isn't too eager to do DNA test. CAN you do a DNA test on a dead and buried person? Jenna isn't related to Frank biologically and Frank didn't have children or siblings so... how are they doing this DNA test? Elliot Burke, manager of the swanky hotel, knows the secret passages and knows who is staying in which room. One guest, in room 412, is especially difficult. Could he have gotten rid of an unwanted guest?
Are there two murderers?
Ultimately, this book was too long and easy to figure out whodunit for me but I would be interested in reading another book now the set-up is over and we can get more into the books!
September 27, 2020
It's always a pleasure to start a brand new cosy mystery series and this first instalment, For Whom the Book Tolls written by Laura Gail Black certainly lived up to my expectations!
The reader soon meets the star of the show, Jenna Quinn, who has waved goodbye to her hometown of Charlotte and has accepted an invitation to stay with her Uncle Paul in the small town of Hokes Folly, North Carolina. She will be helping him in his bookshop and hasn't been there long when she finds him dead at the foot of the stairs between his shop and flat. Jenna learns that Uncle Paul had made her the beneficiary to his estate worth over $1 million, a fact which is of great interest to Detective Sutter, who immediately decides she is the prime suspect, especially when another victim is found...
I thought this was a highly entertaining, really solid start to the series. I enjoyed Laura Gail Black's wonderful characterisation of Jenna who was fleeing from Charlotte because of trouble at the marketing firm where she worked. The author has also laid the foundations of a cast of others to whom the reader was gradually introduced, including Rita Wallace who was her next door neighbour and a supportive close friend. This book was such a fun read and I was on a merry-go-round of doubt as I puzzled over the mystery. A bookshop, family secrets, and a spiral staircase are a few of the constituents of this special cozy, with a soupçon of romance as a cherry topping.
The writing was comfortably and smoothly paced, and the mystery itself was very well executed, with snippets of humour, some fascinating history about Hokes Folly, and abundant red herrings to sustain my interest. All in all, For Whom the Book Tolls is a top-notch opening instalment and an outstanding début. I will certainly be returning to see what Jenna is getting herself into next in the second 'An Antique Bookshop Mystery'. Very highly recommended.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
The reader soon meets the star of the show, Jenna Quinn, who has waved goodbye to her hometown of Charlotte and has accepted an invitation to stay with her Uncle Paul in the small town of Hokes Folly, North Carolina. She will be helping him in his bookshop and hasn't been there long when she finds him dead at the foot of the stairs between his shop and flat. Jenna learns that Uncle Paul had made her the beneficiary to his estate worth over $1 million, a fact which is of great interest to Detective Sutter, who immediately decides she is the prime suspect, especially when another victim is found...
I thought this was a highly entertaining, really solid start to the series. I enjoyed Laura Gail Black's wonderful characterisation of Jenna who was fleeing from Charlotte because of trouble at the marketing firm where she worked. The author has also laid the foundations of a cast of others to whom the reader was gradually introduced, including Rita Wallace who was her next door neighbour and a supportive close friend. This book was such a fun read and I was on a merry-go-round of doubt as I puzzled over the mystery. A bookshop, family secrets, and a spiral staircase are a few of the constituents of this special cozy, with a soupçon of romance as a cherry topping.
The writing was comfortably and smoothly paced, and the mystery itself was very well executed, with snippets of humour, some fascinating history about Hokes Folly, and abundant red herrings to sustain my interest. All in all, For Whom the Book Tolls is a top-notch opening instalment and an outstanding début. I will certainly be returning to see what Jenna is getting herself into next in the second 'An Antique Bookshop Mystery'. Very highly recommended.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
September 27, 2021
A good introduction to a new series. Jenna has fled her life in Charlotte to refuge at her uncle's bookstore in Hokes Folly. Arriving late at night, she doesn't seek out her uncle until morning, only to find him dead at the bottom of a staircase leading into the bookstore. She immediately comes under suspicion and seeks to find other suspects because she did not kill her uncle. With the help of new friends, she puzzles her way to the killer, almost getting killed herself. A fun read, interesting characters and a good beginning for a new series.
January 28, 2021
I spent the whole book thinking I knew "whodunit." My person kept changing. I honestly didn't think the murderer was who it turned out to be. It was a very enjoyable book, and I can't wait for the next book.
February 24, 2022
An excellent new cozy mystery series to get absorbed into! A great setting of a small-town bookstore and multi-generational cast of characters to keep you connected and interested sprinkle in a bit of small-town politics, history and of course a murder or two and you are set to be entertained for hours! I listened to this one via audiobook and am quite glad I did as the narrator was excellent at infusing the emotions into the characters that the author had written so eloquently. I can't wait to listen to the next book in the series as I have already downloaded it!
August 19, 2020
In this debut book in the Antique Bookshop series set in Hokes Ferry, North Carolina, Jenna arrives at her Uncle Paul's bookstore/upstairs apartment late at night. She saw him the next morning, dead at the bottom of the stairs to the bookstore. While she is surprised and understandably excited to discover she is his sole beneficiary, she also finds herself the prime suspect in his death. Can she extricate herself from suspicion and pre-judgment from her past troubles in Charlotte before more trouble finds her?
I was attracted to this book because of the bookshop setting and North Carolina location. Unfortunately, it wasn't for me. The pace was a bit slow and didn't contain enough of a mystery. Perhaps the kinks will be worked out in the second book.
Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for a copy of this book. My review is voluntary.
I was attracted to this book because of the bookshop setting and North Carolina location. Unfortunately, it wasn't for me. The pace was a bit slow and didn't contain enough of a mystery. Perhaps the kinks will be worked out in the second book.
Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for a copy of this book. My review is voluntary.
April 29, 2020
Loved the settings of this new cozy mystery in a little town and the antique bookshop therein!
Jenna flees from her hometown to settle with her Uncle Paul in his home. When she discovers him murdered in his store the first morning, she quickly becomes the primary suspect.
Finding new friends and learning to know neighbours she´s not sure what to think about them, she stumbles from one event to the next, the police not only being her friend. When she finds out more about certain circumstances, not only she gets into danger.
Perhaps I´d read an Agatha Christie book before, I´d always expected everyone to be a suspect, till the solution is found by someone she may get a closer relationship to.
Lovely setting, though I´d have liked to read more about books, but I guess this as well as Jenna´s several relationships will make a great new series!
I got this AR copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Jenna flees from her hometown to settle with her Uncle Paul in his home. When she discovers him murdered in his store the first morning, she quickly becomes the primary suspect.
Finding new friends and learning to know neighbours she´s not sure what to think about them, she stumbles from one event to the next, the police not only being her friend. When she finds out more about certain circumstances, not only she gets into danger.
Perhaps I´d read an Agatha Christie book before, I´d always expected everyone to be a suspect, till the solution is found by someone she may get a closer relationship to.
Lovely setting, though I´d have liked to read more about books, but I guess this as well as Jenna´s several relationships will make a great new series!
I got this AR copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 3, 2021
Jenna Quinn believes she is getting an opportunity to leave behind all of her troubles. She decides to move in with her uncle and help out in his bookstore. Trouble, however, seems to follow Jenna. Shortly after arriving, Jenna finds her uncle's body in his bookstore. The police suspect Jenna is involved in her uncle's death.
This is a good beginning to a new series. The characters are interesting, flawed, and realistic. The mystery is full of twists and turns. The storyline is well-developed and moves at a quick, steady pace. I am interested in seeing how the series develops over time.
All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way have I been influenced by anyone.
This is a good beginning to a new series. The characters are interesting, flawed, and realistic. The mystery is full of twists and turns. The storyline is well-developed and moves at a quick, steady pace. I am interested in seeing how the series develops over time.
All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way have I been influenced by anyone.
October 12, 2020
I really enjoyed this book! First in a series, so there was the whole getting to know everyone and the town part, but even that was handled in an enjoyable manner. The story was good, the characters likeable (or not, as intended) and the ending a good one. I will definitely be reading the next book!
October 4, 2020
It was a pretty good book , I’ll try another one !!
They never talked about what she looked like?
They never talked about what she looked like?
June 19, 2020
This is the first book in the antique bookshop series. Jenna Quinn comes to Holkes Folly with the intention of staying with her uncle until she gets back on her feet. What she doesn't expect is to find him dead at the bottom of his stairs. The police think she killed him. She is determined to find out what happened.
I liked this book. I thought Jenna was a very likable, relatable character. One of the detectives was just horrible and every time he was in a scene, I just wanted him to go away, while his partner was nice and more along the lines of what I had expected. The mystery was ok. I had figured out who the killer was half way through the book because it was completely obvious. If not for that, I would have given this book 4 stars. I received this ARC from net galley in exchange for an honest review.
I liked this book. I thought Jenna was a very likable, relatable character. One of the detectives was just horrible and every time he was in a scene, I just wanted him to go away, while his partner was nice and more along the lines of what I had expected. The mystery was ok. I had figured out who the killer was half way through the book because it was completely obvious. If not for that, I would have given this book 4 stars. I received this ARC from net galley in exchange for an honest review.
April 23, 2021
A fun new series
I was pleasantly surprised with this new series. I really enjoy the idea of an antique bookstore, in an old village, they way our heroine inherits the store and the continued danger make for an interesting read, that Jenna also makes some good friends and finds out things about herself makes me want to continue with the series. The most interesting part is who did it. Definitely a fun read.
I was pleasantly surprised with this new series. I really enjoy the idea of an antique bookstore, in an old village, they way our heroine inherits the store and the continued danger make for an interesting read, that Jenna also makes some good friends and finds out things about herself makes me want to continue with the series. The most interesting part is who did it. Definitely a fun read.
September 8, 2020
A new cozy series! Laura Gail Black’s For Whom the Book Tolls (Antique Bookshop Mystery #1)begins a new series with the protagonist, Jenna Quinn, moving from Charlotte to Holkes Folly to live with her uncle who runs an antique/rare bookshop. Jenna, having been through “unsavory doings in her hometown “ decides to accept her uncle’s invitation, and get out of Dodge! Jenna arrives late and decides to not notify her uncle of her arrival. She goes into the guest room and goes to bed. The following morning Jenna discovers her uncle’s crumpled body at the bottom of the spiral staircase that connects the apartment and the store. Having just left trouble behind in Charlotte, Jenna realizes that she has placed herself right back into trouble as the lead inspector puts her as the number one suspect in her uncle’s murder. She could run, but she decides to stay and identify her uncle’s murderer. Small town, gossip, a new friend, and the inspector’s second in command aid Jenna as she searches for the murderer of her uncle. Unexpected twists, an inheritance, and good old fashioned luck help Jenna discover her new home and the murderer. 4 stars. On to #2!
July 16, 2021
With as many cozy mysteries as I’ve read, I sometimes feel that there are no more surprises. Poison in the tea? Read it. A man murdering his brother over a dirty land deal? Read it. The main character foolishly cornering the villain in an isolated place during the penultimate chapter? Yeah, definitely read it.
So when an author offers up something unique within the first chapter? I know I’m settling in for a special book.
Laura Gail Black surprised me. A lot.
While For Whom the Book Tolls has all the hallmarks of a traditional cozy, it feels completely fresh. Jenna Quinn, leaving behind some pretty serious problems, arrives in Hokes Folly, North Carolina with the intention of staying with her uncle while she sorts out her life. Black expertly lays the ground for Jenna’s personal problems, and they feel real. She’s obviously experienced some trauma—even before a murder occurs—and it makes her an incredibly sympathetic character. From the first pages, I cared about her, and that’s a testament to Black’s ability to conjure up believable characters.
Unfortunately, this is a cozy, and that means danger lurks around every corner. After her first night in her new residence, she finds her uncle dead at the bottom of a staircase. Making matters worse, her inheritance, including her uncle’s bookshop and large insurance policy payout, put her as the main suspect in his death. Thankfully, Jenna isn’t the type of sleuth to run straight into mindless investigating and unnecessary chances. No, she wants to clear her name, but her generally balanced temperament keeps her from more dangerous risks. Even so, the mystery itself remains compelling, and Black deftly balances submersing Jenna into the case while also running her new business.
It helps that Black has populated Jenna’s surrounding with the usual cast of cozy denizens. Overly suspicious police. Neighbors with secrets. Most importantly, new friends that drop in and lighten the mood at just the right time. Yet there’s the hint of a gritty veneer over Hokes Folly. Though Black drops in plenty of laughs in this otherwise idyllic community, the danger never fully abates, making one of the few cozies I’ve read where the heroine’s safety doesn’t feel guaranteed.
Somehow, Black has managed all the traditional trademarks of the cozy, and yet things never feel cutesy. No, this is a real mystery with consequences that just happens to be an awful lot of fun. This is as perfect as a series debut gets.
Note: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher.
Review also posted at https://pluckedfromthestacks.wordpres...
So when an author offers up something unique within the first chapter? I know I’m settling in for a special book.
Laura Gail Black surprised me. A lot.
While For Whom the Book Tolls has all the hallmarks of a traditional cozy, it feels completely fresh. Jenna Quinn, leaving behind some pretty serious problems, arrives in Hokes Folly, North Carolina with the intention of staying with her uncle while she sorts out her life. Black expertly lays the ground for Jenna’s personal problems, and they feel real. She’s obviously experienced some trauma—even before a murder occurs—and it makes her an incredibly sympathetic character. From the first pages, I cared about her, and that’s a testament to Black’s ability to conjure up believable characters.
Unfortunately, this is a cozy, and that means danger lurks around every corner. After her first night in her new residence, she finds her uncle dead at the bottom of a staircase. Making matters worse, her inheritance, including her uncle’s bookshop and large insurance policy payout, put her as the main suspect in his death. Thankfully, Jenna isn’t the type of sleuth to run straight into mindless investigating and unnecessary chances. No, she wants to clear her name, but her generally balanced temperament keeps her from more dangerous risks. Even so, the mystery itself remains compelling, and Black deftly balances submersing Jenna into the case while also running her new business.
It helps that Black has populated Jenna’s surrounding with the usual cast of cozy denizens. Overly suspicious police. Neighbors with secrets. Most importantly, new friends that drop in and lighten the mood at just the right time. Yet there’s the hint of a gritty veneer over Hokes Folly. Though Black drops in plenty of laughs in this otherwise idyllic community, the danger never fully abates, making one of the few cozies I’ve read where the heroine’s safety doesn’t feel guaranteed.
Somehow, Black has managed all the traditional trademarks of the cozy, and yet things never feel cutesy. No, this is a real mystery with consequences that just happens to be an awful lot of fun. This is as perfect as a series debut gets.
Note: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher.
Review also posted at https://pluckedfromthestacks.wordpres...
May 13, 2021
I knew who the killer was, but that doesn't usually affect my appreciation of a cozy. I also didn't mind Jenna, even with all the quick friends she makes despite her shady history. (I think I can guess who the culprit is in her history too). But anyway, fine. Her uncle is this nice guy who gets killed but he leaves her his estate because he doesn't have anyone else to leave it to.
She's a suspect, because of course she is, and despite her history, she doesn't think of hiring an attorney until midway through. I missed a little of the audiobook, so when she lands in the attorney's office right after the police first accuse her, I genuinely thought it was to hire him to represent her. But okay - at the time she didn't have money. But immediately after she did? What was stopping her then? She keeps harping on how she knows all about intimidating cops and such but she doesn't think to do this? Can y'all please stop making it seem like getting legal representation is somehow evidence of a crime? Times like this I'm sorry Donna Andrews doesn't write all cozies - Meg Langslow has any number of lawyer cousins on speed dial exactly for such situations.
It has another pet peeve of mine, the relationship with the cop thing. I don't like it because there was a swap of information in this case, and one of the partners just turns up and helps sort through some inventory despite the conflict of interest and the other partner didn't know about it. I don't have a great opinion of cozy mystery cops to begin with, but this is really low.
I could have tolerated all that had it not been for the ending - when the lady just shows up at the killers doorstep giving them what they were looking for on a silver platter, so to speak. And Jenna's phone is dead, because of course it is. She's saved but not because of anything she did. I dearly wish this was less ridiculous than it was, but it wasn't. I usually give a series at least two tries before calling it quits, so I'll read one more book.
She's a suspect, because of course she is, and despite her history, she doesn't think of hiring an attorney until midway through. I missed a little of the audiobook, so when she lands in the attorney's office right after the police first accuse her, I genuinely thought it was to hire him to represent her. But okay - at the time she didn't have money. But immediately after she did? What was stopping her then? She keeps harping on how she knows all about intimidating cops and such but she doesn't think to do this? Can y'all please stop making it seem like getting legal representation is somehow evidence of a crime? Times like this I'm sorry Donna Andrews doesn't write all cozies - Meg Langslow has any number of lawyer cousins on speed dial exactly for such situations.
It has another pet peeve of mine, the relationship with the cop thing. I don't like it because there was a swap of information in this case, and one of the partners just turns up and helps sort through some inventory despite the conflict of interest and the other partner didn't know about it. I don't have a great opinion of cozy mystery cops to begin with, but this is really low.
I could have tolerated all that had it not been for the ending - when the lady just shows up at the killers doorstep giving them what they were looking for on a silver platter, so to speak. And Jenna's phone is dead, because of course it is. She's saved but not because of anything she did. I dearly wish this was less ridiculous than it was, but it wasn't. I usually give a series at least two tries before calling it quits, so I'll read one more book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 29, 2020
I always love finding the first book in a new cozy mystery series and I was even more excited when I read this one took place at a bookshop. Could there be a better backdrop for a cozy! And Laura Gail Black set up the premise perfectly for Jenna to be able to be an amateur detective when her uncle left her the shop, living quarters above, and a lot of money.
While the town where a cozy takes place is important, as well as whatever hobby or food theme is incorporated, for me, it’s the characters that make the novel. If I don’t enjoy the characters, I won’t be coming back for more. At first I thought I may not be returning to Hokes Folly because Jenna really wasn’t doing much for me, and as the main character, that is a must. And the author does a lot of telling instead of showing, which can get boring after a bit.
So why will I be reading the next book in An Antique Bookshop Mystery? It’s because of the secondary characters, mainly Mason and Rita. I want to see how Mason grows and I really enjoyed Rita’s warmth.
As far as the killer goes, Black does include some red herrings. And I didn’t figure out the killer right away, which is always a plus. I will say though, a lot of the cozies I’ve read lately seem to have a trend going on who turns out to be the killer. Which was fine for the first three or four, but I hope cozy writers go back to having a little more substance and motive behind the killings again very soon!
While the town where a cozy takes place is important, as well as whatever hobby or food theme is incorporated, for me, it’s the characters that make the novel. If I don’t enjoy the characters, I won’t be coming back for more. At first I thought I may not be returning to Hokes Folly because Jenna really wasn’t doing much for me, and as the main character, that is a must. And the author does a lot of telling instead of showing, which can get boring after a bit.
So why will I be reading the next book in An Antique Bookshop Mystery? It’s because of the secondary characters, mainly Mason and Rita. I want to see how Mason grows and I really enjoyed Rita’s warmth.
As far as the killer goes, Black does include some red herrings. And I didn’t figure out the killer right away, which is always a plus. I will say though, a lot of the cozies I’ve read lately seem to have a trend going on who turns out to be the killer. Which was fine for the first three or four, but I hope cozy writers go back to having a little more substance and motive behind the killings again very soon!
April 23, 2020
Excellent start to a new series, with lots of twists and turns to throw you off the trail. I really liked Jenna and love the small town of Hokes Folly (I'd love to go stay at that inn!). There was plenty going on in this book, between Jenna's troubles in Charlotte to finding her uncle dead and inheriting the bookstore to a man trying to usurp her inheritance and then winding up dead himself and it kept the pace moving quickly. The plot was very well done, I went back and forth between suspects throughout the book, so the ending was a bit of a suprise, but satisfying.
My only minus to this story is Sutter. I feel like the whole "bad cop" trope in cozy mysteries has been done to death; as a device to add tension to a story, all it manages to do is annoy me so much, I start flipping pages. And really Jenna, if you've already been falsely accused and arrested for a serious crime once, wouldn't you realize that talking to a hostile detective without a lawyer present isn't a good idea? And it takes her what, 3 times to do it? *sigh* Get it together, Jenna!
Overall, an excellent start to a new series and I look forward to reading more from Jenna and Hokes Folly.
My only minus to this story is Sutter. I feel like the whole "bad cop" trope in cozy mysteries has been done to death; as a device to add tension to a story, all it manages to do is annoy me so much, I start flipping pages. And really Jenna, if you've already been falsely accused and arrested for a serious crime once, wouldn't you realize that talking to a hostile detective without a lawyer present isn't a good idea? And it takes her what, 3 times to do it? *sigh* Get it together, Jenna!
Overall, an excellent start to a new series and I look forward to reading more from Jenna and Hokes Folly.
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