A Just Clause (Booktown Series #11)

by Lorna Barrett Narrated by Karen White

Overview

Tricia Miles, mystery bookstore owner and amateur sleuth, is in for a surprise when her ne'er-do-well father, John, comes to town—and promptly becomes a prime suspect in the murder of a woman with her own scandalous past. Even Tricia's faith in the old man is shaken when the Stoneham police break the news that her father is a known con man who has done jail time.

But what about bestselling thriller author Steven Richardson? Is it a coincidence that he arrived for a book signing just before the crime or that the victim was found with a signed copy of his latest bestseller?

From merlot to murder, Tricia is determined to clear the family name before another body shows up and ruins Stoneham's first—and highly anticipated—wine and jazz festival.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

04/24/2017
Set in Stoneham, N.H., a town that rivals Hay-on-Wye as a destination for book lovers, Barrett’s delightful 11th Booktown mystery (after 2016’s Title Wave) opens at a signing party for thriller writer Steven Richardson at Haven’t Got a Clue, a bookstore owned by the intelligent and inquisitive Tricia Miles. The event is marred by the surprise arrival of Tricia’s ne’er-do-well father, John Miles, and the slap in the face he receives from Carol Talbot, a recent widow and Tricia’s rival in the village darts competition. Shortly after closing the shop, Tricia and her sister, Angelica, owner of the Booked for Lunch café, find Carol dead; an autographed copy of Steven’s book is nearby. It doesn’t take long for Grant Baker, chief of the Stoneham PD and Tricia’s former flame, to suspect John of the murder. With wit and verve, Barrett smoothly blends the story lines involving Tricia’s dysfunctional family with her investigations into the death of Carol and of another seemingly upstanding member of the community. Agent: Jessica Faust, BookEnds. (June)

From the Publisher

Praise for the New York Times Bestselling Booktown Mysteries

“Diverting entertainment…An engaging story line, an intrepid heroine…Good for lovers of intrigue.”—Richmond Times-Dispatch

“Lorna Barrett never fails to offer a suspenseful cozy mystery…Entertaining, highly enjoyable.”—Cozy Mystery Book Reviews

“Fans of Carolyn Hart and Denise Swanson, rejoice!…This first-rate cozy artfully blends crime, cuisine, and even bookselling in a cheerful, witty, well-plotted puzzler.”—Julia Spencer-Fleming, New York Times bestselling author of Through the Evil Days

“A mystery bookstore in a sleepy New England town, a cat named Miss Marple, a nasty murder, and a determined heroine…Delightful…Everything a cozy lover could want and more. Bravo!”—Leann Sweeney, New York Times bestselling author of The Cat, the Vagabond and the Victim

“Lorna Barrett’s new cozy creation…has it all: wonderful old books, quirky characters, a clever mystery, and a cat named Miss Marple!”—Roberta Isleib, author of Asking for Murder

“[A] delightful, and often funny, mystery series about a town that lives and dies by the love of books.”—Kings River Life Magazine

“Tightly plotted and paced to keep you turning the pages, this series is indeed getting better with each book.”—Gumshoe Review

“Charming…An engaging whodunit.”—Publishers Weekly

Kirkus Reviews

2017-05-15
Which would you prefer, a murder investigation or a family crisis? Barrett gives her sister heroines both.Tricia and Angelica Miles are deeply involved in making the bookish town of Stoneham, New Hampshire, into a premier tourist destination. Tricia owns the Haven't Got a Clue mystery bookstore, and Angelica owns a cafe while secretly investing in new businesses and civic improvements. The two sisters have become very close after years of estrangement caused by their parents' lopsided favors. When their father, John, shows up at a book signing Tricia's store is hosting for bestselling author Steven Richardson, Tricia's darts-playing competitor Carol Talbot mysteriously slaps both men. So when she's murdered, the two are likely suspects. The last time John was in town, his abrupt departure left Angelica to pay off his debts, and neither daughter wants him around now, especially since his cash-flow problems have tempted him into dishonest schemes. Tricia has a reputation as both an unfortunate finder of bodies and as a sleuth (Title Wave, 2016, etc.), much to the chagrin of former boyfriend and police chief Grant Baker. It turns out that Carol killed someone as a child, and Steven Richardson's plan to use her past as the basis for a new book forces him and Tricia into a race for the truth. Meanwhile, Tricia and Angelica, hatching a plan to get their estranged parents back together, learn a lot of things about their father's checkered past they would rather not have known. Given all the family affairs that require her attention, Tricia can barely find time for a murder investigation, even when she finds another body. Though Barrett's character-driven series never provides very memorable mysteries, fans who are invested in the lives of the two sisters will welcome this angst-filled installment.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940170546121
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Publication date:	06/13/2017
Series:	Booktown Series , #11
Edition description:	Unabridged

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Excerpted from "A Just Clause"
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Copyright © 2017 Lorna Barrett.
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