Murder by the Bookend

by Laura Gail Black Narrated by Susan Boyce

Overview

The quaint warehouse district of Hokes Folly, NC, is hopping despite the drizzly November chill. The occasion? The mountain town's beloved antiquarian bookstore, Twice Upon a Time, is throwing a bash for its grand reopening. But bookseller Jenna Quinn's peace of mind is shattered when the local library's Director of Antique Books turns up dead in the parking lot-his head bashed in by a glittering pair of vintage glass bookends. As they examine the murder scene, Jenna and her police detective boyfriend happen upon the only witness-the victim's dog, who flees the scene leaving a trail of bloody footprints behind. If only dogs could speak, Jenna might be able to make quick work of the murder case and get back to stocking her bookcases. Alas, finding the killer won't be so easy, even though this is not Jenna's first murder investigation-indeed, she inherited Twice Upon a Time from her slain uncle. The suspect list is voluminous-the late librarian had not-so-friendly run-ins with numerous guests-but suspicion eventually centers on three unsavory individuals who left the party shortly before the victim did. Now Jenna must edit her inventory of suspects from three names to one before the bloodthirsty bookend-wielder becomes the author of Jenna's demise.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Praise for Murder by the Bookend:
“A small town setting, with quirky characters, highlights this next adventure of murder.”
—Red Carpet Crash

“This will appeal to fans of cozies set in bookstores and libraries, such as those by Dorothy St. James and Eva Gates.”
—Booklist

“A 'whodunnit' mystery lover's delight from first page to last”
—Midwest Book Review

Praise for For Whom the Book Tolls:
“[A] promising debut and series launch.”
—Publishers Weekly

“An appealing debut peopled with believable characters and a well-ordered mystery.”
—Kirkus
 
“Full of delightful characters and enough twists and turns to keep readers guessing.”
—Manhattan Book Review

“Details of small town life in a colorful locale add to the color and piquancy of this cozy mystery.”
—Midwest Book Review

“The mystery is solid, the characters interesting, the new friendships and relationships are intriguing, and I look forward to the next book in the series.”
—MyShelf.com

“An enjoyable premise, small-town charm, and memorable secondary characters.”
—Fresh Fiction

"This cozy mystery has unexpected layers of intrigue and interest. You’ll love all the characters, and the mystery will keep you guessing. You won’t want to miss this one."
—Paige Shelton, New York Times bestselling author of the Scottish Bookshop mysteries

“A small Southern town, a spirited sleuth, and a cozy bookshop add up to a fast-paced mystery book-loving readers will cheer for.”
—Elizabeth Craig, bestselling author of the Southern Quilting mysteries

“A first-rate addition to the genre.”
—Kaitlyn Dunnett, author of the Deadly Edits mysteries 
 
“A small town, a bookstore, a body, a spunky heiress with a controversial past, and a secret treasure hunt: all these elements make for a very fun cozy read!”
—Julia Buckley, author of the Writer’s Apprentice mysteries
 
“Prepare to be charmed!”
—Connie Berry, author of the Kate Hamilton mysteries

Kirkus Reviews

2021-06-02
A North Carolina bookshop becomes a magnet for murder.

Having cleared her name in the killing of her uncle, Paul Baxter, in For Whom the Book Tolls (2020), Jenna Quinn turns her attention to his shop, which she of course has inherited. First the name. To her ear, “Baxter’s Book Emporium” lacks pizzazz. So she rechristens Hokes Folly’s premier source of antique books “Twice Upon a Time.” Then the clientele. She invites the cream of local society to her grand reopening party, hoping to entice them with her rare and well-preserved wares. Of course many of Hokes Folly's glitterati turn out to be pains in the parchment. Snooty Selina March makes snide comments about the food and tosses the fragile merchandise on the floor. Linus Talbot insists that the invitation’s plus-one entitles him to bring his dog, Eddy, decked out in a bow tie that matches his own. Thank goodness the crowd includes handsome Detective Keith Logan. Not only does Jenna take his presence as a sign that their budding romance is going well, but she’s able to call on his professional skills when Talbot turns up dead in the parking lot. Still, much as she’d like to sit back and wait for the police to solve the crime, Jenna can’t—not after a local reporter runs a story pointing out that this is now the third death tied to her shop. So along with her store manager, Mason Craig, and her best friend, Rita Wallace, she does what any small-town shopkeeper would do: hunts down the killer on her own.

A plot as well-thumbed as the heroine’s volumes and as likely to bring joy to true fans.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940172963261
Publisher:	Dreamscape Media
Publication date:	09/07/2021
Series:	Antique Bookshop Mystery , #2
Edition description:	Unabridged

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