28) A Fatal Chapter by Lorna Barrett

The Blurb :

While out walking Sarge, her sister’s bichon frise, Tricia is led by the agitated dog to a man lying in a gazebo. She’s startled when she recognizes Pete Renquist, the president of the Stoneham Historical Society, who appears to be suffering from cardiac arrest. When Pete later dies in the hospital, the discovery of a suspicious bruise and a puncture mark on his arm suggests he may have been murdered.

Haunted by Pete’s enigmatic last words to her, Tricia begins to consider who had a motive to kill her friend. Did Pete take his flirting too far, only to have a jealous husband teach him a lesson? Or did he discover something in the town’s historical records that his killer wanted kept secret? Tricia is determined to get to the bottom of things before someone else becomes history…

My Thoughts :

The Booktown Mysteries have been a joy to read and I was really looking forward to reading the latest installment after reading the previous eight books practically one after the other.  However A Fatal Chapter wasn't the best of the series so far and wasn't up to the usual standards.  Maybe it was the lack of the Bookstore or it could have been the not so exciting mystery but this ninth book in the series wasn't the best of the bunch so far.

This may not have been the best installment so far but it is the book that sees some new additions in the form of a couple of babies.  It is also the book that finally confirms who I thought was the owner of the mysterious company that is buying up all of Stoneham.  If that isn't enough there is finally some closure as far as Bob is concerned.

However on the other hand Tricia moans a lot.  I was getting a little fed up of her going on and on about the bookstore and the insurance not paying up yet.   It was pretty annoying. The mystery isn't very compelling and the author makes a dramatic ending that happens extremely quick and at the last moment.

My trip to Stoneham wasn't as nice as the previous visits but it was still worth reading.  The series has always been good and of course there is always going to be one that doesn't make you go wow.

29) Book Clubbed by Lorna Barrett

The Blurb :

Cranky Chamber of Commerce receptionist Betsy Dittmeyer is done reading people the riot act. After she’s crushed by a fallen bookcase, the next item to be read is her last will and testament—which is packed with surprises. It soon comes to light that Betsy was hiding volumes of dark secrets behind that perpetual frown of hers—and one of them just might have been a motive for murder.

While Tricia tries to help Angelica—the newly elected Chamber of Commerce president and Betsy’s boss—solve the mystery, she discovers a hidden chapter in her own family history that rocks her to her very core. And with her ex-husband and the chief of police vying for her affections, it’s doubly hard to focus on who might have buried Betsy in a tomb of tomes.

But as Tricia and Angelica try to read between the lines, they need to watch their step…and make sure the killer doesn’t catch them between the stacks.

My Thoughts :

I have been enjoying the Booktown Mysteries a lot and caught up pretty quick.  However I came across the next in the series and found it is only available in expensive hardback or the equally expensive Kindle version.  As I have pointed out before, I would much rather spend all that money on three or four books instead of getting just one hardback.  Even if I love the series, I just can't spend that much money on a book that takes a couple of hours to read.  So Book Clubbed, the eighth book in the series, went on my wishlist and I waited for someone else to get me a copy.

Book Clubbed was a Christmas present and once I had a copy of the book I really wanted to read it straight away.  However being a huge Kindle reader it is really difficult to bother with paper and hard back books anymore and this one kept moving down on my pile.  This month I am trying to get through some of my physical books and finally this once reached the top.  It was a quick read and made for a delightful Sunday morning in bed reading.

Despite this book being a wonderful read there were a few little bits and pieces that annoyed me a little.  Tricia's male attention seekers are really getting on my nerves.  I can't believe she has two men after her and she isn't really that friendly/nice.  Also the lack of clues to find the killer.  There plot was there and there were some interesting twists but the big reveal came around real quick and only due to one item Tricia finds near the end of the book.  So the reader has no chance to put it together as the story progresses.  The other things that bugged me in this book were the Bob angle which was useless and silly.  Also the constant take over of the whole town by NRA is really getting to be a little ridiculous.

You would think that with all this grievences that I would be ready to give this book a low rating and give up on the series altogether but there is still so much there that will keep me going back.  Despite Tricia's sometimes icy personality I do actually admire her and love her snooping.  Angelica bugs me quite a bit too but I also find her amusing.  The other regular characters are also a reason to keep visiting Booktown as well as the general storyline.  The continuing story has its attractions and I love my trips to Stoneham.

The ending this time around wasn't a very nice one as far as Tricia is concerned.  She suffers a huge loss and I wonder why the author decided to leave her in that condition.  Maybe it will become clear in the next installment.  Another reason I will be going back for more.

A great series and one I have enjoyed each time.  There will always be things that come along that I won't like or agree with but this series is solid and established enough to keep me going back for more.  Well worth checking out!

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105) Not the Killing Type by Lorna Barrett

The Blurb :

It’s November in Stoneham, New Hampshire, and that means it’s time for the Chamber of Commerce elections. The race is already a bit heated, as the long-standing Chamber president is being challenged by a former lover—Tricia’s own sister, Angelica. Then local small business owner Stan Berry throws his hat in the ring.

Unfortunately, it’s not there for long when he’s found murdered in the Brookview Inn. The murder weapon is a brass letter opener belonging to the inn’s receptionist. Tricia knows there’s no way the receptionist is a killer. And when Angelica asks Tricia to help clear her name and win the election, she sees little choice except to start snooping.

She soon uncovers a ballot box full of lies and betrayals, and a chamber full of people who had grudges against the victim. But were they serious enough to lead to murder? And who truly had something to gain? Tricia will have to do some serious sleuthing before she pulls the lever on a killer

My Thoughts :

I have been enjoying this series a lot and it has been really hard for me not to ignore my to be read pile and just concentrate on the Booktown mysteries.  Finishing this seventh installment means I am nearly all caught up with the series.  It has been an interesting story so far and the continuing plot regarding Tricia and the other characters is very compelling.  The murder mystery woven into each book is just a lovely tasty side dish and I can't help but get pulled into the story, place and people when reading these books.

This time around there was some developments that left me a little unsure of the future.  Angelica manages to take on even more work, Tricia has some problems with her ex-husband and Ginny finally gets married.  There are some other little bits and pieces going on around town and I really would love to be a fly on the wall in this fictional town because there is definitely more going on than we get to read about.

There are so many unanswered questions and a lot of them revolve around the mysterious woman who has been investing so much money into the town.  We find out more details in this book but not exactly who she is and like everyone in town we still haven't met her.  I have a sneaky suspicion that when we finally find out who it is, it will be someone we know or someone who has a big connection to everything.  I wonder how long the author will keep us wondering and guessing.

I really wanted to go read the next book straight away (This happens every time I finish an installment of this series) and nearly did.  However the price of the next, and latest, book is quite ridiculous.  I am not saying the author doesn't deserve to earn a good amount of money but the previous books have been about half of the price.  So I guess I will have to wait a little.  It isn't as if I don't have anything else to read ;)

All in all I am loving this series and as cozies go it is one of the best.  I hope this author keeps up the good work and I can only wish for her to write a more Paranormal cozy series.  She definitely has a talent (she has other books under other names) and maybe a ghost or psychic could be involved in her next series.

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95) Murder on the Half Shelf by Lorna Barrett

The Blurb :

Stoneham, New Hampshire, is a haven to bookstores, including Tricia’s own mystery shop, Haven’t Got a Clue, but is sadly lacking in bed and breakfasts. Pippa and Jon Comfort’s Sheer Comfort Inn opens its doors to the public in a week and the couple has offered some locals a free night as a trial run.

But what should have been a pleasant overnight stay for Tricia becomes a nightmare when she makes two startling discoveries: Pippa’s murdered body in the backyard, and the fact that her husband Jon is actually Harry Tyler, a man Tricia loved—and believed dead—for nearly twenty years.

Now Harry is the prime suspect, but Tricia doesn’t believe him capable of murder, regardless of her own feelings toward him. And even though Harry’s led a life of lies, Tricia’s learning that Pippa had her share of secrets that some people may have not wanted revealed…

My Thoughts :

I have been itching to pick up the next installment in the Booktown Mystery Series for a while now and I managed to stop myself for a good few weeks..  Murder on the Half Shelf is #6 in the series and I think I am nearly all caught up.  I am finding it hard to resist reading the  the next part straight away but I have to do some reading from my To Be Read pile before it gets out of hand.  However there is something about this cozy series that has me addicted.  I don't think it will be long before you all see a review for the next book here on the blog.

This time around the murder lands Tricia on the suspect list when she finds the body herself.  With an old flame returning from the dead and some kind of stalker sending her strange packages she has enough going on as far as relationships are concerned.  So being a suspect means her actual love interest, who is the law, is keeping his distance until the murder is solved.

Once again Tricia's snooping manages to dig up all kinds of information but nothing concrete and it isn't until the very end that everything comes together and the real murderer is caught.  There was no way anyone, not even the reader, could have known who it was until the big moment because the person never really came under suspicion or had a motive until they confessed.  This somehow ruins the mystery but also somehow makes it even better.  While you have no idea who did the deed for the whole book you have a great story of Tricia following clues, making assumptions and getting into situations she shouldn't.

Book number six sees less changes in the town of books.   Ginny was missed while Russ, despite appearing briefly, wasn't.  Angelica becomes even more likable and I am still waiting for Bob to be the next victim.  Mr Everett was more present this time and there were a couple of new characters that should spice up the upcoming books.

I really enjoy visiting Stoneham and can't wait to go there again especially after the ending in this sixth book.  The plots are always interesting but the characters are the pulling point.  Such diverse and unusual people are hard to leave alone and not get involved with.  I certainly can't wait to see what they all get up to next time.  I also look forward to finding out how Tricia's relationship with the detective continue after the interesting cliffhanger.

This series is well worth trying especially if you are a big book lover because well it is based in a town full of books!  Otherwise just take a look in and check out the small town life.  It isn't boring in Stoneham and you will definitely find something you will like.

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55) Sentenced to Death by Lorna Barrett

The Blurb :

As the owner of Stoneham, New Hampshire's mystery bookstore Haven't Got a Clue, Tricia Miles can figure out whodunit in the latest bestseller long before she gets to the last page. But when her friend is killed in a freak accident, Tricia must use her sleuthing skills to solve a murder mystery that promises to be much more sinister than the books on her shelves.

My Thoughts :

I haven't been feeling to well the last few days so I really haven't been in the mood to read.  However when I did want to read there was only one thing I could think about picking up and that was the next installment in the Booktown Mystery Series.  I am on #5 and still have a couple more to read before I am up to date but as it is I am finding it harder and harder to resist picking up the next part.  There is something about this cozy series that has me addicted.  I don't think it will be long before the next book finds it way into my hands.

This time around the murder is all in Tricia's mind.  Or is it? The tragic accident that kills a friend isn't all it seems but Tricia's suspicions aren't shared by anyone else.  Her snooping manages to dig up all kinds of information but nothing concrete and it isn't until the very end that everything comes together and things make some kind of sense.  I was pretty sure that it was 'drumroll' murder but I, like the other characters involved, couldn't really see it at first.  It took a while and when it finally all came to a head it was over so quickly that if I had blinked I would have missed it.  After all that effort I admit I was expecting a bit more oomph!

Book number five sees some major changes in the town of books.  The mysterious and rich investor makes a bigger impression which is beginning to confuse all the locals.  Ginny makes a big decision and as already mentioned a friend ends up dead.  Russ finally backs off and Tricia snags a romantic interest while wondering about her ex-husbands intentions.  Angelica becomes even more likable and Bob gets the 'He should be the next victim' award.  Miss Marple becomes very vocal in this book and I missed Mr Everett.  He was there but just not enough.

Another great addition to the series and a good mystery.  I really enjoy visiting Stoneham and can't wait to go there again.  The plots are always interesting but the characters are the pulling point.  Such diverse and unusual people are hard to leave alone and not get involved with.  I certainly can't wait to see what they all get up to next time.  I also look forward to finding out how Tricia's relationships continue and what this secret investor is up to.  I hope all will be revealed soon...I have a feeling it will be someone we know.

This series is well worth trying especially if you are a big book lover because well it is based in a town full of books!  Otherwise just take a look in and check out the small town life.  It isn't boring in Stoneham and you will definitely find something you will like.

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50) Chapter & Hearse by Lorna Barrett

The Blurb :

According to the gossip around Stoneham, New Hampshire, Tricia Miles cannot put down a real murder mystery. After all, the owner of the mystery bookstore, Haven’t Got a Clue, has been spending more time solving whodunits than reading them…

Tricia’s sister, Angelica, considers herself to be the next celebrity chef. To celebrate her first cookbook, Angelica hosts a launch party, but sadly the only guest is an oversized cutout of herself. Worse than the lack of fans is a nearby gas explosion that injures her boyfriend, Bob Kelly, the head of the Chamber of Commerce.

Tricia’s never been a fan of Bob, but when she reads that Bob is being tight-lipped about the “accident” and how it killed the owner of the town’s history bookstore, it’s time to take action. As the incriminating details emerge, Tricia gets wrapped up in a murder that proves to be as spine-tingling as the books that line her shelves…

My Thoughts :

I am finding it hard to stay away from Booktown and found myself picking up this fourth installment instead of something else from my to be read pile. I like the concept and the characters and despite the little pet peeves I had while reading the previous book, I just couldn't resist visiting the quaint little town again.

This fourth part in the series started off eight months after the previous installment and it seems the author felt the need to make a few interesting changes to the on-going plot and surprise me by doing so.  At first it just confused me because the last book left me thinking that Tricia was going to be in a nice new relationship this time around and it took me some time to realise the author had nixed this idea.

Booktown is definitely not a boring place.  The mystery this time around was a little more complicated than I expected and it took me just as long as Tricia to figure out who had done what and why.  The plot was good and it was interesting to see how things unfolded especially the continuing storyline of Ginny, Mr Everett and Angelica.   It seems Tricia is doomed to just keep getting mixed up with and solving mysteries while be the most helpful person in the town.

The award for the most annoying person in the series is Russ.  He wasn't that much of a problem in the previous three books but this story made him out to be a right pain in the neck and hopefully he will be the victim in the next book.  At least then Tricia can use a certain detective's shoulder to cry on.  Second prize in the annoying category is Bob.  I wouldn't mind him becoming a less prominent character in the series and hope that Angelica gives him the boot.

In the last book there was a rich investor who was pumping money into the town and this time around he was nowhere to be seen.  However another investor, a secret one, has made an appearance and I can't help but wonder where the author is going with this line of writing.  It is of course only natural that the town would need some new blood and money but I hope it won't lose the cute book angle.  Also I have a suspicion that the secret investor is going to either be someone they all know or just a trouble maker.

All in all this series has really grabbed my attention.  I have a lot of books waiting to be read but I really just want to pick up the next installment.  I will hold out for a while but I fear that I will be picking up the next part within the next week or two.  The Booktown Mysteries are slowly turning out to be like a really good TV series and it is hard to wait for the next episode.

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36) Bookplate Special by Lorna Barrett

The Blurb :

Tricia Miles, owner of Haven’t a Clue mystery bookstore, is still settling into Stoneham, New Hampshire, the kind of town where everybody knows your name—and where everyone’s quick to lend a hand, even when murder is afoot . . .

The kinder folks of Stoneham might call Pammy Fredericks a free spirit. The less kind, a freeloading thief. Tricia has put up—and put up with—her uninvited college roommate for weeks. In return, Pammy, has stolen $100, among other things. But the day she’s kicked out, Pammy’s found dead in a dumpster, leaving loads of questions unanswered. Like what was she foraging for? Did her killer want it too? To piece the case together, Tricia will have to dive in head-first.…


My Thoughts :

After reading the first two books in this series I was ready to keep going.  I am in a cozy mood so this was the natural choice of series to grab for because I really enjoyed the previous stories.  However it seems that this series is getting very mixed reviews over on Goodreads and I am happy that I didn't read any of them beforehand because they really could make you hate this series.  I think people forget that this is a cozy mystery and is supposed to be over the top and sometimes unbelievable.  That is one of the good things about cozies.  Great plot but questionable themes, deduction processes and characters.

Unlike the cozy I read before this one, this series is really set in a bookstore and it features the said bookstore quite prominently throughout the story.  After two books in the series I really feel like my time in Booktown is a like a murder mystery weekend.  A short break and a fun murder mystery to solve.  I like Tricia, her cat and this time around her sister Angelica also made herself seem more likable.  However Ginny the bookshop assistant lost a lot of my respect and was like an annoying teenager who kept moaning and groaning.  I hope Tricia toughens up on her instead of making her life easier.

There are some aspects of this series that are starting to make me wonder.  Tricia seems to have enough money to throw around because she is extremely generous in some respects.  However when she really needs something she tries to save.  This is shown to us a few times in series and in this third installment it is practically pointed out to us with a big neon sign.  So what is the deal?  Rich or not?  Too generous?  I hope that Tricia doesn't give a certain person too much of her money.  Anyone who has/does read this book will know who I am talking about.

Anyway, the plot this time around was a little boring at first.  I didn't see how anything would fit together and I wasn't sure if the author knew either.  There were some characters involved who seemed to be a waste of time and there were other characters drawn in that changed the pace of the series somewhat.  A very weird mixture of change that seemed strange for a third book in the series.  It is like the author didn't think things would get this far and decided she needed to change aspects of the story to be able to keep the series going for another few books.

Despite all of this the story was still good.  Easy to follow and well worth reading.  I am happy to say I have the next two books in the series and with some of the events this book brings I am quite eager to see how things continue to develop.  Even for some of the characters who I think need a good slap ;)  Expect to see the next book reviewed very soon.  After all I have the next books in paperback and really need to get some paperbacks read and moving along.

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11) Bookmarked for Death by Lorna Barrett

The Blurb :

What do a stone book and a stabbed cake have to do with Zoë Carter's death?

Once a struggling town, Stoneham, New Hampshire is now enjoying a renaissance--thanks to booksellers like Tricia Miles, proprietor of Haven’t Got a Clue. It’s a great place to find a good mystery to read--or to solve ….

To celebrate her bookstore’s anniversary, Tricia Miles hosts a book signing for bestselling author Zoë Carter. But the event takes a terrible turn when the author is found dead in the washroom. Before long, both police and reporters are demanding the real story. So far, the author’s obnoxious assistant/niece is the only suspect. And with a sheriff who provides more obstacles than answers, Tricia will have to take matters into her own hands--and read between the lines to solve this mystery….

My Thoughts :

I haven't had much time or energy to read lately so it was really annoying me that I couldn't curl up with this book and find out who did it.  I was really into the story and it was hard not to keep picking it up and reading a bit now and again.  However I hate not being able to read a whole chapter or at least to a break in the book so I had to find enough time to get some serious reading done.  I finally finished this today and if I didn't have some review books that needed my attention I would be reading the next installment already!

Mystery books, especially cozies, are a big love of mine and to have them come together in a series is really a treat.  Add some great characters, a charming location and a super story and you have the Booktown Mystery series.  I only came across this series recently and am kicking myself for not finding it earlier.  I adore the Booktown idea and Tricia's bookshop.  All the regular characters are like old friends already and this was only the second book in the series.

Tricia is a super amateur sleuth and it isn't just due to her love of mysteries.  She is an intelligent woman who pays attention to details.  However she isn't very clever when it comes to romantic relationships and I hope she gets a clue about Russ or gets rid of him.  What surprised me was the better relationship she is having with her sister.  A welcome surprise that made me glad the sister was sticking around.  A constant sibling rivalry or fight would have been annoying.

The plot this time around was more than interesting and I only had a slight inkling as to who was the murderer.  My only problem was figuring out a motive but it seems I wasn't the only one who didn't realise who was responsible till it all came out.  Tricia was going in the right direction but she also mistook the signs for the same reason I did.

I have a long way to go before catching up with this series.  There are still six more for me to read before I up to date.  The temptation to start book three is gnawing at me but I will resist and get caught up with some other reads first.  However I am dying to visit Stoneham again and can't wait to see what trouble Tricia manages to get into next time.




 

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136) Murder is Binding by Lorna Barrett

The Blurb :

The streets of Stoneham, New Hampshire are lined with bookstores...and paved with murder.

Stoneham, New Hampshire, was a dying town until community leaders invited booksellers to open shop. Now, its streets are lined with bookstores - and paved with murder…

When she moved to Stoneham, city-slicker Tricia Miles was met with friendly faces. And when she opened her mystery bookstore, she met with friendly competition. But when she finds Doris Gleason dead in her own cookbook store, killed by a carving knife, the atmosphere seems more cutthroat than cordial. Someone wanted to get their hands on the rare cookbook that Doris had recently purchased - and the locals think that someone is Tricia. To clear her name, Tricia will have to take a page out of one of her own mysteries - and hunt down someone who isn’t killing by the book …

My Thoughts :

This cozy mystery has been on my Kindle for a while.  There are already six or seven books in the series and here I am with the first one still waiting to be read.  So in an attempt to get some books moved (either love them and leave them or read them and want more!) I decided it was high time I added this series to either the 'must read' pile or to the 'meh' pile.

Where does the Booktown mystery end up?  Definitely in the must read pile!  This was a great debut and seeing how many books there are in the series it is obviously a brilliant series.  I have to say that this one really surprised me.  The first few chapters didn't really get me excited despite the book being set in a town full of book shops.  However after reading about 20 percent of the book I was hooked.  The plot was good and the characters started to shine and I couldn't put it down.

If you are a book lover and enjoy cozy mysteries then this is the series for you.  Tricia owns her own Mystery novel bookstore and murder is just next door.  I loved the way that Tricia got to the bottom of this one and it was great how her sister and staff helped her solve the case.  The concept of everything revolving around books seemed to be a boring idea at first but it blossomed and developed into something very unique and fun to read.

So I will be continuing with this series.  There really are loads of good Cozies out there right now!  The Booktown Mysteries is just one of them.

 

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