Antiquarian bookseller Jenna Quinn sleuths again when a pair of glass bookends puts an end to a librarian’s life, in this second installment of Laura Gail Black’s cozy series.
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.
I enjoyed reading Murder by the Bookend, mainly because the whodunit aspect wasn’t easy to solve. The characters also continue to grow from book one, and that has kept my interest. One character set my teeth on edge. Selina March is a bit over the top as a young wife with expensive tastes. She’s shrill, demanding, a snob, and overall unlikeable. Overall, Murder by the Bookend is a solid cozy read.
Publishing information
Penguin Random House
Hardcover | $26.99
Published by Crooked Lane Books
Sep 07, 2021 | 304 Pages | 5-1/2 x 8-1/4| ISBN 9781643858265
Copy provided by #Netgalley #MurderbytheBookend