Murder by the Bookend
The Blurb
The quaint warehouse district of Hokes Folly, NC, is hopping despite the drizzly November chill. The occasion? The mountain town’s beloved antique 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.
The Details
Series: An Antique Bookshop Mystery – Book #2
Author: Laura Gail Black
Genre/Category: Cozy –
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
ISBN: 1643858262
Pager Count: 304
Rating: 
The Review
Jenna still has a few issues but has come a long way since she inherited her uncle’s antique bookstore. A new name, Twice Upon a Time, and a whole new system so Jenna and customers can find the books they are looking for has helped tremendously. But when Jenna holds a grand reopening party and a party goer ends up dead in the parking lot, killed with a bookend that Jenna gave away as a prize, she finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation once again. Murder by the Bookend is aptly named and with plenty of twists and turns to lead readers to a resolution that will make their heads spin.
It doesn’t take long to figure out who the suspects are, and the weapon of an antique bookend is a great way to kill a book lover. Readers will be stunned to find that figuring out who the killer is, isn’t as easy as it may appear at first. The victim is liked and disliked in equal measures, but no one is sure why. He was kind and helpful to Jenna when she needed a friend and seems to have been a genuinely nice guy. Yet, there are rumors that he was a cold, callous man who only loved his dog and his books. Not a bad combination if you ask me. When the killer is unveiled after some harrowing maneuvers, readers wonder why it took them so long to work it out.
I enjoyed the basis of this addition to the series. Cozy readers are drawn to books, bookstores, libraries, and anything book-related; make the books antiques and throw in some bookends to die for, and you have a lively and entertaining mystery that will make readers happy. There is plenty of growth throughout the story with the characters. The friendships are becoming relatable, and the overall feel of this series is getting to be more fulfilling. My only complaint is that we still haven’t learned enough about Jenna’s past to really get to know her as a person. I hope this gets resolved in the next book. Murder by the Bookend is a cheerful story readers will savor. I am thrilled with the direction this series is headed and look forward to the next installment.
The Author
Laura Gail Black writes cozy mysteries on the beautiful shores of Lake Marion in South Carolina, where she lives with her husband and four rescue dogs. She began collecting antique books when she worked in a used antique bookstore in college. Today, Laura’s bookshelves contain many antique books, some of which are close to 200 years old. When not writing or playing with her dogs, Laura creates her own jewelry, crochets, cross-stitches, spends time on the water with her husband, and enjoys all things tea.
Readers will want to catch up with this series before the third book comes out. Go back and read book one, For Whom The Book Tolls, and get to know Jenna and her friends.
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