Murder on the Toy Town Express

Liz McCall runs her father’s vintage toy shop in East Aurora, NY, especially the old board game section. When the Train and Toy Show comes to town, she and her father are all set for the weekend. Along with every other toy and memorabilia shop in the area. She did not expect her childhood bully, Craig McFadden, to be there, less alone set up a booth right next to hers. When Craig falls to his death in the middle of the show, she jumps in and starts asking questions. Was it really an accident, or was it murder?

Everyone thought that Craig died in an accident while doing a promotion stunt. Her “friends” Ken, the police chief, and Jack, her high school sweetheart and his ex-con brother are not only involved but become suspects as well. When her father becomes enmeshed with the police investigation, Liz can’t wait to jump in and help. She soon realizes that her father may have been the actual target of the killer and not Craig. Can she unmask the killer before it’s too late?

---

Series: A Vintage Toyshop Mystery – Book #2
Author: Barbara Early
Genre: Cozy Mystery/Business
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books

Rating:

“Murder on the Toy Town Express” is the second book in Barbara Early’s, A Vintage Toyshop Mystery series. The story centers around Liz McCall and her former police officer father, Hank who owns a vintage toy shop. These two characters are wonderfully written and captivate the reader’s imagination. Liz is a bit bossy and nosy; she didn’t inherit this trait from a stranger. Hank sticks his nose into police business at every chance. Keeping him “retired” isn’t easy. Liz, her brother, and her sister-in-law, Cathy are rarely successful at keeping him home and safe.

The love triangle aspect of the book is a bit tense. Liz can’t make up her mind if Ken and Jack are just friends or if they are something more. There are lots of twists and turns, and suspicions abound throughout the entire book. Relationship questions, family, and suspects, as well as the future, become paramount to the story. The questions that remain after the clues are collected will keep readers turning the page, and fill them with anticipation for the third installment.

Ms. Early has crafted a wonderfully exciting and impressive story. Murder on the Toy Town Express is well written, entertaining, and filled with wonderful characters that are believable and likable with just enough human frailty to make them memorable. There are moments when the reader will laugh, be shocked, and become possessive of these characters.

“Murder on the Toy Town Express” and the series is happily recommended to readers of all types who enjoy their mystery with love and emotion mixed all together with crime and a location that is unusual and interesting. Readers of authors such as Vicki Delany or Leslie Meier will enjoy this book and this author.