Murder by the Book

Tricia Miles runs Haven't Got a Clue, a mystery bookstore in the small town of Stoneham, New Hampshire. When the Chamber of Commerce president is found dead behind her store, Tricia becomes entangled in solving the murder while dealing with mounting pressure from local authorities who consider her a suspect. The investigation leads Tricia through Stoneham's close-knit bookseller community, where long-held secrets and rivalries surface. She must balance running her store, managing her relationship with her sister Angelica, and following leads that point to several potential suspects in town. The mystery operates on multiple levels, incorporating elements of small-town dynamics and the challenges of independent bookselling. Through its exploration of motives and relationships among Stoneham's residents, the novel examines themes of loyalty, family bonds, and the impact of change on traditional communities.

Readers found this to be a solid entry in the Booktown Mystery series, with many noting it maintains the established cozy mystery elements while adding depth to the main characters. Readers appreciated: - The detailed bookstore setting and small-town atmosphere - Character development, especially the evolving relationships - Multiple storylines that connect by the end - Integration of book-related themes and references Common criticisms: - Too many side plots that distract from the main mystery - Some found the pacing slow in the middle sections - Several readers noted predictable culprit reveals Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (200+ ratings) Representative review: "The small-town dynamics and bookstore details shine, but the mystery itself takes too long to unfold" - Goodreads reviewer Multiple readers mentioned this works as a standalone novel despite being part of a series, though character backgrounds make more sense when read in order.

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The Cat Who Could Read Backwards by Lilian Jackson Braun A newspaper reporter and his Siamese cat solve crimes connected to the art world and local bookstores.

The Bookman's Tale by Charlie Lovett An antiquarian bookseller uncovers murders while researching a Shakespeare mystery that spans centuries.

🔍 "Murder by the Book" is part of the Booktown Mystery series, which has sold over one million copies worldwide 📚 The series' main character, Tricia Miles, runs a vintage mystery bookstore called "Haven't Got a Clue" in the fictional town of Stoneham, New Hampshire 🏘️ The town of Stoneham is known as "Booktown" because it's filled with specialty bookshops, making it a destination for book lovers and collectors ✍️ Author Lorna Barrett is actually a pen name for Lorraine Bartlett, who also writes under the names L.L. Bartlett and Victoria Square 🐱 The series features a recurring feline character named Miss Marple, named after Agatha Christie's famous detective, who lives in Tricia's bookstore