Publishers Weekly
05/04/2020
This charming series launch from Blackburn (The Jean Harlow Bombshell as Mollie Cox Bryan) introduces Summer Merriweather, who returns after years away to her hometown of Brigid’s Island, N.C., to attend the funeral of her mother, Hildy. Summer’s aunt, Agatha Merriweather St. Clair, tells her that the cause of death has yet to be determined, though Summer doubts her healthy 64-year-old mother died of natural causes. At Beach Reads, the bookstore Hildy owned, Summer is alarmed to find notes threatening Hildy if she won’t sell her beloved store. Summer suspects Rudy Irons, owner of the arcade next door, is behind the threats, but the local police chief isn’t going to be any use to her since he’s hated her ever since she left his son at the altar. Fortunately, she finds allies in Aunt Agatha, Agatha’s daughter, and granddaughter, not to mention the ladies in the Mermaid Pie Book Club, in her effort to unmask a killer. Plenty of booklore (Beach Reads has three shelves of werewolf romances) enhances the sleuthing. Cozy fans will be delighted. Agent: Jill Marsal, Marsal Lyon Literary. (July)
From the Publisher
Praise for Little Bookshop of Murder:
“[A] charming series launch...Plenty of booklore...enhances the sleuthing.”
—Publishers Weekly
“[An] engaging cast.”
—Booklist
“Blackburn has created a clever mystery...As cozy mysteries go, this is one of the best.”
—New York Journal of Books
“A darn good mystery.”
—Midwest Book Review
“Little Bookshop of Murder is charismatic and tackles anxiety, guilt, and grieving through a mystery that highlights the relationship between mother and daughter.”
—Seattle Book Review
“I recommend this to readers who love to get in on the start of a brand new series.”
—MyShelf
“Enjoyable characters, an idyllic setting, and a solid mystery make this an entertaining read. Perfect for a day at the beach!”
—Fresh Fiction
“With its charming beachfront setting and collection of book-loving characters, Maggie Blackburn’s Little Bookshop of Murder has it all: suspense, charm, and a mystery that draws readers in immediately. An enjoyable start to what promises to be a delightful new series.”
—Julie Hyzy, New York Times bestselling author of the White House Chef and Manor House Mystery series
"You will smell the ocean and feel the sand in your toes in this delightful new series. The quirky characters and an intriguing plot provide an enjoyable visit to the Beach Reads bookstore."
—Allison Kingsley, national bestselling author of the Raven’s Nest Bookstore mysteries
“A modern, innovative plot line with whimsical characters, Little Bookshop of Murder is bound to delight every reader who loves indie bookshops, beachy communities and family secrets.”
—Terrie Farley Moran, Agatha Award-winning and nationally bestselling author of the Read ‘Em and Eat mysteries
"Love, love, love this bookstore! In fact, I want to own it. And I also want to live in this beach town full of warm and quirky people. Of course, they make ideal suspects when there’s a killer on the loose. Summer is a gutsy heroine but will it be enough to find the person who killed her mom before she becomes the next victim?”
—Essie Lang, author of the Castle Bookshop mysteries
AUGUST 2020 - AudioFile
Shakespearean scholar Summer Merriweather has returned to her childhood home on Brigid's Island in North Carolina upon the sudden death of her mother in this cozy mystery. Narrator Christa Lewis matches the pace of this audiobook—laid-back and slow much of the time but energetic as the pace builds. When Summer finds a death threat addressed to her mother that orders her to sell her bookshop, Beach Reads, Summer decides to track down the sender. Listeners will love Lewis’s voice for Mr. Darcy, the African gray parrot. As the conclusion nears, Lewis builds the suspense with increased intensity, making listeners eager for the ending. V.M.G. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine
