Bookmarked For Death
by Lorna Barrett
Booktown is a town for mystery lovers!
Stoneham, New
Hampshire is a haven for book lovers and brick and mortar
bookstores. Once another dying small town, bookstores of every
genre have helped Stoneham give it its unique Booktown image, a place
that draws in tourists by the bus load. Tricia Miles, owner of
the Haven't Got A Clue mystery bookstore, thought she had put away the
jinx label when she solved her last mystery. Now celebrating her
bookstore's anniversary with a book signing from the renowned mystery
writer Zoe Carter, Tricia could not be more thrilled. Her plans
turn into a nightmare when the famous author is found dead right in the
bathroom of her store. Not only are the police questioning her
but the local story goes national. Tricia's life is upturned when
her bookstore becomes a restricted crime scene. She and her cat,
Miss Marple, are forced to move in with her sister Angelica, a sister
with whom she has only recently reunited. Tricia decides to take
matters into her own hands and investigate the crime when the sheriff's
approach to the crime leaves much to be desired. Anxious to
figure out the mystery and get her bookstore back in business,
Tricia sets about investigating the mysterious past of Zoe Carter.
Second in the Booktown Mystery series, Lorna Barrett's BOOMARKED FOR DEATH takes fans back
to the wonderful town where books and book lovers populate the town and
the pages of the mystery. The series' first book, MURDER IS BINDING, gave readers an
overview of the mystery genre itself with its insider's look into the
great mysteries and book business. Here, in BOOKMARKED FOR DEATH, Lorna Barrett
takes the reader deeper into the world of books as the hunt for the
murderer examines the life of a celebrated but reclusive author, her
agent, her family and the idea of authorship itself. Small town
gossip and local issues, both civic and personal, give the reader an
insider's look at the town's personality, a side not seen by the
tourists.
BOOKMARKED FOR DEATH
is a mystery for book lovers! Once again, Lorna Barrett delves
into an aspect of books beneath the finished product between the
covers. What can be better than a good mystery puzzle and a
scrumptious meal? Angelica's cooking stimulates the palette with
hints of cooking perfection while Tricia's investigation takes the
mystery lover on a trail of clues that keeps the reader guessing until
the very end. Fortunately, recipes of the mouthwatering dishes
are included at the back of the book. Lorna Barrett
captures the joys and difficulties of sibling relationships as the two
sisters help one another. A couple of heart-warming scenes
present a nice contrast to some of the more troubled family
relationships in the books. Zoe's relationship with her
impossible niece Kimberly stirs things up in this small town. In
this book and her previous book, Lorna Barrett's character development
shines in her portrayal of family relationships. Clever
twists in the mystery puzzle take readers on a journey through the
intricate layers of book publishing known to avid fans and book
collectors. BOOKMARKED
FOR DEATH, and indeed the Booktown series, is a mystery to be
cherished by insiders in the book world from authors and agents to
readers tracking down all the connections between an author's works
under pseudonyms. Mention of the Jeff Resnick mystery suspense
series will bring a special delight to mystery lovers following the
works of Lorna Barrett.
BOOKMARKED FOR DEATH
can be read as a stand alone mystery. Lorna Barrett gives her new
readers the important connections from her past book in just the right
measure without getting bogged down in a summary of her past
book. The past flows naturally in this story, cluing in new
readers but also bringing a smile to readers of the series as they
recall some of the highlights of MURDER
IS BINDING. Although this book works as a stand alone
mystery, reading BOOKMARKED FOR DEATH
in conjunction with the first book allows the reader to see the the
author's fine handling of the series. The sometimes tense
relationship between Tricia and her sister Angelica develops as the two
are forced into closer proximity. Even Miss Marple's
changed environment adds a flair to the feline character development
from book to book. Fans of the Booktown Mysteries will leave this
book anxious for the third as Lorna Barrett's BOOKMARKED FOR DEATH demonstrates
the joy of revisiting characters and the town as it changes through
time.
Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime (February 2009)
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