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Booktown Mystery #17
A Questionable Character
The murder of a local contractor may be the final nail in the coffin for Tricia Miles in the latest entry to Lorna Barrett's New York Times bestselling Booktown series.
It's a busy summer in Booktown. Contractor Jim Stark is in great demand: he’s overseeing a number of projects, including Angelica Miles's newly constructed building on Main Street, finishing up the new brew pub, and gutting a stone mansion off Main Street that Angelica bought to be the world headquarters for Nigela Ricita Asssociates. It’ll house office space where her marketing staff and the rest of the NR Associates clerical personnel will work.
Tricia Miles and Angelica arrive at the mansion before their workday to see how the construction is going. They find the place unlocked and Stark’s right-hand man, Sanjay Arya, dead—bludgeoned to death. The loss of the contractor’s top man threatens all the projects in the works, which would effectively ruin the expensive marketing plan that the Chamber of Commerce has been working. Is Jim a suspect? (He’d be stupid to kill the person he depends on to keep the projects going.) But Stark also thinks his wife, who was very chummy with Sanjay, might have been cheating on him with the second-in-command, making him a likely suspect.
Once again Tricia finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation, but can she find the killer before he or she has the chance to bring the hammer down?
It's a busy summer in Booktown. Contractor Jim Stark is in great demand: he’s overseeing a number of projects, including Angelica Miles's newly constructed building on Main Street, finishing up the new brew pub, and gutting a stone mansion off Main Street that Angelica bought to be the world headquarters for Nigela Ricita Asssociates. It’ll house office space where her marketing staff and the rest of the NR Associates clerical personnel will work.
Tricia Miles and Angelica arrive at the mansion before their workday to see how the construction is going. They find the place unlocked and Stark’s right-hand man, Sanjay Arya, dead—bludgeoned to death. The loss of the contractor’s top man threatens all the projects in the works, which would effectively ruin the expensive marketing plan that the Chamber of Commerce has been working. Is Jim a suspect? (He’d be stupid to kill the person he depends on to keep the projects going.) But Stark also thinks his wife, who was very chummy with Sanjay, might have been cheating on him with the second-in-command, making him a likely suspect.
Once again Tricia finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation, but can she find the killer before he or she has the chance to bring the hammer down?
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 25, 2023
122 people are currently reading
883 people want to read
About the author
Lorna Barrett
23 books1,788 followersThe immensely popular Booktown Mystery series is what put Lorna Barrett’s name on the New York Times Bestseller list, but it’s her talent -- whether writing as Lorna, or L.L. Bartlett, or Lorraine Bartlett -- that keeps her there. This multi-published, Agatha-nominated author pens the exciting Jeff Resnick Mysteries as well as the acclaimed Victoria Square Mystery series and has many short stories and novellas to her name(s). Check out the links to all her works here: http://www.lornabarrett.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 181 reviews
September 25, 2025
A Questionable Character is the latest book in the Booktown Mysteries written by Lorna Barrett. While the characters were great to revisit, the plot of the mystery was super light and had me feeling like it's gone the way of the Hannah Swensen Mysteries. That said, the side story of a possible romance between Tricia and her new intern (20ish) was a fun twist. I like them together, but we'll see if it goes anywhere. Still worth reading, just know it's not as deep as they usually are.
July 27, 2023
I will admit I was not a fan of this series from the start but after about book 3 or 4, Tricia finally grew on me. I love the idea of a town of bookshops but not much else. The characters are likeable (except Angelica, I’ve never warmed to her) enough but all seem to fall all over Tricia who isn’t that likeable. I didn’t think there could be a more annoying character than Angelica but David is really giving her a run for her money. This series, I fear, has run its course. This story was filled with Tricia’s meals and wanderings around the village and then a few short investigative portions. And after killing off most of Tricia’s previous boyfriends, every newcomer is now a potential suitor, which we learn much more about than the murder victim. I think I’m done with this series, too.
April 10, 2023
Number 17 in the Book town Mystery series brings yet another murder to the unlucky town of Stoneham. Tricia and Angelica have an intern for the summer who has the mystery bug. When a body turns up at the soon to be offices of Nigela Ricita, he dives head first into finding the culprit and he wants Tricia's help....and maybe something more.
Y'all, this was so cringe. Tricia still comes across as 30 years or so older than she actually is. The sex talk (don't worry, nothing racy) amped up in this book and it just seemed so out of character. The intern (whose name I've already forgotten) seemed extremely suspect. The actual mystery was all over the place and the plot was anything but cohesive. This might be the worst one yet.
Y'all, this was so cringe. Tricia still comes across as 30 years or so older than she actually is. The sex talk (don't worry, nothing racy) amped up in this book and it just seemed so out of character. The intern (whose name I've already forgotten) seemed extremely suspect. The actual mystery was all over the place and the plot was anything but cohesive. This might be the worst one yet.
August 2, 2023
Really disappointing
I’ve felt this series going downhill but this book was the end for me. The relationship between Tricia and David was forced and uncomfortable and completely out of character. It was really hard to get through to the end because I had no interest in the mystery and didn’t like the direction of Tricia or Angelica’s characters.
I’ve felt this series going downhill but this book was the end for me. The relationship between Tricia and David was forced and uncomfortable and completely out of character. It was really hard to get through to the end because I had no interest in the mystery and didn’t like the direction of Tricia or Angelica’s characters.
July 22, 2023
A very generous 3 stars. It’s really pretty bad. There’s literally no story. Just lots of walking around and having meals. Lots of dangling plot lines that go nowhere and lots of unanswered questions. It’s time for this series to end.
August 12, 2023
3.5 stars
This is so hard for me to say but this was my least favorite of the entire series. I have looked forward all summer for the release of this book and have felt let down.
I miss the old Tricia. Since the death of her ex-husband and the other issues with past loves she has become a shell of herself. She is almost too depressing to read.
I miss her cat, Miss Marple. She has been relegated to a mention here and there. For someone who lives her cat so much now it is a passing of here’s a quick pay on the head.
I cannot say for certain if I am for or against the new romance. It just seems too out of character for Tricia to be honest.
This is so hard for me to say but this was my least favorite of the entire series. I have looked forward all summer for the release of this book and have felt let down.
I miss the old Tricia. Since the death of her ex-husband and the other issues with past loves she has become a shell of herself. She is almost too depressing to read.
I miss her cat, Miss Marple. She has been relegated to a mention here and there. For someone who lives her cat so much now it is a passing of here’s a quick pay on the head.
I cannot say for certain if I am for or against the new romance. It just seems too out of character for Tricia to be honest.
July 23, 2023
Good story
I really hoped that this was a five star book, but to me, it's more of a 4 star.
I really like this series, but I found myself reading the same old thing in this book, Angelica and Tricia argue, they discover a murder victim, Tricia usually solves the mystery, and both sisters complain about their lack of love life.
It's time for an exciting change for this quaint little town and I'm hoping it happens in the next book.
Mr. Everett and Pixie really make the story, so I did enjoy catching up with them.
I really hoped that this was a five star book, but to me, it's more of a 4 star.
I really like this series, but I found myself reading the same old thing in this book, Angelica and Tricia argue, they discover a murder victim, Tricia usually solves the mystery, and both sisters complain about their lack of love life.
It's time for an exciting change for this quaint little town and I'm hoping it happens in the next book.
Mr. Everett and Pixie really make the story, so I did enjoy catching up with them.
August 13, 2023
I love this series but this one wasn’t really for me. It was so hard to get into and I don’t think I ever really did.
July 24, 2023
(Spoilers)2 pages that's it for the killer and the killer pathetic no real motive or anything. I feel like the killer was thrown in at the last minute so this would be a cozy mystery and not a ROM com. Everyone was either really petty or the favorite characters were hardly mentioned like Pixie. Mr Everett giving out love advice and David is the new main charcter? Thankfully I get her books from the library cause I would definitely have wanted a refund.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 26, 2023
I’ve always been a HUGE fan of this series but this was definitely not an enjoyable book for me.
The characters were all extremely annoying, which I’ve never felt that way in the other 16 books. I literally wanted to strangle the new intern because he was such an annoying twit. Let’s hope Tricia wises up in the next one.
The characters were all extremely annoying, which I’ve never felt that way in the other 16 books. I literally wanted to strangle the new intern because he was such an annoying twit. Let’s hope Tricia wises up in the next one.
August 28, 2023
No, no, no. We do not date people twenty years our junior and it is not suddenly okay when you are not suddenly their boss anymore. No. This whole thing was gross and not cute.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 8, 2023
I really love this series and the characters feel like friends. These mysteries are fun and usually keep me guessing until the end. For this book, I didn't care too much for Tricia actions and how Angelica treated her. I understand getting frustrated with a family member, but this felt different. I'm not sure what it was, but this was not my favorite book of this series. I'm also not sure how I feel about the new character. I'll have to wait until the next book to see how I feel.
September 4, 2023
I didn't care much for this 17th edition of Lorna Barrett's Booktown Mysteries.
It starts off immediately with the murder of someone you never heard of in any previous editions, so there's no real background on him, nor reason to care about his demise.
And then there's the new twenty-something, summer intern, David, hired for the Booktown Chamber of Commerce. He is just creepy. I don't mean just because he likes to wear women's broaches and wear his hair in a man-bun, but the way he digs deeply into Tricia's background from the get-go. He asks all around town about her, then spouts these bits of--not always flattering--bits of gossip back to her. I mean, who wouldn't be creeped out by the new guy in town suddenly seeming to know all about your personal life? (Stalker-ish behavior much?) Well, apparently not Tricia. She ends up being attracted to the guy, who is young enough to be her son.
On top of that, even though Tricia's sister, Angelica, asks her to stay out of the murder investigation and to tell David to lay off of it, too, David keeps dragging Tricia into it (and vice versa, to be honest), which leads to them committing ill-advised and illegal acts while investigating.
After one such act, when Tricia finally turns some evidence they found over to the Chief of Police, he doesn't even reprimand her for not only illegally removing evidence for the crime scene, but the subsequent illegal breaking and entering of the murder victim's apartment. He doesn't even have her show him exactly where they found the evidence. That just doesn't ring true to me at all. It makes the Police Chief look incompetent.
During the murderer's reveal, he attacks with a chain, but ends up on the ground with a knife sticking out of his thigh, with no explanation of how it got to be there. All-in-all, the scene was a muddled mess.
I've enjoyed the previous books in this series, but this one just struck a wrong chord with me right from the start and went downhill from there, and the ending makes me wonder if I'll bother reading the next one, should there be another. The only hope would be if David follows the same path as Tricia's previous love interests. I can't stand the guy.
It starts off immediately with the murder of someone you never heard of in any previous editions, so there's no real background on him, nor reason to care about his demise.
And then there's the new twenty-something, summer intern, David, hired for the Booktown Chamber of Commerce. He is just creepy. I don't mean just because he likes to wear women's broaches and wear his hair in a man-bun, but the way he digs deeply into Tricia's background from the get-go. He asks all around town about her, then spouts these bits of--not always flattering--bits of gossip back to her. I mean, who wouldn't be creeped out by the new guy in town suddenly seeming to know all about your personal life? (Stalker-ish behavior much?) Well, apparently not Tricia. She ends up being attracted to the guy, who is young enough to be her son.
On top of that, even though Tricia's sister, Angelica, asks her to stay out of the murder investigation and to tell David to lay off of it, too, David keeps dragging Tricia into it (and vice versa, to be honest), which leads to them committing ill-advised and illegal acts while investigating.
After one such act, when Tricia finally turns some evidence they found over to the Chief of Police, he doesn't even reprimand her for not only illegally removing evidence for the crime scene, but the subsequent illegal breaking and entering of the murder victim's apartment. He doesn't even have her show him exactly where they found the evidence. That just doesn't ring true to me at all. It makes the Police Chief look incompetent.
During the murderer's reveal, he attacks with a chain, but ends up on the ground with a knife sticking out of his thigh, with no explanation of how it got to be there. All-in-all, the scene was a muddled mess.
I've enjoyed the previous books in this series, but this one just struck a wrong chord with me right from the start and went downhill from there, and the ending makes me wonder if I'll bother reading the next one, should there be another. The only hope would be if David follows the same path as Tricia's previous love interests. I can't stand the guy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2023
I really really wish I could give more stars. This is the series that got me started with modern cosy mysteries. I just wish the author will finally put a final chapter to this series and will start another one from scratch. Tricia's behavior doesn't even make sense anymore. She fell in love with half of the village and this latest romance makes absolutely no sense. The killer came just out of the blue at the end of the book, he wasn't even part of the story line. I will keep reading the books from the library out of habit but it just doesn't do it for me anymore. The one thing that I think still works well is the relationship between Angelica and Tricia. Even though it can seem absurd at some points, anyone with a sister (or a very close friend or family member) would be able to understand their relationship.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 28, 2023
The end of the line
Tricia has become more and more unlikeable . To get involved in an investigation just to spite her sister was the final straw. I kept having to back off from reading it and then pick it back up. I had to force myself to finish it. I don't think I will continue with this series.
Tricia has become more and more unlikeable . To get involved in an investigation just to spite her sister was the final straw. I kept having to back off from reading it and then pick it back up. I had to force myself to finish it. I don't think I will continue with this series.
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August 10, 2023I thoroughly disliked the ending. I found David annoying, odd, and I couldn't understand at all why Trisha fell for him, age gap notwithstanding. I don't look forward to this relationship continuing in future books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 4, 2023
A disappointment particularly with the ending -- the perpetrator hardly a primary character in the novel. Read the hardback edition. Perhaps this series is "played out?" OK, but not compelling and parts so repetitive of other scenes in the series. Seemed a little humorless as well. I have enjoyed this series overall but this one a disappointment. Sorry!
July 24, 2023
It’s summer in Booktown and Angelica has hired a busy contractor to renovate a former mansion for her new office space. When she and Tricia stop by to check on the crew’s progress, they find the body of one of the workers, apparently bludgeoned to death. To get the renovation project back on track – and to satisfy her curiosity – Tricia decides to conduct her own investigation to learn who the killer is.
I really liked this series when it first started, but as it's continued, I've found the books to be rather hit and miss. Some are pretty good, others frustrate the heck out of me. This one fell into the latter group. I got really tired of the sniping between Tricia and Angelica. Maybe they spend too much time together? And I am definitely not a fan of the decision Tricia made at the end of the book (but who asked me, right?).
The saving grace here is that the mystery itself was good, with plenty of possible suspects to consider. The identity of the killer was a complete surprise, and the motive was almost as surprising. Not sure yet if I'll read the next book in the series, or if I'll just leave the two sisters to snipe far, far away from me.
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I really liked this series when it first started, but as it's continued, I've found the books to be rather hit and miss. Some are pretty good, others frustrate the heck out of me. This one fell into the latter group. I got really tired of the sniping between Tricia and Angelica. Maybe they spend too much time together? And I am definitely not a fan of the decision Tricia made at the end of the book (but who asked me, right?).
The saving grace here is that the mystery itself was good, with plenty of possible suspects to consider. The identity of the killer was a complete surprise, and the motive was almost as surprising. Not sure yet if I'll read the next book in the series, or if I'll just leave the two sisters to snipe far, far away from me.
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
August 23, 2023
Wow, I’ve been loyal to this fun series for years, but this one may have ended it for me. The writing is getting beyond cheesy to just plain bad.
In this edition of the Booktown series Trisha has a crush on a young intern that is super weird and consumes the entire book. The mystery is on the back burner and, honestly, I couldn’t keep track of any of the suspects or motives. The supporting cast whom I love to hear from, like Mr. Everett and Pixie are barely given a few lines. I know the author is desperate to give Trisha a love interest, but this is the worst one yet. Maybe it’s because I listened on audio and the narrator always does a horrible guy voice, but this guy did not sound appealing at all. I wish the author would return to her Victoria Square series. The main character is much more interesting.
In this edition of the Booktown series Trisha has a crush on a young intern that is super weird and consumes the entire book. The mystery is on the back burner and, honestly, I couldn’t keep track of any of the suspects or motives. The supporting cast whom I love to hear from, like Mr. Everett and Pixie are barely given a few lines. I know the author is desperate to give Trisha a love interest, but this is the worst one yet. Maybe it’s because I listened on audio and the narrator always does a horrible guy voice, but this guy did not sound appealing at all. I wish the author would return to her Victoria Square series. The main character is much more interesting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2023
While inspecting Angelica's new building for her company headquarters, she and Tricia discover the lead contractor's body. Yet another dead person in this small town. Meanwhile Angelia and Tricia have hired a new intern and he is a quirky one.
Overall this book is in line with the last couple of books in the series. It seems like the author is trying to make Tricia less judgmental and prudish but somehow she still is. The mystery was all over the place because the focus seemed to be on the new intern.
Overall this book is in line with the last couple of books in the series. It seems like the author is trying to make Tricia less judgmental and prudish but somehow she still is. The mystery was all over the place because the focus seemed to be on the new intern.
August 1, 2023
bad plot, poor mystery. And then a romance with a elderly alcoholic and effeminate metro-sexual with a hair bun. What garbage.
August 7, 2023
I find Trish pretty unlikeable but the mysteries are usually clever so I still read the new releases. However, this one was just awful.
November 28, 2024
3.5 stars. Review to come.
January 29, 2025
The Miles sisters almost come to blows over the summer intern Angelica hires. Very young, very handsome, and very interested in becoming a crime-fighter like Tricia.
September 6, 2023
Angelica in her Nigella Ricita persona is having a mansion renovated. It will be used as offices. When she and Tricia go to see the progress, they find one of the contractors has been bludgeoned to death with his own hammer.
The ladies have hired a young man, David, to work as a summer intern at the Chamber of Commerce office. He is extremely interested in working with Tricia to solve this murder mystery.
Throughout the story Tricia constantly references how young he is and how strange she finds it that she is attracted to him. This admission is usually followed by her insisting either internally or to someone else, that she really only sees him as a friend. Quite frankly, it was off-putting and in poor taste, IMHO.
Tricia even schools David on the proper way to interrogate a stranger. Really, Tricia? You are like a bull in a china shop when speaking to strangers, I hardly think you are in a position to remark on someone else's technique.
In a complete break with tradition the killer is revealed to be a minor character, not a key person in the town. Though the deceased was the contractor's right-hand man, he too was not known before this story.
I've never liked Tricia and in this outing I found Angelica to be excessively annoying as well. I will be interested in seeing how Tricia's relationships develop in future books in the series.
The ladies have hired a young man, David, to work as a summer intern at the Chamber of Commerce office. He is extremely interested in working with Tricia to solve this murder mystery.
Throughout the story Tricia constantly references how young he is and how strange she finds it that she is attracted to him. This admission is usually followed by her insisting either internally or to someone else, that she really only sees him as a friend. Quite frankly, it was off-putting and in poor taste, IMHO.
Tricia even schools David on the proper way to interrogate a stranger. Really, Tricia? You are like a bull in a china shop when speaking to strangers, I hardly think you are in a position to remark on someone else's technique.
In a complete break with tradition the killer is revealed to be a minor character, not a key person in the town. Though the deceased was the contractor's right-hand man, he too was not known before this story.
I've never liked Tricia and in this outing I found Angelica to be excessively annoying as well. I will be interested in seeing how Tricia's relationships develop in future books in the series.
September 9, 2023
One of my favorite mystery series, but for me, this one was not on par with the others. The mystery itself seemed a bit forced, and the new "romance" with the main character bordered on the ridiculous (ok, it was ridiculous). This was less to do with the large age difference (in this instance it just did not make sense). The character was not likable; I did not care for the David character and found him very annoying. Plus, it all seemed so rushed and forced. Author kept saying things to get you to believe he was an old soul, but he acted childish most of the time. I had a very difficult time believing Tricia, a character I normally like, would fall for this person. I hope the next one in the series focuses more on the mystery aspect and develops that more instead of forcing romance into the narrative.
November 5, 2023
When a body of one of the contractors is found in the house Angelica is having renovated Tricia is determined not to get involved. However, the summer intern they have hired to help around the chamber of commerce pull Tricia into the investigation. Can they solve the murder without getting themselves into trouble with Angelica or the police?
I enjoyed the mystery. It is well plotted with plenty of red herrings. I was unsure at first about the new character, David, but by the end of the book he has sort of grown on me. For me the one drawback of this storyline is Tricia and Angelica arguments. I know siblings argue, but Angelica’s anger toward Tricia and David spending any time together seems over the top even for Angelica. This is still a fun mystery and I would recommend to cozy mystery fans.
All thoughts and opinions are my own, I have not been influenced by anyone.
I enjoyed the mystery. It is well plotted with plenty of red herrings. I was unsure at first about the new character, David, but by the end of the book he has sort of grown on me. For me the one drawback of this storyline is Tricia and Angelica arguments. I know siblings argue, but Angelica’s anger toward Tricia and David spending any time together seems over the top even for Angelica. This is still a fun mystery and I would recommend to cozy mystery fans.
All thoughts and opinions are my own, I have not been influenced by anyone.
September 8, 2023
Ugh
So far I've read the entire series, but the premise of this one is absurd. Why Tricia allows herself to be talked into investigating the murder of someone she's never met by someone she's just met (and who is actually fairly rude to her from the start) is beyond me. Then the obsession over their impending romance is just too much. You can't help who you fall in love with, but nothing about David makes him all that attractive. The first impression of him is pretty weak, he pretty much mooches off of Tricia all summer, and yet everyone somehow thinks he's great by the end. Also, there's no real reason to get invested in the murder victim, since he's never been in any of the other stories, and besides his boss, no one else around him has, either.
So far I've read the entire series, but the premise of this one is absurd. Why Tricia allows herself to be talked into investigating the murder of someone she's never met by someone she's just met (and who is actually fairly rude to her from the start) is beyond me. Then the obsession over their impending romance is just too much. You can't help who you fall in love with, but nothing about David makes him all that attractive. The first impression of him is pretty weak, he pretty much mooches off of Tricia all summer, and yet everyone somehow thinks he's great by the end. Also, there's no real reason to get invested in the murder victim, since he's never been in any of the other stories, and besides his boss, no one else around him has, either.
September 27, 2023
" 'I get around,' Tricia said demurely."
This is the second book in a row in this series where I did not particularly care for the main character Tricia. She describes herself as middle-aged and old enough to be the mother to the Chamber of Commerce’s intern…yet continually thinks about him romantically even though his own actions reveal him to be suspicious. Plus, Tricia is increasingly reckless in her desire to solve the mystery and doesn't seem too upset to ruin friendships along the way.
Upon further reflection, I am done with this series. The behavior of Tricia (especially the ending) is too ridiculous to continue.
This is the second book in a row in this series where I did not particularly care for the main character Tricia. She describes herself as middle-aged and old enough to be the mother to the Chamber of Commerce’s intern…yet continually thinks about him romantically even though his own actions reveal him to be suspicious. Plus, Tricia is increasingly reckless in her desire to solve the mystery and doesn't seem too upset to ruin friendships along the way.
Upon further reflection, I am done with this series. The behavior of Tricia (especially the ending) is too ridiculous to continue.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 181 reviews