A Classic Case

Secrets of Mary's Bookshop #12

by Camy Tang

Mary is delighted about Living History Days, when many of Ivy Bay's businesses put on demonstrations of what life was like in historic Cape Cod. She's especially excited about the reenacted bank robbery at Ivy Bay Bank & Trust. But as Mary and the crowd watch the reenactment, they realize this fake crime is actually real! The masked, gun-wielding robber, played by Steve Althorpe, the bank manager, escapes with the contents of several safe deposit boxes before anyone realizes what's really happening.

The entire town is shocked. Why would Steve do such a thing? The police stage a manhunt without success, and the robbery makes it even more likely that the bank, already rumored to be in trouble, will have to close. But something about the theft doesn't feel right to Mary/ She's not sure Steve is the thief. But if the robber isn't Steve, who is it? And where is Steve?

Genres: Christian Fiction, Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Christian

Hardcover

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Camy writes Christian romantic suspense, contemporary romance, and cozy mystery as Camy Tang and Regency romance under her pen name, Camille Elliot. She grew up in Hawaii but now lives in northern California with her engineer husband and rambunctious dog. She graduated from Stanford University in psychology with a focus on biology, but for nine years she worked as a biologist researcher. Then God guided her path in a completely different direction and now she’s writing full time, using her original psychology degree as she creates the characters in her novels. In her free time, she’s a staff worker for her church youth group and leads one of her church’s Sunday worship teams. She also loves to knit, spin wool into yarn, and is training to (very slowly) run a marathon.

Reviews

[Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls) · Rating 3 out of 5]

My personal Rating- Three Stars
This is yet another clean and interesting Guidepost mystery. I do wish Mary wouldn’t put herself in danger/possible danger so much…it would be nice if she give all her hints to the police and they acted on it before she went off on her own to the place (or to talk to the person). But that wouldn’t be the most interesting for the reader, of course. Maybe just don’t follow Mary’s example on mystery hunting. ;)


{{Official Review to Come.}}

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

The town is having Living History days and Mary is excited and doing a book making demonstration. The town is also reenactment of a bank robbery, while they are watching they realize it is a real bank robber and it looks like the bank manager is the crook. When the manager is missing, the town is afraid.Mary puts together clues to find out where he is and who really did it.

[Loraine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mary once more finds herself embroiled in a mystery in Ivy Bay Massachusetts. During their Living History Day, a reenactment of a long ago bank robbery becomes a real life robbery. Using clues from old land records and putting pieces of the puzzle together, Mary saves Steve, the head teller, from the accusations of committing the robbery.

These are easy to read, clean Christian mysteries from Guidepost. I like to pick up one now and then after I have been doing some heavier reading. This one happens to be written by a member of our own CFD. She is now writing regency novels under the pseudonym Camille Elliott.

[Kathie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story and mystery. Mary is so very lucky to have Rebecca and Ashley as employees. It always seems she leaves them alone in the store more than she is there herself. I hope she pays well.

[Val · Rating 5 out of 5]

Living History Day in Ivy Bay just got serious. What was supposed to be a reenactment of a long ago bank robbery turns into the real deal. With so many residents acting suspiciously Mary has her work cut out for her to figure out who the masked bandit was. Many residents believe it was a inside job but Mary doesn't believe it for a second, now she just has to prove it.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Living History Day in Ivy Bay is interrupted when the bank is robbed during a reenactment. Anne sets out to help police solve the crime.

[Jacquie Stricklind · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a suspenseful book. Mary and other shop owners in Ivy Bay are putting on demonstrations for Living History Days. Mary shows how to bind a book together the way it was done in the 1800's. Meanwhile at the Ivy Bay Bank & Trust there is going to be an reenactment of of the bank being robbed, except the bank is really robbed. The police believe that Steve Althorpe the bank manager robbed the bank. Mary doesn't believe Steve robbed the bank. Mary decides to find out who really robbed the bank and where Steve is. Also, why is Jayne Tucker selling a clock on the internet but not in her store? Why is Sandra a teller in the bank acting strange? Read the book to find out what is going on with some of Mary's friends, and most importantly who really robbed the bank. A very hard book to put down.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall this is a fantastic series! The characters are quirky and fun, and relatable. I really enjoy reading book series that are light, funny, and share much needed lessons. Set in an idyllic setting, I can picture it clearly due to the all the details provided. All of the books in the series hold my attention - I don't want to put them down until I know how the mystery ends!

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book #12 was a good read, not as much intrique but since the story was about re-inacting the history of Ivy Bay.....it was perfect!

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This takes place in the autumn. It involves a bank, a boat, a dock, kidnapping, and theft.