What do you think?
Rate this book
Bellingwood #5
Life Between the Lines
It finally happened. One of Polly's guests dies. Right at her front door. Thomas Zeller, an author with a strong affection for Edgar Allan Poe, wakes Polly in the middle of the night with fatal stab wounds and she has to call the Sheriff, who threatens to buy her a Grim Reaper costume for Halloween. Zeller leaves behind a mystery for Polly to solve and she gets everyone involved as she uncovers his real motive for being in Bellingwood.
As if that isn't enough, someone vandalizes Sycamore House and Polly can't imagine who might be that angry at her. She and Jeff Lyndsay are preparing to celebrate the first anniversary of Sycamore House with a Masquerade Ball and Lydia Merritt decorates the large foyer for Beggar's Night with a Haunted Hallway. With all of these things happening around her, Polly continues to meet new friends and build her relationship with Henry Sturtz.
Everyone we know and love returns in "Life Between the Lines." Some of their lives get more complicated while others get more interesting. Kids grow up and new friendships blossom, but one thing they all discover is how important it is to have people around who will support you no matter what you need from them.
As if that isn't enough, someone vandalizes Sycamore House and Polly can't imagine who might be that angry at her. She and Jeff Lyndsay are preparing to celebrate the first anniversary of Sycamore House with a Masquerade Ball and Lydia Merritt decorates the large foyer for Beggar's Night with a Haunted Hallway. With all of these things happening around her, Polly continues to meet new friends and build her relationship with Henry Sturtz.
Everyone we know and love returns in "Life Between the Lines." Some of their lives get more complicated while others get more interesting. Kids grow up and new friendships blossom, but one thing they all discover is how important it is to have people around who will support you no matter what you need from them.
311 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 30, 2014
137 people are currently reading
97 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
May 2, 2022
I’m not sure what it is about these books that calms my soul. It’s not great literature, the plot doesn’t surprise me, few twists I don’t see coming, and the mundane details should annoy me, but instead I find them relaxing and exactly what I need when I’ve read too many war novels or other “make you think” books. Polly and her animals and their routines soothe me.
April 28, 2014
As always. A very pleasant read. Now I am hungry and want the recipe for pumpkin bars.
July 24, 2017
Love the series and this book is another great reason why. Life Between the Lines has an intriguing plot that kept me engaged and I love seeing all the characters continue to develop. I agree with many other reviews in that you will enjoy this book most if you have read the series from the beginning, but it is also a great story on it's own.
May 29, 2020
Great read
This is the second time I've read this series. Diane keeps you on your toes in suspense and entertainment. I recommend this series to everyone. You haven't lived until you read this series and you are hooked.
This is the second time I've read this series. Diane keeps you on your toes in suspense and entertainment. I recommend this series to everyone. You haven't lived until you read this series and you are hooked.
June 14, 2025
Great Halloween (or Beggars Night) setting. There was one unfinished storyline that I assume will continue into the next book. Sylvie’s bit of storyline could have been left out, in my opinion. It came out of nowhere and fell flat.
July 8, 2019
Love this series of books! Bellingwood seems like an ideal place to live. All the characters are great and I never know what will happen to Polly! Great reads!
October 22, 2022
Such a fun book, all centered around Halloween. It is filled with lots of good and fun times as well as a lot of suspense.
October 19, 2016
Life Between the Lines: Bellingwood Book Five is by Diane Greenwood Muir and Jamie McFarlane. It is a good book and really keeps your interest. I had to stay up and finish this one last night.
Polly Giller’s reputation as a body finder is heating up once again. This time, Thomas Zellar, one of her guests comes to her door late in the evening. He has managed to crawl from his room to her door. He handed her a flash drive and told her to “look for him”. Then he died of stab wounds. Polly didn’t have anything to do with his death; but like Patti, they are helping defuse the tension.
Thomas Zellar was a writer who grew up in the “hippy days” of San Francisco. His girlfriend, “Nellie” has disappeared. He has spent his entire life trying to be free of alcohol and drugs and to find “Nellie”. Now it is up to Polly to figure out what Thomas wanted her to find. Meanwhile, two different agents are here to get a look at his newest book. Which one will get it?
Jeff and Lydia are planning Halloween events and an anniversary event. Polly’s friend Sal is coming to surprise the vet Mark. Where is Henry in all the excitement?
So much goes on in this book that you have to keep on your toes not to get confused. It is amazing.
Polly Giller’s reputation as a body finder is heating up once again. This time, Thomas Zellar, one of her guests comes to her door late in the evening. He has managed to crawl from his room to her door. He handed her a flash drive and told her to “look for him”. Then he died of stab wounds. Polly didn’t have anything to do with his death; but like Patti, they are helping defuse the tension.
Thomas Zellar was a writer who grew up in the “hippy days” of San Francisco. His girlfriend, “Nellie” has disappeared. He has spent his entire life trying to be free of alcohol and drugs and to find “Nellie”. Now it is up to Polly to figure out what Thomas wanted her to find. Meanwhile, two different agents are here to get a look at his newest book. Which one will get it?
Jeff and Lydia are planning Halloween events and an anniversary event. Polly’s friend Sal is coming to surprise the vet Mark. Where is Henry in all the excitement?
So much goes on in this book that you have to keep on your toes not to get confused. It is amazing.
December 8, 2016
The more I read with this series there is one thing I get out of them the most. You can't do it alone. The support structure that has been developed in this series is complex as a spider web where each link is tied in with another that if one should break there are others there to help to support till it can be fixed or another connection made from the one that was broken to continue the web structure in another direction.
This series was again darker than the last to have one die on her door step and leave her with a difficult puzzle. The rest is for you to learn as you make your way through this next installment. I know that I am completely hooked and reading each one right after the other. I don't know if I will be taking a break from them but until such time it is on to the next.
There is only one complaint I have. The editing is starting to become distracting. I do not know what has happened. My only hope is that it is fixed...soon.
This series was again darker than the last to have one die on her door step and leave her with a difficult puzzle. The rest is for you to learn as you make your way through this next installment. I know that I am completely hooked and reading each one right after the other. I don't know if I will be taking a break from them but until such time it is on to the next.
There is only one complaint I have. The editing is starting to become distracting. I do not know what has happened. My only hope is that it is fixed...soon.
March 3, 2015
Life Between the Lines: Another Bellingwood Mystery
This is number five in the Bellingwood series. I have read the first four, and look forward to the last three. The characters are great, and the stories are so much fun, it is hard to put them down. Having grown up in the midwest, reading this book is like going home for a visit. I recommend these books to anyone who loves good mysteries, and people who are real and welcoming. I have read a lot of first books in series, but this time, I got the entire thing, because I want to know how the story of Polly and Henry ends. I sincerely thank Diane Greenwood Muir for sharing these stories with all of us.
This is number five in the Bellingwood series. I have read the first four, and look forward to the last three. The characters are great, and the stories are so much fun, it is hard to put them down. Having grown up in the midwest, reading this book is like going home for a visit. I recommend these books to anyone who loves good mysteries, and people who are real and welcoming. I have read a lot of first books in series, but this time, I got the entire thing, because I want to know how the story of Polly and Henry ends. I sincerely thank Diane Greenwood Muir for sharing these stories with all of us.
July 15, 2019
One of Polly's guests, a famous author, is stabbed at Sycamore House, and he dies at her feet. His flash drive sends her on a puzzle-filled quest for the woman he loved and lost long ago. Could one of Polly's three mysterious other guests have killed him? And why? Once again, Polly solves the mystery, but not before she endangers herself in the process.
Meanwhile, Polly and Henry's relationship continues to grow. Will Polly ever get over her cold feet?
Ms. Muir has served up another great story, with characters who seem like friends. Check out this wonderful small town... you'll hate to leave!
Meanwhile, Polly and Henry's relationship continues to grow. Will Polly ever get over her cold feet?
Ms. Muir has served up another great story, with characters who seem like friends. Check out this wonderful small town... you'll hate to leave!
January 31, 2015
Not as good as the others in the series. "Pretty girl" got very old, very fast. Every time I read it, I kept hearing it said in a parrot voice. I know others have called this series saccharine, but normally I don't mind it. However, in this book, everyone telling each other how much they loved each other had me rolling my eyes. My biggest issue however, was the vandalism storyline that just got dropped. Who did it and why? I'm not sure if she deals with it in the next book, but I was very surprised when I got the last page and there was no mention of it at all.
July 15, 2025
Updated after second reading: the author did an amazing amount of research for this book, but I still stand behind my original review...Better than the previous book, but that patronizing "pretty girl" line by Polly's love interest is really getting old. The author has really boxed herself into a corner by creating such a small town setting. Yet, kudos to the author to make light of the fact that so many people drop dead in such a small town. It is an ongoing joke that is very funny.
February 2, 2015
A Book Which Lives Up to Its Title
This was my fifth Bellingwood book and I've already purchased number six. All have been the perfect mixture of characters true to themselves and plot twists both logical and unexpected. I guessed the culprit quite early in the novel, but I didn't care--there were plenty of side stories to keep me turning the pages eagerly.
This was my fifth Bellingwood book and I've already purchased number six. All have been the perfect mixture of characters true to themselves and plot twists both logical and unexpected. I guessed the culprit quite early in the novel, but I didn't care--there were plenty of side stories to keep me turning the pages eagerly.
June 14, 2023
I fell in love with this series from the very start. I love all of the crazy characters. I can't wait to see what the series holds from here. I love the friendships and family relationships woven throughout the stories. This series will make you laugh and cry and definitely make you appreciate those special relationships you have in your life.
August 24, 2016
The past meets the present
Guess who finds a dead body, again!! It's Halloween at Sycamore House, and the ghouls are coming out to play. Polly and her friends are busy trying to solve the latest murder of a well known author. There are suspects aplenty, and lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing.
Guess who finds a dead body, again!! It's Halloween at Sycamore House, and the ghouls are coming out to play. Polly and her friends are busy trying to solve the latest murder of a well known author. There are suspects aplenty, and lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing.
September 13, 2016
Liking all the Bellingwood stories
Just finished, "Life Between the Lines" and found it to be just as good as the previous books by Muir. I seem to be addicted to this series and don't know what I'll do when I've read them all. Please tell me eventually Polly will marry Henry. They are so perfect together.
Just finished, "Life Between the Lines" and found it to be just as good as the previous books by Muir. I seem to be addicted to this series and don't know what I'll do when I've read them all. Please tell me eventually Polly will marry Henry. They are so perfect together.
January 15, 2017
Loved it, more please :) I found the series right before Christmas 2016 and finished the entire series by the first week in 2017.
I am so happy to find an author I love, but now I have to wait for the next book like the rest of Diane's fans. On the positive side, she appears to be very prolific and the next book will be out in March 2017 (17).
I am so happy to find an author I love, but now I have to wait for the next book like the rest of Diane's fans. On the positive side, she appears to be very prolific and the next book will be out in March 2017 (17).
May 7, 2021
I enjoyed very much could hardly put it down. Reasonable mystery and the well known characters well developed. Cosy.
I have just reread first 10 books in one go, which is something I don't usually do. To be honest I probably liked them even better this time. There is a lot of filler stuff, taking dogs for walks and eating and so on, but it just feels like comfy clothes.
I have just reread first 10 books in one go, which is something I don't usually do. To be honest I probably liked them even better this time. There is a lot of filler stuff, taking dogs for walks and eating and so on, but it just feels like comfy clothes.
November 11, 2014
Another good one but did not enjoy quite as much as the first four .... I think the Thomas Zeller story was a bit much. I had trouble keeping all the details straight in this one. Still enjoyed the book though.
February 28, 2015
This is book #5 in the Bellingwood series. I am reading them in order and enjoying my immersion in the lives of the residents of Bellingwood, Iowa. I can't believe that Polly and Henry have yet to consumate their relationship. That they don't seem frustrated surely frustrates me!
May 16, 2017
Delightful continuance in the series
January 11, 2015
Love this series.
March 7, 2015
Bellingwood Book 5
I am definitely hooked on following the adventures of Polly and her friends in Bellingwood! Pollutant seem to find trouble without even leaving home.
I am definitely hooked on following the adventures of Polly and her friends in Bellingwood! Pollutant seem to find trouble without even leaving home.
April 18, 2015
Another great book! Getting ready to start the next one
June 16, 2015
Another enjoyable read
Enjoyed this next part of the series. It's always enough to keep me interested... but the story doesn't stress me out despite all of the twists and turns. :)
Enjoyed this next part of the series. It's always enough to keep me interested... but the story doesn't stress me out despite all of the twists and turns. :)
June 26, 2015
I've been reading through the series and I like the mystery of the book better that the previous, but the "pretty girl" thing is annoying. I can't wait to finish the series.
April 6, 2016
I'm chugging along on this series, more more more!!!!
January 7, 2016
Enjoyed, was a little disappointed not knowing why the house was vandalized, how the date turned out for Doug and a few other thing that went on.
March 6, 2016
I can not get enough of this series. I dread the day i have to wait for the next book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews