Dead Girl Gone

The Bookshop Detectives #1

by Gareth Ward, Louise Ward

Two small-town booksellers (and their cowardly dog) solve a decades-old murder-mystery in this witty debut novel, full of literary clues, sparkling dialogue, and comedic insights into the world of bookshops.

“When we opened Sherlock Tomes people warned us that we’d made a terrible mistake. People warned us that e-readers were taking over. People warned us that we’d never compete with Amazon. The one thing they didn’t warn us about was the murders…”

Introducing...the Bookshop Detectives!

When a mystery parcel arrives at Sherlock Tomes bookshop in small-town Havelock North, New Zealand, husband-and-wife owners Garth and Eloise (and their petrified pooch, Stevie) are drawn into the baffling case of a decades-old missing schoolgirl.

Intrigued by the puzzling, bookish clues the two ex-cops are soon tangled in a web of crime, drugs, and floral decapitations, while endeavouring to pull off the international celebrity book launch of the century.

With their beloved shop on the chopping block and the sinister suspect who forced them to run away from Blighty re-emerging from the shadows, have Garth and Eloise Sherlock finally met their Moriarty?

For once, the cover copy is no exaggeration: Diary of a Bookseller really does meet Thursday Murder Club meets Bookseller at the End of the World in this witty debut novel, full of literary clues, comedic insights and the kinds of Kiwis you only ever meet in bookshops.

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Fiction, Audiobook, Book Club, Cozy Mystery, Books About Books

336 pages, Paperback

First published July 23, 2024

About the author

New Zealand Author

Reviews

[Alisa Chapple · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was a nice and easy read. i wasn’t quite into it until a little over half way into the book. it wasn’t bad, but i wouldn’t say it was amazing either.

[Harriet Shirtcliff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this! It oozed fun and I found myself laughing out loud a lot.
A page turner with bits and bobs of Aotearoa that related so well being a kiwi myself.

[Jane Gregg · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did not enjoy as a reading or listening experience (did both). Particular grimaces at the dreadful pronunciation and accent work by the audiobook narrators - so bad. They even got basic English words wrong, let alone kupu Māori. Shudder.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am, in a lot of ways, the perfect audience for this book

Wardinis (the bookstore the Wards own) is a second home to me, and I love the staff that run it. So I was very excited to get my hands on this and had such a great time reading it. I loved all the nods to people and places in the Bay as that's not something I have really come across before. The characters, especially those from the bookstore were so accurate I frequently cracked up

Aside from my love of Wardinis this was also a fun, cozy mystery. Murder and death are interspliced with the day to day running of a bookstore and all the characters one meets. The mystery kept me guessing and whenever I thought I had guessed how this was going to end I would be surprised and scratching my head again. This was fun escapism with a mystery a bookstore and characters who I know and adore, what's not to love! The only thing I don't like is that its over now and I have to wait to get another book in this series (please let there be another book in this series!!)

[Georgia Ferris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really not worth the hype. It must be an NZ thing, that anything published here gets the big drum. The story features two ex-cop booksellers who are invited to solve a crime in the run-up to an important book launch. The setting is that of the authors life, however the characters are smug and painful, surely if you base characters of yourself you would try to make them likeable? The plot itself is good enough, although I never guess the plot twist early I did see this one coming miles off. The book features at least two painful plugs of the authors other books “oh, I wish I’d written them” exclaimed by the alter ego Garth. The unnecessary digs at J K Rowling, Jordan B Peterson and David Walliams could also be cut, spare me a bookshop with such a political agenda. If you’re looking for cosy murders, go for Thursday Murder Club, and if you want bookshop setting then turn to Days at the Morisaki Bookshop. This was not worth the time.

[Anna Loder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute and cosy, loved all the bookseller injokes and the sense of real community that gathers around a bookshop.

[tanisha (jacks & cardan’s version)]

DNF’D at 23%

I thought the premise of this book was super interesting but unfortunately I just don’t think it was for me. I loved how the authors based this book off themselves as it was a unique way to go about writing characters. However, I just didn’t vibe with the story and that is on me. I couldn’t find myself getting interested enough to want to continue and if I did I feel this book would have been at most a 3 star read. Maybe one day I’ll pick it back up and give it another go…

Also this is not to say that others won’t enjoy it because I’ve seen plenty of wonderful reviews I just didn’t find myself wanting to finish it.

[Jane Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book, the style of writing, humour, being set in NZ, Havelock North and the quirky , lovable characters visiting and working in the Sherlock Tomes bookshop. And then there are the mysteries to be solved!
“ I’ve been asleep for most of the drive back,partly because being unconscious is the best way to experience Eloise's driving and partly because when I die I want to die in my sleep. I am , however, rudely awakened as Eloise negotiates the roundabout at the Napier Road and Romanes Drive intersection in some sort of sling-shot manoeuvre. I sit straighter, adjust my seatbelt and grip the edge of the seat"

[Liv Stapley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it in a day which says enough about how enjoyable it was!

[Dayle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Something about the protagonists being slightly fictionalised versions of the authors annoyed me from the get go. This story is fine. It could use some solid editing as it’s longer than it needs to be, with little ‘slice of life’ chapters that belong to a different genre. I found the story a bit absurd and the climax of the reveal ridiculous. The self promotion in the middle also rankled me.
The mystery was enough to keep me reading as I wanted a resolution, but the primary source of satisfaction is now the book is finished.

[Alexandra Kalhofer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love me some cozy crime! I enjoyed the little scenes from the bookshop, but at the same time they made it a little hard to stay invested in the mystery.

[Kiara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I fear that this wasn’t for me! From the beginning I was kinda bored and didn’t understand where the story was going. It felt as though there was a lot of pointless information to fill the pages, they’d over explain everything and the dual pov felt unnecessary as there wasn’t a lot to differentiate the character’s inner monologue. Also having worked in a bookstore made this feel not as special as it might for someone who has never experienced it before.

[Kelly Blackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 1/2⭐️ rounded down

This is the cosy crime of my dreams, full of interesting and potentially shady characters and set in one of my absolute favourite places in New Zealand.

I absolutely loved the banter between the two main characters as they prepare for an international book launch while also investigating a cold case.

The story left me guessing to the end and was such a fun time!

[Annette Chidzey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This recent publication has been chosen for an upcoming book club discussion. While it was well paced- short chapters alternating between two key protagonists- namely Garth and Eloise- it was not as compelling or as intriguing as 17 Years Later or the Mick Herron series Slow Horses.

The structure was interesting as was the countdown to the actual mystery book launch but parts were a little disconnected for me- especially the Pinter component of the narrative that seemed to get lost among the investigation into the suspected murder of Tracey Jarvis.

Some of the characters were interestingly created as was the setting of two ex British police detectives having migrated to New Zealand to open a bookshop in Havelock North and live a changed pace of life.

A pleasant read but not one that will make me seek out any more from this series any time soon.

[Sonia Cristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a delightful reading. I adored the characters, the setting, the bookish theme everywhere, the slow pace...
Garth and Eloise are such a cute couple. I love their dynamics. And Stevie too.
I did suspect something about the missing girl and was super glad to see it confirmed at the ending.

[Emily :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

i loved loved loved this book. as someone who is hastings/havers born and bred i can say that the essence of the area is truly captured. the characters are amazing, the plot is great & truly keeps you guessing until the last second (though i did have some partially true theories). truly hope this is going to help a series!

[mk · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is absolutely in the same category as the Thursday murder club books in the best way - humorous, quirky characters, a setting (hawke’s bay NZ) that sounds cozy and close knit. And zero surprise to find out in the acknowledgements that they are real life booksellers — so many loving references to books and readers.

[Princess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cozy book that references novels in current circulation. Lots of wink, wink, nudge, nudge feels.

The plot twist took me by surprise!

[Isabella Barbalich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute little read 🥰 loved the local setting details from an area I know well

[Kylan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. A good entertaining read.

[Natalie Pomeroy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really enjoyable. Thanks Lukey (husband). I'm looking forward to reading other adventures of these "weirdo" bookshop owners.

[Clare Bateman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyable book and loveable characters.

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so much fun on so many levels. First, it begins in a bookshop and it regularly references lots of types of writing and NZ writing. Secondly, Eloise and Garth and their staff are delightful distinctive figures. (I’ll stop numbering now and just talk about the good aspects.) It is set in Havelock North, Hawke’s Bay where my grandchildren live. The book couple are retired police people (from the UK). A mysterious package sets them investigating the disappearance many years ago of a (fictional) Te Mata HS schoolgirl, believed murdered. As you would expect there are many false directions and complications but it all comes together spectacularly in the end with the circus at the Village Green. The writers certainly keep your attention and my familiarity with the setting left me delighted.

[Jenny Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful read by the owners of our lovely local bookshop. The story revolves around their shop and is about a package being delivered to their shop plus a request for the promotion of an upcoming book but what does it have to do with the disappearance of a teenage schoolgirl 20 years ago. Enjoyable as many of the characters were very familiar.

[Sophie Graaaaaaham · Rating 5 out of 5]

How can a murder mystery also be delightful and make me laugh?

[Simon Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Live in Hawkes Bay? Come for sights you’ll know. Live New Zealand? Come for familiar character types you’ll recognise. Live somewhere else? Come for the cosy mystery.

Regardless of why or how you came by this book, stay a while and relax into a beautifully crafted narrative filled with quirky characters, finely drawn description and amusingly written dialogue.

If I could give it 10 stars I would. Can’t wait to see what the Sherlock Tomes proprietors and customers get up to next time.

[Jess · Rating 2 out of 5]

Whilst I normally love an easy read and a good mystery, this book leant too much into quirky characters and took a snails pace to set the story. It wasn’t until half way that things got interesting and it was a shame as it was a layered mystery that was actually interesting. The dual POV was interesting but didn’t add anything to the storyline so not worth it. It was okay but I know I should stay away from cozy mysteries.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

A generous 3! Didn't like the audio book at all! Should have stopped listening and read a hard copy. The narration made the story seem even more clichéd. Accents awful. And it's never a good thing when I work out the plot twist early on in the book. Only kept reading because I'm a kiwi and I know Havelock North and Hawkes Bay well.

[Zac · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this! The ins and outs of bookselling and little jokes were hilarious and the mystery was tense. The perfect combination of all of the things I love in a great book. I want a job at Sherlock Tomes with these characters!

[Kate Snow · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
Might even have given a higher rating, but I listened to it as an audio book and the pronunciation of some of the NZ place names was incorrect and some of the local voices sounded more Australian than kiwi.
Apart from that i definitely enjoyed this