Remaindered

by Peter Lovesey

The backroom of the Precious Finds Bookstore has served many purposes in its twenty-six years: a museum for unsalable books; a meeting place for art, music, and coffee clubs; a rendezvous point for the mysterious Friends of England; and the final resting place of its owner, Mr. Robert Ripple. Found dead of a heart attack, hunched over an overflowing box of Agatha Christie hardcovers, Ripple's death is relatively simple. The complications come in its aftermath. In the absence of a last will and testament, Ripple's savvy assistant Tanya sorts through the estate and discovers the the box of Christie volumes that ended her boss's life might just make hers. The unsavory members of the Friends of England, however, have secrets, not to mention plans, of their own for the unclaimed estate.

With its international wheeling and dealing, mob boss connections, and sexual conspiracies, Tanya discovers the the Precious Finds Bookstore is not anything like it seems. This Mysterious Bookshop original is Peter Lovesey at his best; the twists and turns of "Remaindered" will keep you guessing until the end.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Short Stories, Crime, Mystery Thriller

56 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Peter Harmer Lovesey, also known by his pen name Peter Lear, was a British writer of historical and contemporary detective novels and short stories. His best-known series characters are Sergeant Cribb, a Victorian-era police detective based in London, and Peter Diamond, a modern-day police detective in Bath. He was also one of the world's leading track and field statisticians.

Reviews

[Berengaria · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

short review for busy readers:
A cute, slapstick comedy. Something one might scribble down in an single afternoon after a few Margaritas.

An ailing bookshop is thrown into turmoil after the death of its owner. He left no will, but he did leave a recently purchased box of highly valuable Agatha Christie first editions.

That’s of little interest to the young manager and a certain trio of customers who have their own secrets to cover up before the State arrives to evaluate and seize anything of value.

And there’s a lot of value back there in the rubbish pit of a storeroom…let’s just hope nobody looks behind that complete 1911 edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica!

A decent addition to the Bibliomysteries series, if one that it doesn't feel as if the writer spent too much time on.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of a series of Bibliomysteries; short mysteries about books. It begins with Robert Ripple, found dead over a box of recently purchased Agatha Christie novels, on the floor of his second hand bookshop, Precious Finds. The bookshop is the heart of the reading community, much loved by all the various groups who use the premises and especially by the ‘Friends of England’ who turn out to consist of the ex wife of a gangster and two ex members of his gang. The Friends of England are eager for the bookshop to stay open, but Robert Ripple does not seem to have left a will and no relatives can be found. Meanwhile, young bookshop assistant Tanya Tripp, carries on until the future of the bookshop is decided. Why are the Friends of England so determined to keep the shop open and what is Tanya’s role in events?

This is a fun story, with amusing plot twists. It does, though, have a lot going on in what is, essentially, quite a short read. I would rate it 3.5 stars, but it felt more like the first chapter of a novel, rather than a contained story.

[Fictionophile · Rating 3 out of 5]

If asked ‘whodunit’, this time the honest answer would be Agatha Christie. When bookshop owner Robert Ripple goes to lift his newly acquired box of Agatha Christie first editions, his heart gives out. He dies bent over the box…With no family and no will, the bookshop’s future is in limbo.

Tanya, his shop assistant keeps the place ticking over, but the small community of Pokesville, Pa. miss their bookshop. Many groups gathered there, one of which was the “Friends of England” group. After a few weeks pass and still no will is found, the authorities declare that Ripple’s estate then must revert back to the State of Pennsylvania. The ‘Friends of England’ cannot let that happen!

This short novella features some highly unsavoury characters whose lives are led by their own avarice. With a clever twist near the end, the story will most certainly be enjoyed by fans of the author.

[Linda Brue · Rating 2 out of 5]

REMAINDERED, Peter Lovesey, 2014
Bibliomystery #16--bibliomysteries are a series of mystery shorts about books written by a variety of top mystery authors. This brief story about a dead bookstore owner, dead by heart attack while shifting cartons of priceless Christie hardcovers, is really rather boring. Not at all up to the standards I expect from a Peter Lovesey story. There isn't much of a mystery here, either, just a bunch of people, some who are ex-mob members, and the woman who worked for the owner of the shop, all who are keeping secrets. Lovesey is an excellent writer but I wouldn't recommend bothering with this one.

[Brett Stevens · Rating 1 out of 5]

This booklet is a short story clearly designed to be a freebie for the ebook reader audience, and while I appreciate that, it is a mystery that is not believable in its structure or execution. Everything is just too pat. I enjoy previous works from Mr Lovesey but this one is worth skipping.

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are more twists and turns in this wonderful short story than in many novels. What could be more appropriate than a death by a box of first edition Agatha Christies. Very fun read. Kristi & Abby Tabby Childless Cat Lady

[Cybercrone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just a light, fun read that worked.

[AdiTurbo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good, entertaining short story about a bookshop where much more is going on than meets the eye. Strong characters and an original idea.

[Adelaide Blair · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

[Janice · Rating 3 out of 5]

From Bibliomysteries, Volume 2

[Rubin Carpenter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Bookstore owner's death after an acquisition of Agatha Christie books sets in motion a secret long held among a group of the store's patrons
An intriguing and engaging tale

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another short book about a bookstore, a death, some priceless authentic Agatha Christie books worth lots of money and some criminals on the run.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tries to be clever, but ends up being predictable. I didn't think the mob connection worked.

[Liz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh.

[Oana-Maria Uliu · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a load of BS...

[Jayson]

Review to come...

[Damaskcat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bookshop owner Robert Ripple dies slumped over an open box of Agatha Christie first editions. No one knows anything much about him or how the bookshop manages to keep going. Several groups use the shop as a meeting place including one called 'The Friends of England' who will do anything to keep the bookshop in business. Tanya - Robert's young assistant - keeps the shop going for the moment because she has nothing better to do and no one can find a will or any relatives.

Each person in this story has something to hide and an agenda of their own to follow. I found this an interesting read and chuckled over the ending. As ever with Peter Lovesey you just know there's going to be a nice twist in the story just when you thought you had worked it all out, This is a short story rather than a novella and can be read in about half an hour.

[Lexxi Kitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid little nugget of a story. Several plots going on at once. Starting off with a death, and anther involving a bank truck heist in the past, and another involving an accidental death.

Set in a small used book store in the USA (Pennsylvania to be exact). Lovesey does not normally set his stories in the USA. Three or four of the characters are from New York, one is from England, by way of New York. Characters started off seeming as if they would be thin, but they rounded out nicely. At least by short story standards.

[Jeffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another clever e-book entry in the Biblio Mysteries series, this is a story from veteran British mystery author, Peter Lovesey concerning the death of a mystery book store owner and his collection of priceless Agatha Christie first edition hardcovers.

Like all of the books in the series, this mystery story is about books and reading, and Dame Christie is given the honor she deserves.

The twists in this story will keep you guessing.

[Anjanette · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think this story was suffering from having far too much going on. It felt like the author was trying to work in too many mystery motifs and not trying to tell a simply story in a straightforward manner.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good short story with a twist. These bibliomysteries are all under 100 pages, and are book related. They have all been good so far.