When recently widowed sisters Maggie Abbott and Gwen Potter embark on a fresh chapter of their lives, they didn’t expect it to involve ghosts. After building their dream cottage on the shores of Lake Michigan, they open The Storyteller Book Shop, which soon becomes a haven for the residents of their small town. But just as Maggie begins to settle into her new life, she makes a chilling discovery—their beloved bookstore is haunted by the restless spirit of a young woman... and the man who murdered her. With the help of her sister, a tight-knit circle of book-loving women, and a newfound ability to communicate with the dead, Maggie is drawn into a mystery that has somehow remained hidden for over a century in a town where everybody knows everything about everyone else. As the ghosts grow more desperate and the past refuses to stay buried, Maggie must decide how far she’s willing to go to uncover the truth—before history repeats itself. This debut novel is a heartwarming, suspenseful tale of reinvention, friendship, and the power of stories—both the ones we tell and the ones that refuse to stay silent.
Loved this book. It is not my typical read but this authors debut was amazing. If you need a bit of mystery that will keep you engaged until the end, this is for you. It was small town cozy vibes. If you love Michigan and mystery this book is for you.
**EDIT: I have updated my review rating to 5 stars, because I realized today that every book I’ve read since this one I have compared to it to determine its ranking. The couple typos I saw do not take away from the storytelling. I’m really looking forward to the next two books in the series! (Also, I did get the paper copy, and got it autographed!!)**
You never know what you’re going to get when you pick up a book from a new author. I have to say, it was SO GOOD! I had to keep telling myself to slow down, not to read so fast, but I wanted to see what happens next! I am really looking forward to more from this author, and the book was written in a way that allows for more adventures and mysteries! The main reason I only did 4 stars is because I did see a couple typos, and maybe that’s only the digital version - I don’t know. I am considering buying the paper copy because it is deserving of a space on my bookshelf.
I received this book as an ARC. I’m not usually a cozy mystery reader, but this book made me wonder why I’ve stayed away from the genre.
As the story progresses, the author pulls you deeper and deeper into the mystery, weaving a compelling tale of finding justice. With an engaging cast of characters and a well-paced plot, the mystery keeps the reader hooked right to the very end.
Well written and easy to get absorbed (especially the second half), beautiful setting of a quaint West Michigan town and Lake Michigan cottages along with the ideal bookstore. The ghost /supernatural themes aren’t my typical reads, but stories of strong ladies, women supporting women, bookstores and Lake Michigan are right up my alley. Two thumbs up!
Such a great story. While this would typically not have been my normal genre, I could not put it down. I’m ready to read more by this new author. Well done, Heidi!
I’m not usually drawn to ghost stories, but this book completely drew me in from the first page. The characters are engaging and the storyline so interesting that I didn’t want to put it down. I cannot wait to read another book by this author!