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Dangerous Type Mystery #3
Comic Sans Murder
Clare Henry's snowy Star City, Utah, oasis turns deadly in the third Dangerous Type Mystery from the New York Times bestselling author of Bookman Dead Style and To Helvetica and Back.
SOMETHING'S AFOOT....
The visit of quirky world-famous horror author Nathan Grimes to Star City is especially thrilling for Clare Henry and her grandfather Chester. As the owners of The Rescued Word, a charming boutique shop in town, Clare and Chester specialize in restoring old typewriters and repairing beloved books. They've invited Nathan to their shop to use their equipment for his next book.
But all plans to work on the book take a step in the wrong direction when a tourist discovers an abandoned ski boot on the slopes--and the only sign of the owner is the dismembered foot he left inside! Nathan's writer's curiosity for all things horror is further piqued after the body of Clare's high school friend Lloyd Gavin is discovered sans one foot. When all toes point to a class reunion gone wrong, Nathan can't help but join Clare and her best friend, police officer Jodie Wentworth, as they hurry to track down the killer before more former classmates become Most Likely to Be Killed.
SOMETHING'S AFOOT....
The visit of quirky world-famous horror author Nathan Grimes to Star City is especially thrilling for Clare Henry and her grandfather Chester. As the owners of The Rescued Word, a charming boutique shop in town, Clare and Chester specialize in restoring old typewriters and repairing beloved books. They've invited Nathan to their shop to use their equipment for his next book.
But all plans to work on the book take a step in the wrong direction when a tourist discovers an abandoned ski boot on the slopes--and the only sign of the owner is the dismembered foot he left inside! Nathan's writer's curiosity for all things horror is further piqued after the body of Clare's high school friend Lloyd Gavin is discovered sans one foot. When all toes point to a class reunion gone wrong, Nathan can't help but join Clare and her best friend, police officer Jodie Wentworth, as they hurry to track down the killer before more former classmates become Most Likely to Be Killed.
279 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 5, 2017
51 people are currently reading
618 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 176 reviews
July 14, 2023
I enjoyed the characters in this story. The mystery was entertaining and kept me guessing the entire book. All of Author Paige Shelton’s books are great!
December 29, 2017
Dollycas’s Thoughts
A gruesome discovery on the slopes, a visit to Star City by horror author Nathan Grimes, and the arrival of a unique gift from an old high school classmate have Clare and Jodie very busy in this Dangerous Type Mystery.
The staff as the Rescued Word is joined by Nathan Grimes. He is using the shop’s Gutenberg press to publish a book of poetry, taking self-publishing to its limits by placing the type in the press himself. Clare, Chester, Marion, and Adal are all excited about this project. Clare’s relationship with Seth is going strong and I love the way the are will each other. We also meet some of Clare’s high school classmates and a few tourists as well. In each story, we get to know the main characters better and the new characters bring the drama to the Utah town. The relationships Clare has with every single character feel real and true. She is a wonderful protagonist, friendly and likable.
This time the main mystery has to do with a mini-reunion of men who attended high school in Star City. A connection between them is clear with the exception of Clare’s ex and police deputy Creighton. He just seems so out of place in the group. After the first man is found dead Jodie and Clare pull out all the stops to find the killer. There is also a minor mystery when one of the characters goes missing.
I really enjoy the typewriter theme. Learning about the Hooven typewriters was very interesting. I am surprised there is enough business to keep The Rescued Word a viable business in this electronic age but with customers like Nathan Grimes, it seems to stay open.
This is one of my favorite series. I just love these characters and the situations they find themselves in. The writing is crisp and very well plotted. I have fun following the clues and figuring out the killer. I was a couple of steps ahead of Clare this time but I enjoyed every minute of this story.
A gruesome discovery on the slopes, a visit to Star City by horror author Nathan Grimes, and the arrival of a unique gift from an old high school classmate have Clare and Jodie very busy in this Dangerous Type Mystery.
The staff as the Rescued Word is joined by Nathan Grimes. He is using the shop’s Gutenberg press to publish a book of poetry, taking self-publishing to its limits by placing the type in the press himself. Clare, Chester, Marion, and Adal are all excited about this project. Clare’s relationship with Seth is going strong and I love the way the are will each other. We also meet some of Clare’s high school classmates and a few tourists as well. In each story, we get to know the main characters better and the new characters bring the drama to the Utah town. The relationships Clare has with every single character feel real and true. She is a wonderful protagonist, friendly and likable.
This time the main mystery has to do with a mini-reunion of men who attended high school in Star City. A connection between them is clear with the exception of Clare’s ex and police deputy Creighton. He just seems so out of place in the group. After the first man is found dead Jodie and Clare pull out all the stops to find the killer. There is also a minor mystery when one of the characters goes missing.
I really enjoy the typewriter theme. Learning about the Hooven typewriters was very interesting. I am surprised there is enough business to keep The Rescued Word a viable business in this electronic age but with customers like Nathan Grimes, it seems to stay open.
This is one of my favorite series. I just love these characters and the situations they find themselves in. The writing is crisp and very well plotted. I have fun following the clues and figuring out the killer. I was a couple of steps ahead of Clare this time but I enjoyed every minute of this story.
December 23, 2017
Comic Sans Murder may lead you back to high school days. Good or bad as they may be. It proved correct to me. It could not have proven as tragic as Clare's. Proprietor of The
Rescued Word, a typewriter repair shop.
A fully developed and fascinating story,
and people with secrets. An interesting, cannot put down mystery with a different kind of premise.
I love typewriter's, being an writer. The vintage typewritter that Clare recieved intrigued me. Learning about fonts were a considerable asset to the story. A mystery with an author as character. I'm biased for. They are always my choice. Comic Sans Murder is a treasure to behold.
May 2, 2018
I always enjoy a book by Paige Shelton and this third book in the Dangerous Type Mystery series was right on point. I was hooked from the beginning and drawn into a great story. What I appreciate about Ms. Shelton as an author is that she has created well-rounded, dimensional characters both in her protagonist as well as the secondary characters. Each one has a purposed and role to play in these stories and as a result the reader is engaged and entertained. The mystery in this book was really well done. I was continually second guessing myself with all the plot twists and turns. I did not guess the culprit but thought that the identity of the killer made sense and fit well with the overall story line.
I will definitely be making a return trip to Star City Utah for any future installments in this series.
I will definitely be making a return trip to Star City Utah for any future installments in this series.
December 27, 2017
I always know what I’m in for with a Paige Shelton book. A good time. But with COMIC SANS MURDER, I had a wonderful time!
I’ve loved this series since the first book, TO HELVETICA AND BACK. I took to the characters right away, and it’s been so fun watching them develop and grow. A new character, Nathan Grimes is introduced in this book, and I sure hope we’ll be seeing more of him. The blub on the back of the book describes him as “quirky”. Oh my, he is that, a whole lot of fun, and more!
COMIC SANS MURDER was an excellent mystery. Three fingers on my right hand are testimonial to that, because I bit them off while reading this tale. I was so engrossed in this story from the finding of the boot with the foot in it, to the exciting reveal, I only came up for air while reading to, well, breathe. Seriously, there was never a dull part.
Fans of author Paige Shelton will not be disappointed in COMIC SANS MURDER. Never read this author? What are you waiting for?!
I’ve loved this series since the first book, TO HELVETICA AND BACK. I took to the characters right away, and it’s been so fun watching them develop and grow. A new character, Nathan Grimes is introduced in this book, and I sure hope we’ll be seeing more of him. The blub on the back of the book describes him as “quirky”. Oh my, he is that, a whole lot of fun, and more!
COMIC SANS MURDER was an excellent mystery. Three fingers on my right hand are testimonial to that, because I bit them off while reading this tale. I was so engrossed in this story from the finding of the boot with the foot in it, to the exciting reveal, I only came up for air while reading to, well, breathe. Seriously, there was never a dull part.
Fans of author Paige Shelton will not be disappointed in COMIC SANS MURDER. Never read this author? What are you waiting for?!
January 14, 2018
Comic Sans Murder by Paige Shelton was a swiftly paced cozy that hooked me from the first page. Ms. Shelton's characters in this series are growing as this series continues and I enjoy spending time with them. Clare and Seth's romance is sweet and funny and they often give me the giggles during their conversations because they are so well matched in intelligence and personalities. The mystery had a few twists but only 4 suspects but I still never guessed who the killer was until the reveal. I enjoy this series and I'm already looking forward to the next one.
December 13, 2017
I finished Comic Sans Murder last night at nine and boy did I enjoy it. Like in life a good book should be measured by the times it takes your breath away. This one did and I loved it. I did not want to rush a single word and this was a great slightly more suspenseful cozy and written beautifully by Paige Shelton.
This is a great read and a wonderful series. I cannot believe this is book 3, this reads like as series that should run for a long time!
This is a great read and a wonderful series. I cannot believe this is book 3, this reads like as series that should run for a long time!
October 2, 2018
Clare and her grandfather own and run The Rescued Word, a shop that specializes in repairing typewriters and books, and they print books as well, using an old hand-set printing presss. A famous but quirky author has come to print a book of poetry, quite a departure from his usual horror stories. But before this can happen, a ski-boot clad foot is found on the slopes, the rest of the body is found later, and later still, the author goes missing. There is never a dull moment in this tale, and author Paige Shelton even manages to squeeze in a bit of romance while Clare chases down the clues. These characters are definitely interesting and a bit unusual, which makes this well written tale even more entertaining.
February 22, 2018
I didn't think it was possible, but Clare is even worse in this book. Since when is it her place to go tell a possible suspect about a murder victim, instead of allowing the police to do it? And when called out on it, she just smiles and says "sorry if I did something wrong, but it's good information, right?" Um. No. The police could have gotten the same information or even MORE if you didn't blunder into it. Then you've got Lloyd, who is the best friend of Clare through Jr HS, until she meets Jodie in HS, and leaves him behind because he's an introvert that can't have more than one friend at a time. Um. Ok. But he's been crazy obsessed with her since then (at least 12 years) but they haven't had any kind of contact since then even though he's frequently in town. And his assistant says he had a big ego and was spiteful so Clare suspects he set up the reunion, but then the pastor said he was awesome and humble - which leads Clare to realize he couldn't have been behind the reunion. Which is it? Quite frankly, the way he was spiteful to the assistant showed him to be a douche.
And pieces of Nathan's scarf are found, which lead them to the place where he went off the road and went down a slope. Why were pieces of the scarf outside his car? It says that "the ripped off part looks like the other piece was attached." WHAT? Like it was around his neck, got caught as he went over, and ripped off?? That would actually be very bad for his neck, since fabric doesn't rip that easily. Oh no wait, apparently he tossed the scarf out so it would be caught by the wind and lead back to him. SERIOUSLY? And how the fuck did the rope come off the tree when Jodie was rappelling down? At what point does Clare let go of the rope, since she's holding it and then suddenly she's not? WTH is this nonsense?
And the couple with the typewriter. If being given a replacement typewriter would resolve the problem, Clare specifically mentioned she could have done that. But the typewriter had SENTIMENTAL value relating to his mother, so what is the point of Nathan giving them his? In fact, unless they're using the stupid thing, who cares if it doesn't work, just keep the broken typewriter as a memento!
TBH, I read the first 1/4, then skimmed and skipped to the last 30 pages. The author cannot write logically - I mean, the guy who finds the boot freaks out and tosses it, and blood scatters. But later Jodie specifically says that the foot was frozen, just starting to thaw out. Blood that is frozen isn't going to scatter, and why is the foot thawing out when it's in the snow? Also, why did a "wild animal" apparently rip it off the body, and then just leave it there? The police in this series are seriously incompetent. First they call everyone a suspect when there's literally no evidence to suspect anyone, then they (or at least Jodie) questions said suspects all together instead of one on one. Then you've got stupid Sarah, who rants in the most unbelievably stupid way about why she murdered people because IN HIGH SCHOOL they were supposed to WANT HER AND SHE COULD HAVE MADE THEM BETTER. And claiming that if the boot hadn't been found, the police wouldn't know to look for a body, except back country skiers found the body and it had nothing to do with the police. Maybe she shouldn't have left it where it could be found?
WTF. What kind of ridiculous motive is this? No. This is taking HS rivalries and petty crap way too far. No one cares after 12 years of not being in touch with people. And WTF happened to Jodie and Mutt?
And pieces of Nathan's scarf are found, which lead them to the place where he went off the road and went down a slope. Why were pieces of the scarf outside his car? It says that "the ripped off part looks like the other piece was attached." WHAT? Like it was around his neck, got caught as he went over, and ripped off?? That would actually be very bad for his neck, since fabric doesn't rip that easily. Oh no wait, apparently he tossed the scarf out so it would be caught by the wind and lead back to him. SERIOUSLY? And how the fuck did the rope come off the tree when Jodie was rappelling down? At what point does Clare let go of the rope, since she's holding it and then suddenly she's not? WTH is this nonsense?
And the couple with the typewriter. If being given a replacement typewriter would resolve the problem, Clare specifically mentioned she could have done that. But the typewriter had SENTIMENTAL value relating to his mother, so what is the point of Nathan giving them his? In fact, unless they're using the stupid thing, who cares if it doesn't work, just keep the broken typewriter as a memento!
TBH, I read the first 1/4, then skimmed and skipped to the last 30 pages. The author cannot write logically - I mean, the guy who finds the boot freaks out and tosses it, and blood scatters. But later Jodie specifically says that the foot was frozen, just starting to thaw out. Blood that is frozen isn't going to scatter, and why is the foot thawing out when it's in the snow? Also, why did a "wild animal" apparently rip it off the body, and then just leave it there? The police in this series are seriously incompetent. First they call everyone a suspect when there's literally no evidence to suspect anyone, then they (or at least Jodie) questions said suspects all together instead of one on one. Then you've got stupid Sarah, who rants in the most unbelievably stupid way about why she murdered people because IN HIGH SCHOOL they were supposed to WANT HER AND SHE COULD HAVE MADE THEM BETTER. And claiming that if the boot hadn't been found, the police wouldn't know to look for a body, except back country skiers found the body and it had nothing to do with the police. Maybe she shouldn't have left it where it could be found?
WTF. What kind of ridiculous motive is this? No. This is taking HS rivalries and petty crap way too far. No one cares after 12 years of not being in touch with people. And WTF happened to Jodie and Mutt?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 21, 2018
Clare and her father Chester have a small book and typewriter repair shop and are thrilled when horror author comes to visit. Clare plans to help the author with his new book, until she finds one boot on the ski slopes with a foot in it. Then Clare’s friend is found dead missing one foot. They are afraid that a class reunion has gone bad. This book is better than the first book in the series.
December 12, 2017
COMIC SANS MURDER by Paige Shelton, the third book in her Dangerous Type Mystery series starts out with a bang. The opening scene grabs your attention, putting your senses on high alert and then Ms. Shelton delivers a thrilling read! She expertly melds together a famous horror author, valuable antique typewriters, a reclusive wealthy business man, and a ski-boot clad foot missing its body. This eclectic combination is set against the backdrop of Star City, Utah during ski season. The author sets a well-developed stage to capture the full flavors of each scene bringing the reader into the story to experience it fully as the twisty-turvey plot unfolds.
The protagonist, Clare Henry, is extremely likeable. She’s a sweet, caring person that I’d like to spend time with… well, except when she’s investigating a murder. Her relationship with geologist, Seth, is adorable. I greatly enjoyed the geology puns they throw around, bringing a chuckle or two to the read. Clare and her grandfather, Chester, own The Rescued Word, a charming shop that would draw me in and make me want to linger. I enjoyed learning about the Hooven typewriters, a brand I have never heard about. What makes them so special is that these are the first electric typewriters designed and was the birth of the first computers. As with the previous two books, COMIC SANS MURDER has me anxiously awaiting the next book in the series to see what adventures Clare finds herself in next!
I received an advance copy with the hopes I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The protagonist, Clare Henry, is extremely likeable. She’s a sweet, caring person that I’d like to spend time with… well, except when she’s investigating a murder. Her relationship with geologist, Seth, is adorable. I greatly enjoyed the geology puns they throw around, bringing a chuckle or two to the read. Clare and her grandfather, Chester, own The Rescued Word, a charming shop that would draw me in and make me want to linger. I enjoyed learning about the Hooven typewriters, a brand I have never heard about. What makes them so special is that these are the first electric typewriters designed and was the birth of the first computers. As with the previous two books, COMIC SANS MURDER has me anxiously awaiting the next book in the series to see what adventures Clare finds herself in next!
I received an advance copy with the hopes I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 13, 2022
The Dangerous Type Mystery Series has quickly become my favorite cozy mystery series. I haven’t enjoyed a cozy mystery series to this degree since reading Jenn McKinlay’s Hat Shop Mysteries and this time for completely different reasons and that alone is delightful. I was first attracted to this series for purely nostalgic reasons:
However, in reading the 3rd novel in the series and returning to Star City, Utah and specifically to “The Rescued Word” with Clare, Chester, Marion, and Baskerville (fur face resident extraordinaire) I found a higher level of mystery than usual to cozy mysteries (or perhaps I say that as there were only a few suspects and I didn’t solve the crime). And amazingly, there’s a cliff-hanger that will captivate my imagination until the next novel in the series appears.
This novel was dedicated to Phyllis A. Whitney. I think if Ms. Whitney would have had the opportunity to read this novel, she would have been quite pleased. As a Phyllis Whitney fan as well, I know that I am.
• remembering when I first learned to type on a manual typewriter
• moving on to the electric typewriter in personal typing class in 11th grade
• all the related idiocrasies of typing on the actual typewriter equipment I've used from manual to electric to electric with ease of correction features
• all-nighters with a college roommate, an English major, required to turn in many typed compositions but she didn't know how to type
However, in reading the 3rd novel in the series and returning to Star City, Utah and specifically to “The Rescued Word” with Clare, Chester, Marion, and Baskerville (fur face resident extraordinaire) I found a higher level of mystery than usual to cozy mysteries (or perhaps I say that as there were only a few suspects and I didn’t solve the crime). And amazingly, there’s a cliff-hanger that will captivate my imagination until the next novel in the series appears.
This novel was dedicated to Phyllis A. Whitney. I think if Ms. Whitney would have had the opportunity to read this novel, she would have been quite pleased. As a Phyllis Whitney fan as well, I know that I am.
September 2, 2018
Another good addition to this series - this is the most recent book in the series. Hopefully it continues for at least a few more books.
December 27, 2017
http://openbooksociety.com/article/co...
Comic Sans Murder
A Dangerous Type Mystery, Book #3
By Paige Shelton
ISBN 9780425277270
Author’s website: http://www.paigeshelton.com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
Synopsis:
Clare Henry’s snowy Star City, Utah, oasis turns deadly in the third Dangerous Type Mystery from the New York Times bestselling author of Bookman Dead Style and To Helvetica and Back.
SOMETHING’S AFOOT….
The visit of quirky world-famous horror author Nathan Grimes to Star City is especially thrilling for Clare Henry and her grandfather Chester. As the owners of The Rescued Word, a charming boutique shop in town, Clare and Chester specialize in restoring old typewriters and repairing beloved books. They’ve invited Nathan to their shop to use their equipment for his next book.
But all plans to work on the book take a step in the wrong direction when a tourist discovers an abandoned ski boot on the slopes–and the only sign of the owner is the dismembered foot he left inside! Nathan’s writer’s curiosity for all things horror is further piqued after the body of Clare’s high school friend Lloyd Gavin is discovered sans one foot. When all toes point to a class reunion gone wrong, Nathan can’t help but join Clare and her best friend, police officer Jodie Wentworth, as they hurry to track down the killer before more former classmates become Most Likely to Be Killed.
Review:
Since the first novel in this series, I have loved A Dangerous Type Mysteries, and Comic Sans Murder is the best yet! While each can be read as standalones, I couldn’t imagine missing one because they are so good. It is the typewriters – I learned on a 1950’s era Royal portable. It is the characters – Clare, Chester, even Baskerville. It is the intrigue tucked into each one, and how compelling each read is.
Clare now runs The Rescued Word, a unique store that offers typewriter repair, repair of print books, and special printing jobs on a replica of a Gutenberg press built completely by her grandfather, Chester. In this novel, there are two kinds of typewriters especially highlighted. One is specific to two characters, an Olympic Splendid portable. But oh, how I would love to see the Hooven, a fancy typewritin’ machine of the early 1900’s that was enjoyable to read about, and showed how well the author researches her novels.
Lloyd Gavin, a brilliant classmate of Clare and her best friend Jodie, is one of three classmates invited back to Star City for a special meeting of the minds of successful classmates. Lloyd had been an eccentric teen, so much so that even though he and Clare were best friends, he couldn’t be a friend to Jodie as well when she and Clare became friends. Lloyd was found murdered by a skier near the slopes. As a police officer, Jodie couldn’t share updates about Lloyd’s murder. Nor could her older brother Creighton, who Clare had once dated.
Lloyd had shipped three of the unusual Hoovens to Clare, most likely hoping to see her and explain why he was giving these valuable machines to her; she had no idea why he sent them since she hadn’t heard from him in years. He now was an even more eccentric, yet brilliant and highly successful innovator.
Nathan is a widely-acclaimed author of horror novels who was going to work out of the Rescued Word for a few days with Clare’s German apprentice, Adal, to produce a special book on the Gutenberg replica. He is also brilliant, and when he disappears, it is clear there is a murderer in their midst…and that is before things get really weird with Clare’s former classmates, including a seance with “a spirit” with bizarre accusations.
The characters in this mystery are three-dimensional; those secondary to the story are as well-defined as necessary for their roles. The classmates involved with the special meeting of the minds are slowly revealed. I especially enjoy Clare and her choice to live in Star City, Utah and work at the shop originally opened by her grandfather. She is dating a geologist, Seth, and they get along well.
I was particularly surprised by the plot twists! Every time I thought I knew who the bad guy/ gal might be, something happened that showed me I was wrong again. Finally I arrived at the right guys/ gals, but not very far ahead of Clare, so well is this novel written. Marion, Clare’s niece, is very helpful to Clare and Jodie with her computer expertise, adding a new dimension to the mystery. The suspense builds throughout the novel, keeping my attention from beginning to the truly stunning end, which still held surprises. Comic Sans Murder is definitely, even more satisfying than the first two mysteries in the series. I highly recommend Comic Sans Murder; Paige Shelton writes in a style to keep the reader mesmerized by the people, the mystery, the setting – and the romance.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
Comic Sans Murder
A Dangerous Type Mystery, Book #3
By Paige Shelton
ISBN 9780425277270
Author’s website: http://www.paigeshelton.com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
Synopsis:
Clare Henry’s snowy Star City, Utah, oasis turns deadly in the third Dangerous Type Mystery from the New York Times bestselling author of Bookman Dead Style and To Helvetica and Back.
SOMETHING’S AFOOT….
The visit of quirky world-famous horror author Nathan Grimes to Star City is especially thrilling for Clare Henry and her grandfather Chester. As the owners of The Rescued Word, a charming boutique shop in town, Clare and Chester specialize in restoring old typewriters and repairing beloved books. They’ve invited Nathan to their shop to use their equipment for his next book.
But all plans to work on the book take a step in the wrong direction when a tourist discovers an abandoned ski boot on the slopes–and the only sign of the owner is the dismembered foot he left inside! Nathan’s writer’s curiosity for all things horror is further piqued after the body of Clare’s high school friend Lloyd Gavin is discovered sans one foot. When all toes point to a class reunion gone wrong, Nathan can’t help but join Clare and her best friend, police officer Jodie Wentworth, as they hurry to track down the killer before more former classmates become Most Likely to Be Killed.
Review:
Since the first novel in this series, I have loved A Dangerous Type Mysteries, and Comic Sans Murder is the best yet! While each can be read as standalones, I couldn’t imagine missing one because they are so good. It is the typewriters – I learned on a 1950’s era Royal portable. It is the characters – Clare, Chester, even Baskerville. It is the intrigue tucked into each one, and how compelling each read is.
Clare now runs The Rescued Word, a unique store that offers typewriter repair, repair of print books, and special printing jobs on a replica of a Gutenberg press built completely by her grandfather, Chester. In this novel, there are two kinds of typewriters especially highlighted. One is specific to two characters, an Olympic Splendid portable. But oh, how I would love to see the Hooven, a fancy typewritin’ machine of the early 1900’s that was enjoyable to read about, and showed how well the author researches her novels.
Lloyd Gavin, a brilliant classmate of Clare and her best friend Jodie, is one of three classmates invited back to Star City for a special meeting of the minds of successful classmates. Lloyd had been an eccentric teen, so much so that even though he and Clare were best friends, he couldn’t be a friend to Jodie as well when she and Clare became friends. Lloyd was found murdered by a skier near the slopes. As a police officer, Jodie couldn’t share updates about Lloyd’s murder. Nor could her older brother Creighton, who Clare had once dated.
Lloyd had shipped three of the unusual Hoovens to Clare, most likely hoping to see her and explain why he was giving these valuable machines to her; she had no idea why he sent them since she hadn’t heard from him in years. He now was an even more eccentric, yet brilliant and highly successful innovator.
Nathan is a widely-acclaimed author of horror novels who was going to work out of the Rescued Word for a few days with Clare’s German apprentice, Adal, to produce a special book on the Gutenberg replica. He is also brilliant, and when he disappears, it is clear there is a murderer in their midst…and that is before things get really weird with Clare’s former classmates, including a seance with “a spirit” with bizarre accusations.
The characters in this mystery are three-dimensional; those secondary to the story are as well-defined as necessary for their roles. The classmates involved with the special meeting of the minds are slowly revealed. I especially enjoy Clare and her choice to live in Star City, Utah and work at the shop originally opened by her grandfather. She is dating a geologist, Seth, and they get along well.
I was particularly surprised by the plot twists! Every time I thought I knew who the bad guy/ gal might be, something happened that showed me I was wrong again. Finally I arrived at the right guys/ gals, but not very far ahead of Clare, so well is this novel written. Marion, Clare’s niece, is very helpful to Clare and Jodie with her computer expertise, adding a new dimension to the mystery. The suspense builds throughout the novel, keeping my attention from beginning to the truly stunning end, which still held surprises. Comic Sans Murder is definitely, even more satisfying than the first two mysteries in the series. I highly recommend Comic Sans Murder; Paige Shelton writes in a style to keep the reader mesmerized by the people, the mystery, the setting – and the romance.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
April 18, 2022
The visit of horror author Nathan Grimes to Star City is thrilling for Clare Henry and her grandfather Chester. They've invited Nathan to use their equipment for his next book. When a tourist discovers an abandoned ski boot on the slopes with the foot still inside, Nathan joins Clare and police officer Jodie Wentworth to track down a killer.
Published in 2017. I really enjoyed this cozy mystery. Clare Henry is a great amateur sleuth who takes advantage of situations to investigate when the mystery affects her somehow. She is a great character to read about. I love the Utah setting, and the images that the author brings to mind about the natural mountain beauty. The plot is a puzzle that I didn’t solve until the big reveal in the end. I’m sad, I wish there were more stories in this series. Thanks to the Somerset County Library System of New Jersey for this book.
Published in 2017. I really enjoyed this cozy mystery. Clare Henry is a great amateur sleuth who takes advantage of situations to investigate when the mystery affects her somehow. She is a great character to read about. I love the Utah setting, and the images that the author brings to mind about the natural mountain beauty. The plot is a puzzle that I didn’t solve until the big reveal in the end. I’m sad, I wish there were more stories in this series. Thanks to the Somerset County Library System of New Jersey for this book.
January 29, 2018
I love this series! I love these characters! There is such great dynamic between them all, even without the mystery. Paige's ability to keep it all rolling - the side stories, the murder(s), the mystery - is perfection! I loved how this story brought back Clare and Jodie's high school days and things from the past. Some people change; and some people never change. I really look forward to more adventures in Star City. Maybe something more about Clare and her family, if her parents come back to town for a bit. Thanks for another great read Paige!
August 13, 2018
I really enjoy the characters in this series, and I love the way its written. The way characters talk to one another is believable and genuine, and also the way Clare’s mind works. The mystery was interesting, too!
December 31, 2017
Another winner in this fun series! I look forward to the next book, and if you haven't tried the series yet, this is only the third book. Plenty of time to dive in!
December 2, 2017
Comic Sans Murder is the third book in the A Dangerous Type Mystery series.
Another enjoyable visit to Star City, UT and all the snowy activities they have.
Clare’s niece, Marion, while out snowboarding notices a skier off to the side of the run and stop to see if needs help. He appears not to be hurt too badly but is shaken up by the fact that he has found a ski boot with a foot still in it.
Meanwhile, a young man is attempting to deliver three Hoovens, an early typewriter/computer, which are very valuable. He says that Lloyd Gavin had hired him to deliver them to Clare. Clare remembers Gavin form junior high but has not heard anything from since then. Soon there is a body found that is later to identified Gavin.
Also going on at The Rescued Word, Clare is having to deal with famous horror author Nathan Grimes. Grimes wants to self-publish a book of his poetry. That is he wants to set the type and print the book himself. This is a bit of a bother for Clare and her grandfather, but he is so nice that they agree to let proceed.
Another enjoyable visit to Star City, UT and all the snowy activities they have.
Clare’s niece, Marion, while out snowboarding notices a skier off to the side of the run and stop to see if needs help. He appears not to be hurt too badly but is shaken up by the fact that he has found a ski boot with a foot still in it.
Meanwhile, a young man is attempting to deliver three Hoovens, an early typewriter/computer, which are very valuable. He says that Lloyd Gavin had hired him to deliver them to Clare. Clare remembers Gavin form junior high but has not heard anything from since then. Soon there is a body found that is later to identified Gavin.
Also going on at The Rescued Word, Clare is having to deal with famous horror author Nathan Grimes. Grimes wants to self-publish a book of his poetry. That is he wants to set the type and print the book himself. This is a bit of a bother for Clare and her grandfather, but he is so nice that they agree to let proceed.
December 14, 2017
I am a huge fan of Paige Shelton and love how she always delivers a great mystery! She's published over a dozen books and this is definitely one of my favorites. I love the ski town of Star City, Utah, and the fabulous cast of characters that inhabit this special place. Clare Henry and her grandfather run The Rescued Word where they restore typewriters, run a replica of a Gutttenberg press, and sell stationery and writing stuff too. That alone is intriguing, but Clare also tends to try to help her detective BFF Jodie solve crimes. In this installment of the series, a high school classmate of Clare's is found dead on the slopes. And then a horror writer who is using The Rescued Word's printing press for his book of love poems goes missing. Clare can't help but get caught up in the deadly and dangerous when people she knows are at stake.
The writing makes you feel like you are right there with Clare every step of the way. I had a hard time figuring out who the killer was until the last few pages! Thanks for another thrilling adventure with terrific twists and turns, Ms. Shelton!
The writing makes you feel like you are right there with Clare every step of the way. I had a hard time figuring out who the killer was until the last few pages! Thanks for another thrilling adventure with terrific twists and turns, Ms. Shelton!
February 8, 2024
Interesting mystery and rather good story. Clare's niece finds a man on the ski slopes who just found a ski boot - with a foot still inside it. Clare works with her grandfather at The Rescued Word, repairing typewriters and doing printing with an old-fashioned printing press. A famous horror author has come to town and wants to print a book of poems - and he'd like to do it all himself. His poems are a bit of a switch from his horror books. They are quite romantic poems.
Then Clare learns that the boot on the slope belonged to an old friend from junior high, who seems to know an awful lot about what she has been doing. Then she meets his assistant who looks a lot like her. Certain friends from high school keep popping up in the investigation. Clare's best friend, Jodie, is a police officer and has her hands full keeping Clare out of the investigation.
Then Clare learns that the boot on the slope belonged to an old friend from junior high, who seems to know an awful lot about what she has been doing. Then she meets his assistant who looks a lot like her. Certain friends from high school keep popping up in the investigation. Clare's best friend, Jodie, is a police officer and has her hands full keeping Clare out of the investigation.
March 9, 2023
I listened to this on audiobook format.
I often find with cozy mysteries, the characters and settings are first and foremost, while the actual mystery is secondary in regards to what I enjoy the most about them. This series and this instalment was a case in point.
The mystery itself was ok but it really was the little details about the setting, the character development and interactions, plus the themes ( based around the store the protagonist works in), that really held my attention. I loved all the typeface/ print machines/ typewriter/ stationary information.
The intrigue around Creighton continues but I see this is the last book in this series, having been published several years ago. I hope the author intends to pick up where she left off, at some stage. Her readers have been left hanging…
I often find with cozy mysteries, the characters and settings are first and foremost, while the actual mystery is secondary in regards to what I enjoy the most about them. This series and this instalment was a case in point.
The mystery itself was ok but it really was the little details about the setting, the character development and interactions, plus the themes ( based around the store the protagonist works in), that really held my attention. I loved all the typeface/ print machines/ typewriter/ stationary information.
The intrigue around Creighton continues but I see this is the last book in this series, having been published several years ago. I hope the author intends to pick up where she left off, at some stage. Her readers have been left hanging…
February 7, 2018
Clare works with her grandfather, repairing typewriters and doing other printing-related functions with the help of a German apprentice. Best-selling horror author Nathan wants to set the type himself for a volume of his poetry, which is a change of pace for them all. When a boot is found with a foot in it, Clare is shocked to learn that the police have also found a body without a foot--and the body is a friend from junior high, who left their small tourist town years ago to find success in business. He returned to town because he was invited to an unspecified meeting, along with three other men. It's like high school all over again, and that isn't a good thing, especially after a second body is found.
January 6, 2019
I wanted to give it three stars, but there were just too many issues, most of them having to do with conflicting information. Other times, Claire just kind of ignored her best-friend-the-cop's warnings. And the whole thing with Creighton seemed like not even the author knew the real story; it was, at best, a placeholder for something she had yet to decide. The characters are also not evolving, and on book three, I still know almost nothing about Seth--superficial. Disappointing.
April 28, 2019
There is a severed foot on the slopes. That's not cool dude. The mystery is solved by the woman who works at the typewriter repair shop. The characters are nice and cozy because that's where we are, in a cozy. But let me say thatI am annoyed with the title. At no time was the font comic sans mentioned and there was nothing comic sansy about the murder. I know the idea, every title has to do with type but come on, tie it in why don't you?
January 10, 2018
Clare Henry is back, and I can honestly say I enjoyed everything but the mystery. The cool information on fonts and spending time with characters I like, that got me through til the end. The mystery, sad to say, was boring. And then she goes and leaves you with a major cliffhanger so you’ll read the next one.
October 30, 2017
This is your typical cozy mystery that fans of the genre & series will certainly enjoy. Don't expect too much, and you'll be a happy reader.
PS - What does Comic Sans have to do with anything? I'm still not sure.
PS - What does Comic Sans have to do with anything? I'm still not sure.
February 13, 2025
This third book in the Dangerous Type Mystery series is, in my opinion, its best one. It starts out with a shocking surprise on the Utah ski slopes when a dismembered foot is found in a ski boot.
When the whole corpse is found and it belongs to a former classmate of protagonist Clare Henry, she is determined to find out who killed him. While she is never a serious suspect, Clare does have to answer to the law as to why Lloyd Gavin left her three unusual and valuable items.
Hoovens are a rare invention of the early 20th century. Appearing to be a cross between a typewriter and a sewing machine, it is actually considered to be an early computer.
This is one of the intriguing things about author Paige Shelton. She occasionally inserts fascinating and little-known facts into her stories.
As a result, this series is fun to read while it educates the reader.
During this well written mystery, we are charmed by all her characters. Clare and her grandfather own and run a shop called The Rescued Word.
The shop is an old building that once housed the Star City Silver Mining Company. The building, itself, has an interesting story to tell.
In this novel, a famous horror author is temporarily working there because he wants to print a short book of poetry on the replica Gutenberg press that grandfather built.
Along the way, the mystery is solved and the series, regretfully, comes to a satisfactory conclusion. I want more.
But I cannot leave this series without acknowledging another interesting inhabitant of the shop. Baskerville is a calico cat who is the store's official greeter. He is particular, so if he meets you upon entering The Rescued Word, you are truly welcome.
When the whole corpse is found and it belongs to a former classmate of protagonist Clare Henry, she is determined to find out who killed him. While she is never a serious suspect, Clare does have to answer to the law as to why Lloyd Gavin left her three unusual and valuable items.
Hoovens are a rare invention of the early 20th century. Appearing to be a cross between a typewriter and a sewing machine, it is actually considered to be an early computer.
This is one of the intriguing things about author Paige Shelton. She occasionally inserts fascinating and little-known facts into her stories.
As a result, this series is fun to read while it educates the reader.
During this well written mystery, we are charmed by all her characters. Clare and her grandfather own and run a shop called The Rescued Word.
The shop is an old building that once housed the Star City Silver Mining Company. The building, itself, has an interesting story to tell.
In this novel, a famous horror author is temporarily working there because he wants to print a short book of poetry on the replica Gutenberg press that grandfather built.
Along the way, the mystery is solved and the series, regretfully, comes to a satisfactory conclusion. I want more.
But I cannot leave this series without acknowledging another interesting inhabitant of the shop. Baskerville is a calico cat who is the store's official greeter. He is particular, so if he meets you upon entering The Rescued Word, you are truly welcome.
December 10, 2017
A thoroughly enchanting installment in the Dangerous Type Mystery Series by author Paige Shelton, Comic Sans Murder brings a high school reunion to Star City, and with it the murder of one of our heroine's (Clare Henry) old friends. Lloyd Gavin's dismembered foot (really, this is a cozy and it's not as gruesome as it sounds so don't worry!!!) is found on a ski slope, and it's soon discovered that he was one of a handful of Clare's former classmates who'd been invited back to town for a secret meeting. In addition, famed horror author Nathan Grimes has taken up residence at The Rescued Word, but a mystery soon surrounds his disappearance in the early morning hours. Quick-paced and quite the page-turner, Comic Sans Murder keeps the reader on the edge of their seat, and definitely leaves an opening for a fourth installment. Highly recommended! A+
January 9, 2021
I really enjoyed reading all three books in this series and am deeply saddened there are not more. It didn't feel like an ending to me as Creighton still has a mystery about him. I also want to see what happens with Marion and Chester. I love that the store repairs typewriters and books, especially having learned on a manual and then electric typewriter back in the day. So fun to read about the different types of typewriters. The mystery starts off with a foot in a boot and I couldn't help but suspect Nathan, the horror writer, as I was probably meant to. The mini reunion of an unlikely group of men was part of the mystery and how this ended as part of the solving of the crime was kind of funny when you read the killer's thought process. All I can say is, please bring this series out of the "done" pile and write more!
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