A Murder Between the Pages

Main Street Book Club Mysteries #2

by Amy Lillard

Second book in the Main Street Book Club mysteries!

You won't be able to stop turning the pages of this small town mystery, which is: Perfect for Fans of Ellery Adams and Lorna BarrettA riveting book club cozy mysteryFor readers of club mysteries and small-town cozy mysteriesThis murder will have to be solved by the book...

It was only a few months ago that the ladies of Arlo's Friday Night Book Club--Fern, Camille, and Helen--solved the murder of the renowned author, Wally Harrison. So when they select Wally's bestseller, Missing Girl, for their next discussion, Arlo is hopeful it will be the end of their mystery hunt.

But since their recent success as sleuths the crew officially see themselves as a women's mystery club, and they're convinced Missing Girl was inspired by a 50-year-old cold case. It's a case from their own Sugar Springs, Mississippi--the disappearance of Mary Kennedy--and Arlo can do little to stop the book club ladies from investigating.

But what starts out as a fun hunch quickly turns into a very real cold case murder mystery when a young girl is murdered in the exact place the women believe Mary went missing all those years ago. It's clear the two cases are connected--and the mystery book club is determined to find answers. With Arlo's help, they may just be able to crack the case.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Fiction, Audiobook, Crime, Adult

310 pages, Paperback

First published November 24, 2020

About the author

I'm a wife, mother, and bona fide Southern belle. Published author, expert corn bread maker, and Squirrel Princess.

I live in Tulsa, though I was born in Mississippi. I moved to the Sooner State when I was seventeen and met my soul mate and best friend not long after. I've retained a little of my Mississippi accent though most people think I'm from Texas. (?) Rob and I have been married for over twenty years and have a son--a mom proclaimed prodigy, of course!

I love homemade tacos, nail polish, and romance novels--not necessarily in that order. I'm a big fan of country music, a staunch proponent of saving the Oxford comma, and I'm shamefully obsessed with all things Harry Potter.

I believe that God is love. I guess that's why I adore romances.

I have always been intrigued with the Amish culture, their gentle ways and slower-paced lifestyle. (And I love, love, love the fact that they stay married for their lifetime.) But until recently I never thought to blend this interest with my penchant for romance. Okay, okay, I'm a bit old-fashioned and even enjoy the gender roles that are present in this culture. I love to cook and take care of my family. Yes, that's me June Cleaver with a laptop.

I dislike people trying to convince me to read the Twlight series (I'll get to it or I won't, either way I'm good with it), gratuitous violence, and strawberry ice cream. (I know I'm alone on this last one, and again, I'm good with it.)

Favorite movies--(besides HP) French Kiss, Maid of Honor, A Lot Like Love, Just Married, and Sweet Home Alabama. Oh, and Miss Congeniality, Sabrina (both versions) and a 1940's movie called Dear Ruth. If you haven't seen it, you should! A-dorable. Anything with Doris Day and most all of Marilyn's and Audrey's.

Reviews

[PamG · Rating 3 out of 5]

A MURDER BETWEEN THE PAGES by Amy Lillard brings small town living, a cozy book store/coffee shop, quirky characters and humor to this cozy mystery. It is the second book in the Main Street Book Club Mysteries series and is set in Sugar Springs, Mississippi.

Our protagonist, Arlo Stanley, is co-owner of a bookstore and coffee shop with her high school friend, Chloe Carter. Arlo started a Friday night book club which three octogenarians, Fern, Camille, and Helen, joined. Their next book selection is by a local, deceased author and focuses on a missing girl. The women believe the book was inspired by a cold case that occurred in their town during the 1970’s. When another young woman, Haley, dies at the house where the girl disappeared, the book club decides to investigate both cases. What happened fifty years ago? Did the girl run away or was she murdered? Did Haley have an accident or is there something more sinister behind her death?

Arlo is a character that seems to be the ‘straight man’ to the three octogenarians who were the stars of the book in my eyes. She tries to keep them out of trouble, but continues to be pulled into their shenanigans. This makes for some comical scenes that lighten some very serious themes. However, we gain insight into Arlo’s personality through her interactions with these women and this makes her feel more real and relatable. Her voice manifested in her mindset, vocabulary, opinions, body language and her internal narrative. There are a lot of characters to get to know rather quickly, but if you pay attention, they become clear and distinct.

The author did a great job of creating a strong sense of place. The first part of the book had several instances of “telling” rather than “showing” and this detracted from the initial flow. However, as events transpired and the action picked up, I soon felt like I was living the events alongside the characters. There were several twists in the book, but most of them were not great surprises except for the last sentence in the book.

If you like entertaining and amusing cozy mysteries, then this is one you should check into. It worked well as a standalone novel, but would likely add background and depth if read in order. This is the first book that I have read by this author and I look forward to enjoying the next book in the series.

Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and Amy Lillard for a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for November 24, 2020. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

[Gloria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this second in the Main Street Book Club Mysteries set in Sugar Springs, Mississippi where Arlo and her friend Chloe own a bookstore and coffee shop on Main Street. Arlo wanted to start a Friday night book club where she was hoping to attract young people but instead a group of almost eighty year old ladies meet at the shop to discuss books, only it's every day around noon. Oh well. The ladies are reading a book written by a local author Wally Harrison, that we met in the first book in the series, and is now deceased. They believe that Wally's book, Missing Girl, is really about a local mystery never solved, where local piano teacher Mary Kennedy disappeared fifty years ago after giving lessons to the young son of a wealthy family. They have now another mystery to solve because while they were at the estate doing a little sleuthing, a young girl falls down the stairs while they are standing in the entryway. It is later discovered that she was murdered before falling. Arlo has her hands full keeping Helen, Fern, and Camille out of trouble as they brazenly investigate both mysteries. She is also dealing with some unfinished business from high school with ex-beaus PI Sam and local police chief Mads, both of whom have recently returned home. Camille is in love with a new man in town and Sam cannot find any information on him. This is a fun new read with the feisty book club ladies and others. It is filled with twists, turns, and layered with different surprises along the way.
I received a complimentary ARC from Poisoned Pen Press through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

With Arlo and Chloe running the bookshop – Books and More – in the small town of Sugar Springs, Mississippi, and the Book Club women, Fern, Camille and Helen, still reveling in their solving of a previous case, Arlo did all she could to dissuade the women when they wanted to investigate a 50 year old cold case which they were sure was connected to the book they were reading called The Missing Girl.

It wasn’t long before a real-life death occurred, and once again the connections were obvious. The death of a lovely young woman, someone they knew, was a dreadful shock. But the bookclub women were determined to find the killer as well as solve the old cold case. But could they do it? Arlo was sure it couldn’t happen again – they were just lucky the first time - weren’t they?

A Murder Between the Pages is the 2nd in the Main Street Book Club mystery series by Amy Lillard and I was disappointed in this one. There were so many characters I was having trouble keeping up plus the plot jumped around a lot. Once again though, I loved Faulkner the talking parrot as he made suggestions, rude comments and generally entertained everyone.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dollycas’s Thoughts

We return to Arlo and Chloe’s Books & More in this second book in the Main Street Book Club Mysteries where the Friday Night Book Club, which meets each day at noon are discussing Missing Girl by the now-deceased Wally Harrison. (Can’t Judge A Book by Its Murder) The elderly members of the group, Fern, Camille, and Helen, are sure the book was derived from a 50-year-old-case when piano teacher Mary Kennedy went missing after giving a lesson to the son of a wealthy family.

When the ladies travel to the very manor where the disappearance occurred to pick up a book donation they witness another murder. They are convinced the two murders are connected and no matter how hard Arlo tries to direct their attention elsewhere they are intent on investigating both murders come hill or high water.

I will confess when I started this book I stopped to be sure I hadn’t already read it because the young woman’s death was very similar to something I had remembered reading before. I had not read this book and as I got further into it the similarity faded away.

Arlo is a terrific character. Her book club plan did not come together as planned but she rolled with it and accepted that she ended up with Fern, Camille, and Helen. It sure turned out to be a lot more work especially now that the ladies see themselves as amateur sleuths instead of book club members. It tests Arlo’s patience but I enjoyed tagging along to see what kind of mischief they were going to get into much to Arlo’s dismay. Arlo also has man trouble, personally and tangentially. With both Sam and Mads back in her life, she is dealing with old feelings and new. Plus Camille is dating a very interesting man that no one knows anything about. Ms. Lillard has created a wonderful group of characters. They make me laugh and a bit nervous at times but all are characters I want to follow through their adventures.

As I said the new mystery felt familiar but the way the author twisted it to encompass the old cold case caught my interest. While nosing around a certain event got the ladies all twitterpated. They were all in on solving both mysteries. I was nicely entertained by the way the drama all played out. Ms. Lillard threw in some wonderful twists and turns that really muddied my thinking. I really enjoyed the subplot about Chole and her son too.

There is plenty of humor sprinkled through this story including the antics of some spry octogenarians but also from a certain parrot named Faulkner. His quips and one-liners had me in stitches.

A Murder Between the Pages was a delightful trip back to Sugar Springs, Mississippi. I am excited to know I will be returning in just a couple of weeks when I read and review A Murder Like No Author.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book store owner Arlo thought forming a book club would be fun but she has had her hands full ever since three elderly go-getters formed that club. They continue to suck her into the vortex of mystery solving by rash actions that Arlo is continually trying to hamper. It does not help that the police chief is her ex-boyfriend from high school.

I enjoyed the humor of the elderly book club members and liked that they were portrayed as vibrant individuals. Thanks to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

[Tracy Wood · Rating 2 out of 5]

After local author Wally Harrison's murder was solved by the local Friday Night Book Club it seemed only fitting to choose his novel The Missing Girl  as one of their next reads. Unfortunately for the Books and More Store co-owner Arlo the three elderly club members become convinced a local case is the factual basis for the fictional bestseller and are determined to solve the mystery once and for all.

The decades old missing person case they investigate via the new novel is complicated by a present day murder which conveniently happens right in front of the four of them. Arlo's presence in all things investigative is explained away by her not wanting them to get into trouble which given their determination to ignore most of what she says would serve them right!

A Murder Between the Pages is the second in this series and could have made more sense if I had read book one first as it may have explained why local a book store proprietor lets her business run itself while she rushes around town in her older friends' wake. The three elderly protagonists lead main character Arlo a merry dance and none of them come across in a positive light or in the case of Camille, Fern and Helen a likeable one.

Although this is an enjoyable read it tends to ride roughshod across any recognised law enforcement procedures paying no attention to crime scene protocols, chain of custody requirements, or basic good manners. None of which, so far as I could see, was discouraged or prevented when most of their actions would have negated any chance of a successful prosecution in the future.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. Unfortunately there are too many excellent cosy crime novels which don't have these unbelievable elements for this one to stand up to scrutiny.

[Deanne Patterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once you start you won't be able to stop turning the pages of this exciting small town mystery.
Those spunky,meddling ladies of Arlo's Friday Night Book Club--Fern, Camille, and Helen are at it again getting into things and solving another mystery their own way.
Love these ladies and their perseverance in solving the case, they won't let anything hold them back.
Very interesting mystery.


Published November 24th 2020 by Poisoned Pen Press
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

[Sarah Woodhouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful romp of a cozy murder mystery.

[Melissa Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story filled with quirky characters and a very interesting mystery. A great "who did it?" story. I received a complimentary copy of the book. No review was required.

[Gail C. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel features Arlo, named after the folk singer, who left her parents and their commune because she wanted to settle down. She chose Sugar Springs, Mississippi and an older woman became her de facto guardian for the remainder of her teenage years. Now Arlo is in her late 30’s and has opened a bookstore/coffee shop with her best friend, Chloe.
In the first novel, Arlo started a weekly book club she hoped would attract younger, intellectually inclined readers. What she got was three older women, one of whom is her former guardian. They morphed from weekly to daily and in the first book solved a murder, so now they see themselves as sleuths par excellence.
Now Arlo feels the responsibility to keep these women safe while trying to keep them from annoying the local sheriff, Mads, who Arlo dated in high school. At the same time, she has rented out the upstairs space to Sam, whom Arlo broke up with Mads for, and who now may, or may not be interested in Arlo. There are hints that Mads is also still interested in Arlo; but none of the trio seem able to define their interest, if any, or move it forward.
In this book, the book club gets fixated on a 50 year old case they are convinced was murder and decide to solve it. At the same time, a young woman at the estate where the first murder occurs is killed, and Mads is focused on solving that murder.
The book moves quickly from one theory to another from the book club members while Arlo tries to keep them safe and away from Mads. Sam, who is a private detective, is of little help as he keeps finding out bits of information and throwing that into the mix.
In addition to this action, one of the book club members has met a man on-line. Arlo and Sam see them out at dinner and he is covered with prison tattoos, another source of worry for Arlo. As all these strings swirl just out of Arlo’s control, the current murder begins to show ties to the murder of 50 years ago, and they both culminate with the book club members, along with Arlo and eventually Sam, Mads, and another police detective converge on the people involved.
There was no surprise in the book for me. There are several identity reveals, including who the murderer is; and I had them correctly identified almost from their introduction. Because the solving of the crime(s) is so scattered, the book seems best suited for someone who wants to be entertained, laugh at some of the situations, and then have the solution presented.
If you like your books with an emphasis on cozy and not really on detection, with humor thrown in, this series is probably just right for you. I would recommend reading them in order as there are character developments and relationships that progress from book to book. My thanks to Poisoned Press and NetGalley for an advanced digital reader copy of this book. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

[Barb · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Main Street Book Club series, and I still haven’t really made up my mind about it. The premise and the setting work, but something about it just seems off.

I like the idea of a weekly book group meeting in a bookstore, but how practical is it to meet on a weekday morning when it appears that most of the people you’re trying to attract to your store are at work? An evening meeting would make more sense, but it appears that the store isn’t open evenings. Good thing they have so many regulars – mostly other merchants with no time to shop – who come in for coffee and treats, because otherwise, I don’t see how the store remains in business.

The characters are another puzzle. The book club members are all retired women who consider themselves the next Miss Marple and are determined to conduct their own investigation. Arlo, the MC, gets swept along with them because (1) she can’t say no and (2) she’s going to “make sure they stay out of trouble.” Yeah, right, we all know how *that is going to work out! Chloe, Arlo’s best friend, at least knows when to bow out.

The book club’s primary focus is on a decade-old cold case that they’re sure was a murder. When an accident occurs in the missing woman’s last known location, they’re certain the two incidents are related, and from there on, all hell breaks loose. Everything was such a jumbled mess, I gave up trying to figure out who – if anyone – was the culprit, and just went along for the ride.

It appears that there is only one more book in this series, which I purchased from Chirp before realizing how ambivalent the series makes me feel, so I’ll listen to it – eventually.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I enjoyed the first book in the Main Street Book Club Mysteries, Can’t Judge a Book by Its Murder, I have to say that Amy Lillard did even better with the second book, A Murder Between the Pages.

In my review for Can’t Judge a Book by Its Murder, I had mentioned it didn’t flow as smoothly as other cozies and Arlo and Chloe spent a lot of time at the beginning of the book rehashing everything. Lillard seemed to have tightened up the editing with book two! The flow was much better and I didn’t feel like the information was repeated quite as much…. although there were still times.

And while Arlo may be the protagonist, Fern, Camille, and Helen steal the show for me. They all have such unique personalities and I really enjoyed the love interest for Camille. Arlo still has a love triangle going on, but it’s not annoying me yet, so that’s always a plus. And how could I forget the parrot?!? Love all of his comments that he makes during the conversation bits.

I did know the murderer very early on, but the twist that Lillard wrote still made for an interesting ending and I didn’t see half of it coming. I’ll be back for book three, A Murder Like No Author, which comes out the end of November 2021, to read more about the Friday (now everyday) Book Club members and to see what they get up to next.

[Karelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Absolument terrible. La prémisse était cool (ce qui nous avait motivées, mon amie et moi, à vouloir le lire ensemble), mais le résultat est catastrophiquement mauvais en tous points: les personnages sont détestables*, il y a des répétitions à la pelletée (si on les coupait toutes, j'pense qu'on aurait la moitié du livre et ça serait pas plus mal), c'est mal écrit, condescendant et conservateur, l'intrigue tourne à vide et on ne comprend jamais bien d'où sorte les nouveaux éléments, et la solution était pourrie. Vraiment juste... pourrie. Mais savez-vous, c'est ça qui arrive quand t'as pas vraiment de suspect dans ton roman policier au fond.

*Sauf le perroquet, qui était le personnage le plus intéressant de l'histoire. J'pense que sa solution était plus plausible que celle à laquelle sont arrivées les femmes du club de lecture.

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book seller decides to start a mystery book club and her elderly guardian and her two elderly friends are the only ones who join. They are reading a book about a missing woman who bears great resemblance to a piano teacher who went missing 40 years ago. Just vanished off the face of the earth along with her car. When the ladies go to mansion of the towns wealthiest lady, the sister of their barista falls down the stairs at their feet, dead. It turns out she was murdered before the fall and a search for the possible weapon is found when the small lake on the estate is drained, long with the missing piano teachers car…..
Good read, interesting characters in a small town.

[Maureen Timerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved being back with this book club, and of course, Fletcher!
In the first book these lovely ladies solved the murder of Wally Harrison, and now they are at it again. They are convinced they know whom his book is about, and they are going to prove it, but then, another body!
You are going to want to join this Friday Night Book club, they sure are a hoot, and you know what, listen to what they have to say. I would love to hang around with these ladies!
As the book progresses surprising facts are revealed, and keep reading there are bombshells that are dropped right up to the last page.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Poisoned Pen Press, and was not required to give a positive review.

[Cozy Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the new cozy series "Main Street Book Club" by author Amy Lillard. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinion is my own. The first in series was delightful and a great cozy for all of us that like book club mysteries. This is a charming series with great charcters and wonderful references to books.

Arlo and her Friday night book club are on the trail of a cold case murder long past. The have just solved one murder of an author and soon find clues that a new murder may be related to the cold case.

I love that the author features seniors as sleuths and book club members. They are delightful to read about. Arlo's character is growing and as before has good sleuthing skills . I enjoyed this fun read and look forward to the next in series.

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This is the second book in the Main Street Book Club mysteries in Amy Lillard.

Even though Arlo is the head of the Friday Night Book Club, it seems her more senior members quickly take over and not by discussing their current book but by solving an old murder! Mary Kennedy, piano teacher, vanished one day and never reappeared. And it flummoxed everyone for years. Then when Arlo and friends go to the house of one of the bookclub gal’s sisters for a book donation, the gal they are looking for falls down the stairs right before their eyes and dies instantly.

This mystery was compelling and keeps you interested all the way through. The cast is memorable but I do think there might be a bit too many seniors for some people’s taste. But that is neither here nor there. I like the whole community vibe the book puts out. I did not read the first book in the series so I do plan to check that out ASAP to get a bit more backstory. Definitely a series I want to continue with.

If you like cozy mysteries, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

[Cozybooklady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arlo and the book group ladies are back again in A Murder Between the Pages by Amy Lillard.
The ladies are reading and discussing Missing Girl, which they are comparing to a woman’s disappearance many years ago.

Arlo feels like a babysitter for the three ladies, Helen, Fern and Camille. Even though the ladies are past retirement age, they get themselves involved in things better left to the authorities.
When the death of a young woman shakes the small town to the core, the ladies are determined to ask questions, and Arlo tags along, trying to keep them out of trouble.

I enjoyed this book and the ladies, but I’m struggling to make a connection with Arlo. I haven’t found anything that makes me click with her yet, but I’m hoping it will happen in the next book.
#netgalley #amurderbetweenthepages

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second entry in the Main Street Book Club Mystery series and we finding ourselves returning to Arlo’s Friday Night Book Club. I enjoyed how the the book club members decide to investigate a cold case. Suddenly, things begin to heat up and become all too real. When a murder which seems to be connected to the original case occurs, the gang begins to search for whodunit. The author has created an enjoyable mystery that she has filled with a likeable group of characters and an interesting plot. A fun read.

I would like to thank Amy Lillard, Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It seemed like a good idea at the time but, as they say about best laid plans....hadn't factored in the senior citizens who joined the Friday Night Book Club. Camille, Helen and Fern not only attend on Friday but just about every day of the week finds these senior ladies in the bookstore, Arlo and Chloe's Books and More. The more part is the coffee shop that Chloe runs and Arlo runs the book half. Best friends turned business partners but Arlo never thought that she would be trying to control three seniors who made her feel like "a babysitter of juvenile delinquents". After solving the mystery of the death of Wally Harrison, a famous local author, the three ladies are certain that they can do it again. A fifty year old cold case of a missing music teacher, Mary Kennedy, has them convinced that Wally wrote his best selling novel about her. When they find out that Arlo is going out to the mansion to pick up some books for her store, all three insist on tagging along. After all, it is the 'scene of the crime', the last place Mary was seen.
All goes well when the four arrive at Lillyfield mansion but, within moments tragedy strikes when a young woman, working as house staff, falls down the grand staircase and dies at their feet. That's the cue for Helen, Fern and Camille to switch into detective mode - the young woman had wanted to speak with them about a mystery she needed help solving. There is no way to stop them so Arlo is drawn into their sleuthing if for no other reason but to keep them from getting in the way of the police investigation.
This series makes me laugh out loud with the interaction of the senior ladies along with Arlo, Chloe, Mads Keller - police chief and Sam Tucker. Add a cat and a cheeky African grey parrot named Faulkner and the lovely small town of Sugar Springs, MS and it makes for a great getaway. The mystery is well crafted and left me eager to read the next in the series.
My thanks to the publisher Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Bridget · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fabulous second instalment to what is turning out to be a promising series!

Mississippi bookstore owner Arlo Stanley is hoping that the latest book club selection of 'Missing Girl' written by the town’s legendary bestselling author, Wally Harrison, will yield no unfortunate surprises. But the Friday Night Book Club - octogenarians Fern, Camille, and Helen - are convinced 'Missing Girl' was inspired by a 50-year-old cold case. It's the case of the disappearance of Mary Kennedy, an organist and piano teacher, missing since the 1970s and Arlo can do little to stop the book club ladies from investigating. Then a young girl, Haley Adams is found dead at the bottom of the stairs at Lillyfield mansion, the same place, the women believe, from where Mary went missing. It's very likely that the two cases are connected and the mystery book club gang, with Arlo's help, are intent on nailing the culprit(s).

Set in Sugar Springs, Mississippi, A Murder Between the Pages was an exciting read. Amy Lillard gave the story a sense of place and the pacing was spot on. There was always plenty going on and there was certainly never a dull moment! The author clearly knows how to write a story that is compelling, entertaining and fun and I really enjoyed my time spent in Arlo's company and the Friday Night Book Club members' shenanigans. All of the characters had a great part to play and all had plenty of audacity and spirit.

The plot was brilliantly executed and I was desperate to find out what was going to happen next. The combination of description and dialogue was great and I had opportunities to play armchair detective as the story progressed. All in all, I loved this fascinating mystery and I highly recommend this humorous, easy to read cozy. I am already looking forward to reading the next book in the series. A well-deserved five stars!

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley at my request and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Murder Between the Pages is the second installment in the Main Street Book Club Mysteries series set in the small town of Sugar Springs, Mississippi and featuring bookstore owner Arlo Stanley and her business partner Chloe Carter. The three members of the Friday Night Book Club, Helen Johnson, Camille Kinny and Fern Conley are trying to solve another mystery - this time it's a 50 year old cold case, or is it?

When best selling author Wally Harrison was found murdered outside of the book store a few months ago the ladies had helped local police chief, Mads Keller identify his killer. Now the ladies are convinced that Wally's last novel, Missing Girl was written about a local piano teacher, Mary Kennedy who simply vanished one night after leaving the gates of the wealthy Whitney family compound, Lillyfield.

Despite Arlo's pleas for the elderly ladies to stay away from Lillyfield, the group descends upon the mansion and are witness to a real life murder of someone close to them. The ensuing investigation quickly reveals that maybe someone in the Whitney household had killed Mary Kennedy and now that person is trying to keep the truth from being discovered.

A fast paced plot filled with zany characters and a boisterous parrot named Faulkner. Arlo's relationship with ex-boyfriend Sam Tucker seems to be blossoming and fortunately the dreaded love triangle involving Mads seems to be taking a backseat. A delightful read that will have you chuckling from start to finish. I look forward to many more adventures in Sugar Springs.

I received an advanced copy of A Murder Between the Pages from NetGalley via Poisoned Pen Press. While not required to write a review I am happy to offer my honest opinion.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up. In this second book in the Main Street Book Club Mysteries, Arlo Stanley's Friday Night Book Club ladies are all geared up to solve a cold case. The book they are reading, Missing Girl, had them convinced that it is about the disappearance of Mary Kennedy, a 50 year old case set in Sugar Springs, Mississippi. Arlo tried to get the ladies to back off, but nothing is going to stop them from investigating and solving the case. When a present day murder occurs in the same location where Mary disappeared, they are even more convinced. Are Haley's and Mary's murders connected? The ladies sure think they are.

I really enjoy this older group of women and their tenacity and investigation skills, but they can't do it alone, Arlo has to help, or is she keeping them in line. The ladies are her friends and she cares for all of them, wanting to keep them safe. Chloe is Arlo's friend and works in her shop. She is a single mom, who's son lives with her parents. I like the relationships in this story, they make the characters real. There were a lot of characters in this story which made it a bit difficult to keep them all straight, which took away from my enjoyment somewhat. There were a lot of suspects and red herrings which made it hard to figure out who the culprit was. With two cases 50 years apart, there was a lot happening. Did the ladies solve these two mysteries? How were they connected, or were they connected? You will have to pick this one up to get the answers to those questions. This is the second book in the series, but there is enough background shared that it can be read as a standalone.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 2nd in Main Book Street Book Club series. Arlo Stanley is a co-owner with friend Chloe of a book store and coffee shop in Sugar Springs Mississippi. Arlo started a Friday night book club with the intent to get younger people into the store but instead she ends up with three less than young ladies including Helen who was her guardian when she decided she was tired of moving around with her hippie parents when she was 16 years old. Arlo is content to stay in one spot after moving around her whole childhood. Helen and her two friends Fern and Camille are the book club and in their eighties. They decide after the excitement of helping to solve the mystery of Wally the author of Missing Girl to solve the real case of Missing Girl in Sugar Springs. The ladies are convinced that Wally’s story is based on the real life disappearance and presumed murder of Mary Kennedy from the Lilyfield estate fifty years ago. When Arlo has to go to the estate to pick up a donation the ladies of the book club tag along and another murder happens of young girl Haley who is working there and is the sister of their employee Courtney. Are the two murders related. Arlo has little control over the ladies and their antics is what keeps the story going. Arlo at every turn seems to dismiss the ladies comparisons between Wally’s book and the cold case of Mary Kennedy. Things don’t add up on Haley’s case as well as Mary’s case. I did enjoy this book but I could not believe some of the things that the ladies were able to do and the police ignoring such blatant disregard of rules. There also is a love triangle which personally I do not like in stories. Hopefully the history of the police chief Mads, Sam the private investigator and Arlo can get resolved. I do look forward to the next installment as I am guessing based on all the discussion of a movie premiere of Wally’s book will happen during that. Sounds promising.

[Patti Whitson Stephenson She Lives to Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

Note: I normally review Christian fiction. This book is not Christian fiction, and it fits into the “clean” general fiction/mystery category. I love Amy Lillard’s Amish fiction, and thought I’d like to read a book by her in a different contemporary setting.

I thought this book was fun and entertaining. The senior citizens of the “Friday Night Book Club” consider themselves successful armchair detectives, and by the time I finished the book, I wished that I could attend one of their book club meetings and watch/listen to them work together to solve a murder case. Arlo, the owner of the bookstore, has her hands full trying to keep these lively, intelligent older ladies in line and keep them safe as they decide to do their own investigation of the recent murder that had occurred in their small of a young woman they knew and loved.

There’s quite a few plot twists in this book, and the clues come along at unexpected times to keep interest going in the story. I thought that I had the murder solved at one point—but did I really solve it?

You’ll have to read this story to see if you came to the same conclusions that I (rightly or wrongly) did. This is the second book in a series. I have not read the first one, but did not have any trouble jumping immediately into this story. I’ll be following this series as I came to admire the book club ladies.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

[Jaymie · Rating 2 out of 5]

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

2.5 stars = Solid to mostly solid, some issues but okay overall.

I struggled with this one (after enjoying the first book). The book club ladies are a LOT to take in this. They have no self-control; they don't listen to anyone who gives them a boundary or a suggestion for their own safety. They have no regard for law enforcement, private property, etc. Only for their own whims. I felt like Arlo was an ineffectual parent trying to corral a group of willful three year olds. She went along with things because she felt powerless to do anything else.

On top of that, the story seemed to spin for the first third to half of the book. The book club ladies insist there's a connection between the book and the cold case. They insist law enforcement should re-open the case. But they have no evidence to back up their insistence. They just rehash their assumptions over and over. When the new murder takes place, they hardly seem to notice. I didn't feel any emotional connection to the new case - it just sort of happened and then became background to the spinning, recycling conversation about the cold case.

In the second half, the mystery started to pull together. And I enjoyed the romance thread for one of the book club ladies, but otherwise I didn't click with the characters or the love triangle. The ending of the mystery was satisfying, but the road to get there was frustrating. I don't know that I will move forward with this series.

Readers who get a kick out of these feisty octogenarians should definitely pick this one up. The ladies are in rare form in this book. They were just too much for me.

(There are some outdated references to homosexuality from the book club ladies, including a "limp in the wrists" slur that Arlo doesn't challenge because she feels the ladies are too set in their ways, and her other corrective statements have gone no where.)

[Darcia Helle · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Murder Between the Pages is a fun cozy mystery.

Arlo, our lead character, owns a bookshop and is, for the most part, an average woman in her late thirties. But the senior women who meet at her shop every day drag her into all sorts of mischief, providing lots of comic relief throughout this murder mystery.

Unfortunately, the plot suffers from a lack of focus. We have a fifty-year-old cold case that the book club ladies are investigating, a current murder of someone in the small town, a complicated love triangle with Arlo and two of her past boyfriends, and a secretive relationship one of the senior ladies is having with an unknown male. Because so much is going on, nothing really stands out as the story’s focus. Neither of the mysteries are all that surprising in how they play out.

In the end, this story is light on realistic mystery, focusing more on the escapades of the quirky characters.

This is the second Main Street Book Club Mystery, but reads fine as a stand-alone.

*I received a review copy from Poisoned Pen Press.*

[Judith · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bookstore with no sales in a small Mississippi town provides the setting for this over complicated, implausible mess. The crime solvers, the store owners and three elderly ladies have nothing better to do than nose around, bothering other old people. Do old people really dash around hither and yon blundering into dangerous situations, or do they contentedly natter on about the wonders of their grandchildren? Would an 80+ year old woman find an ex con on a dating site,a guy covered in prison tatoos? That hardly seems possible. Were she that careless, she wouldn't have lived that long. The partner in the seemingly bankrupt book shop, Chloe, seems to leave her child unsupervised to run off with his unleashed dog. She's hardly responsible. What about all their stolen evidence? Will it be returned? Why do they happen to be at the scene of the crime and at all pivotal conversations about it? Why would her or boyfriend, now a private eye rent some dump above her bookstore? He'd be in his twenties. That makes no sense. If he's mad about the prom from a decade previous, why seek her out and be on call. Basically, just as with most cozies, nothing rings true. Tampering with evidence is a crime. Stealing a diamond necklace from a recovered vehicle is a crime. In fact, the vehicle would have been impounded and searched by the police not left on shore with no police tape. I'll never read another book by this author if this is an example of her best work.

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Murder Between the Pages is a fun cozy mystery by Amy Lillard. Fern, Camille and Helen members of Arlo's Friday Night Book Club are filled with spunk and determination. They choose Missing Girl as there next book and soon was believing there was a connection to a 50 year old cold case and the current murder of a young lady. The humor that Lillard interwove in the story along with the antics of the three elderly friends gave way to a fun read. The plots and hints of the murder brought this book to life. Even though this is the second book in the Main Street Book Club Mysteries series it can be read as a standalone.

Thank you to the publisher Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book without any obligation to give a positive review. I have shared my own thoughts.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my! Such a cute read that has elderly people at the helm to help solve some mystery. They made me snicker more times than one. I can just picture these ladies doing what they do! So funny and cute! Lillard is a good story teller that way. Her descriptions of places, people and towns makes me feel like I'm in the middle and of course I'm sad when the story ended. I hate leaving my new found friends. Lillard will give you just enough to keep you guessing as to whom the real culprit is. And it isn't who you first think! I was happy to see that Lillard had written another mystery novel. I was hoping for one. I sure wasn't disappointed! A great read for a pleasant Sunday afternoon. I finished this one on a couple of hours also. It was just so good! I recommend. My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review and all opinions are my own.