Handbook for Homicide

Booktown Mystery #14

by Lorna Barrett, Cassandra Campbell (Narrator)

Tricia Miles must swim against the tide to catch a killer when Haven't Got A Clue's assistant manager is accused of murder in the latest entry to Lorna Barrett's New York Times bestselling Booktown series.

Haven't Got A Clue bookshop owner Tricia Miles's relationship is on the rocks. After a not-so-fun vacation with her on-again-off-again lover, Marshall Cambridge, Tricia's hoping for smooth sailing back in Stoneham. Unfortunately Booktown greets her not with blue skies but with another body.

When Tricia's assistant manager, Pixie, finds homeless vet Susan Morris's body behind Haven't Got A Clue, Pixie's checkered past makes her the prime suspect. Tricia sets out to clear Pixie's name armed with only an anchor insignia earring found at the scene of the crime.

As Tricia digs deeper she discovers Susan was involved in a scandal right before retiring from the Navy—but since nobody in the village knows Susan, even Tricia's one lead is in danger of drying up. With family drama brewing in the background and all of Stoneham convinced her manager is a murderer, Tricia knows she has to get to the bottom of the case soon before Pixie's life is sunk.

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

10 pages, Audible Audio

First published July 21, 2020

About the author

The immensely popular Booktown Mystery series is what put Lorna Barrett’s name on the New York Times Bestseller list, but it’s her talent -- whether writing as Lorna, or L.L. Bartlett, or Lorraine Bartlett -- that keeps her there. This multi-published, Agatha-nominated author pens the exciting Jeff Resnick Mysteries as well as the acclaimed Victoria Square Mystery series and has many short stories and novellas to her name(s). Check out the links to all her works here: http://www.lornabarrett.com

Reviews

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Handbook for Homicide is the 14th Booktown Mystery written by Lorna Barrett. I've read all the previous ones, and had I read this one on its own, I would've liked it a lot more than I ended up based on my 3-star rating (which is still a fair and positive rating). It's a good book, similar to the others she's written, and the story has a solid flow to it. But it's also the 5th or 6th time where something's happened that is just too frequently occurring... don't read the rest of my thoughts here as it will be a spoiler.

In this series, the supporting characters that we get to know from book to book begin to grow on us, even when they are irritating or obnoxious. It's shocking when someone we know turns out to be the secret killer or unfortunate victim. And in at least 4 of the previous installments in this series, that's what happened. It just did again. On its own, I'm glad the person who committed the crimes will be gone as the character never really clicked and was ruined many books ago -- totally okay because it was a twisty arc. But... it's a bit too much to believe and look the other way when this same solution keeps happening to the weird characters or the ones who get stuck in the middle of situations. It's a healthy character cleanse of sorts, which I can appreciate too. Just maybe not so often. LOL

All that said, the side stories are getting more exciting, and I'm curious to see what happens with the next book, having read the plot and knowing that what I just called out above is sorta gonna happen again but on the victim side this time. So... I'll go in prepared, and I really hope for a big surprise in how it ends and drops us into book 16 coming out later this year.

[Darinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tricia Miles and the residents of Stoneham are back! Handbook for Homicide is the 14th book in the Booktown Mystery series by Lorna Barrett. Tricia lives in the small town of Stoneham and runs a mystery bookstore. The town has several specialty book shops and book themed businesses that bring in visitors to the town. Tricia also has a habit of stumbling across dead bodies. She uses her love of mysteries to sleuth and find the real killers.

In this book, it's not Tricia who finds the dead body, but her assistant manager, Pixie. The body is discovered behind the bookshop, and Tricia gets involved when it looks like one of the suspects is Pixie. The dead woman was a homeless vet, with few ties to the area. Tricia's questions lead to wondering if the woman was killed from something in her military past or if a local was behind it.

An enjoyable cozy mystery. This book is part of a series, but it can be read as a standalone. That said, I recommend reading the earlier books to better understand the relationships between the characters. A good read for fans of cozies. Delightful and entertaining.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

[Jenn · Rating 2 out of 5]

We're back in Stoneham with Tricia and the gang for number fourteen in the Book town Mystery series. Tricia has just come back from a disappointing trip to Ireland with her boyfriend, when her store manager finds a dead body in her dumpster. The body is a local homeless person who lived in her car and everyone's at a loss as to why she was killed.

Full of a cast of kooky small town characters, the Book town series always delivers up a fresh mystery for it's reader to delve into.

This reader is getting annoyed with the series though. Tricia's age is revealed in this one to be 46. We may have known before now how old she was, but it's hard to remember because she acts like someone twenty years older. She's one of the least likable main characters I've read. And it's not just me...none of the townspeople in these books seem to like her either. She's in some type of argument with half of them. Just off the top of my head, I can think of 4 or 5 that she isn't speaking to for one reason or another. 🙄

[Dale Harcombe · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tricia Miles owns ‘Haven’t got a clue’ bookshop specialising in murder and mystery books. When her assistant Pixie finds a homeless woman in the dumpster behind the shop, murder comes close to home. It is not the first time Tricia has been involved in a murder investigation, but this time Pixie, who has a chequered past, is the suspect police like for the murde. But who really did kill homeless vet Susan Morris? Tricia is determined to clear her assistant and friend of suspicion. She finds an anchor earring in Susan’s car, which leads her to discover more about this crime. Could it have to do with something that happened years before in Susan’s Navy career? But Tricia seems too be the only one who believes Pixie is innocent. Can she expose the real culprit?
This is book 14 in A Booktown Mystery series. I had not read any of the previous books but it reads okay as a stand alone.
It is a cosy mystery, though to me the pace felt very slow with a lot of dialogue between characters and not enough happening. Found myself skimming. I wasn’t overly enamoured of any of the main characters and too many things seemed coincidental for me,. Doubt I will read any more books in this series. However having said that other people seem to enjoy this series, so if it sounds like your kind of thing, maybe give it go.

[Anne · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have a hard time giving up a series, that's the only reason I can give for sticking around for book #14. I have found Trisha mildly dislikable to quite dislikable through out the series. I haven't liked many of the secondary characters either. The characters make a point of pointing out how unlikable she is which makes me question why the author is writing her like this.

While someone is killed and Tricia noses around the majority of the book revolves around Tricia's social life, town issues and homelessness. The murder is only solved by the killer outing themself.

The very ending is absolutely ridiculous.

Glad I got this from the library.

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Haven’t Got A Clue bookshop owner Tricia Miles was excited to travel to Ireland with Marshal Cambridge but the entire trip was a bust. Her return home to Stoneham was also far from perfect. She learns that while she was gone someone tried to break into her bookshop and that her sister had bunion surgery while she was gone. But the thing that tops the list is the dead body Pixie found in the dumpster. Tricia barely had time to catch her breath before police chief Grant Baker was flinging questions at both her and Pixie. The deceased, Susan Morris was living in her car, and Pixie had tried to help her in the past. Knowing the deceased, the location of where the body was found, and Pixie’s criminal record makes her a prime suspect. Tricia knows Pixie had nothing to do with Susan’s death. She just has to prove it. That is not easy when hardly anyone knew the victim.

Ms. Barrett takes on a hot topic within the pages of this book, homeless vets. When Tricia found out the victim was homeless it opened her eyes. She visits a nearby encampment and meets several other homeless vets. She talks to the leader of the group, Hank Curtis about Susan and learns why he is living the way he is. She has an idea that may help him into a better situation. Angelica may be sidelined from her surgery but that doesn’t mean she can’t make things happen. Mr. Everett and his wife Grace are also doing good things around the town too. I love Pixie and her energy even when she is a murder suspect. She and Mr. Everett can keep the bookshop completely under control while Tricia does some investigating.

Again, the author has packed the pages of the book with all kinds of drama. Tricia’s romantic life really outshined the murder mystery. Almost every page had Tricia ruminating about the direction of her life. That being said the murder mystery was easy to solve. The clues were all there early in the story. Tricia didn’t give up and had her a-ha moment at an inopportune time. I did enjoy how the entire story panned out. The pace to be a little slow in places and some of the actions felt forced but we are at the 14th book of this series so the characters pulled us through.

I love the Stoneham setting. A classic small town with a mission to make it the best place it can be to draw in tourists. I do wish there was more diversity in the business owners. Angelica or her alter ego Nigela Ricita owns almost everything in town and sometimes it gets a little boring that she can just throw money at a problem or an issue and fix it right up.

Handbook for Homicide is an interesting cozy mystery with characters that continue to grow in a place that can be chaotic or idyllic depending on the day.

There was a bit of a cliffhanger at the end of this book so I was really looking forward to reading A Deadly Deletion but after reading the synopsis I am going to put it off for a while. Tricia has been unhappy in her life throughout the last few books and I was hoping she would find happiness in the next book but that is not in the cards for her anytime soon.

[Sydney · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tricia is the most obnoxious person I have ever encountered in a book. Men are fighting over her, everyone else is constantly telling her how lovely and kind she is, and I just don't get it. She's a judgmental busybody who thinks she can do no wrong. At one point in this book, someone breaks into her home, her phone is dead, and she thinks about running outside to try to find help but decides against it because she's wearing pajamas. She also gained five pounds (God forbid! FIVE WHOLE POUNDS) after a vacation in Ireland and cannot stop thinking about it. I cannot stand her.

Barrett also does this thing every book where she changes an established character's personality drastically so that they can be the new killer. (The motivation was also freaking ridiculous.) It's obnoxious, along with the author's obvious contempt for people who weigh any more than 100 pounds. I have no good explanation as to why I keep reading these, other than they're free from the library.

[The Cozy Review · Rating 3 out of 5]

Handbook for Homicide is the fourteenth book in the "A Booktown Mystery" series. The series revolves around the main character, Tricia's book store, her employees, customers, family, and friends. The characters in this series have flaws, as does Tricia. Sometimes those flaws are a bit much for readers to handle. Tricia isn't always likable; she can be selfish, petty, and somewhat single-minded. Other characters, such as her sister, are lovely.

I did not feel the book store played a significant enough role in this new addition, especially considering the body is found behind it in a dumpster. I also did not like the indecision on Tricia's part about the men in her life. She needs to figure out how she feels for each one and stop hanging onto the past and let the men know where they stand. I do not like cliff hangers in a cozy, it isn't necessary to get people to read the next book in the series, and it disappoints the reader who spent several hours reading only to leave questions unanswered.

The victim and the suspects are nicely written; however, the killer, although interesting, was not believable. Handbook for Homicide is an easy to read book but seemed to lack the author's usual flare. Many fans will find the book enjoyable, while others will be upset that Tricia has not changed enough to be likable. The mystery is somewhat pushed aside due to the unending discussions of Tricia's love life, and in this book, her sudden need to help the homeless. Her book store takes a back seat to everything else Tricia deems important and constantly leaves the running of the store to her employees. Overall, this was an okay book, not great, but not horrible. Too much got in the way for me to enjoy it, and not enough of what makes this series enjoyable was included.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Handbook for Homicide by Lorna Barrett is the 14th A Booktown Mystery. I found Handbook for Homicide to be well-written with a colorful cast of characters. It was nice to catch up with everyone in Stoneham including Miss Marple and Sarge. Tricia Miles owns Haven’t Got a Clue in Stoneham, New Hampshire known for its bookstores. Tricia is returning from a trip to Ireland with boyfriend, Marshall Cambridge and the trip was disappointing to Tricia. She knew it was a working trip for Marshall since he was leading a tour group, but she expected them to have time to themselves. Tricia wonders if their relationship is near its end. She is not home thirty minutes when Pixie Poe finds a dead woman in their dumpster. The victim is Susan Morris, a naval veteran who was living in her car. Pixie is at the top of Chief Baker’s suspect list which has her worried, so she asks Tricia to do a little nosing around. Tricia, of course, agrees. Her investigation takes her to a local homeless camp where she finds a suspect or two. The mystery was not at the forefront of this book. It seemed to take a backseat to Tricia’s love life. There is also someone trying to break into the store. The two mysteries are easily solved. I would have liked more action in the book. The investigation was minimal on Tricia’s part. Of course, Tricia was distracted by her love life along with the disagreeable Russ Smith, a request for help regarding Nikki Brimfield, Angelica needing extra help, and family drama. There is plenty of eating in this book. I do not think Tricia will be losing those extra pounds from her vacation any time soon. There seem to be several people in town who dislike Tricia which was mentioned several times. I guess investigating murders will earn you a few enemies. I found the pacing a little slow in this edition and there is some foul language as well. I enjoyed the humor when Tricia utilized a unique skill to do a little sleuthing. We are left with an unanswered question at the end of the book, and I am curious how this situation will turn out. The story delves into the situation of homeless veterans and how people can assist them in a helpful and respectful manor. There are recipes at the end of the book for some of the dishes Tricia and Angelica enjoyed. Handbook for Homicide is an appealing cozy mystery with a valuable video, chamber of commerce chaos, a sidelined sister, a cookie conundrum, helping the homeless, and courtship challenges.

[C.A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yeah, this one left me wondering quite a few things. Have we seen the last of Nikki (I doubt it), what is it with Tricia and all these bodies, and why oh why did the author end the book that way? Most of all, why is it that all long cozy mysteries series seem to go off the rails? This one didn't even try to make it about the mystery in favor of Tricia's man problems and do-gooding. What's worse, I'm going to have to read at least the start of the next one to see how the cliffhanger resolves itself, a fact I find annoying.

[Laura Salas · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know those somewhat strange relatives you have that you don't necessarily want to spend lots of time with, but you still want to keep up with them? That's kind of how the Booktown mysteries are for me. Tricia is so negative all the time, and she does inexplicable things like suggest to Ginny, who doesn't even know if she wants a second child, to practically adopt a child she barely knows? And then thinks, If Ginny was going to be prickly, it could be a long evening. Seriously?

And yet. Every time there's a new entry in this series, I want to read it to see what Tricia, Angelica, and the rest of the gang are up to. Despite Tricia's negativity and appalling taste in men, I feel some sort of weird connection to her and her extended family. And the plotting of the mysteries always keeps me interested.

So, while I don't quite understand WHY I'm compelled to read this series, I have to admit I am.

The murder in this one was so sad and such a waste. I ended the book more determined than ever to show the people I love how much I love them and to learn to accept help from others.

Review copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh. My. Gosh! What an ending! I totally didn't see that coming! Loved the side stories, and this was a great, albeit a little sad, storyline. Love this series!

[Smitten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tricia Miles is back home in Stoneham, New Hampshire after a disappointing trip to Ireland with her boyfriend, Marshall. She barely makes it inside the door of the bookstore she owns when her assistant discovers a body in a dumpster behind the shop. Pixie recognizes the victim as Susan Moore, a woman who has been living in her car. Tricia’s ex-boyfriend, Police Chief Grant Baker, puts Pixie at the top of her suspect list. Tricia knows Pixie doesn’t have a motive and would never have hurt Susan, so she is determined to clear Pixie’s name and find the real killer.

Handbook for Homicide is the fourteenth book in this long-running series. I’ve only read a few of the prior books, so I was thankful for the cast of characters at the beginning. It helped me remember who’s who and would help new readers enjoy this book without having read the prior books in the series. My favorite part of the book and the entire series is the close, loving relationship between Tricia and her sister Angelica. They tease each other, but they get together almost every day and are always there for each other. I’m less enthusiastic about Tricia’s relationship with her boyfriend, Marshall. It seems obvious that Trica cares about Marshall, but isn’t in love with him but maybe I’ve missed something in a prior book. There are a few unexpected developments in Tricia’s love life at the end of the book that could get interesting in the next book. I don’t care for huge cliffhangers like this in a series, but I will admit I am very intrigued by what Tricia will do next.

The author does a good job of balancing the daily routines in Tricia’s personal life with the murder investigation. I enjoy seeing Tricia with her sister, on the job, and on the case. The investigation brings Tricia to a local homeless camp looking for possible witnesses or suspects. The inclusion of social issues in the book has mixed results. The homelessness issue is woven fairly seamlessly into the story, especially since the victim is homeless. Other offhand comments included in the dialogue regarding other issues come across as stilted and out of place. This is a small complaint about an otherwise evenly paced and entertaining cozy mystery. Readers who enjoy this series or the author’s books written under the name of Lorraine Bartlett, as well as fans of Sheila Connolly will enjoy the latest trip to Booktown.

~ Christine

[Jennifer Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why do books have to keep ending on cliffhangers for me?! Not that it's a huge thing, but it's kind of big in the world of Tricia Miles! Ugh...the mystery itself was good. I went back and forth on who I thought the murderer was. One of the people I guessed was right. They were just a jerk and I wanted them to be it! The author brought in someone new who may become an occurring character in future books and I like that. I can't wait for the next one!!

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tricia’s relationship is in trouble after a vacation where her boyfriend has spent more time being tour guide than being with her. When she gets home she finds a body behind her bookstore. When her clerk is blamed she goes looking for the truth. She finds out more about homeless veteran and that the woman murdered was one of them.

[Vintagebooklvr · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are looking for your typical cozy, this may not quite fill the bill even though it is a cozy series. Don't get me wrong, there is a murder, justice is achieved at the end and all is right with the world, and of course there are the recurring characters one comes back for each book. Where it goes different is some of the subject matter.

It particularly resonates with me because I recently read Nomadland, a true look at "migrant" workers who lives in vans and RVs and travel place to place for seasonal work, often with Amazon for the Christmas season and then for parks or some other summer work. Many of these are older Americans who should be enjoying retirement but can't because of being laid off, downturns in the market, etc. Here it is the murder victim who has lived such a life. These people aren't exactly homeless but you can't say they have a settled or secure lifestyle either. And of course, some of the suspects are the true homeless.

So, yeah, it is a bit depressing even while bringing much needed attention to the plight of people. The characters are not one-dimensional, they aren't all drunks or drug-addict, people who are mentally ill or just don't want to work hard--as some people think--nor are they noble and simple people. They are human with problems and for many of us it is just a little bit of luck that we are not them. The thing with books like this is that the author can create these little communities where people help one another and are able to find many of the homeless jobs and places to stay. Things aren't that rosy in the real world usually.

So kudos to the author for not just staying in the comfortable world of the cozy where the only really bad thing going on is a murder. For this book isn't all that comfortable to read but at the same time it isn't something that has you in the depths of depression either. Even the MC's relationships aren't going well (but that is another story and I have digressed enough).

It is worth the read. It is after all a cozy, it just has some other things going on as well and the author has the integrity to not present people as one dimensional or that there is just a simple solution to this problem.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series is so frustrating. I think the author is very talented. And I like her writing. And all the characters are likable except for the main character. All the men falling all over her is totally unrealistic. She treats these men horribly. But they are all falling all over themselves to be with her? Please! Don’t want to say too much and spoil the book for anyone. I am already invested 14 books into this series and hate to stop now. One can only hope Tricia’s character will become more likable soon.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haven’t Got a Clue Mystery Book Store has another mystery to solve. When Pixie finds the body of a homeless vet behind the store, she becomes the prime suspect. Since Pixie has a bit of a checkered past she fears she is headed for a jail cell. Tricia sets out to clear Pixie's name. It seems that no one really knew Susan. The deeper Tricia digs the more she finds out about Susan’s involvement in a scandal that happened while in the Navy. Does this scandal have something to do with her death?

I enjoyed reading this book. The characters have continued to develop and evolve over the series. I like that Tricia and her sister have become so close. I am happy that they have formed a close-knit family with the people in their lives. The one thing about Tricia I would like to see change is that so many people get so angry with her. However, I guess if someone accused me of murder or someone I loved, I might not be so forgiving either. The mystery was interesting though a little slower than usual. I definitely did not figure out who the murderer was in this book. The secondary story-line seemed to play a bigger part in the story than I realized as I was reading the book. Now that I have finished I can see that this was completely setting up the ending. And what an ending! This is a big cliff hanger and I for one am excited to see how it turns out. So looking forward to the next book.

All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way, I have been influenced by anyone.

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This is the fourteenth book in the Booktown Mystery series by Lorna Barrett.

OMG, Lorna, you left this one on quite a cliffhanger!

Tricia Miles runs the Haven’t Got A Clue vintage mystery book store and as she comes home from a less than thrilling vacation with Marshall, her assistant finds a dead body out back in their dumpster. This throws Tricia straight into another mystery that involves the local homeless population.

Chief Grant Baker is less than thrilled that she has her eye on nosing into his investigation. Later she learns that Grant is engaged to be married to a prominent socialite. She, herself, is less than thrilled with her relationship with Marshall and their trip abroad wasn’t fun for her at all. She is rethinking her relationship status with him while all the ballyhoo of the investigation keeps her busy.

Pretty great read. It is amazing how this author can keep her books so fresh as she is moving into the 15th book in the series soon. Wow. Great job, Lorna! Just loving this series.

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.

[Susan Featheringill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great page turner!

[Amanda Martinelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

I usually love this series but this time the sisters’ pretentiousness wore on me.
The comments about reaching out to help the homeless in order to get what she needed from them was performative at best and incredibly shameful at worst.
The sisters don’t seem to be aging well with the times and are coming across rich, waspy, and disconnected more than before.
As a granite stater, the quintessential small town is what makes NH special but we’re not a schtick and we can smell snobby condensation from a mile away.
I’ll give the series one more go, but LB and I might have drifted apart on how we see the world now.

[Patti gh · Rating 2 out of 5]

This will be the last book in this series that I waste time reading. Read the other reviews for why. The town sounds lovely and the shops sound very interesting but the people are very depressing. I would not have been surprised to find that the murdered woman did in herself to get away from them.

[Lacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

As per usual Tricia is up to her neck in a murder investigation. However, the investigation takes a back seat to some different types of drama unfolding in her life. This isn't my favorite in the series but definitely worth reading.

[Heidi Prockish · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this one so much! What an ending, oh my goodness. I cannot wait for the next one!

[Jeanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This exciting, heartwarming mystery was hard to put down and I didn’t want it to end! I must catch up on the books I haven’t read yet in the series. The author has captured an excellent mix of characters who love their community and work to not just better themselves, but to give others less fortunate a hand up to a better life. I would love to work in Tricia’s vintage mystery bookstore, Haven’t Got a Clue. While I am not familiar with many of the classic authors, it would be a great place to learn more! My sleuth cap had a workout with the mysteries in this novel, and there were surprises to be had throughout.

Tricia just returned from Ireland and the first stop she hoped to make was to the bookshop, then her loft apartment upstairs. She never got farther than the shop, as her assistant manager and friend, Pixie, had much to fill her in on. Someone tried to break in a few evenings ago, and the alarm scared them away. The interview Tricia had done with a cable network several weeks earlier finally aired several times, resulting in a weekend business increase. Pixie took the garbage out, and making a grisly find, ran in to get Tricia. There was a shoe, with a foot still inside, the body buried under trash.

Police chief Grant Baker, who Tricia had seriously dated in the past, couldn’t resist the jab that she was only back in town a short time and already was finding a body. Tricia is a magnet for mysteries, especially those that include murdered people. Technically, Pixie found the remains of Susan Morris, a former Naval officer who had been homeless, living in her car for some time. Pixie had given Susan those shoes, making it easier to identify her. As if finding an acquaintance dead isn’t bad enough, Baker seems to have his sights on Pixie, despite how well she has done since her last stint in prison. She knows ex-cons are railroaded for less, and the stakes are high.

This fast-paced novel has many things going on. Tricia has considered breaking up with Marshall, the man she has been dating and went to Ireland with, but decides to hang in a little longer. She and Marshall go to a small tent city of sorts, where several male homeless military vets live to look for leads, take out food and beverages, and get involved with their needs. Angelica, her sister, recently had surgery and needs help getting around. And Tricia is determined to find whounit, really, as she believes Pixie is innocent.

This novel is appealing on many levels. The mystery is finely plotted and executed, with many clues that led me in conflicting directions (and now I know why!). The characters are engaging, smart, middle-aged, and generous with those around them. I appreciate highlighting the needs of veterans! There is enough activity to enhance the story but not so much it is distracting. There were surprises at the end, and it was wrapped up in satisfying manner. I really do dislike cliffhanger endings, so I’m not excited over the last couple pages. A cliffhanger does not bring me back to a series, rather, it is being invested in the characters and setting with satisfying, challenging mysteries. Even so, I highly recommend this novel and series to those who appreciate well-written cozy mysteries, mystery bookstores, New England towns, and engaging characters.

From a thankful heart: I received a complimentary copy of this novel, and this is my honest review.

[JoAnne McMaster (Any Good Book) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tricia Miles has just returned from a vacation in Ireland with her boyfriend, Marshall Cambridge. But it wasn't wonderful, nor even much fun, when Marshall spent all of his time with all the other passengers on the tour group, since he was their guide. Now she hopes she's back to her old life when her assistant manager, Pixie, discovers a body in the dumpster behind Tricia's bookshop, and things are looking less than good when Pixie is sure she'll be the person taking the fall for the murder. Determined to not see that happen, Tricia does what she does best -- asks questions to find out who had a reason to want the woman dead.

But all is not well in Stoneham, as some of its inhabitants have their own problems, and Tricia also becomes involved in those as well. Then she hears some surprising news about police chief Grant Baker which sends her reeling, and now she's questioning her own life. Before she can fix it, she has to figure out who killed Susan -- as long as she can stay under the radar on this one, she might live to tell the tale...

This is the fourteenth book in the series, and I have not read them all. But from the tone of it, I'm not missing anything. First off, the blurb is misleading: Pixie is not a serious contender for murder, so I don't understand why Tricia is involving herself in this one. Secondly, there's nothing that states a "career woman" can't have a life with a husband -- or even children, for that matter. Career women do this every day and thrive. So that made me roll my eyes. Also, why do these women drink so much? If they drank this much in real life, I'd expect them to have dry skin and health problems. (Why is it when I read a book that takes place on the East Coast, everyone can't go one meal without drinking? Please don't take offense, East Coasters -- it's just what I've observed from reading).

All Anjelica and Tricia do is drink and snipe at each other. I guess I figured that because Tricia wasn't wanted, she'd be the one who thrived and survived, but it's the golden sister, Anjelica, who has that role; everything she touches is golden, so it just makes me wonder why Tricia doesn't resent her in any way? Neither sister has a relationship (although Angelica has had several) but if Tricia can't manage one, then why are they getting in the way of the mysteries? She's almost a 'senior sleuth' and even wears sweater twinsets. I thought those went out in the sixties. (Sorry, feeling snarky after reading this book). I also don't care for the fact that while the sisters have pets, they don't allow them on their furniture. Aren't the pets family members? Would you tell your brother or children they have to stay on the floor? I guess I love my cat more than Tricia loves hers.

I've also noticed that many of the men in this town are not nice, with the exception of the people the sisters' hire. So there's that, and it's not a pleasant thought. In the end, the reason for the murder didn't even make sense, and the ending wasn't as satisfactory as I'd hoped it would be. Sorry.
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[John Presler · Rating 4 out of 5]

After returning from her "less-than-spectacular" vacation to Ireland, Tricia Miles is ready to relax and unwind. But first, she wants to check in with her Assistant Manager, Pixie at the "Haven't Got a Clue" bookstore. When Pixie goes out to empty the trash, she discovers a body in the dumpster. The dead person in the dumpster is Susan Morris, a homeless person who was living in her car. Tricia also learns that she was a Navy vet.

Everybody that Tricia talks with around town that knew Susan said that she was a very nice person. She had also worked at a couple of different places around town. Tricia also has had somebody trying to break into her store, but have so far been unsuccessful.

Who killed Susan? Why was she killed? Who is trying to break in to Tricia's store? Are the two crimes connected? Can Tricia unravel the mystery?

Lorna Barrett has another wonderful adventure with this latest Booktown Mystery. She has wonderful characters and realistic situations with plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. To me, the book feels a little slow at times, hence the 4 Stars (or 4.5) rather than 5 Stars.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Booktown Mysteries are my favorite cozy series and I look forward to reading the newest one each summer. It is about a small town in New Hampshire that has revitalized its downtown by having numerous stores that are all book related. Our main character Tricia owns the mystery bookstore called Get A Clue which is just one of the popular tourist attractions in town. She has jut returned from a trip overseas when her employee Pixie discovers the dead body of a homeless woman by the dumpsters out back. At first Tricia wants to help clear Pixie's name but then it becomes more to her. I enjoyed this book like I do all the others. I especially liked how the ending ended on a cliffhanger for her personal life. I will say that there was one plot point towards the end that I did not care for. You would think after 13 mysteries that Tricia would be better at getting the police involved and knowing what to do in serious situations. Now I will just wait until next summer for the next book.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tricia has no sooner gotten home from a rather disappointing vacation with her beau (and a lot of tourists) than the body of a homeless woman is found outside her mystery bookstore. Since her assistant manager is one of the few people who admits to knowing the woman, she fears that her previous record will prejudice the police against her. Tricia volunteers to investigate, although her sister--her usual detecting partner--is laid up with bunion surgery. Tricia finds herself handicapped by the number of people she's feuding with--don't you think that she could learn something about herself from that? But she doesn't.

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm reading a bunch of these back to back and not in order, so I'm just doing a series rating. I have to say that I've gone from being rather dubious to being a fan. I was put off by Tricia in the first couple of books but I've come to understand what a complex and realistic character she can be. Okay, so finding so many bodies and solving so many crimes, not so realistic. But her attitudes, her outlook on life and relationships, have been patiently developed over the whole series. She's grown up. She's changed, and so have the people around her. My hat is off to Barrett. Terrific series.