What do you think?
Rate this book
Mystery Bookshop #1
The Plot is Murder
The small town of North Harbor on the shores of Lake Michigan is about to have a new mystery bookstore. But before the first customer can browse its shelves, the store’s owner is suspected of her own murder plot . . .
Samantha Washington has dreamed of owning her own mystery bookstore for as long as she can remember. And as she prepares for the store’s grand opening, she’s also realizing another dream—penning a cozy mystery set in England between the wars. While Samantha hires employees and fills the shelves with the latest mysteries, quick-witted Lady Penelope Marsh, long-overshadowed by her beautiful sister Daphne, refuses to lose the besotted Victor Carlston to her sibling's charms. When one of Daphne's suitors is murdered in a maze, Penelope steps in to solve the labyrinthine puzzle and win Victor.
But as Samantha indulges her imagination, the unimaginable happens in real life. A shady realtor turns up dead in her backyard, and the police suspect her—after all, the owner of a mystery bookstore might know a thing or two about murder. Aided by her feisty grandmother and an enthusiastic ensemble of colorful retirees, Samantha is determined to close the case before she opens her store. But will she live to conclude her own story when the killer has a revised ending in mind for her?
Samantha Washington has dreamed of owning her own mystery bookstore for as long as she can remember. And as she prepares for the store’s grand opening, she’s also realizing another dream—penning a cozy mystery set in England between the wars. While Samantha hires employees and fills the shelves with the latest mysteries, quick-witted Lady Penelope Marsh, long-overshadowed by her beautiful sister Daphne, refuses to lose the besotted Victor Carlston to her sibling's charms. When one of Daphne's suitors is murdered in a maze, Penelope steps in to solve the labyrinthine puzzle and win Victor.
But as Samantha indulges her imagination, the unimaginable happens in real life. A shady realtor turns up dead in her backyard, and the police suspect her—after all, the owner of a mystery bookstore might know a thing or two about murder. Aided by her feisty grandmother and an enthusiastic ensemble of colorful retirees, Samantha is determined to close the case before she opens her store. But will she live to conclude her own story when the killer has a revised ending in mind for her?
Hoopla Digital Audio
First published November 28, 2017
905 people are currently reading
8320 people want to read
About the author
V.M. Burns
20 books1,255 followersValerie (V.M.) Burns was born in Northwestern Indiana and spent many years in
Southwestern Michigan on the Lake Michigan shoreline. She is a lover of dogs,
British historic cozies, and scones with clotted cream. After many years in the
Midwest she went in search of milder winters and currently lives in Northern Georgia with her poodles. Her debut novel, The Plot is Murder was nominated for a 2017 Agatha Award for Best First Novel. Her short story, "The Vermeer Conspiracy" was an Anthony and Edgar Award finalist in 2022. Valerie is a member of Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, Crime Writers Association, Crime Writers of Color, and Sisters in Crime. Readers can learn more by visiting her website at vmburns.com.
Contact Info: author@vmburns.com
Southwestern Michigan on the Lake Michigan shoreline. She is a lover of dogs,
British historic cozies, and scones with clotted cream. After many years in the
Midwest she went in search of milder winters and currently lives in Northern Georgia with her poodles. Her debut novel, The Plot is Murder was nominated for a 2017 Agatha Award for Best First Novel. Her short story, "The Vermeer Conspiracy" was an Anthony and Edgar Award finalist in 2022. Valerie is a member of Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, Crime Writers Association, Crime Writers of Color, and Sisters in Crime. Readers can learn more by visiting her website at vmburns.com.
Contact Info: author@vmburns.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 759 reviews
September 18, 2022
I read this book when it first came out in 2017. Then life happened and I lost track of this series. I saw this book recently in my local library, and decided to jump back into the Mystery Bookshop series. There are now 8 books! I'm glad I decided to re-read this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
The Basics: Samantha Washington's life has completely changed. Her husband of 13 years died, but he made her promise to fulfill her dream of opening a bookshop. She keeps her promise, selling their house, buying a building and preparing to open her mystery bookshop in North Harbor, MI. Not only is she opening her dream shop, but Samantha is also writing a murder mystery. All her dreams are about to come true. Things are moving along smoothly until she discovers the dead body of real estate agent Clayton Parker in her enclosed patio. Parker tried to sabotage her purchase of the building, forcing her to get an attorney to help her complete closing on the property. Now he's dead. Parker had come to her door the day before asking to speak with her, and she had refused to open the door, walking away instead. Feeling guilty that there might have been a way to prevent the man's death (even if he was a shyster), she vows to find out who killed him.
This first book in the Mystery Bookshop series is actually a mystery within a mystery. As Samantha tries to discover who killed Clayton Parker, she is also writing her own British-style cozy mystery novel about Lady Penelope Marsh and her sister Daphne. As she works to discover who killed Parker, she's also working on her book. I enjoyed the snippets of Samantha's novel and thought the author alternating between the two stories was really creative and fun.
I love the characters in this book! Samantha is a strong woman, realizing her dreams while still grieving for her husband. Her grandmother Jo is a tough old bird, who enlists her friends at the retirement village to help in the investigation. My favorite side character is Irma....the lovely old lady who peppers her conversation with curse words.....well, the group stops her before she finishes saying them, but still....it's the thought that counts. ha ha. :) The colorful characters and humor sprinkled in with the mystery really made this an enjoyable book. The mystery moves along at a nice pace. There are plenty of suspects and sleuthing. Nana Jo's friends are really a huge help -- nothing like a gang of old ladies to dig up gossip and info on anybody!
There is only one thing about this book I didn't really like. One character is constantly called by an insulting nickname pinned on him in school. Over and over again. I don't like that sort of thing, and I hope that doesn't carry over into the rest of the series. It might have been funny if it was mentioned once and then stopped...but it was multiple times throughout the story. Yuck. But....only a minor irritant. Loved the book otherwise!
I already have book 2 checked out from my local library -- moving on to Read Herring Hunt!
For more information on the author and her books, check out her website: http://www.vmburns.com/
The Basics: Samantha Washington's life has completely changed. Her husband of 13 years died, but he made her promise to fulfill her dream of opening a bookshop. She keeps her promise, selling their house, buying a building and preparing to open her mystery bookshop in North Harbor, MI. Not only is she opening her dream shop, but Samantha is also writing a murder mystery. All her dreams are about to come true. Things are moving along smoothly until she discovers the dead body of real estate agent Clayton Parker in her enclosed patio. Parker tried to sabotage her purchase of the building, forcing her to get an attorney to help her complete closing on the property. Now he's dead. Parker had come to her door the day before asking to speak with her, and she had refused to open the door, walking away instead. Feeling guilty that there might have been a way to prevent the man's death (even if he was a shyster), she vows to find out who killed him.
This first book in the Mystery Bookshop series is actually a mystery within a mystery. As Samantha tries to discover who killed Clayton Parker, she is also writing her own British-style cozy mystery novel about Lady Penelope Marsh and her sister Daphne. As she works to discover who killed Parker, she's also working on her book. I enjoyed the snippets of Samantha's novel and thought the author alternating between the two stories was really creative and fun.
I love the characters in this book! Samantha is a strong woman, realizing her dreams while still grieving for her husband. Her grandmother Jo is a tough old bird, who enlists her friends at the retirement village to help in the investigation. My favorite side character is Irma....the lovely old lady who peppers her conversation with curse words.....well, the group stops her before she finishes saying them, but still....it's the thought that counts. ha ha. :) The colorful characters and humor sprinkled in with the mystery really made this an enjoyable book. The mystery moves along at a nice pace. There are plenty of suspects and sleuthing. Nana Jo's friends are really a huge help -- nothing like a gang of old ladies to dig up gossip and info on anybody!
There is only one thing about this book I didn't really like. One character is constantly called by an insulting nickname pinned on him in school. Over and over again. I don't like that sort of thing, and I hope that doesn't carry over into the rest of the series. It might have been funny if it was mentioned once and then stopped...but it was multiple times throughout the story. Yuck. But....only a minor irritant. Loved the book otherwise!
I already have book 2 checked out from my local library -- moving on to Read Herring Hunt!
For more information on the author and her books, check out her website: http://www.vmburns.com/
December 4, 2017
V.M. Burns created a cozy masterpiece with this book! When reading through this book I was so excited and just wanted more! I absolutely loved the characterisation in this book. I loved how the main character(Samantha) went sleuthing with a group on senior citizen ladies! These ladies were a hoot and could out party me any day! I just loved Nana Jo and how she was described as “all of the Golden Girls” wrapped up in one! Her group of friends that her and Samantha tagged along with made me laugh out loud.
I have been in a reading slump lately but was able to gobble this book up regardless of my mood. I also enjoyed how the main character was a writer and took us on another adventure. I felt both stories were well written and I couldn’t wait until I went back and forth to the other one. I can’t wait until I get to read more of V.M. Burns’ works! I definitely recommend this fun and light cozy!😊
I have been in a reading slump lately but was able to gobble this book up regardless of my mood. I also enjoyed how the main character was a writer and took us on another adventure. I felt both stories were well written and I couldn’t wait until I went back and forth to the other one. I can’t wait until I get to read more of V.M. Burns’ works! I definitely recommend this fun and light cozy!😊
November 21, 2017
After the unexpected loss of her husband Samantha Washington has become determined to live out her dreams that she has always had that were put on the back burner for a more steady and reliable income. Part of her dream has been to open her own bookstore and cafe in the small town of North Harbor on the shores of Lake Michigan. Samantha is also a budding writer herself and has finally begun work on her own cozy mystery.
Things seem to be going well in her new life until one night when her realtor comes knocking at her door. Never a man that Samantha trusted she points to the closed sign and heads to bed refusing to allow him in. The next morning however the realtor is found murdered in Samantha's back yard and with all clues mirroring what is in her manuscript Samantha becomes the primary suspect.
The Plot is Murder by V.M. Burns is the first book in the new cozy Mystery Bookshop series. The best way to describe this book would be as if the reader were reading two cozy mystery novellas at the same time with the main character being an author and the story alternating between her life and that of the pages of her book as she writes them.
Now while I thought this was an OK start to the series and quite an interesting idea of having an author as the main character what I think held me back from rating higher is simply the length that each side of the story ends up being in an overall short read. There were plenty of times I'd quite enjoy each side to the story but I think this would have succeeded better in my mind had both sides had a bit more depth to them. In the end though it was a fun twist following both stories at once and would be interested in seeing how the series continues.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
Things seem to be going well in her new life until one night when her realtor comes knocking at her door. Never a man that Samantha trusted she points to the closed sign and heads to bed refusing to allow him in. The next morning however the realtor is found murdered in Samantha's back yard and with all clues mirroring what is in her manuscript Samantha becomes the primary suspect.
The Plot is Murder by V.M. Burns is the first book in the new cozy Mystery Bookshop series. The best way to describe this book would be as if the reader were reading two cozy mystery novellas at the same time with the main character being an author and the story alternating between her life and that of the pages of her book as she writes them.
Now while I thought this was an OK start to the series and quite an interesting idea of having an author as the main character what I think held me back from rating higher is simply the length that each side of the story ends up being in an overall short read. There were plenty of times I'd quite enjoy each side to the story but I think this would have succeeded better in my mind had both sides had a bit more depth to them. In the end though it was a fun twist following both stories at once and would be interested in seeing how the series continues.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
October 15, 2017
I am very blessed to be able to read so many cozy mystery books and I will say that I actively lobbied author V.M. Burns for the opportunity to have this book on my table as soon as possible. Sometimes I can look at a cover and just know a book is going to be amazing, and I was very right with The Plot Is Murder. I did not read the book intro which I have posted below. I just saw the cover and knew I wanted to read the book. Yes I judge books by their covers, and I am not ashamed. This book was better than good, it was spectacular. I had no idea the concept of a main character who was in the process of mourning her husband, opening a mystery bookstore to help fulfill her husband's dying wish and she is writing a mystery too, would work so well! If I had read that going in I would have told you it is not possible to do all that and do it well and I would have been so wrong. I have never seen a cozy that was so well written and seamlessly slips between the main characters reality and the book she is writing. I would have told you it can't be done and I would have missed out on an amazing book. I found this to be one of the most engaging cozy mysteries I have ever read. Easily in the top 5 best new cozy first in series released this year and a book you should line up for. Not only were the two mysteries perfectly balanced but the characters were interesting, well rounded and each added something perfectly in this layered tapestry. I could not put this book down. In fact I didn't, it was the perfect cozy read. I am in awe of V.M. Burns ability to write like this and I am anxiously awaiting the release of book two already
October 3, 2017
Great first book in a new cozy series that introduces us to a widow finally following her dreams to open a bookstore and write a cozy of her own. Has all the things I love about cozies, including food, great setting and an interesting cast of characters. I especially loved Nana Jo and the Sleuthing Seniors. Stephanie Plum's Grandma Mazur would fit right in with that group.
It also had something I haven't seen: we get to read Samantha's work in progress so we're trying to solve two whodunits. Just when you were totally immersed in one story, the author would switch to the other. It made me keep reading to find out what happened.
Overall, great book for fellow cozy lovers.
It also had something I haven't seen: we get to read Samantha's work in progress so we're trying to solve two whodunits. Just when you were totally immersed in one story, the author would switch to the other. It made me keep reading to find out what happened.
Overall, great book for fellow cozy lovers.
December 3, 2017
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Who doesn’t love a mystery within a mystery?
Samantha Washington has lost her husband and she is a little apprehensive about following her dreams on her own. She has purchased an old warehouse and turned it not only into her home but the lower level is now her mystery bookstore. That was her first dream, the second is to become a cozy mystery author. She not sure if she will let anyone read it, but she has started a story set in England about two sisters, their suitors, and a murder. She can escape into her writing when the real world gets to be a little too much. That’s exactly what happens when her realtor is found dead in her backyard. She had hoped the only murders she would uncover would be within the pages of the books on her shelves or those she wrote about in her own mysteries. Now the police believe she killed someone in real life, especially after reading her manuscript. She now needs to solve both a fictional murder and a real murder? If she doesn’t, all her dreams could go up in smoke.
I really like Samantha. She is courageous enough to follow her dreams while still grieving for her husband. She has a warm and helpful attitude, both in the way she treats her customers but even more so by who she hires to work with her at the bookstore. She has a clever imagination that shines in her writing. And she is a strong woman, who I believe takes after her grandmother. She also has two lovable dogs.
Her grandmother, Nana Joe, moves right in when she fears Samantha may be in danger. She is a spunky woman and comes with a group of friends that will have you laughing out loud. Don’t take these Senior Sleuths for granted. They have connections all over town and they try to help Samantha figure out who killed the wayward realtor. I wish I had half their energy.
Ms. Burns has created a very eclectic group of characters. I enjoyed getting to know all of them and their dialogue was top notch. She also created an interesting group of characters for Samantha’s cozy mystery.
Both mysteries are very well written and nicely plotted. At first, I was a little unsure about the second story interrupting the first, but it then hit a nice rhythm of back and forth and flowed naturally. I suppose each story could be called a novella by their length, but neither felt rushed or like anything was missing. I hope they both become long-running series.
Both the setting in Michigan and England were well presented. From the floor to the ceiling in the Market Street Mysteries Bookstore to the gardens outside Marsh estate, all were easily envisioned in my mind.
This is V.M. Burns first cozy mystery and she is off to a fantastic start. It is hard enough to write one story full of twists and turns but she gives us two. I want to get to know all these characters better and am excited to see what kind of trouble they get into next. Read Herring Hunt will be released April 24, 2018.
Who doesn’t love a mystery within a mystery?
Samantha Washington has lost her husband and she is a little apprehensive about following her dreams on her own. She has purchased an old warehouse and turned it not only into her home but the lower level is now her mystery bookstore. That was her first dream, the second is to become a cozy mystery author. She not sure if she will let anyone read it, but she has started a story set in England about two sisters, their suitors, and a murder. She can escape into her writing when the real world gets to be a little too much. That’s exactly what happens when her realtor is found dead in her backyard. She had hoped the only murders she would uncover would be within the pages of the books on her shelves or those she wrote about in her own mysteries. Now the police believe she killed someone in real life, especially after reading her manuscript. She now needs to solve both a fictional murder and a real murder? If she doesn’t, all her dreams could go up in smoke.
I really like Samantha. She is courageous enough to follow her dreams while still grieving for her husband. She has a warm and helpful attitude, both in the way she treats her customers but even more so by who she hires to work with her at the bookstore. She has a clever imagination that shines in her writing. And she is a strong woman, who I believe takes after her grandmother. She also has two lovable dogs.
Her grandmother, Nana Joe, moves right in when she fears Samantha may be in danger. She is a spunky woman and comes with a group of friends that will have you laughing out loud. Don’t take these Senior Sleuths for granted. They have connections all over town and they try to help Samantha figure out who killed the wayward realtor. I wish I had half their energy.
Ms. Burns has created a very eclectic group of characters. I enjoyed getting to know all of them and their dialogue was top notch. She also created an interesting group of characters for Samantha’s cozy mystery.
Both mysteries are very well written and nicely plotted. At first, I was a little unsure about the second story interrupting the first, but it then hit a nice rhythm of back and forth and flowed naturally. I suppose each story could be called a novella by their length, but neither felt rushed or like anything was missing. I hope they both become long-running series.
Both the setting in Michigan and England were well presented. From the floor to the ceiling in the Market Street Mysteries Bookstore to the gardens outside Marsh estate, all were easily envisioned in my mind.
This is V.M. Burns first cozy mystery and she is off to a fantastic start. It is hard enough to write one story full of twists and turns but she gives us two. I want to get to know all these characters better and am excited to see what kind of trouble they get into next. Read Herring Hunt will be released April 24, 2018.
April 1, 2018
The coastline of Michigan is the setting chosen for the debut Mystery Bookshop Cozy series. Widow, Sam Washington is following her and her deceased husband’s dream of opening a bookstore, Market Street Mysteries. Secretly, Sam is penning a mystery novel set in Great Britain in 1938. Surrounded by a great family to help her run the bookstore, Sam opens shop. The next thing she knows, her crooked realtor’s corpse is found outside. Innocently caught up in a crime family’s crosshairs, Sam and her family and friends close the gap on clues leading to the murderer. I enjoyed the Bookshop story much more than the other mystery that the protagonist is writing within the book. I love Sam’s toy poodles!
March 9, 2021
Such a fun cozy. The main protagonist, Sam, is a historical cozy mystery writer (writing her first book), so we get two mysteries to solve in this one. And I did not get the whodunnit of both the mysteries. Sam’s realtor is killed in her backyard and she along with her sidekick, her grandmother Nana Jo try to piece this puzzle, all the while solving the mystery in her own book. Nana Jo and her friends were amazing and so funny and going about the sleuthing. After a long time, a cozy made me laugh. Definitely will be reading through this series.
February 13, 2020
While this was a cute cozy mystery, I don't think I'll be returning for the rest of the series. The old lady "gang" that helps the protagonist solve mysteries is adorable, but I can't get past the fact that the author (a black woman) chose to make the main character and most of the people surrounding her white at a time when black readers are so hungry for cozy mysteries featuring black leads. Another reader pointed out that the author never says what race the lead character is so that readers can decide for themselves. However, the author DOES make it a point to describe one character's race (comparing her to coffee or tea or some other ridiculous food or drink) in detail so that we know she's black; in effect, othering her from the rest of the cast of characters. I just can't get behind that or over it.
November 21, 2017
A new author for me and the first book of the series. The cover and author's name attracted me to this book. I was disappointed because the format of the book is not a favorite of mine. I find it difficult to jump from one story to another. I thought the ending was original but easy to guess it. I like the current mystery and would have a higher rating of the second story had not been included. I found the book being written by the main character very simple and the titles of the characters annoy me.
Samantha Washington has opened her dream mystery bookstore. Using the proceeds of her dead husband's insurance she bought a building and started the bookstore they had a plan to run. Before it opens the real estate dealer is found dead in the garden. Samantha explores the mystery of his death to clear the names of her friends. Yes, she is writing a mystery set in England in the 1930's that is similar to the current story. Samantha needs to find the answer before she loses her life?
Disclosure: I received a free copy from Kennington Books through NetGalley for an honest review. I would like to thank them for this opportunity to read and review this book. The opinions expressed are my own.
Samantha Washington has opened her dream mystery bookstore. Using the proceeds of her dead husband's insurance she bought a building and started the bookstore they had a plan to run. Before it opens the real estate dealer is found dead in the garden. Samantha explores the mystery of his death to clear the names of her friends. Yes, she is writing a mystery set in England in the 1930's that is similar to the current story. Samantha needs to find the answer before she loses her life?
Disclosure: I received a free copy from Kennington Books through NetGalley for an honest review. I would like to thank them for this opportunity to read and review this book. The opinions expressed are my own.
October 1, 2017
This is my totally biased opinion about my book. It's my first book and I think cozy mystery readers will enjoy the cast of characters in this series. Plus, readers will have the opportunity to solve 2 mysteries in every book.
October 23, 2017
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book.
I'm not going to lie, I read A LOT of cozy mystery, and this one just didn't tick all the boxes for me. It SHOULD have, because it's a cozy mystery set in a mystery book store but it just felt far too simple for my tastes. Everything is simple; the writing style, the mystery, and even the main character. She didn't even do any of the sleuthing herself, she just chauffeurs around the senior citizens with far more gumption until one of them finds a clue!
Now I get that she is a character in mourning, after losing her husband Leon. But she really isn't much of a character anyway. As I said, she doesn't investigate on her own, and the author surrounds her with far more interesting characters. Also, we really did not get enough information on the murder victim before he was offed- and you at least need a little background if you're going to care that he died. I did not.
Then there was the 20th century English murder mystery chugging along with the plot (the book Sam is writing basically) Sorry, but it read like a bad Mills and Boon romance. There was scarcely any real mystery in that either, and the eventual reveal of the perpetrator was disappointing to say the least.
Not my favorite cozy read of the year, but I might still read book two to see if it improves. Three stars.
I'm not going to lie, I read A LOT of cozy mystery, and this one just didn't tick all the boxes for me. It SHOULD have, because it's a cozy mystery set in a mystery book store but it just felt far too simple for my tastes. Everything is simple; the writing style, the mystery, and even the main character. She didn't even do any of the sleuthing herself, she just chauffeurs around the senior citizens with far more gumption until one of them finds a clue!
Now I get that she is a character in mourning, after losing her husband Leon. But she really isn't much of a character anyway. As I said, she doesn't investigate on her own, and the author surrounds her with far more interesting characters. Also, we really did not get enough information on the murder victim before he was offed- and you at least need a little background if you're going to care that he died. I did not.
Then there was the 20th century English murder mystery chugging along with the plot (the book Sam is writing basically) Sorry, but it read like a bad Mills and Boon romance. There was scarcely any real mystery in that either, and the eventual reveal of the perpetrator was disappointing to say the least.
Not my favorite cozy read of the year, but I might still read book two to see if it improves. Three stars.
May 30, 2018
Very cute dual mystery within a mystery. And i love the feisty grandma and her friends.
February 26, 2020
I'm so happy that this was the first book for The Cozy Mystery Book Club in 2020. We started the year off with a 5 star read!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBvDv...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBvDv...
May 22, 2022
2022 Free Range Reading
A book chosen for fun, not part of any project, plan, or list. I've found myself ‘stuck' this week, making little progress at anything, be it a book, household chores, or projects. Choosing a free range book will often shake me out of the rut that I'm mired in.
Having said that, I have a mixed relationship with cozy mysteries. The writing must be top notch to keep me focused on the story and not mentally editing & critiquing. This novel came close to that threshold, but didn't quite meet my criteria. The author used one of my most hated tropes, the completely incompetent cop. She sets him up to be an asshole, naming him Brad Pitt, but making him unattractive and dumb, then gives him an insulting childhood nickname (which Samantha's grandma knows because she taught him).
There is also a novel within the novel here, as Sam is writing a British cozy mystery whenever she is stressed or sleepless. Her story is not bad, but the British details are stereotypical and awkward, leading me to urge my friends in the UK to avoid this book (unless they want a laugh, I guess). The plot itself isn't horrible (although basic, as necessitated by the book-within-a-book format), but I would venture the opinion that Burns has never visited the UK nor had any English friends.
What made up for those two detracting factors was the coterie of older women who team up with Sam to solve the mystery. One of them has a battalion of grandchildren and great nieces & nephews with all kinds of connections that come in extremely useful. One of them is willing to date one of the elderly male suspects to get the intel on him and his family. Nana Jo can brandish a gun with the best of them and one of her pals is a martial arts student. Another can ferret out all kinds of info by making friends while in the ladies loo. They are enthusiastic, blunt in their opinions, and loyal to their friends. Samantha may ultimately figure out who dunnit, but she would never have got there without her posse of vital older women!
In short, there is potential here and I can see myself reading the next book eventually. Hopefully both Detective Pitt and the attempts to write British mysteries will be left behind and the author will find better tools for her next installment.
A book chosen for fun, not part of any project, plan, or list. I've found myself ‘stuck' this week, making little progress at anything, be it a book, household chores, or projects. Choosing a free range book will often shake me out of the rut that I'm mired in.
Having said that, I have a mixed relationship with cozy mysteries. The writing must be top notch to keep me focused on the story and not mentally editing & critiquing. This novel came close to that threshold, but didn't quite meet my criteria. The author used one of my most hated tropes, the completely incompetent cop. She sets him up to be an asshole, naming him Brad Pitt, but making him unattractive and dumb, then gives him an insulting childhood nickname (which Samantha's grandma knows because she taught him).
There is also a novel within the novel here, as Sam is writing a British cozy mystery whenever she is stressed or sleepless. Her story is not bad, but the British details are stereotypical and awkward, leading me to urge my friends in the UK to avoid this book (unless they want a laugh, I guess). The plot itself isn't horrible (although basic, as necessitated by the book-within-a-book format), but I would venture the opinion that Burns has never visited the UK nor had any English friends.
What made up for those two detracting factors was the coterie of older women who team up with Sam to solve the mystery. One of them has a battalion of grandchildren and great nieces & nephews with all kinds of connections that come in extremely useful. One of them is willing to date one of the elderly male suspects to get the intel on him and his family. Nana Jo can brandish a gun with the best of them and one of her pals is a martial arts student. Another can ferret out all kinds of info by making friends while in the ladies loo. They are enthusiastic, blunt in their opinions, and loyal to their friends. Samantha may ultimately figure out who dunnit, but she would never have got there without her posse of vital older women!
In short, there is potential here and I can see myself reading the next book eventually. Hopefully both Detective Pitt and the attempts to write British mysteries will be left behind and the author will find better tools for her next installment.
April 16, 2018
A mystery within a mystery...I absolutely loved it!
When Samantha Washington opens her new bookstore, she doesn't anticipate that she'll have to solve a murder. But when nasty broker Clayton Parker is murdered in her backyard and the police try to pin the ghastly deed on her, she's forced to take matters into her own hands and root out the real culprit. Fortunately, her Nana Jo and the sleuthing seniors provide her with plenty of intel and backup. The sleuths are loads of fun, and I enjoyed every scene that described their exploits.
But Sam isn't only a kind, caring, and resourceful bookstore owner--she's an aspiring mystery writer as well. An aficionado of the British cozies I craved when I was young, Sam is penning her own mystery at the same time she's trying to solve a real one. The two scenarios meld together in a perfectly delicious ending. I can't wait to read Read Herring Hunt, the next installment in this charming new series.
When Samantha Washington opens her new bookstore, she doesn't anticipate that she'll have to solve a murder. But when nasty broker Clayton Parker is murdered in her backyard and the police try to pin the ghastly deed on her, she's forced to take matters into her own hands and root out the real culprit. Fortunately, her Nana Jo and the sleuthing seniors provide her with plenty of intel and backup. The sleuths are loads of fun, and I enjoyed every scene that described their exploits.
But Sam isn't only a kind, caring, and resourceful bookstore owner--she's an aspiring mystery writer as well. An aficionado of the British cozies I craved when I was young, Sam is penning her own mystery at the same time she's trying to solve a real one. The two scenarios meld together in a perfectly delicious ending. I can't wait to read Read Herring Hunt, the next installment in this charming new series.
October 30, 2017
If you adore cozy mysteries, READ THIS BOOK! It is SO good. I really enjoyed curling up with my dogs, a cup of tea and this book.
The main character, Samantha Washington, is embarking on a new chapter in her life. This includes a new home, opening her dream book store AND writing a novel (shhhh! She doesn't want anyone to know). Samantha's new life seems to be coming together until someone is found murdered on her property and she becomes a suspect! Samantha, Nana Jo and her retired friends (think Golden Girls meets Nancy Drew) come together to help find the real killer and clear Samantha's name. This book had me laughing AND wondering "whodunit?"
The main character, Samantha Washington, is embarking on a new chapter in her life. This includes a new home, opening her dream book store AND writing a novel (shhhh! She doesn't want anyone to know). Samantha's new life seems to be coming together until someone is found murdered on her property and she becomes a suspect! Samantha, Nana Jo and her retired friends (think Golden Girls meets Nancy Drew) come together to help find the real killer and clear Samantha's name. This book had me laughing AND wondering "whodunit?"
January 13, 2024
Oh lord! So much potential so little actual pay off. I liked the characters in the main story but the secondary story of the regency book, the main character is reading is so useless. And if it's supposed to support the main story it did a very poor job. I wound up skipping thru most of that story line because it was driving me crazy.
November 29, 2017
**I voluntarily read this ARC**
An enjoyable first in series. Small town Michigan is one of my favorite settings, so obviously I loved the setting. The senior citizens were awesome. The book inside the book was interesting, but slightly distracting. I kept trying to solve the wrong murder. I found the mystery interesting yet slightly predictable.
An enjoyable first in series. Small town Michigan is one of my favorite settings, so obviously I loved the setting. The senior citizens were awesome. The book inside the book was interesting, but slightly distracting. I kept trying to solve the wrong murder. I found the mystery interesting yet slightly predictable.
October 6, 2025
Not only is amazing, but it contains a book within the book (as the main character is writing a historical cozy mystery). There are two separate books going on at the same time, each having characters that are so perfect that you feel you understand them. I have read many books before that contained books within them but was always left wanting more. Always wanting the author to either not include it or write the entire book. Here, though, each had its own separate story (yet combined together seamlessly) and had perfect endings.
January 19, 2021
I was so lucky to win a paperback copy of "The Novel Art of Murder" (Mystery Bookshop, #3) from the author from the Kensington December (2020) Mystery and Thriller Launch Party on FB. When I'm aware that the novel is part of the series my preference is to read the series in order which leads to my review of "The Plot is Murder."
After the shattering loss of her husband Leon, Samantha Washington is fulfilling her husband's dream (and mine!) of opening a bookstore that specializes in selling mysteries (my favorite genre too!). Samantha and Leon met in the mystery section of a bookstore. Samantha dreamed of becoming a mystery writer but has been a high school English teacher in the small town of North Harbor on the shores of Lake Michigan. With the school year ending for summer vacation, Samantha is keeping a promise to Leon to sell their home, leave her job, use the insurance money to buy the brick brownstone they walked by each week sharing their dreams, open a bookstore, and write her mystery. This novel is inspirational in finding new beginnings after such a sorrowful loss.
Anyone that loves Stephanie Plum's Grandma Mazur (as created by Janet Evanovich) will absolutely adore Samantha's eighty-something year old grandmother and her friends that live at a local retirement community! They are not only helpful at the bookstore but quite a phenomenal investigative team and definitely teach Samantha some tips she's never learned from one of the mysteries she's read.
One of the most fascinating delights of this cozy mystery is that Samantha begins writing her mystery with the setting at "Wickfield Lodge, English country home of Lord William Marsh - 1938." I found it to be a special treat as it becomes a story within a story and transitions beautifully between the two. I am very hopeful that this continues throughout the series. Without a doubt, V.M. Burns is one of my new favorite cozy authors!
After the shattering loss of her husband Leon, Samantha Washington is fulfilling her husband's dream (and mine!) of opening a bookstore that specializes in selling mysteries (my favorite genre too!). Samantha and Leon met in the mystery section of a bookstore. Samantha dreamed of becoming a mystery writer but has been a high school English teacher in the small town of North Harbor on the shores of Lake Michigan. With the school year ending for summer vacation, Samantha is keeping a promise to Leon to sell their home, leave her job, use the insurance money to buy the brick brownstone they walked by each week sharing their dreams, open a bookstore, and write her mystery. This novel is inspirational in finding new beginnings after such a sorrowful loss.
Anyone that loves Stephanie Plum's Grandma Mazur (as created by Janet Evanovich) will absolutely adore Samantha's eighty-something year old grandmother and her friends that live at a local retirement community! They are not only helpful at the bookstore but quite a phenomenal investigative team and definitely teach Samantha some tips she's never learned from one of the mysteries she's read.
One of the most fascinating delights of this cozy mystery is that Samantha begins writing her mystery with the setting at "Wickfield Lodge, English country home of Lord William Marsh - 1938." I found it to be a special treat as it becomes a story within a story and transitions beautifully between the two. I am very hopeful that this continues throughout the series. Without a doubt, V.M. Burns is one of my new favorite cozy authors!
November 5, 2017
The Plot is Murder, written by the incredibly talented V.M. Burns is a 10 star winner! I was hooked on the book from the first couple of pages and could not put it down. I spent the entire day with Samantha, Dawson, Nana JoJo and all the wonderful and colorful characters in this well written story.
Set in North Harbor on the shores of Lake Michigan, The Plot is Murder takes the reader to the opening of a new mystery bookstore. After the death of her husband Leon, Samantha makes a brave choice, to follow the dreams she shared with her husband and open their dream shop.
Before the shelves are stocked and the doors open, Samantha finds herself in her own mystery, when the arrogant, greedy real estate agent is found dead in her own back yard!
Dealing with all the stress isn't easy, so Samantha puts pen to paper and writes her own story- which is just as exciting as the actual book!
It seems that Clayton Parker has many enemies and it won't be easy to find the answers.
When Samantha's grandma offers her assistance, the book takes the reader on a wild ride to casinos, all you can eat buffets and a group of ladies that will leave you laughing and wishing you were along for the ride.
Will Samantha and the ladies find the answers they need or will it be then of the bookstore for it even opens?
Find out on November 28th when The Plot is Murder hits the shelf. Grab your copy fast, you will not want to miss the debut of this new series.
I voluntarily read an ARC of this book provided by NetGalley and Kensington Books.
Set in North Harbor on the shores of Lake Michigan, The Plot is Murder takes the reader to the opening of a new mystery bookstore. After the death of her husband Leon, Samantha makes a brave choice, to follow the dreams she shared with her husband and open their dream shop.
Before the shelves are stocked and the doors open, Samantha finds herself in her own mystery, when the arrogant, greedy real estate agent is found dead in her own back yard!
Dealing with all the stress isn't easy, so Samantha puts pen to paper and writes her own story- which is just as exciting as the actual book!
It seems that Clayton Parker has many enemies and it won't be easy to find the answers.
When Samantha's grandma offers her assistance, the book takes the reader on a wild ride to casinos, all you can eat buffets and a group of ladies that will leave you laughing and wishing you were along for the ride.
Will Samantha and the ladies find the answers they need or will it be then of the bookstore for it even opens?
Find out on November 28th when The Plot is Murder hits the shelf. Grab your copy fast, you will not want to miss the debut of this new series.
I voluntarily read an ARC of this book provided by NetGalley and Kensington Books.
July 14, 2021
Samantha Washington is pursuing not one but two lifelong dreams. She’s opening a mystery bookstore in the town of North Harbor, Michigan. But just days before the store is supposed to open, she finds the dead body of Clayton Parker behind the store. Clayton sold her the building, but he almost sabotaged the sale. Meanwhile, she starts writing a mystery of her own set in England in 1938. Will she solve the murder? How will the real-life murder influence the fictional murder?
I’ve been intrigued by this series with the story inside the story idea for a while, and I’ve heard good things about it from many others. Sadly, it didn’t completely work for me. With two stories and two sets of characters to develop, I felt like both were a bit underdeveloped. The ending of the historical mystery was weak, and it featured some abrupt character growth. Meanwhile, the modern mystery featured lots of summaries that were told to us, keeping me outside. On the other hand, I loved both sets of characters, and I did feel the modern mystery came to a good resolution. I had no trouble keeping the different sets of characters straight once I realized how close both murder victims’ names were, and there was also an obvious break between the two stories each time we switched. I can understand why others love this series as much as they do, but I wish it had focused on one story and developed that one story better.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
I’ve been intrigued by this series with the story inside the story idea for a while, and I’ve heard good things about it from many others. Sadly, it didn’t completely work for me. With two stories and two sets of characters to develop, I felt like both were a bit underdeveloped. The ending of the historical mystery was weak, and it featured some abrupt character growth. Meanwhile, the modern mystery featured lots of summaries that were told to us, keeping me outside. On the other hand, I loved both sets of characters, and I did feel the modern mystery came to a good resolution. I had no trouble keeping the different sets of characters straight once I realized how close both murder victims’ names were, and there was also an obvious break between the two stories each time we switched. I can understand why others love this series as much as they do, but I wish it had focused on one story and developed that one story better.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
October 24, 2017
I must admit that I had been waiting months for the release of author V.M. Burns' cozy mystery debut - The Plot is Murder. The cover, the title, and the plot (no pun intended!) description grabbed my attention from the moment I first saw it, and I pre-ordered the book as soon as it was available. I was lucky enough to obtain an advance copy to review, and it did not disappoint! Not only do we get the story of bookshop owner Samantha Washington, we also get to immerse ourselves in the British cozy mystery she's writing in her spare time. Sam is a widow, and it was her late husband's dying wish that she open up their dream bookshop, which she does with the help of her loving and supportive family. Shortly before the opening, however, the unscrupulous realtor who sold her the building is found dead in her courtyard and Sam must work to discover who murdered Clayton Parker and why. Enter Nana Jo and her Senior Sleuths, and cozy mystery solving (and reading) and mayhem ensues with this hilarious bunch of octogenarians. And while we're reading about this mystery in North Harbor, Michigan we're also transported to the pre-WWII English countryside and the manor home of the aristocratic Marsh family where a murder has taken place in their garden and it's up to Lady Elizabeth et al. to discover whodunit. I highly, highly recommend this wonderful first very cozy and well-written installment in the Mystery Bookshop series! A+++
November 30, 2017
This was one of my favourite books of 2017.
I enjoyed the premise of the character owning a mystery bookstore. The characters were well written and I look forward to reading more about them, especially the senior citizens, who were written as smart, full of life and entertaining.
The whodunit was well plotted and kept me guessing.
This is the first in a new series, and I cannot wait to read the next in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
I enjoyed the premise of the character owning a mystery bookstore. The characters were well written and I look forward to reading more about them, especially the senior citizens, who were written as smart, full of life and entertaining.
The whodunit was well plotted and kept me guessing.
This is the first in a new series, and I cannot wait to read the next in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
April 21, 2018
The Plot Is Murder was an amazing read featuring a compelling mystery and a charming cast of characters.
Sam has spent the past six months trying to find a way forward in life after her husband unexpectedly died. Their dream was always to open a mystery bookstore with a café and now Sam is realizing that dream on her own hoping to honor his memory. Her dream hits a bit of a snag when the shady realtor who tried to stop her from buying the building for her shop is murdered in the courtyard behind the building. Soon the detective investigating the case turns his sights on Sam believing her to be the killer! Sam knows she needs to solve the murder and find the real killer before she goes down for a crime she didn't commit.
Sam was a character I enjoyed right away and I found myself liking her more and more as the book went on. She's incredibly strong willed and I admired her ability to pick herself back up after her husband died. Sam is determined to make her and her late husband's dream of the bookshop a reality and nothing will stop her from accomplishing that goal. The descriptions of the bookshop she opens are amazing and I found myself wishing it was a place I could visit! Sam has two toy poodles, Snickers and Oreo, who were quite adorable and I enjoyed when they popped up.
Sam has a group of women who help her during her investigation. Her biggest helper is her grandmother Nana Jo who recruits her fellow friends from the senior center to help out. Nana Jo and her friends were an absolute riot and I enjoyed the situations they got themselves into. Each of the women had a knack for a specific type of investigating and were all able to play to their strengths. Sam appreciated all of the women helping her and never wrote them off as incapable due to their age which was something I was happy to see.
The premise of this book was a good one, the main character begins to investigate the murder of the man killed in her backyard. The murdered man had many enemies and was all-around not a great guy. I enjoyed that the author didn't try to redeem him and instead had the characters admit their dislike for the man while sympathizing that he was murdered. While investigating what happened, Sam is in the process of opening her bookstore while writing a mystery novel of her own. Throughout the book you get to see snippets of the book Sam is writing and I found myself really liking those sections. I enjoyed the path the author chose to go in terms of who the killer was and found myself surprised by the outcome as I had written the killer off as someone who didn't commit the crime.
The Plot Is Murder was so enjoyable that I couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting. I would highly recommend this book to fans of cozy mysteries with a large cast of characters and an emphasis on their relationships. I can't wait to read the next book in the series, Read Herring Hunt, soon.
Sam has spent the past six months trying to find a way forward in life after her husband unexpectedly died. Their dream was always to open a mystery bookstore with a café and now Sam is realizing that dream on her own hoping to honor his memory. Her dream hits a bit of a snag when the shady realtor who tried to stop her from buying the building for her shop is murdered in the courtyard behind the building. Soon the detective investigating the case turns his sights on Sam believing her to be the killer! Sam knows she needs to solve the murder and find the real killer before she goes down for a crime she didn't commit.
Sam was a character I enjoyed right away and I found myself liking her more and more as the book went on. She's incredibly strong willed and I admired her ability to pick herself back up after her husband died. Sam is determined to make her and her late husband's dream of the bookshop a reality and nothing will stop her from accomplishing that goal. The descriptions of the bookshop she opens are amazing and I found myself wishing it was a place I could visit! Sam has two toy poodles, Snickers and Oreo, who were quite adorable and I enjoyed when they popped up.
Sam has a group of women who help her during her investigation. Her biggest helper is her grandmother Nana Jo who recruits her fellow friends from the senior center to help out. Nana Jo and her friends were an absolute riot and I enjoyed the situations they got themselves into. Each of the women had a knack for a specific type of investigating and were all able to play to their strengths. Sam appreciated all of the women helping her and never wrote them off as incapable due to their age which was something I was happy to see.
The premise of this book was a good one, the main character begins to investigate the murder of the man killed in her backyard. The murdered man had many enemies and was all-around not a great guy. I enjoyed that the author didn't try to redeem him and instead had the characters admit their dislike for the man while sympathizing that he was murdered. While investigating what happened, Sam is in the process of opening her bookstore while writing a mystery novel of her own. Throughout the book you get to see snippets of the book Sam is writing and I found myself really liking those sections. I enjoyed the path the author chose to go in terms of who the killer was and found myself surprised by the outcome as I had written the killer off as someone who didn't commit the crime.
The Plot Is Murder was so enjoyable that I couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting. I would highly recommend this book to fans of cozy mysteries with a large cast of characters and an emphasis on their relationships. I can't wait to read the next book in the series, Read Herring Hunt, soon.
March 6, 2018
What a fun book. Two different mysteries...one starring the new main character and the second, written by said main character! Really fun.
November 27, 2017
The Plot Is Murder is the first book in the A Mystery Bookshop Mystery series.
The Plot Is Murder is an excellent beginning to what I feel will be an exciting and humorous series.
Samantha, Sam to her friends, Washington is a recent widow who has gone ahead and followed through on her and her late husband’s dream of opening a bookstore.
Upon arriving at home after her last day of teaching she is surprised by her family and some close friends with a retirement/bookstore owner party. Later, after everyone had left Sam walking around her store imagining what it will be like when the shelves are stock and she is actually open for business. She is interrupted when a pounding on the front door disturbs her thoughts. At the door is Clayton Parker, the man who had listed the store for sale and who later tried to back out of the deal. He yells that he wants to talk with her. Being the last person she wants to talk to, ever, she turns and heads for her apartment, above the bookstore. The next morning as she is letting Snickers and Oreo, her Poodles out for their morning duties she sees the lifeless body of Parker laying in a heap in her backyard. As Detective Pitt begins to question Sam, she gets the distinct impression that she is being thought of as the killer.
When Sam’s granny, Nana Jo, learns the murder she promptly moves in to help keep her safe, and also being a lover of mysteries, thinks that she and Sam should start their own investigation. Nana Jo enlists the help of some her friends in the retirement community where she lives to help “dig up the dirt” on Clayton Parker. They soon learn that Parker was a rather ruthless businessman, so maybe he had upset someone in another real estate deal like he did Sam and they got rid of the problem. They also learn the there was marital discord between him and his wife and with a prenuptial agreement there no way for her to divorce him. In addition, they need to learn where his father and his two brothers got the money right after returning from the war to start buying up real estate and starting a real estate business.
In addition to opening her bookstore and something that Sam has kept a secret from everyone, is that she is an aspiring mystery author. Interspersed in Sam’s story the reader also gets to follow the story Sam is writing and hopes to get published. This story set in the English countryside follows the lives of Penelope Marsh, her sister Daphne and Victor Carlston. Victor feels he is in love with Penelope, while Penelope has eyes for another who she will find dead in a fountain in the families garden. But at the same time Daphne has feelings for Victor. Daphne and Victor end up working together to clear Penelope from the list of suspects and in doing so just might be what is needed for Victor to learn where his heart really lies.
The story is well-plotted and told with an interesting and believable cast of characters. The characters that I enjoyed the most were Nana Jo and her posse of retirement center friends. I can’t really call them older ladies, as most are about my age. There is Dorothy, Ruby Mae and last but not least, Irma. This little group of ladies has either children or grandchildren who can call on to help Sam and Nana Jo solve the case. They were all humorous, but Irma was by far the most humorous. Irma’s tends to be a little “salty” from time to time, but the others are quick to stop her her before she says anything nasty.
I’m anxiously looking forward to reading the next book in this series, Read Herring Hunt, due out April 28, 2018.
The Plot Is Murder is an excellent beginning to what I feel will be an exciting and humorous series.
Samantha, Sam to her friends, Washington is a recent widow who has gone ahead and followed through on her and her late husband’s dream of opening a bookstore.
Upon arriving at home after her last day of teaching she is surprised by her family and some close friends with a retirement/bookstore owner party. Later, after everyone had left Sam walking around her store imagining what it will be like when the shelves are stock and she is actually open for business. She is interrupted when a pounding on the front door disturbs her thoughts. At the door is Clayton Parker, the man who had listed the store for sale and who later tried to back out of the deal. He yells that he wants to talk with her. Being the last person she wants to talk to, ever, she turns and heads for her apartment, above the bookstore. The next morning as she is letting Snickers and Oreo, her Poodles out for their morning duties she sees the lifeless body of Parker laying in a heap in her backyard. As Detective Pitt begins to question Sam, she gets the distinct impression that she is being thought of as the killer.
When Sam’s granny, Nana Jo, learns the murder she promptly moves in to help keep her safe, and also being a lover of mysteries, thinks that she and Sam should start their own investigation. Nana Jo enlists the help of some her friends in the retirement community where she lives to help “dig up the dirt” on Clayton Parker. They soon learn that Parker was a rather ruthless businessman, so maybe he had upset someone in another real estate deal like he did Sam and they got rid of the problem. They also learn the there was marital discord between him and his wife and with a prenuptial agreement there no way for her to divorce him. In addition, they need to learn where his father and his two brothers got the money right after returning from the war to start buying up real estate and starting a real estate business.
In addition to opening her bookstore and something that Sam has kept a secret from everyone, is that she is an aspiring mystery author. Interspersed in Sam’s story the reader also gets to follow the story Sam is writing and hopes to get published. This story set in the English countryside follows the lives of Penelope Marsh, her sister Daphne and Victor Carlston. Victor feels he is in love with Penelope, while Penelope has eyes for another who she will find dead in a fountain in the families garden. But at the same time Daphne has feelings for Victor. Daphne and Victor end up working together to clear Penelope from the list of suspects and in doing so just might be what is needed for Victor to learn where his heart really lies.
The story is well-plotted and told with an interesting and believable cast of characters. The characters that I enjoyed the most were Nana Jo and her posse of retirement center friends. I can’t really call them older ladies, as most are about my age. There is Dorothy, Ruby Mae and last but not least, Irma. This little group of ladies has either children or grandchildren who can call on to help Sam and Nana Jo solve the case. They were all humorous, but Irma was by far the most humorous. Irma’s tends to be a little “salty” from time to time, but the others are quick to stop her her before she says anything nasty.
I’m anxiously looking forward to reading the next book in this series, Read Herring Hunt, due out April 28, 2018.
February 16, 2018
I picked up "The Plot is Murder" because I was craving an easy, cozy mystery read. Usually I can flu through this genre and have fun while doing so but unfortunately, that wasn't always the case with "The Plot is Murder."
Our main character, Samantha, is leaving her teaching position to start her own mystery bookstore. Within the last year she has lost her husband, sold her house, and invested her future in this brand new endeavor. Samantha is also a "closet writer" and hopes someday to publish a book of her own. Right before her new shop is to open, her fired real estate agent, Clayton Parker, ends up on her front steps.
I kind of have a love and hate with this book. I didn't mind Samantha as a MC and the mystery itself was interesting enough. I really enjoyed a lot of Burns' characters, especially Jo, Sam's grandmother and her retirement community cronies, who assist Sam in solving the mystery. In my opinion, those spunky women made the book. I also liked Sam's bond with her two miniature poodles - Oreo and Snickers.
What I found majorly annoying was the whole book within a book premise. Sam is writing a historical fiction book and when she is tired and couldn't sleep, needed to get her mind off things, etc, the entire plot would stop and she would write her novel. I would probably read a historical mystery from Burns and I have proven I would read a cozy by her, but I did not like the whole combination thing. I know cozies rely heavily on certain elements, but this one left me worn out.
Overall, I think I will give the next in the series a go. However, it will be the make or break book for me in this series. I just don't know if my love for many of the characters will outweigh my annoyance of the book within a book.
I received this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Our main character, Samantha, is leaving her teaching position to start her own mystery bookstore. Within the last year she has lost her husband, sold her house, and invested her future in this brand new endeavor. Samantha is also a "closet writer" and hopes someday to publish a book of her own. Right before her new shop is to open, her fired real estate agent, Clayton Parker, ends up on her front steps.
I kind of have a love and hate with this book. I didn't mind Samantha as a MC and the mystery itself was interesting enough. I really enjoyed a lot of Burns' characters, especially Jo, Sam's grandmother and her retirement community cronies, who assist Sam in solving the mystery. In my opinion, those spunky women made the book. I also liked Sam's bond with her two miniature poodles - Oreo and Snickers.
What I found majorly annoying was the whole book within a book premise. Sam is writing a historical fiction book and when she is tired and couldn't sleep, needed to get her mind off things, etc, the entire plot would stop and she would write her novel. I would probably read a historical mystery from Burns and I have proven I would read a cozy by her, but I did not like the whole combination thing. I know cozies rely heavily on certain elements, but this one left me worn out.
Overall, I think I will give the next in the series a go. However, it will be the make or break book for me in this series. I just don't know if my love for many of the characters will outweigh my annoyance of the book within a book.
I received this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
March 24, 2019
This was a cute cozy by an author I hadn’t read before. I did the audio and the narrator was adequate, although a bit of a stilted over-enunciator at times for my taste.
This book does a weird thing where you are going along with the main plot of a recently widowed woman who is opening a mystery bookstore in a small town in MI interspersed with chapters of the cozy British mystery she is writing on the side. And the thing is - I just didn’t care about her cozy British mystery. At all. Every time we switched from Sam’s storyline to her book storyline I groaned. I guess the book would have been too short without it? I don’t know.
I found the main character a little stuffy, but her squad of feisty elderly ladies, led by her fabulous Nana Jo, makes up for it a bit.
I would definitely try another book by the author, but I do wish to avoid more books within books in the future.
This book does a weird thing where you are going along with the main plot of a recently widowed woman who is opening a mystery bookstore in a small town in MI interspersed with chapters of the cozy British mystery she is writing on the side. And the thing is - I just didn’t care about her cozy British mystery. At all. Every time we switched from Sam’s storyline to her book storyline I groaned. I guess the book would have been too short without it? I don’t know.
I found the main character a little stuffy, but her squad of feisty elderly ladies, led by her fabulous Nana Jo, makes up for it a bit.
I would definitely try another book by the author, but I do wish to avoid more books within books in the future.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 759 reviews