Body in the Books

Nora Jones Mysteries #1

by Heather Huffman

Sometimes, owning a bookstore can be murder.

When Nora Jones inherits a dusty old bookshop from her estranged uncle, she moves to St. Augustine to tie up loose ends and maybe learn a bit about the man she never knew.

Only what first appeared to be a heart attack turns out to be murder, and there’s no shortage of suspects. The detective assigned to the case might be handsome and charming, but Nora’s convinced he’s chasing down the wrong lead.

With her newly-inherited Greyhound named Margo and a quirky band of friends in tow, Nora decides to track down the killer. She finds herself in a race to solve the murder before she becomes the next body in the books.

Body in the Books is the first installment of the Nora Jones cozy mystery series. You won’t want to miss this humorous whodunit that’s being likened to Scooby Doo for grownups.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Contemporary, Fiction, Romance, Ebooks, Mystery Thriller

128 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 10, 2021

About the author

Heather Huffman is a multi-genre author with publications in contemporary romance, romantic suspense, women's fiction, and even a new cozy mystery line launching summer 2021. Quirky, optimistic, and a bit of a wanderer, Huffman cares deeply about causes pertaining to social justice and women's issues and has spent the past decade working with various charities that fight poverty, empower women, and fight human trafficking. At the center of her world are her three grown sons, her Australian Shepherd, and a spoiled puppy she shares entirely too many pictures of. Learn more at heatherhuffman.com.

Reviews

[Kazi Hasan Jamil · Rating 4 out of 5]

"বডি ইন দ্য বুকস" — রহস্য আর বন্ধুত্বের মোড়কে মোড়া একটি গল্প। গল্পের প্রধান চরিত্র নোরা জোন্স একদিন হঠাৎ করে জানতে পারে অনেকদিন আগে পরিবার ত্যাগ করে চলে যাওয়া তার ওয়াল্টার মামা হৃদরোগে আক্রান্ত হয়ে মারা গেছে। মৃত্যুর পূর্বে তার উত্তরাধিকার হিসেবে নোরার জন্য রেখে গেছে সেন্ট অগাস্টিন শহরে একটি বাড়ি, পুরোনো এক বইয়ের দোকান, কিছু টাকার সম্পদ, এবং একটি গ্রেহাউন্ড কুকুর—মার্গো।
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সেন্ট অগাস্টিনে যাওয়ার সময় নোরা ভাবে সে সম্পত্তি সংক্রান্ত কাগজপত্রের কিছু আনুষ্ঠানিকতা শেষে ফিরে যাবে নিজের পূর্বের জীবনে। কিন্তু সেখানে গিয়ে জানতে পারে মামার মৃত্যু স্বাভাবিক ছিল না; তিনি খুন হয়েছিলেন। পুলিশ বলছে, ওয়াল্টারের গ্যাংস্টারদের সঙ্গে যোগাযোগই তার মৃত্যুর কারণ। কিন্তু নোরার সন্দেহ এর পেছনে লুকিয়ে আছে আরও গভীর কিছু।
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নোরা নিজেই সিদ্ধান্ত নেয় নিজেই খুনিকে খুঁজে বের করার। পাশে পায় সদ্য পাওয়া গ্রেহাউন্ড কুকুর মার্গো আর শহরের নতুন কিছু অদ্ভুত, প্রাণখোলা বন্ধুদের। তারা মিলে নামে খুনির খোঁজে। সময় কম, রহস্য ভেদ না করতে পারলে পরের শিকার হতে পারে হয়তো নোরাই।
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বডি ইন দ্য বুকস ‘নোরা জোন্স মিস্ট্রিজ’ সিরিজের ১ম বই। উপরের লেখা পড়ে পুরোদস্তুর পুলিশ প্রসিডিওয়াল/ ডিটেকটিভ থ্রিলার মনে হতে পারে। তবে হার্ডকোর মার্ডার মিস্ট্রি ভেবে এই বই পড়তে বসলে হতাশই হতে হবে। এটা মূলত কোজি মিস্ট্রি জনরার বই। এই ধরনের বইয়ে অতিমাত্রায় সহিংসতা, রক্তপাত বা ভয়াবহতা থাকে না। পুলিশ-অপরাধীর ইঁদূর-বিড়াল খেলা থাকে না। গল্পের মূল ফোকাস থাকে সম্পর্কের টানাপোড়েনে। হালকা ধাঁচের, ফিল গুড টাইপ বই হয়। বডি ইন দ্য বুকসও তেমনই। কিছুটা রহস্য, হাস্যরস, চরিত্রগুলোর মধ্যকার অদ্ভুত রসায়ন এবং ধুলোমলিন বইয়ের দোকানকে কেন্দ্র করে গড়ে ওঠা সম্পর্কগুলোই এই বইয়ের মূল উপজিব্য বিষয়।
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বইয়ে হিদার হাফম্যান যেভাবে স্টোরিলাইন সাজিয়েছেন তা ভালো লেগেছে। কিছুটা ব্যতিক্রমধর্মী কাজ করতে চেয়েছেন তিনি তা বোঝা যায়। বডি ইন দ্য বুকসের এই অনুবাদ করেছেন আব্দুস সাত্তার সজীব এবং আফরোজা চৈতী। অনুবাদ সার্বিকভাবে বলতে গেলে ভালো হয়েছে। কিছু জায়গায় পড়তে গিয়ে আক্ষরিক অনুবাদ লেগেছে। খুব আহামরি সমস্যা না, হঠাৎ করে পড়ার ফ্লো নষ্ট হয়েছে এই যা। অবশ্য আমি র ফাইল পড়েছি। এরপরে সম্পাদনা হয়েছে আলাদা করে। সেক্ষেত্রে অনুবাদ সম্পর্কিত এই সামান্য জটিলতা অনেকাংশেই থাকার কথা না।
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মাঝে মাঝে এমন হালকা ধাঁচের এমন বই পড়তে ভালোই লাগে। ‘বডি ইন দ্য বুকস’ শুধুমাত্র একটা রহস্য উপন্যাস না; বরং বন্ধুত্বের গল্প, নিজেকে আবিষ্কারের গল্প, জীবনের গল্প।
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৩.৫
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◑ বই পরিচিতি:
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
➠ বইয়ের নাম : বডি ইন দ্য বুকস
➠ লেখক : হিদার হাফম্যান
➠ অনুবাদ : আব্দুস সাত্তার সজীব, আফরোজা চৈতী
➠ জনরা : কোজি মিস্ট্রি
➠ প্রকাশনী : প্রিমিয়াম পাবলিকেশন্স

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fabulous start to Nora Jones series.

This is a 4.25 🌟 read rounded ⬇️ to 4 🌟.

I am so glad I found this as a recommendation on my Kindle app! It was just what I needed and I literally flew through the book. Wonderful quirky characters and a beautiful setting; the "feel good" vibes rounded out the novella perfectly.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Body In The Books.
By Heather Huffman.

Nora Jones.
Just Received a big surprise
Shes was the sole beneficial of her uncle. Whom was living in St. Augustin Florida...Someone she never meet. Now she's a Book store owner..and So much more. But doesn't all In the beginning.

There's a Dog named Margo. a greyhound who couldn't love a dog. A nosey neighbor. No one needs...
There's also a mystery.
One Nora will not stop until its solved.

This is a sweet short cozy book.
Lots of wonderful people in this story..


Thank you
Heather Huffman.
For another wonderful Read.
Love your Books...

[Tari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Right up my alley, a bookstore mystery! It might have been a shorter read, but I really feel like I got to know the key characters pretty well, and I definitely hadn't guessed whodunit. I'm really eager to read the next book whenever it comes out.

[Samsudduha Rifath · Rating 4 out of 5]

কোজি মিস্ট্রি জনরার নাম শুনেছেন? এই জনরাতে র*ক্তপাত, চিৎকার,আতঙ্ক—এসব কিছু ছাড়াই কীভাবে একটা খুনের রহস্য বর্ণিত হয়। এই জনরার চমৎকার একটা উদাহরণ বলা যায় বডি ইন দ্য বুকস বইকে।
গল্পের মূল চরিত্র নোরা জোন্স। নিজের জীবন গোছাতে সেন্ট অগাস্টিন শহরে আসা, আর হঠাৎ উত্তরাধিকার সূত্রে পাওয়া মামার বইয়ের দোকান, বাড়ি, নৌকা আর একটা মিষ্টি কুকুর মার্গো—সব মিলে শুরুতে একটু স্বপ্নের মতোই লাগে ওর কাছে। কিন্তু সেই স্বপ্নে হঠাৎ ছায়া ফেলে মামা ওয়াল্টারের রহস্যময় মৃত্যু। লোকজন বলছে হৃদরোগ, অথচ ঘটনাক্রমে বের হয় সেটা আদতে খুন! এখান থেকেই গল্পটা মোড় নেয়।
নোরা প্রথমে চেয়েছিল কাগজপত্র ঠিক করে ফিরে যাবে, কিন্তু শহর, মানুষ, দোকান, আর মামার অতীত যেন ধীরে ধীরে ওকে আটকে ফেলে। ওয়াল্টারের পুরনো হিসেবপত্র ঘাঁটতে গিয়ে, মানুষদের সঙ্গে আলাপ করতে করতে, সে টের পায়, মামা ছিলেন একেবারে অন্যরকম একজন মানুষ—আর তাঁর খুনের পেছনে কারণটা হয়তো খুবই ব্যক্তিগত।
গল্পটায় এক ধরণের ঘরোয়া ব্যাপার আছে। নোরা নিজেই একজন সাধারণ মানুষ, যার জেদ আছে, আবেগ আছে, আর সাথে কৌতূহল তো আছেই। তার প্রতিদিনকার খু*ন নিয়ে নাক গলানো, প্রতিবেশীর সঙ্গে ঝগড়া, অগাস্ট আর শার্লটকে আপন করে নেওয়া, মাফিয়ার সঙ্গে খাওয়া-দাওয়া—সব কিছুই খুব দারুণ লেগেছে । কিছু কিছু সিকুয়েন্স কখনো হাসায়, কখনো চিন্তায় ফেলে।

লেখক চরিত্রগুলোর বৈচিত্র্য আর গল্প বলার ধরণটা চেনা হলেঅ নতুন স্বাদ এনেছেন। খুনি আন্দাজ করা গেলেও, কীভাবে নোরা ধীরে ধীরে সব সূত্র এক করে বুঝতে পারে, সেই যাত্রাটাও বেশ উপভোগ্য ছিল।
অনুবাদ প্রসঙ্গে বলতে গেলে, আব্দুস সাত্তার সজীব ও আফরোজা চৈতী এই বইটা মিলে অনুবাদ করেছেন।বেশ ভালো ছিল অনুবাদটা। দ্রুত পড়া গেছে বইটা যদিও কিছু কিছু জায়গার অনুবাদ আরো ভালো হতে পারত। তবে আমি র ফাইল পড়েছি। পড়ার ছন্দ মাঝে মধ্যে সেজন্য থেমেছে। সম্পাদনার কাচি পরে চালানো হয়েছে। আশা করি ছোট খাটো ভুল গুলো কাটিয়ে উঠবে সম্পাদনার পর বইটা।
সব মিলিয়ে এক বসায় পড়ে ফেলার মতো একটা বই—যা রহস্যের সাথে মানুষের সম্পর্ক নিয়েও দারুণ কিছু বলে যায়।

[Big Time Book Junkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't recommend Body in the Books highly enough! This is a fun cozy mystery novella filled with an interesting mystery, great characters, and what could be better than a book store as the setting? Well, a book store, a retired greyhound named Margo, St. Augustine, Florida, and a cast of unique characters that I wanted to sit and chat with all day.

This is the start of what promises to be a great new series starring Nora Jones. We met her in Tails, California, but in this series she's the star and what a great star she is! I really want her to be my friend.

If you haven't tried a Heather Huffman book yet, now is the time to correct that! I guarantee you'll be looking for more from her after reading any one of her books. Now if I could just get her to write a wee bit faster so book #2 is available soon!

I was gifted an ARC at my request, but all thoughts in this review are my own and very happily shared.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, fast read with a fairly large cast of characters (sometimes I'd forget who some of the secondary characters were, but that might have been more me and less the writing) and a whole lot of eccentricity. A woman looking to change up her life, a free-spirited mama who might just have found a place to settle down, a ghost hunter who delivers food on the side, a sweet (if sometimes overwhelmed) painter with sensory issues, a flatulent dog, and a sexy detective who just can't keep the new bookstore owner from digging into his investigation.

Fun with a side of murder. *thumbs up*

-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal

[Claudia Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

This cozy mystery by Heather Huffman snagged me from the first and kept me turning pages. It is a regular “who done it” with lots of twists and turns. Ms Huffman crafted a cast of endearingly eccentric characters that anyone would love. I am ecstatic that this is the beginning of a series. I will be on my toes waiting for the second one.
I definitely recommend this book I just couldn’t put down.

I read this book as an ARC. I wish to thank Heather Huffman and the publishers for the opportunity. The ideas in this review are solely my own.

[J.C. Wing · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love the way this book begins. Author Heather Huffman drops her readers right into the thick of things, as though we’d been engaged in the events taking place in her novel for some time. There is no preamble or ‘warm up’ before the story gets going, nor is there any time to doubt whether or not one is interested in her narrative. Hers is a rather engaging way to kick things off, and I found I was immediately intrigued and eager to find out what all the hubbub was about.

The bouncing pace of this story continued throughout. I was thrilled to meet such a fun and quirky cast of characters. Huffman did an amazing job of giving her readers enough of St. Augustine, Florida, and her new heroine, Nora Jones, to ignite a flame of both familiarity and desire to learn much, much more. This debut novel introduced so many potential storylines, and I sincerely hope it becomes a long series. I enjoyed Body in the Books very much. It’s exactly what cozies are all about.

[Lise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uncle Walter, the black sheep of the family, has died and left all his possessions to Nora, his niece. She arrives in St. Augustine to find a unique bookshop, a greyhound, and a lovely house are just some of her uncle's riches. Alas, his death is revealed to be more than just a heart attack and it's up to Nora and her newfound friends to get both the truth and justice for Uncle Walter.

What a fantastic cosy! I loved this book with all its eccentric yet adorable characters. I was almost jealous of the main character as she lucked into a whole bunch of really great friendships as soon as she hit town. And she got a beach, too!

Body in the Books is a brilliant introduction to a fabulous new series.

[Lisa Hahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who dun it?

this is a great first book of this series. A deceased uncle who left her everything. Nora moves to St Augustine FL to learn more about him. While there she meets many new friends. A ghost hunter, mafia boss, a hot detective and a dog named Margo.
Heather Huffman is a new author to me can't wait to read more. Highly recommend

[Cathy Garrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun read

What a great, easy to read whodunit. As a huge fan of bookstores I love that this story’s main location was a bookstore in the beautiful city of St. Augustine. Heather Huffman has written another page turning bestseller!

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What's not to like about this cozy mystery? The quirky characters just keep arriving and I can't wait until the next book in the series! There is, of course Nora Jones, who inherits her estranged uncle's estate in Florida, hippie dog walker August, Rafael the detective and Pru who paints what she hears, to name a few. This was a quick read and I enjoyed every minute of it! Heather Huffman is a new author to me, and I'm so glad I found this wonderful book! I highly recommend Body in the Books! You will fall in love with her writing.

[Kellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable little cozy. I still had a couple of small questions at the end, but hoping those will be addressed in the next book.

[Tiffany Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy little mystery. Not too scary.

[patt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my second book by author Heather Huffman and I’ll be sure to read more by her. I love her unique and lovable characters that are definitely ones you would like to know.
When a young woman from San Francisco learns she has inherited a bookstore in St Augustine, Florida from an Uncle she never met, she travels cross country to check it out. Once there she learns she has inherited a lot more than that and her Uncle may have been murdered! It’s a fun page turner you’ll want to read. It’s a bonus that this is just the beginning of a new series too.
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Femke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun quick read, though the ending felt very rushed. I once again fell in love with the genre though.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first in the series. The main character is Nora. Nora comes to Florida because she is told she inherits everything from a uncle she never knew. Then she finds out he was murdered. She starts to investigate and then someone breaks in to her home and her bookstore. Looks like someone is after her. Can she figure this out before it's too late ?

[Tanya · Rating 3 out of 5]

An average cozy read for me, not a bad read but to me nothing really stood out, not the characters, the plot or the writing. I've got several other cozies I would read before anymore in this series.

[Julie Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

You just have to love a book where the characters can each play a part in Scooby-doo mystery, they even have a frightened dog to play Scooby. This book was a lot of fun and definitely took the listener on a Scooby Doo type of mystery and I just loved it. Don't get me wrong it's not a child's cartoon and the mystery is a murder (be it a cosy mystery) it's more a reference to some of the personality or mannerisms of the great characters. Which are as you can tell a lot of fun and slightly quirky but I think that is what is going to have the reader or listener returning again and again to both the book and the series. Nora is a good main character and like the rest is very likeable and caring. The mystery was good with a few twist to keep you guessing. I worked out the killer and why just before Nora did. I can't wait for the next book and it is definitely on my to be read list.
Nora inherits money, a bookshop, a house and a greyhound from an uncle she never met. Leaving the past and the memories that haunt her far behind, she decided its time to get to know her uncle or at least why he left everything to her, a strange. It seems her uncle did more than rescue greyhounds and people in need, as the shop is empty of customers. Except the detective who is there to tell her, her uncle didn't die from a heart attack, he was poisoned. The detective thinks his ties to the mob is what got him killed but Nora isn't so sure when the Boss claims they were friends. Can getting to know her uncle through his friends and finding out where his money came from lead her to finding his killer?
I liked the narrator and thought she did a good job of bringing the characters to life.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[Jae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Body in the Books, by Heather Huffman, is the first part of the "Nora Jones" cozy mystery series.

After Nora inherits a bookstore from an estranged uncle in St Augustine, she travels there to finalize Uncle Walter's estate. She discovers that she inherited a house, a boat, quite a lot of money, and a dog named Margo, as well. Nora also learns that Uncle Walter didn't die of a heart attack; he was murdered. Now everything is in limbo while the investigation is going on. The longer Nora spends in Walter's shoes, the more she realizes what a remarkable man he was, and she regrets never knowing him. She is unable to resist looking into his business dealings and finances in an effort to uncover who may have wished to harm such a big-hearted person. Nora soon finds herself butting heads with the lead detective, arguing with Walter's neighbor, taking one of his protege's under her wing, and having lunch with a mobster. Will Walter's murder be solved before anyone else is harmed?

I liked this story, although even I found it almost too cutesy at times. Nora is a likable character, and I enjoyed the other characters that were introduced, even the quirky and zany ones. It was nice to see how Nora seemed to pick up where Walter left off in helping others, and I appreciated the diversity of characters the author portrayed. I did manage to suss out who the murderer was rather quickly, but it didn't ruin my enjoyment of the story.

Lite and lively, although I could have done without the romantic interest being in law enforcement. Again. You'd think that was the rule when it comes to writing cozies. Nevertheless, giving this one four stars.

[Ferne (Enthusiastic Reader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine living and working in California and receiving a telephone call from an attorney in St. Augustine, Florida, notifying you that an uncle you've never met has died and you are

"the sole heir to his estate—including a dusty old bookstore at the fringe of the historic district."

Now it's a month later, you've arrived at the attorney's office, and the incredible news simply keeps coming. This is the life of Nora Jones.

I loved the character of Nora Jones and as she met more and more individuals in Florida there's kindness and thoughtfulness to her actions even when she finds herself in the most astonishing situations. There is also a depth given to the secondary characters that provide an interesting group to help acclimate Nora to her new surroundings. As an introduction to this new cozy series it also automatically delights the reader knowing there is the potential for many future storylines.

All who love dogs will delight in meeting Margo, a greyhound, who has a personality all her own. Without giving Margo's secret away, I genuinely thought there was something she couldn't do. When I learned differently I could hardly stop laughing. It came as no surprise that the author has several dogs as the authenticity of how pets excel with non-verbal communication definitely brings smiles and laughter as Nora learns more about Margo.

As an introduction to the writing of Heather Huffman it was pure delight! I can't wait to read the next one!

[Sandie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes, owning a bookstore can be murder and sometimes a reader can learn a lot by reading. This reader, in particular, was not aware of something called Chromesthesia, a form of synesthesia in which sound involuntarily evokes an experience of color, shape and movement in the perception of those afflicted. Pru, one of the characters in this novella, is affected by this affliction and utilizes it in her art work to “paint what she hears”.

Nora Jones, has made the cross country trip from California to St. Augustine Florida to claim the inheritance left to her by an uncle she has never met. She isn’t expecting the trip to produce much in the way of financial gain but is interested in learning more about her uncle Walter. Imagine her surprise when she learns from the requisite “drop dead gorgeous” cop that not only was Uncle Walter murdered but he was also worth about ten million dollars…….and now it’s all hers…….and so is her

Determined to find out who had a motive to do away with Uncle Walter, she and her heart-warming and cheerful crew set out to investigate all the who and whys of the case ……much to the aggravation of aforementioned gorgeous cop.

Enjoyment is on the agenda in this quick read that introduces readers to a supremely diverse and unforgettable group of characters.

[Jennifer Lara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Body in the Books by Heather Huffman is the first book in the Nora Jones Mystery series. Nora Jones inherits her estranged uncle’s estate which includes a dusty old bookshop, a Greyhound named Margo, and a murder. She moves to St Augustine, Florida to settle the estate and meets a quirky group of people including a ghost hunter and a charming homicide detective. When her uncle’s death is determined to be a homicide, there is no shortage of suspects including a local mob boss, a hostile neighbor and a tenacious real estate developer. A group as quirky as the Scooby Doo gang, Nora and her new found friends band together to search for clues, could the killer be closer to home than she realizes?
Body in the Books is a fun, humorous cozy mystery novella. A quick read to kill a lazy afternoon, reader will follow the clues with Nora and her new friends as they deem themselves the Scooby Doo gang on the hunt to solve the mystery. Who the killer was surprising and not at all on my radar. Overall, I enjoyed it and look forward to reading more of Nora, her friends and their adventures. If you enjoy cozy mysteries, I recommend Body in the Books.

Body in the Books is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook

[Azizul Hakim · Rating 4 out of 5]

প্রথমে বলে দেই বইটি নিয়ে আমার মিশ্র অভিজ্ঞতা হয়েছে। মিস্ট্রি বক্সে না পেলে বইটি আমি কখনোই নিতাম না।
লেখিকার লেখা সাবলিল এবং ঘটনা একদমই কোনো জটিলতা ছিল না।
প্লট অনুযায়ী নোরা জোন্সের তার চারপাশের মানুষদের অবিশ্বাস করার কথা যেটা সে করেনি। যদিও সে একজনকে অবিশ্বাস করেছিল তবে তাও পুরোপুরি না।
গল্পে ওয়াল্টার নামক এক মানুষ আছে । গল্পে তার সরাসরি উপস্থিতি না থাকলেও তার প্রভাব অনেক। তাকে লেখিকা সমকামী দেখিয়েছেন। তবে আমার মনে হয় এটা গল্পের জন্য প্রয়োজন ছিল না। তিনি যদি অন্যভাবে লিখতেন তাহলে হয়তোবা প্রয়োজন পরলেও পরতে পারত। আর আমার মনে হয় প্রয়োজন ছাড়া এসব বিতর্কিত জিনিস একজন লেখকের এড়িয়ে যাওয়া উচিৎ।
এছাড়া অনুবাদ আমার ভালো লাগেনি। কিছু কিছু জায়গায় খারাপ হয়েছে বলতে হয় আবার কিছু জায়গায় ভালো। মনে হচ্ছে অনুবাদক দুই জন হওয়ায় এই সমস্যা হয়েছে।
এছাড়া গল্পের প্রত্যেকটা বিষয় মনে হচ্ছিল আগে থেকেই গুছানো। যেটা একদম ভালো লাগেনি। আবার বিশ্বাস ঘাতগতার মত কিছুই ছিল না বইয়ে। তবে একদম শেষের ঘটনা এর বেতিক্রম ছিল। তনে তা পুরো বইয়ের হিসাবে কম মনে হয়েছে।
এখন বলি এটার ভালো দিক। বইটির মধ্যে অদ্ভুত ধরনের অনেক মানুষ পাওয়া যায়। যেটা ভালো লেগেছে। এছাড়া সূক্ষ্ম প্রেমের বিষয়গুলো ভালোই লেগেছে।

[Denise Zendel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nora Jones inherits a bookstore and a rescue Greyhound from her estranged, unknown uncle, and moves to St. Augustine, FL, to tie up loose ends and learn about him. An autopsy reveals he was poisoned rather than dying from a heart attack and Nora is Suspect No. 1 because she stands to inherit Everything. Including $10 million dollars. She’s speechless. And attracted to the handsome detective investigating the case.

With a band of quirky new friends (including her shop employee who suffers from chromesthesia, a neurological condition that causes her to see sound), Nora decides to track down the killer to clear her name and maybe stay alive.

This was a better story than I anticipated. I enjoyed the characters and how they interacted. The dog was a hoot. I found the employee with chromesthesia, Pru, interesting and I liked how Nora was respectful of her issues and worked to accommodate her. The mystery held my interest all the way through, and the ending was a surprise. I will read more in this series.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nora inherited a bookstore from an uncle she never knew. Off she went to Florida to see what had to be done. She not only inherited the bookstore-she was now the proud owner of a very smart greyhound named Margo. Margo pretended to not know how to do anything until Nora decided to move into her uncles cottage--what a transformation that dog made!!

She could not figure out how her uncle made money since the bookstore was usually void of customers. There was just one employee and she had some problems-a very unusual one. She found an accountant and handed over the books which were a mess. However the detective came and took them away. It seems her uncle was murdered--but by who?

This is truly a light and clean cozy!! Wonder who killed her uncle-read the book to find out. More good karma comes Nora's way--want to know what? Read the book!!

[Pam Fleming · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun read by an author new to me. Nora arrives in town after inheriting the estate from her Uncle Walter who is estranged from his family. She meets a variety of characters. Pru worked for Walter and had a condition called chromesthesia causing her to see color when she hears noise. August comes in handy as she can serve as a dog walker for Margo, the greyhound rescue who belonged to Uncle Walter. Leo is in town to be a ghost hunter

As investigation into Walter’s estate continues, shady business dealings become a possibility, and Walter’s death becomes suspicious. Nora has several suspects in mind much to the aggravation of the handsome police detective Rafael

I will be interested to read more from this Author.

[Jan Millward · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've just finished reading Body in the Books by Heather Huffman. It was one of a few from various authors that I downloaded on a free offer and I wasn't expecting much to come of it, as I've deleted most of them. But this one surprised me! The story had my interest from the beginning right through to the end. I liked the characters and as they developed and I got to know them more I found myself reacting to them as I would to friends. Heather Huffman has a lovely easy style to telling a story and I thoroughly enjoyed my escape from Chicken Pox, so thank you Ms Huffman.
I also have to add the editing is brilliant. I'm a proofreader/editor, and I really detest sloppy editing. So well done on producing a book I will read again many times. On to book two!

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

This quick and delightful cozy mystery is the first in the new Nora Jones mystery series by Heather Huffman. It’s a fun kickoff and I am looking forward to future installments.

Nora has come to town because she has inherited quite the estate from an uncle she didn’t even really know. He and his life are mysteries in and of themselves.

As she tries to settle into this new house and bookstore that she has inherited, along with a greyhound named Margo, she manages to quickly form a small group of quirky friends who are more than happy to help her solve the mystery of her uncle’s death. I greatly enjoyed this supporting cast. And that can be just as important as the mystery itself.

And yes, I was a little surprised at the big reveal! This was a fun one.