Story of a Murder

Bookish Cafe Mysteries #3

by Harper Lin

Maggie’s estranged half-sister suddenly arrives in town. Angel has lived in a hippie commune for years. Now she’s escaped for mysterious reasons. Echo, Angel’s boyfriend, comes to Fair Haven looking for her. But shortly after, his dead body is found at the base of a bridge.

The last time Echo was seen was with Angel. Maggie knows Angel came home that night full of scuffs and scratches. Could she have killed Echo? In the meantime, the rest of the commune, The Great Society of Atonement, descends into town during the hundredth anniversary of the establishment of Fair Haven. These criminals in hippie clothing steal from small businesses, clash with the locals, and cause chaos wherever they go. The cult leader wants Angel back and will do whatever it takes to get her.

Trouble seems to follow Angel wherever she goes, but she is still Maggie’s little sister. Maggie must save Angel from being thrown in jail, getting kidnapped by a dangerous cult, or becoming another murder victim...

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Audiobook, Cozy

264 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 20, 2021

About the author

Harper Lin is the 3x USA Today Bestselling Author of several popular cozy mystery series—8 and counting!

When she’s not reading or writing mysteries, she loves going to yoga class, hiking, and baking with friends and family. 


Be the first to hear about early bird discounts and new book releases by signing up for Harper's Newsletter: https://goo.gl/R7XmFR

www.harperlin.com

Reviews

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this installment in the bookstore cozy mystery series. This time Maggie‘s estranged half-sister Angel arrives, needing help to escape from her life in a commune that has developed into a dangerous cult. The usual community characters get involved and Introvert Maggie is determined to protect Angel at any cost.

[E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Well written story with fantastic characters. It was great to meet Maggie sister Angel and see a different side of her. I hope that Angel appears in more stories, would love to see what happens with her life. As for Maggie, it will be very interesting to see what happens with her. I look forward to more in this series.

[Juliet Minerva Swift · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was quite the ride. I thought I was going to like it more than I did, but some aspects set it apart from the previous one for me in a very positive way.

First of all, I am really interested in cults. To be more precise, I like learning about MLMs, but I like cults as they are quite similar. So when I saw that Maggie’s sister is from a cult, my interest peaked. Exactly due to me being interested in the topic, I was expecting a bit more about the cult and all, but the whole thing was a bit brushed over and not as I wanted it.

The mystery was not so convoluted, I thought the killers were the other cult members, but in the end the guy just killed himself. It was an okay resolution, especially knowing he had planned to take Angel with, but I tend to prefer the classic murder.

I also was not the biggest fan of how Angel was shown when the cult guru was around. I get that she was scared and manipulated, but I feel that when she was in front of him, she was almost considering what he would say, and it didn’t ring right for me coming from someone that had already left the cult by herself and knew how bad it was.

The relationship between the sisters was really cute, I like how they started off not really liking each other but ended up being able to put aside their differences and get close.

This series is really enjoyable, and I will get into the next book for Christmas!

[Sue Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

About halfway through the book, Maggie is badgering Gary about the investigation and he tells her, "Maggie. You aren't helping." Of course she is insulted, but those 4 words are the theme behind the whole book. Maggie's interference didn't help the investigation. She withheld information that could have helped solve it more quickly if she'd had confidence in Gary's ability to solve crimes. Normally I like Maggie, but in this book she was a "dragon mom" bullying and pushing and failing to trust the process. Her behavior was too over the top. I guess that the author wanted to show that even though Maggie is introverted, when it comes to protecting family, she will fight tooth and nail for them. Her reaction to Gary's rebuke she gets angry at him for putting his job before friendship. She thinks to herself, "That wasn't what real men did. Real men defended you come hell or high water." However, I loved the way Maggie stood up to the cult leader and refused to fall for his attempts to lure her into the fold.

I really don't like the hints of romance between her and Joshua. I can't stand him and I don't think somebody like Maggie would fall for a smirking, arrogant non-reader who treats her like some kind of joke. I think Gary would be a better match. Why do cozy mystery writers so often have a triangle where the protagonist falls for the one you dislike the most?

Despite all that, I still liked the book and liked Maggie's sister. I hope we see her again.

[JigsawGirl · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was so sick of Maggie and Angel wiping their noses on the backs of their hands. These 2 adults couldn't find a tissue? It wasn't cute. It wasn't humorous. It was just gross. What was the purpose of it being repeated so many times?

Thankfully this was the last book for me. I was not going to waste any more of my money. Maggie's character stayed true to form. Overbearing, condescending, obnoxious, with an inability to keep herself from jumping to conclusions AND interfering in police work. She hardly gives the cops a chance to find out there is a crime before she jumps in with both feet.

I once wanted to know if she ended up with Joshua or Gary, but I no longer care. They would both be better off without her. She won't let Gary do his job, and she was mean and unpleasant to Joshua.

I was hoping by the time I got to this 3rd book, I would have a better understanding of why the character of Maggie was written like this. I still don't understand. Her character was so off putting to me, the mystery took a.major back seat. Maybe her character's purpose was to be unpleasant. I'll never know.

[Crys · Rating 2 out of 5]

In the first of the series, I really enjoyed Maggie and Joshua and where the writer took the story.

In the second book, Maggie was an annoying character, and in this third installment, I found both Maggie AND her sister Angel are annoying.

Maggie went all in to help her sister even though they are estranged. I did not enjoy this part of the story. I saw some say their relationship was “cute,” but there was nothing cute about the relationship between Maggie and Angel. I found myself rolling my eyes at them and their interactions.

This relationship definitely needed more fleshing because it was just as if they went from being estranged to Maggie deciding they weren’t anymore.

The mystery itself is meh. It had a lot of potential, and the cult element was there but I’m not sure why because it did not add anything to the story.

Everything I loved about the first in the series disappeared, and I’m not going to continue this series.

[Michelle "Champ" · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maggie's life in the bookstore is going just fine, she has a slight crush on her boss and seems to be fitting in better with his rejuvenation of the bookstore. Life is just great until her half-sister shows up. Angel is desperately trying to escape a cult and a man that is no good for her. Maggie is trying hard not to be impatient with and distant from Angel, but she just can't do either...that is until Angel's man turns up dead. Angel and Maggie will have to mend fences and work together to solve this murder.

I really don't think you have to read the other books in the series, but you will have more fun if you do read the other books in the Bookish Cafe series.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Linda Lundy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this as an ARC to read and provide and honest review. This is such a great series and I always love getting the newest story. Maggie's half-sister Angel shows up unexpectedly and is in some sort of trouble. Maggie sets out to help her sister but is met with Angel not being at all helpful and disappearing all of the time. Maggie follows some undesirable type of dudes around who keep trying to get Angel to return to their cult. There are some fantastic twists and surprising outcomes to this story. Maggie assumes that Angel is after Joshua, the owner of the bookstore/cafe she works at. Can't wait to see where the next book takes me in Maggie's love life and what new and exciting adventure she gets herself involved in.

[Therese · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sisters!

Maggie is reunited with her half sister, Angel. Angel has just left the cult she has been part of. Her "husband" comes to take her back, along with the leader and a few of his thugs.
They cause lots of trouble in town, and Echo ends up dead.
Angel finds herself in a pickle, and Maggie is determined to help her, no matter what.

[Afsheen · Rating 4 out of 5]

So when your younger prettier half sister breeze into town, there is not much Maggie can do then go along for the ride. There are oppsites and that causes tension. But the mama bear comes out when Angels husband and their cult follows her into town


I read books to be entertained. And I enjoy reading about Maggie, she feels like a good friend.

[Tena · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Maggie’s sister comes for a visit things get a little strange. Add a dead body and the mystery begins. A story that will keep you on your toes as you try to piece together what is going on. Another winner in the Bookish Cafe Mystery series!!

[Nicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maggie has a sister, well half sister. She sounds like a complete opposite of Maggie. She is a bit of a wild one that left home to join a cult. That cult is now trying to intimidate Maggie's sister. Out comes Maggie's bold side as she attempts to protect her. An interesting story..I liked it.

[Loretta L Camp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maggie finds her backbone

Great storyline and hints of new potential arcs in the future - Maggie and Patrick? Maggie and Gary? Maggie and Joshua?

[Lisa DeChiara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story

It's a fun book. How the death was caused was unexpected for a murder mystery. The main characters are likable.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun cost mystery series, quick and easy read.

[Donna Kaczynski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding

This an outstanding book, very well written, just like the other books by this author. I think you'll really enjoy this book.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an enjoyable story. Each book in the series got better and I could barely put this one down. A fun read.

[Lori Cate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

Love the story line! Maggie is so kind hearted to everyone even though she is shy. Love the setting and the town of the books!

[Diane Knutzen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This might have been one of my favorite ones of the series.

[J.J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Family makes this a fun cozy!

[Kimberly · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m never impressed when a character (that’s not the villain) resorts to criticizing the way another character looks. If I wanted that I could just look on the internet.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Leish · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn’t really enjoy this one much. The storyline with the sister came out of no where and it just wasn’t as enjoyable as a mystery storyline.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable cozy mystery.

[A.A.B · Rating 2 out of 5]

The main character is acting especially stupid in this story.

[Linda Lugar]

4.5 Stars!

[NENA · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love cozy mysteries....

[Gitti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maggie ist gar nicht begeistert, als eines Tages ihre Schwester Angel plötzlich im Laden steht. Zu tief sind die Gräben, die sich in der gemeinsamen Kindheit aufgetan haben. Doch dann stellt Maggie fest, dass sie ihre Schwester falsch einschätzt und dass diese Hilfe braucht um aus den Fängen einer Sekte zu entkommen. Und als dann Angels Partner ums Leben kommt, versucht Maggie alles um zu beweisen, dass nicht ihre Schwester die Täterin war.

In diesem dritten Band der Reihe lernt man ein wenig mehr über Maggies Familie. Angel ist sehr viel jünger und wurde vom gemeinsamen Vater wohl sehr verwöhnt. Und da Angel auch bei den Männern im Gegensatz zu Maggie immer sehr beliebt war, ist diese doch nicht wenig eifersüchtig. Und doch schafft sie es, über ihren Schatten zu springen und Angel zu helfen und dabei ihr auch eine zweite Chance zu geben.

Mir hat das Buch wieder gut gefallen. Es ist schnell gelesen und durchaus spannend, da auch hier vieles im Dunkeln bleibt. Die Beziehungen zu Gary und Joshua entwickeln sich weiter, aber immer noch wird nicht klar für wen Maggies Herz denn nun mehr schlägt.

Alles in allem ist es ein schönes Buch zum kurzweiligen abtauchen aus dem Alltag. Ich kann daher das Buch genau wie die Vorgänger empfehlen.

[Shelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it

I loved it a lot it was a good read and I'm hoping to get more of the series I love the characters in the book and etc etc