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By the Book Mysteries #2
On Spine of Death
Bestselling author Tess Harrow and her teenage daughter Gertrude have decided to make Winthrop their home. Their cabin is fixed up and now they're turning to the family hardware store that Tess inherited from her late grandfather into the town's first independent bookstore.
But when renovations unearth bones from a cold case and send them toppling—literally—onto Tess's head, the work comes to a grinding halt. With the whole town convinced that her grandfather was a serial killer, Tess has to call in a fellow horror author for reinforcements. Together, they'll come up with a perfect story to make all the clues fit…and solve a mystery more than thirty years in the making.
But when renovations unearth bones from a cold case and send them toppling—literally—onto Tess's head, the work comes to a grinding halt. With the whole town convinced that her grandfather was a serial killer, Tess has to call in a fellow horror author for reinforcements. Together, they'll come up with a perfect story to make all the clues fit…and solve a mystery more than thirty years in the making.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 29, 2022
100 people are currently reading
3642 people want to read
About the author
Tamara Berry
9 books500 followersTamara Berry is an Edgar Award winning author of cozy mysteries. She has a B.A. degree in English Literature from Eastern Washington University. In addition to books, she has mad love for all things TV, movies, and pop culture.
She also writes romances under the pennames Lucy Gilmore and Tamara Morgan.
She also writes romances under the pennames Lucy Gilmore and Tamara Morgan.
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October 25, 2022
On Spine of Death
by Tamara Berry is the second book in the By the Book Mysteries series. I’ve seen this categorized as a cozy mystery and that fits although it is slightly more gritty and gripping than many. It is also laugh-out-loud funny in places.
Tess Harrow is a bestselling thriller writer who has inherited her grandfather’s rustic cabin in the woods near Winthrop, Washington as well as his hardware store. Now that she and her daughter Gertie have updated the cabin, they are working to convert the hardware store into an independent bookstore. However, when the renovations result in bones from a cold case being found, the work comes to a halt. Was her grandfather a murderer or is there more to the story?
Tess has a hard time separating her fictional detective’s methods, which aren’t always “by the book”, and local Sheriff’s Victor Boyd’s method of following procedure, which leads to some fascinating and funny interchanges between the two. Dealing with real law enforcement officers is harder than she expected. The normally calm and levelheaded sheriff doesn’t stay that way as he interacts with Tess. Additionally, Gertie seems to enjoy being part of a murder investigation a little too much for Tess’s comfort. Now she wants to job shadow the town coroner.
For book lovers, readers not only get a main character who is a thriller writer, but there is a bookmobile that makes the rounds of the local communities and a deputy that has been writing a science fiction novel in her spare time. There’s also a couple of other book and author related tie-ins. Themes include parent-child relationships, friendship, murder, trust, family, and much more.
The writing is terrific. What an opening scene! The characters, as well as the story, quickly engage readers. Visual and auditory imagery comes through vividly. The plot is absorbing and intriguing with a storyline that has a few red herrings, a couple of surprises, and lots of humor.
Overall, this engaging and funny novel immediately pulled me into the storyline and the lives of the characters. If you enjoy excellent cozy mysteries with a little extra grit, then I recommend that you check out this series. I am looking forward to finding out what happens in the next book of the series.
Poisoned Ped Press and Tamara Berry provided a complimentary DRC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for November 29, 2022.
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4.31 rounded to 4 stars.
Tess Harrow is a bestselling thriller writer who has inherited her grandfather’s rustic cabin in the woods near Winthrop, Washington as well as his hardware store. Now that she and her daughter Gertie have updated the cabin, they are working to convert the hardware store into an independent bookstore. However, when the renovations result in bones from a cold case being found, the work comes to a halt. Was her grandfather a murderer or is there more to the story?
Tess has a hard time separating her fictional detective’s methods, which aren’t always “by the book”, and local Sheriff’s Victor Boyd’s method of following procedure, which leads to some fascinating and funny interchanges between the two. Dealing with real law enforcement officers is harder than she expected. The normally calm and levelheaded sheriff doesn’t stay that way as he interacts with Tess. Additionally, Gertie seems to enjoy being part of a murder investigation a little too much for Tess’s comfort. Now she wants to job shadow the town coroner.
For book lovers, readers not only get a main character who is a thriller writer, but there is a bookmobile that makes the rounds of the local communities and a deputy that has been writing a science fiction novel in her spare time. There’s also a couple of other book and author related tie-ins. Themes include parent-child relationships, friendship, murder, trust, family, and much more.
The writing is terrific. What an opening scene! The characters, as well as the story, quickly engage readers. Visual and auditory imagery comes through vividly. The plot is absorbing and intriguing with a storyline that has a few red herrings, a couple of surprises, and lots of humor.
Overall, this engaging and funny novel immediately pulled me into the storyline and the lives of the characters. If you enjoy excellent cozy mysteries with a little extra grit, then I recommend that you check out this series. I am looking forward to finding out what happens in the next book of the series.
Poisoned Ped Press and Tamara Berry provided a complimentary DRC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for November 29, 2022.
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4.31 rounded to 4 stars.
December 15, 2022
EXCERPT: Tess knew the exact moment the blood started dripping down her hands.
The frigid air of the cellar where she was trapped had long since caused her skin to grow numb. She couldn't feel the sharp slices of the zip ties digging into her wrists or the thick trickle of blood moving down her fingers, but that didn't matter. As soon as her veins opened up, the enormous, mangy rat in the corner would lift his nose, twitch his whiskers, and come in for a taste.
ABOUT 'ON SPINE OF DEATH': In the aftermath of solving their first murder, bestselling author Tess Harrow and her teenage daughter Gertrude have decided to stay in Winthrop permanently. Now that they've made some updates to their cabin in the woods, they're turning to the family hardware store that Tess inherited and converting it into the town's first independent bookstore. But when renovations unearth bones from a cold case and send them toppling—literally—onto Tess's head, the work comes to a grinding halt. With the whole town convinced that her grandfather was a serial killer, Tess has to call in a fellow horror author for reinforcements. Together, they'll come up with a perfect story to make all the clues fit...and solve a mystery more than thirty years in the making.
MY THOUGHTS: Not my cup of tea. On Spine of Death - even after finishing the book, I just don't get the title - is more slapstick comedy than an intelligent cosy. I spent much of this read rolling my eyes, and muttering 'Really?'
On Spine of Death is a quick easy read, but I deplore the lack of depth in both the characters and the plot. However, as I haven't read the first book in the series, which may have provided some much needed background information, I will give this the benefit of the doubt and ⭐⭐.6 stars.
The shining light in this story is definitely Gertrude, Tess's teenage daughter who is obsessed with death and doing her work experience in the local morgue.
⭐⭐.6
#OntheSpineofDeath #NetGalley
I: @tamaratamaralucy @poisonedpenpress
T: @Tamara_Morgan @PPPress
#contemporaryfiction #cosymystery #murdermystery
THE AUTHOR: Tamara Berry is a part-time author and part-time freelance copywriter/editor. She has a B.A. degree in English Literature from Eastern Washington University. In addition to books, she has mad love for all things TV, movies, and pop culture.
She also writes romances under the pennames Lucy Gilmore and Tamara Morgan.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of On the Spine of Death by Tamara Berry for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
https://www.instagram.com/p/CmLFTkjru...
The frigid air of the cellar where she was trapped had long since caused her skin to grow numb. She couldn't feel the sharp slices of the zip ties digging into her wrists or the thick trickle of blood moving down her fingers, but that didn't matter. As soon as her veins opened up, the enormous, mangy rat in the corner would lift his nose, twitch his whiskers, and come in for a taste.
ABOUT 'ON SPINE OF DEATH': In the aftermath of solving their first murder, bestselling author Tess Harrow and her teenage daughter Gertrude have decided to stay in Winthrop permanently. Now that they've made some updates to their cabin in the woods, they're turning to the family hardware store that Tess inherited and converting it into the town's first independent bookstore. But when renovations unearth bones from a cold case and send them toppling—literally—onto Tess's head, the work comes to a grinding halt. With the whole town convinced that her grandfather was a serial killer, Tess has to call in a fellow horror author for reinforcements. Together, they'll come up with a perfect story to make all the clues fit...and solve a mystery more than thirty years in the making.
MY THOUGHTS: Not my cup of tea. On Spine of Death - even after finishing the book, I just don't get the title - is more slapstick comedy than an intelligent cosy. I spent much of this read rolling my eyes, and muttering 'Really?'
On Spine of Death is a quick easy read, but I deplore the lack of depth in both the characters and the plot. However, as I haven't read the first book in the series, which may have provided some much needed background information, I will give this the benefit of the doubt and ⭐⭐.6 stars.
The shining light in this story is definitely Gertrude, Tess's teenage daughter who is obsessed with death and doing her work experience in the local morgue.
⭐⭐.6
#OntheSpineofDeath #NetGalley
I: @tamaratamaralucy @poisonedpenpress
T: @Tamara_Morgan @PPPress
#contemporaryfiction #cosymystery #murdermystery
THE AUTHOR: Tamara Berry is a part-time author and part-time freelance copywriter/editor. She has a B.A. degree in English Literature from Eastern Washington University. In addition to books, she has mad love for all things TV, movies, and pop culture.
She also writes romances under the pennames Lucy Gilmore and Tamara Morgan.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of On the Spine of Death by Tamara Berry for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
https://www.instagram.com/p/CmLFTkjru...
November 29, 2022
On Spine of Death is the second book in this series. I read the first one. The author must have a wonderful sense of humor as there are parts that have you laughing hysterically. Tess Harrow is a renowned thriller author who along with her daughter, Gertrude (Gertie) have moved and living in the remote town of Winthrop, Washington. The story opens with Tess tied to a chair in the cellar of the hardware store as she is researching for her latest book "Fury in the Forest". She inherited the store and her cabin when her grandfather died.. Her handyman, Herb was her grandfather's best friend is helping Tess renovate the store as she wants to open a bookstore. While taking down a wall the floor collapses with all the debris of rocks, etc. come down on Tess along with human bones. Sheriff Vincent Boyd and his chief deputy Ivy Bell are there about the bodies and are enjoying seeing Tess tied to the chair and Ivy is taking pictures. Sheriff Boyd is the spitting image of Tess's book character, Detective Gonzales.
Nicki Nickerson is the librarian of the bookmobile and Tess' s friend. She is also an FBI agent who is watching Mason Peabody and his brothers who own a logging operation close to the Canadian border. There is questionable ties and business practices..
Herb feels that Tess is cursed. Since her arriving in town there have been murders. Herb quits and tosses his toolbelt on the floor and the floor gives way., There is another pile of bones. Both of the bodies have hatchet marks on them. Tess calls her agent, Nancy to see if she can find another carpenter. She can't.
Jared Wright comes and applies for the job. Their meeting does not go well. He tells her and the sheriff that Nicki has sent him, He is also FBI. Nicki can't believe they sent Jared as he is an FBI because of his father.
Gertie tells her mother that she will be working for Ms. Sylvie the coroner for her school project and is very happy about it. Tess goes to see the sheriff about the hatchet markings and that she has an author friend who specializes in hatchets.. He also was published in Forensic Magazine by the name of Peter Oblonsky. Both Boyd and Syvie are excited that he will be coming to help with the murders.
Tess finds out the names of the victims. The first is Annabelle Charles who has been missing since 1988. the second victim is Lucretia Gregory a hiker who disappeared 5 years ago.
This is where the story takes the reader on an adventure of finding out who killed the victims. There is so much going on in the story that it is hard to put in writing. I will leave this to the reader to enjoy to the unexpected and exciting ending.
I look forward to the next book in the series. Will Jared come back to live there. Will Tess have a romance with the sheriff and what new adventure will Tess and her friends get into.
Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC.
Nicki Nickerson is the librarian of the bookmobile and Tess' s friend. She is also an FBI agent who is watching Mason Peabody and his brothers who own a logging operation close to the Canadian border. There is questionable ties and business practices..
Herb feels that Tess is cursed. Since her arriving in town there have been murders. Herb quits and tosses his toolbelt on the floor and the floor gives way., There is another pile of bones. Both of the bodies have hatchet marks on them. Tess calls her agent, Nancy to see if she can find another carpenter. She can't.
Jared Wright comes and applies for the job. Their meeting does not go well. He tells her and the sheriff that Nicki has sent him, He is also FBI. Nicki can't believe they sent Jared as he is an FBI because of his father.
Gertie tells her mother that she will be working for Ms. Sylvie the coroner for her school project and is very happy about it. Tess goes to see the sheriff about the hatchet markings and that she has an author friend who specializes in hatchets.. He also was published in Forensic Magazine by the name of Peter Oblonsky. Both Boyd and Syvie are excited that he will be coming to help with the murders.
Tess finds out the names of the victims. The first is Annabelle Charles who has been missing since 1988. the second victim is Lucretia Gregory a hiker who disappeared 5 years ago.
This is where the story takes the reader on an adventure of finding out who killed the victims. There is so much going on in the story that it is hard to put in writing. I will leave this to the reader to enjoy to the unexpected and exciting ending.
I look forward to the next book in the series. Will Jared come back to live there. Will Tess have a romance with the sheriff and what new adventure will Tess and her friends get into.
Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC.
August 20, 2022
This series is knocking it out of the park for me! This mystery pulled me right in, and I just held on for the ride! There were a couple of big shocks in this book that I didn't see coming and can't wait for the 3rd book to find out what happens next. The characters in this are great. Love Gertrude, Tess, Nicki, Sheriff Boyd...as well as some new additions. I didn't think there wasn't as much entertaining banter between Sheriff Boyd and Tess in this one which was missed.
I highly recommend this cozy!
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank Netgalley, the author Tamara Berry, and the publisher for this opportunity.
I highly recommend this cozy!
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank Netgalley, the author Tamara Berry, and the publisher for this opportunity.
December 3, 2022
I enjoyed the first book in this series so much it was easy to decide to read this one too. I am glad I did because it was just as much fun as the first.
Tess Harrow and her daughter Gertrude have decided to stay in the town of Winthrop and are renovating the old hardware store to be a bookshop. Money is not a problem as Tess is a successful author and she is receiving some generous royalties. This is a good thing since she ends up in the course of the story paying thousands to a computer hacker without batting an eyelid.
The book opens brilliantly with Tess in a cellar, bound to a chair, when the floor caves in and she is covered in dirt and bones - human bones. Why she is in the cellar is hilarious, where the bones came from is mysterious, and the whole makes an excellent start to a very good story.
The local Sheriff, Victor Boyd, is the love interest and there is a lot of humour in their interactions. There is also a tear jerking scene between them where I had to grab a tissue. This author writes very well and I am very much looking forward to more in this series.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Tess Harrow and her daughter Gertrude have decided to stay in the town of Winthrop and are renovating the old hardware store to be a bookshop. Money is not a problem as Tess is a successful author and she is receiving some generous royalties. This is a good thing since she ends up in the course of the story paying thousands to a computer hacker without batting an eyelid.
The book opens brilliantly with Tess in a cellar, bound to a chair, when the floor caves in and she is covered in dirt and bones - human bones. Why she is in the cellar is hilarious, where the bones came from is mysterious, and the whole makes an excellent start to a very good story.
The local Sheriff, Victor Boyd, is the love interest and there is a lot of humour in their interactions. There is also a tear jerking scene between them where I had to grab a tissue. This author writes very well and I am very much looking forward to more in this series.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
November 19, 2022
Tess Harrow and her daughter Gertrude (Gertie) had decided to make Winthrop their permanent home, and while Gertie was doing work experience at the local morgue, Tess was working hard on her latest novel. The hardware store which Tess had inherited from her grandfather was in the process of being renovated - Tess had decided on a bookstore which would be the first for the town. But when the floor collapsed into the cellar (where Tess was tied to a chair, trying to escape) and bones were discovered in the soil and rubble, a cold case from thirty years prior was unearthed. Sheriff Victor Boyd was soon on the case, and it wasn't long before bones from a second body were found.
Tess was determined to help the sheriff, and calling in a friend who was a forensic expert, as well as an online hacker, saw them finding more than they'd bargained for. Would they succeed in unearthing the killer and solving a mystery many years in the making?
On Spine of Death is the 2nd in the By the Book Mysteries by Tamara Berry and I quite enjoyed it. I didn't expect the result, the twist at the end was neatly done. An entertaining cosy mystery which I recommend.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Tess was determined to help the sheriff, and calling in a friend who was a forensic expert, as well as an online hacker, saw them finding more than they'd bargained for. Would they succeed in unearthing the killer and solving a mystery many years in the making?
On Spine of Death is the 2nd in the By the Book Mysteries by Tamara Berry and I quite enjoyed it. I didn't expect the result, the twist at the end was neatly done. An entertaining cosy mystery which I recommend.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
December 2, 2022
The Publisher Says: Don't miss the second installment of this gripping and funny bookish cozy mystery series by Tamara Berry! This case isn't just cold, it's practically frozen shut...
In the aftermath of solving their first murder, bestselling author Tess Harrow and her teenage daughter Gertrude have decided to stay in Winthrop permanently. Now that they've made some updates to their cabin in the woods, they're turning to the family hardware store that Tess inherited and converting it into the town's first independent bookstore. But when renovations unearth bones from a cold case and send them toppling—literally—onto Tess's head, the work comes to a grinding halt. With the whole town convinced that her grandfather was a serial killer, Tess has to call in a fellow horror author for reinforcements. Together, they'll come up with a perfect story to make all the clues fit...and solve a mystery more than thirty years in the making.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.
My Review: Not many writers will 'fess up to their weirdest research methods. Tess Harrow doesn't have a lot of choice...she's tied to a chair in a basement struggling to get free (research!) when the floor above her collapses. That, my friends, is how you open a story!
When Tess, a bestselling thriller writer and mother of a teenaged girl, needs to make a big change in her life, the opportunity to take over her late grandfather's hardware store and cabin in small-town Washington State arises. Teenager in tow, off Tess hares. It's quite clear that she won't be running a hardware store so she does what so many writers say they'd love to do and decides a bookstore is what the town needs! (The town was not consulted, but never mind.)
In the course of renovating the store, a skeleton is uncovered in a...peculiar...place. Then there's another one! All in her dear old grandfather's store! Was her belovèd grandfather a murderer?! Or if not, was he an accessory to murder? Either way, Tess wants to know (let's face it, she's stumbled into one helluva tale) and the local Sheriff doesn't much want to speed his investigation up just for this high-handed Bigfoot author from out of town. There are Procedures. They're there to make a case solid and an answer to the Big Questions of who, what, when, and why (where being known in this case) trustworthy and that's what matters to his law-enforcement officer self.
Tess, coming at this from three angles and none of them inspiring her to patience (store owner, granddaughter, thriller writer), naturally clashes with Slowpoke McPutt-putt. The sparks must fly, mustn't they, to make the needed heat for the series to rise to new heights? Add in the teenager's discomfiting fascination with Sylvie the coroner's job (to the point that she's shadowing the poor thing really, really closely as a school project), and there's a lot of moving parts. That's what makes the read so much fun...the way Author Berry keeps all the balls in the air and manages to cast your attention into the blind alleys she needs for it to be distracted by...well, it's fun to be in the presence of a skilled practitioner at her peak.
The renovations, the bodies, the people who just *happen* to be not quite who they say they are, the motives for the locals to take sides on the uncomfortable rooting about for answers to the Big Questions...all are standard elements handled in deft ways. They aren't surprises. They aren't meant to be, and they're all the more welcome for not being. I think the series will have legs because it's already got a smile of its own. It's presenting your ma'at-sensing organs with truth and justice but they're not as simplistically presented as they can sometimes be in series mysteries. There's thoughtful commentary on the way of the world, there's a damn-near evergreen scented evocation of the way small towns in the piney woods operate, there's the always-fun fish out of water growing into a local institution trope...remember Northern Exposure?...and it's done with panache, if not philosophical depth.
Great for the season's snatch-a-chapter-in-line reading habits because it's already episodic!
In the aftermath of solving their first murder, bestselling author Tess Harrow and her teenage daughter Gertrude have decided to stay in Winthrop permanently. Now that they've made some updates to their cabin in the woods, they're turning to the family hardware store that Tess inherited and converting it into the town's first independent bookstore. But when renovations unearth bones from a cold case and send them toppling—literally—onto Tess's head, the work comes to a grinding halt. With the whole town convinced that her grandfather was a serial killer, Tess has to call in a fellow horror author for reinforcements. Together, they'll come up with a perfect story to make all the clues fit...and solve a mystery more than thirty years in the making.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.
My Review: Not many writers will 'fess up to their weirdest research methods. Tess Harrow doesn't have a lot of choice...she's tied to a chair in a basement struggling to get free (research!) when the floor above her collapses. That, my friends, is how you open a story!
When Tess, a bestselling thriller writer and mother of a teenaged girl, needs to make a big change in her life, the opportunity to take over her late grandfather's hardware store and cabin in small-town Washington State arises. Teenager in tow, off Tess hares. It's quite clear that she won't be running a hardware store so she does what so many writers say they'd love to do and decides a bookstore is what the town needs! (The town was not consulted, but never mind.)
In the course of renovating the store, a skeleton is uncovered in a...peculiar...place. Then there's another one! All in her dear old grandfather's store! Was her belovèd grandfather a murderer?! Or if not, was he an accessory to murder? Either way, Tess wants to know (let's face it, she's stumbled into one helluva tale) and the local Sheriff doesn't much want to speed his investigation up just for this high-handed Bigfoot author from out of town. There are Procedures. They're there to make a case solid and an answer to the Big Questions of who, what, when, and why (where being known in this case) trustworthy and that's what matters to his law-enforcement officer self.
Tess, coming at this from three angles and none of them inspiring her to patience (store owner, granddaughter, thriller writer), naturally clashes with Slowpoke McPutt-putt. The sparks must fly, mustn't they, to make the needed heat for the series to rise to new heights? Add in the teenager's discomfiting fascination with Sylvie the coroner's job (to the point that she's shadowing the poor thing really, really closely as a school project), and there's a lot of moving parts. That's what makes the read so much fun...the way Author Berry keeps all the balls in the air and manages to cast your attention into the blind alleys she needs for it to be distracted by...well, it's fun to be in the presence of a skilled practitioner at her peak.
The renovations, the bodies, the people who just *happen* to be not quite who they say they are, the motives for the locals to take sides on the uncomfortable rooting about for answers to the Big Questions...all are standard elements handled in deft ways. They aren't surprises. They aren't meant to be, and they're all the more welcome for not being. I think the series will have legs because it's already got a smile of its own. It's presenting your ma'at-sensing organs with truth and justice but they're not as simplistically presented as they can sometimes be in series mysteries. There's thoughtful commentary on the way of the world, there's a damn-near evergreen scented evocation of the way small towns in the piney woods operate, there's the always-fun fish out of water growing into a local institution trope...remember Northern Exposure?...and it's done with panache, if not philosophical depth.
Great for the season's snatch-a-chapter-in-line reading habits because it's already episodic!
November 20, 2022
In this second book of the By the Book Mysteries, Ms. Berry takes us back to the small town of Winthrop in the wilds of Washington state. Thriller author Tess Harrow and Gertrude, her teenage daughter, are living in Tess's grandfather primitive cabin that she inherited. Now they have upgraded it and are enjoying their new life as Tess plots a new book, and they start renovating her grandfather's hardware store. That is, until two sets of bones are found under the floorboards. Determined to prove her grandfather's innocence, Tess starts investigating and even brings a forensic author friend Peter to town to help. Peter joins forces with Tess and friends to find answers but a crazy path ensues with lots of twists, turns, surprises, and suspense. Peter has some thoughts about the murders sounding suspiciously like those in a previously written book that sounds eerily like Winthrop. Recurring quirky, fun characters and small-town life in the mountainous wilderness make this a great series to return to with each new book. A little romance adds some spark, especially when a new younger guy likes Tess, maybe making Sheriff Victor Boyd jealous. Oh, and a mystery from book one pops up again. Great read for cozy mystery lovers.
I received a complimentary copy from Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the purpose of an honest review. All thoughts are mine only.
I received a complimentary copy from Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the purpose of an honest review. All thoughts are mine only.
April 25, 2023
Review coming soon.
November 25, 2022
On Spine of Death by Tamara Berry is the second book in her funny, and popular By the Book Mysteries series, a delightful cozy mystery series. I loved the first book in the series, Buried in Good Book, and I found this second book in the series even better than the first one.
Story Recap:
Bestselling author Tess Harlow and her daughter Gertrude have decided to stay in the cabin Tess inherited from her Grandfather. Now, she’s going to work on her grandfather’s dilapidated hardware store and turn it into an independent bookstore. During the renovation of the hardware store, some old human bones rain down, literally on Tess’s head. In order to save her grandfather’s reputation, Tess and Gertrude work together to find the killer.
My Thoughts:
This was such a fun ride. I enjoyed the first book in the series, and think this second book is even better. The characters just get better and better. I love that Tess’s fifteen year old daughter, Gertrude, decides to work in a morgue and learn the business of death. I love all the unexpected twists and turns and once again, I could not figure out who the killer was until the very end.
I was never bored reading the book, as there was action from the very first page, but we still got to know Tess, Gertrude and Sherrif Boyd much better.
My only negative? I have to wait too long for the next book!
Recommendation:
I highly recommend On Spine of Death to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Story Recap:
Bestselling author Tess Harlow and her daughter Gertrude have decided to stay in the cabin Tess inherited from her Grandfather. Now, she’s going to work on her grandfather’s dilapidated hardware store and turn it into an independent bookstore. During the renovation of the hardware store, some old human bones rain down, literally on Tess’s head. In order to save her grandfather’s reputation, Tess and Gertrude work together to find the killer.
My Thoughts:
This was such a fun ride. I enjoyed the first book in the series, and think this second book is even better. The characters just get better and better. I love that Tess’s fifteen year old daughter, Gertrude, decides to work in a morgue and learn the business of death. I love all the unexpected twists and turns and once again, I could not figure out who the killer was until the very end.
I was never bored reading the book, as there was action from the very first page, but we still got to know Tess, Gertrude and Sherrif Boyd much better.
My only negative? I have to wait too long for the next book!
Recommendation:
I highly recommend On Spine of Death to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
November 26, 2022
Another wonderful adventure down the rabbit hole of death with Tess and crew in this latest installment of the By the Book Mystery series! I absolutely love the characters in the book. The personalities are so well crafted that you feel like you could reach out and touch them rather than just reading about them on the page. The interactions are intriguing and inspire the reader to guess who the suspect or suspects are along with the characters as they try to unravel the mystery without becoming the next skeleton to appear! I love that the author has made the main character a mystery writer who is also a middle-aged woman. It's wonderful to feel like you can relate to the main character and see a bit of yourself in her. I absolutely cannot wait for the next book to come out and see how life marches on for Tess and her crew of sleuths!
November 26, 2022
Dollycas’s Thoughts
In this second By the Book Mystery Tess and Gertrude Harrow have made themselves at home in their cabin so Tess is ready to start renovations to turn her grandfather’s hardware store into the bookstore of her dreams. That is until the demolition sends some bones literally falling down on her head. The bones are linked to a 30-year-old cold case. Tess is beside herself with worry when most of the town is sure her grandfather was a serial killer. Tess needs help proving them wrong so she asks an author friend to come for a visit hoping together they can gather the intel and sort through the clues to explain what really happened and clear her grandfather’s name in the process.
Just like in the first book, Buried in a Good Book, Tess spends most of her time thinking about murder and turning her present-day situation into her next book. The story starts out with her testing a theory she wants to use in a book. Still, when bones start falling means, motive, and opportunity become her focus, not only for the actual bones that surround her but tasking her with the way to fictionalize it for her bestselling series successfully. Tess is an interesting protagonist because of this. Readers are treated to her writing process and where she gets her ideas, even though they are hitting very close to home.
Her teenage daughter Gertrude is very mature and understands what is happening around her. She is even willing to help her mom in any way she can. This character has grown a lot since the start of the previous book.
I really enjoyed that part of the mystery dug into Sheriff Boyd’s past and that the cold case affected him in a personal way. He really touched me in the last book and I am so appreciative that we got to know him better. With the subject matter, he understandably was a little more somber throughout the story but that made him even more real. Sheriff Boyd is joined by several other characters we met in the first book too. They all have continued to develop nicely. Tess does get an assistant to help with her renovations with a surprising background. He quickly becomes entangled in everything happening as does Tess’s author friend Peter. All the characters are well-defined and believable.
The mystery was pretty twisted up. Tess had her job cut out for her and she had to find people who remembered what happened all those years ago. I was surprised by a key piece of evidence that was driving her quest. It really drew me in and kept the pages flipping at a rapid pace. Even with that, I was taken aback when everything was revealed.
The thing I really love about Ms. Berry’s writing style is the way she uses humor. She gives us readers plenty to laugh about, sometimes out loud. The way the characters interact and some of the situations they find themselves in are just so darn funny. It starts from page one. Tess is doing something at first that is suspenseful until the author draws back the scene curtain. At first, I was just shaking my head but that led to a downright giggle. And of course, then there was a twist and things get serious.
I thoroughly enjoyed On Spine of Death and I am excited to see that the series continues with Murder Off the Books coming out on May 30, 2023. I am excited to see what happens next in the crazy town where there never seems to be a dull moment.
In this second By the Book Mystery Tess and Gertrude Harrow have made themselves at home in their cabin so Tess is ready to start renovations to turn her grandfather’s hardware store into the bookstore of her dreams. That is until the demolition sends some bones literally falling down on her head. The bones are linked to a 30-year-old cold case. Tess is beside herself with worry when most of the town is sure her grandfather was a serial killer. Tess needs help proving them wrong so she asks an author friend to come for a visit hoping together they can gather the intel and sort through the clues to explain what really happened and clear her grandfather’s name in the process.
Just like in the first book, Buried in a Good Book, Tess spends most of her time thinking about murder and turning her present-day situation into her next book. The story starts out with her testing a theory she wants to use in a book. Still, when bones start falling means, motive, and opportunity become her focus, not only for the actual bones that surround her but tasking her with the way to fictionalize it for her bestselling series successfully. Tess is an interesting protagonist because of this. Readers are treated to her writing process and where she gets her ideas, even though they are hitting very close to home.
Her teenage daughter Gertrude is very mature and understands what is happening around her. She is even willing to help her mom in any way she can. This character has grown a lot since the start of the previous book.
I really enjoyed that part of the mystery dug into Sheriff Boyd’s past and that the cold case affected him in a personal way. He really touched me in the last book and I am so appreciative that we got to know him better. With the subject matter, he understandably was a little more somber throughout the story but that made him even more real. Sheriff Boyd is joined by several other characters we met in the first book too. They all have continued to develop nicely. Tess does get an assistant to help with her renovations with a surprising background. He quickly becomes entangled in everything happening as does Tess’s author friend Peter. All the characters are well-defined and believable.
The mystery was pretty twisted up. Tess had her job cut out for her and she had to find people who remembered what happened all those years ago. I was surprised by a key piece of evidence that was driving her quest. It really drew me in and kept the pages flipping at a rapid pace. Even with that, I was taken aback when everything was revealed.
The thing I really love about Ms. Berry’s writing style is the way she uses humor. She gives us readers plenty to laugh about, sometimes out loud. The way the characters interact and some of the situations they find themselves in are just so darn funny. It starts from page one. Tess is doing something at first that is suspenseful until the author draws back the scene curtain. At first, I was just shaking my head but that led to a downright giggle. And of course, then there was a twist and things get serious.
I thoroughly enjoyed On Spine of Death and I am excited to see that the series continues with Murder Off the Books coming out on May 30, 2023. I am excited to see what happens next in the crazy town where there never seems to be a dull moment.
December 17, 2022
In the second of this series, mystery writer Tess is trying to remodel her deceased grandfather's defunct hardware store into a bookstore in the small eastern Washington village where she's moved with her precocious daughter Gertrude. She can't find a reliable handyman until a gorgeous FBI agent shows up incognito to take the job. What do they discover? Bones, hidden in the floor. Tess is sure that her grandfather didn't put them there, until an old friend of hers shows up with a book that Tess had blurbed without reading, as a favor to the publisher, whose plot line seems to have a lot to do with the bones she's found. Now everyone is a suspect, including her crush, the local sheriff.
December 12, 2022
The By the Book mystery series began earlier this year with Buried in a Good Book, and I knew right away the series was going to be a winner Author Tamara Berry is on a roll, with On Spine of Death, the second in the series, already on the shelves. Tess Harrow is our protagonist, and her teenaged daughter, Gertrude, helps more than she hinders, while also keeping us entertained.
The premise here is that while renovating and remodeling her late grandfather’s hardware store, multiple sets of human remains are unearthed. It’s hard enough to be accepted into a small town, but now half of its denizens are convinced that her granddad was a serial killer! Now Tess is on a mission to find out whose bones those are, and how they got there.
There are tropes here that usually make me cranky. We’ve got the hot-for-sheriff trope, and the must-clear-my-name (or that of a loved one) trope, but it’s testament to Berry’s authorial chops that I don’t think about either of them much until the book is over. Her droll humor and nicely turned out characters keep the pages turning. This is a series that doesn’t take itself too seriously, and that’s just what I need sometimes.
I recommend this clever little cozy mystery to anyone needing a break from the world around us, along with a good chuckle, and I look forward to the next in the series.
The premise here is that while renovating and remodeling her late grandfather’s hardware store, multiple sets of human remains are unearthed. It’s hard enough to be accepted into a small town, but now half of its denizens are convinced that her granddad was a serial killer! Now Tess is on a mission to find out whose bones those are, and how they got there.
There are tropes here that usually make me cranky. We’ve got the hot-for-sheriff trope, and the must-clear-my-name (or that of a loved one) trope, but it’s testament to Berry’s authorial chops that I don’t think about either of them much until the book is over. Her droll humor and nicely turned out characters keep the pages turning. This is a series that doesn’t take itself too seriously, and that’s just what I need sometimes.
I recommend this clever little cozy mystery to anyone needing a break from the world around us, along with a good chuckle, and I look forward to the next in the series.
August 21, 2022
Whoa! Wait! What? Why...
"On Spine of Death" doesn't fool around. From the opening scene, where we find Tess Berry tied up in a basement and trying escape, to the very end, this book packs quite a punch. This was my intro to the series but I'll definitely be back.
To add punch to the opening scene, the ceiling falls in on her. Not just the ceiling but old skeletal bones. Bones from two bodies. From that point on, after, phew, we learn that Tess is simply trying to prove a point for one of her best selling mystery/thriller novels, it's pretty much non-stop action. Heck, there are even comic scenes, although I'm sure Tess didn't find basically falling down a mountain in the mud funny. Why was she on a mountain? She was, oh, no. Wait. Not telling aside from saying it has to do with reappearing bones, lost sisters, and interactions with everything from her forensic-mad daughter to a hacker with the ability to turn computers off/on at police headquarters and a specialist in hatchet-axed bones. Is there such a thing? I have no clue but, yeah, probably.
So, I guess the first question is whose bones are they? How did they get in Tess' grandfather's shop? Dang, could her late grandfather have hacked the victims to death? Scary thought, one she rejects but can't erase from her thoughts. What does a book with a mysterious author that even the best-of-the-best hackers hasn't been able to uncover have to do with everything? Does Sheriff Victor Boyd have anything to do with the strange discoveries? What happened to his long missing and presumed dead sister anyway? Could he be involved? Clues point that way. What will Gertrude have to do to be allowed to continue shadowing the town coroner? Surely there aren't a ton of high school students vying for that spot. Who....oh, never mind. No more teasers. As I said earlier, you'll just have to read the book. If you like interesting characters in an interesting small town, all served up with non-stop action and even humor, you'll thoroughly enjoy "On Spine of Death". I did.
Thanks #NetGalley and #PoisonedPenPress for inviting me to meet Tess and Gertrude, not to mention a host of other intriguing characters. I'm already looking forward to Tess' next adventure and her sometimes wacky tactics of researching her best selling plots.
"On Spine of Death" doesn't fool around. From the opening scene, where we find Tess Berry tied up in a basement and trying escape, to the very end, this book packs quite a punch. This was my intro to the series but I'll definitely be back.
To add punch to the opening scene, the ceiling falls in on her. Not just the ceiling but old skeletal bones. Bones from two bodies. From that point on, after, phew, we learn that Tess is simply trying to prove a point for one of her best selling mystery/thriller novels, it's pretty much non-stop action. Heck, there are even comic scenes, although I'm sure Tess didn't find basically falling down a mountain in the mud funny. Why was she on a mountain? She was, oh, no. Wait. Not telling aside from saying it has to do with reappearing bones, lost sisters, and interactions with everything from her forensic-mad daughter to a hacker with the ability to turn computers off/on at police headquarters and a specialist in hatchet-axed bones. Is there such a thing? I have no clue but, yeah, probably.
So, I guess the first question is whose bones are they? How did they get in Tess' grandfather's shop? Dang, could her late grandfather have hacked the victims to death? Scary thought, one she rejects but can't erase from her thoughts. What does a book with a mysterious author that even the best-of-the-best hackers hasn't been able to uncover have to do with everything? Does Sheriff Victor Boyd have anything to do with the strange discoveries? What happened to his long missing and presumed dead sister anyway? Could he be involved? Clues point that way. What will Gertrude have to do to be allowed to continue shadowing the town coroner? Surely there aren't a ton of high school students vying for that spot. Who....oh, never mind. No more teasers. As I said earlier, you'll just have to read the book. If you like interesting characters in an interesting small town, all served up with non-stop action and even humor, you'll thoroughly enjoy "On Spine of Death". I did.
Thanks #NetGalley and #PoisonedPenPress for inviting me to meet Tess and Gertrude, not to mention a host of other intriguing characters. I'm already looking forward to Tess' next adventure and her sometimes wacky tactics of researching her best selling plots.
December 1, 2022
Ohhhh this was really good, though I thought it was about 50 pages too long; the constant rehashing of things did get a bit tedious towards the end, but THAT END!! Wowsers.
Now THAT was a good reveal. I was completely shocked. I was sure I had it all figured out [especially when another "clue" was added] and I WAS SO WRONG!!!! YAY YAY YAY!!!! I absolutely love it when that happens.
Tess was a bit annoying in this one but to be fair, there was a lot going on and much was happening to her, so I tried to cut her some slack. But I do hope that it doesn't continue. Her behavior toward Jared [SERIOUSLY?? DAABOR <--IYKYK] was really unkind and I found I didn't like her much at times. I DID adore Peter and I hope that we see more of him in future books and Gertrude is my absolute favorite character [I never was goth, but I have always loved the blood and guts and forensics and Gertrude's enthusiasm for all of it just warms my old cranky heart].
Really good sophomore book and I am already looking forward to book 3 and all the nonsense that Tess will get them all into. Well done.
Thank you to NetGalley, Tamara Berry, and Poisoned Pen Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Now THAT was a good reveal. I was completely shocked. I was sure I had it all figured out [especially when another "clue" was added] and I WAS SO WRONG!!!! YAY YAY YAY!!!! I absolutely love it when that happens.
Tess was a bit annoying in this one but to be fair, there was a lot going on and much was happening to her, so I tried to cut her some slack. But I do hope that it doesn't continue. Her behavior toward Jared [SERIOUSLY?? DAABOR <--IYKYK] was really unkind and I found I didn't like her much at times. I DID adore Peter and I hope that we see more of him in future books and Gertrude is my absolute favorite character [I never was goth, but I have always loved the blood and guts and forensics and Gertrude's enthusiasm for all of it just warms my old cranky heart].
Really good sophomore book and I am already looking forward to book 3 and all the nonsense that Tess will get them all into. Well done.
Thank you to NetGalley, Tamara Berry, and Poisoned Pen Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 19, 2023
After solving her first murder mystery in Buried in a Good Book, Tess Harrow (aka one of my all-time favorite book characters) is back in action in On Spine of Death!
Y’all I am so serious… if you haven’t tried this cozy mystery series, you’re missing out! It just hits different than others that I’ve read. It’s fast-paced, laugh-out-loud funny, has a quirky cast of characters, a beautiful Winthrop, Washington setting, and twists that will have your jaw on the floor. Did I mention that the initial first line/page hooks of her books are killer?! I’m quite literally obsessed.
I still love the first book the most (because that’s where it all began), but this is still a 5-star series for me. I can’t wait to get to book 3 soon. 😄
Y’all I am so serious… if you haven’t tried this cozy mystery series, you’re missing out! It just hits different than others that I’ve read. It’s fast-paced, laugh-out-loud funny, has a quirky cast of characters, a beautiful Winthrop, Washington setting, and twists that will have your jaw on the floor. Did I mention that the initial first line/page hooks of her books are killer?! I’m quite literally obsessed.
I still love the first book the most (because that’s where it all began), but this is still a 5-star series for me. I can’t wait to get to book 3 soon. 😄
December 2, 2022
By the book Mysteries is fast becoming one of my favorite series. It's book #2 and involves a case I'm a fan of. Author Tess Harrow and her teenage daughter, Gertrude, are my favorite characters. It's interesting to me that her daughter also volunteers at the morgue. Intriguing mystery with bones ending up in Tess' grandfather's hardware store that Tess is converting into a bookshop. She unravels clues that indicate someone else may be responsible for these crimes in her efforts to prove her grandfather is innocent. In an effort to solve the case, Tess calls a fellow horror writer. His character really captured my attention.
Thank you Poisoined Pen Press and Netgalley for the ARC of this book. This was an honest review.
Thank you Poisoined Pen Press and Netgalley for the ARC of this book. This was an honest review.
November 20, 2022
On Spine of Death by Tamara Berry the 2nd instalment in the "By the Book Mystery" series. What a great follow up to book one!
This case isn't just cold, it's practically frozen shut...
I know I read book one, but couldn’t find where I had reviewed it but when I saw book two I had to buy it. I really enjoyed visiting Winthrop, Washington and the seeing how Tess and Gertie were making out in the woods.
I was surprised by the cold cases and drawn in to find out what happened to the woman and what it had to do with Tess’ grandfather! I like the budding romance between Tess and Sheriff Boyd too.
It was entertaining, full of twists and turns and I didn’t completely guess whodunnit until Tess did.
I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends and I can’t wait for book 3 to come out May 2023!
I requested and received an Advance Readers Copy from NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.
This case isn't just cold, it's practically frozen shut...
I know I read book one, but couldn’t find where I had reviewed it but when I saw book two I had to buy it. I really enjoyed visiting Winthrop, Washington and the seeing how Tess and Gertie were making out in the woods.
I was surprised by the cold cases and drawn in to find out what happened to the woman and what it had to do with Tess’ grandfather! I like the budding romance between Tess and Sheriff Boyd too.
It was entertaining, full of twists and turns and I didn’t completely guess whodunnit until Tess did.
I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends and I can’t wait for book 3 to come out May 2023!
I requested and received an Advance Readers Copy from NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.
April 27, 2023
4.5 stars - The main character in this book is author Tess Harrow. Tess is always getting into unusual situations, many times while doing research for her mystery series. Her teenage daughter Gertie often steals the show with her wry observations and mature attitude.
The book starts with bones from a cold case being discovered during the remodeling of the small town hardware store Tess inherited from her grandfather into a bookstore. The investigation is suspenseful and kept me eagerly turning the pages to find out what would happen next. The book is full of humor and it's very entertaining. The ending was a bit of a let down and I felt like I was missing something even after everything was explained, but I still loved the book and look forward to the next one in the series.
The book starts with bones from a cold case being discovered during the remodeling of the small town hardware store Tess inherited from her grandfather into a bookstore. The investigation is suspenseful and kept me eagerly turning the pages to find out what would happen next. The book is full of humor and it's very entertaining. The ending was a bit of a let down and I felt like I was missing something even after everything was explained, but I still loved the book and look forward to the next one in the series.
November 5, 2022
There are books that I rate at 5 stars, and there are books I wish I could rate at more than 5 stars. This is one of those. I thought it would be hard to beat the flying limbs from the last book, but Tamara Berry has managed to do it! I loved reading this book. I felt like I was there, in the hardware store with Tess and Gertie when they found the bones, and there with them while they were picking up clues and sorting them out. The characters have really started to take shape and develop. I enjoy seeing the relationships grow and trying to figure out where they are headed.
In this installment, Tess and Gertie find bones in the hardware store that Tess is turning in to a bookstore. All clues point to Tess's grandfather, and even though she barely knew the guy, she can't believe that he would have murdered people and hidden them under the shop. The girls are up to their ears in bones, as Gertie has started interning at the morgue and Tess has called her friend, world renowned forensic expert, Peter to help identify the hatchet marks on the skeletal remains they found. The medical examiner and Sheriff Boyd are both awestruck by Peter's arrival. Also new in town is a new FBI agent, who is supposed to be helping Nikki, but can't tell a lie to save his life (literally).
When the bones go missing from the morgue, Gertie is beside herself. Mama bear Tess sets out in search of the bones and the killer!
I am so eager to read the next one in the series. I love these!
In this installment, Tess and Gertie find bones in the hardware store that Tess is turning in to a bookstore. All clues point to Tess's grandfather, and even though she barely knew the guy, she can't believe that he would have murdered people and hidden them under the shop. The girls are up to their ears in bones, as Gertie has started interning at the morgue and Tess has called her friend, world renowned forensic expert, Peter to help identify the hatchet marks on the skeletal remains they found. The medical examiner and Sheriff Boyd are both awestruck by Peter's arrival. Also new in town is a new FBI agent, who is supposed to be helping Nikki, but can't tell a lie to save his life (literally).
When the bones go missing from the morgue, Gertie is beside herself. Mama bear Tess sets out in search of the bones and the killer!
I am so eager to read the next one in the series. I love these!
November 23, 2022
Tess Harrow is a writer and the recently divorced bestseller thriller author who has escaped Seattle and is in Winthrop, Okanogan County, Washington at her late grandfather's rustic cabin along with Gertie, her teenage daughter, finishing off renovations. On the cards next is her grandfather's hardware shop which is going to become a bookshop. When bones are discovered under the floorboards, it raises questions about him... was Tess's grandpa a killer?
On Spine of Death, continuing on from Buried in a Good Book, (the first in Tamara Berry's By the Book Mystery series) is funny and fresh. I enjoyed reading more about the characters of both Tess and fourteen year old pink-haired Gertie, immensely. I can safely say I will be looking out for book three, Murder Off the Books. Very highly recommended.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
On Spine of Death, continuing on from Buried in a Good Book, (the first in Tamara Berry's By the Book Mystery series) is funny and fresh. I enjoyed reading more about the characters of both Tess and fourteen year old pink-haired Gertie, immensely. I can safely say I will be looking out for book three, Murder Off the Books. Very highly recommended.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
November 11, 2022
This is the second release in the new cozy series "By The Book." Thank you to Net Galley and to the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC. My review opinion is my own.
This was such a exciting read ! The author has a masterful way of infusing different stories among the sleuth that certainly kept this reader guessing to conclusion. Tess and her daughter at staying in Winthrop to convert their inherited hardware store into a bookstore. As the work progresses and human remains are found Tess finds herself at the center of another mystery that only she and her skills can solve. With her b. eloved Grandfather a long ago suspect Tess is determined to save the family reputation and solve this cold case.
A very enjoyable read with many twist and turns . I loved the building of suspense and unearthed clues along the way. All the charcters add to the story and Tess, her daughter, the Sheriff are all enjoyable well crafted charcters. I look forward to the next in series.
This was such a exciting read ! The author has a masterful way of infusing different stories among the sleuth that certainly kept this reader guessing to conclusion. Tess and her daughter at staying in Winthrop to convert their inherited hardware store into a bookstore. As the work progresses and human remains are found Tess finds herself at the center of another mystery that only she and her skills can solve. With her b. eloved Grandfather a long ago suspect Tess is determined to save the family reputation and solve this cold case.
A very enjoyable read with many twist and turns . I loved the building of suspense and unearthed clues along the way. All the charcters add to the story and Tess, her daughter, the Sheriff are all enjoyable well crafted charcters. I look forward to the next in series.
February 27, 2023
Tess annoyed me so much I could barely finish it.
December 5, 2022
On Spine of Deat is the delightful second book in the “By the Book Mysteries” series, and fans of Tamara Berry are thrilled with this fun and exciting addition. I adore Tess Harrow and her fiction detective, as well as the real-life version of him, Sheriff Boyd. Between them, they find human bones, dig up a thirty-year-old mystery, and chase a serial killer. You couldn’t ask for a more action-packed cozy.
Tess decided to turn her grandfather’s old hardware store into her dream bookstore. She didn’t figure that being tied to a chair in the basement and having human bones rain down on her head would be a possibility when she started the renovation, but she figured wrong. Not only do bones keep showing up, but it looks like a serial killer was at work thirty years before when her grandfather was alive, and he is the prime suspect. But when another mystery involving Sherriff Boyd’s sister pops up, Tess questions the evidence that has been uncovered so far.
The characters in this series will make you smile and even laugh. Tess keeps you on your toes, and Sherriff Boyd will endear himself to readers. Tess’ daughter, Gertrude, is not your average teenager; she helps solve mysteries alongside her mother. The town of Winthrop is tiny, but it is also described in enough detail to make readers want to visit, even with human bones being dug up every day and a serial killer roaming the countryside.
The victims all seem innocent, and it is difficult to find a motive for their murders. And for someone to bury their bones under the hardware store. The serial killer, even though a nasty piece of work, has a personality that comes through as ruthless and sadistic. Of course, when the killer is identified, the reader finds out that their personality matches the clues and the motive. Tess is in a life-or-death struggle to prevent herself from becoming the next victim, save the day, and save her grandfather’s reputation.
Readers will love On Spine of Deat. It has everything you could want in a cozy mystery, bones, a serial killer, and Tess’ whacky sense of humor. Along with characters that make you happy, even when they are miserable, a town you can see yourself walking around, and a story that is gripping and tantalizing. I am happy to recommend this book to readers who love a thrill ride.
Tess decided to turn her grandfather’s old hardware store into her dream bookstore. She didn’t figure that being tied to a chair in the basement and having human bones rain down on her head would be a possibility when she started the renovation, but she figured wrong. Not only do bones keep showing up, but it looks like a serial killer was at work thirty years before when her grandfather was alive, and he is the prime suspect. But when another mystery involving Sherriff Boyd’s sister pops up, Tess questions the evidence that has been uncovered so far.
The characters in this series will make you smile and even laugh. Tess keeps you on your toes, and Sherriff Boyd will endear himself to readers. Tess’ daughter, Gertrude, is not your average teenager; she helps solve mysteries alongside her mother. The town of Winthrop is tiny, but it is also described in enough detail to make readers want to visit, even with human bones being dug up every day and a serial killer roaming the countryside.
The victims all seem innocent, and it is difficult to find a motive for their murders. And for someone to bury their bones under the hardware store. The serial killer, even though a nasty piece of work, has a personality that comes through as ruthless and sadistic. Of course, when the killer is identified, the reader finds out that their personality matches the clues and the motive. Tess is in a life-or-death struggle to prevent herself from becoming the next victim, save the day, and save her grandfather’s reputation.
Readers will love On Spine of Deat. It has everything you could want in a cozy mystery, bones, a serial killer, and Tess’ whacky sense of humor. Along with characters that make you happy, even when they are miserable, a town you can see yourself walking around, and a story that is gripping and tantalizing. I am happy to recommend this book to readers who love a thrill ride.
September 11, 2024
LOVED IT! I have been putting this off because I loved the first book so much and was afraid that this wouldn't live up, but IT DID. It was fabulous and totally different from the first book. Tess and Gertrude have the BEST dynamic and banter and mother-daughter relationship. I love their team and how they work together but also in their own ways. Tess is her self-confident, quirkly, daring self and I loved all her interactions with both her friends and also romantic interests. The characters in this series are just so vibrant and fun; even the "villains" or people you "shouldn't" like, but you (and Tess) can't help but vibe with. I lovedddd the concept of this mystery and it took turns I never would have expected.
Such a fabulous series, perfection and I can't wait to continue!
Such a fabulous series, perfection and I can't wait to continue!
March 19, 2023
I had 12 minutes left of the audio when Hoopla took it back. lol. I'm not re-borrowing it, I'll live. I enjoyed this one but it was a little weird and I thought I was going to go with 3 stars for a lot of the book. But I did enjoy it! So 4 stars. Now I have the third book from NetGalley, Murder Off the Books, which publishes at the end of May!
January 28, 2023
A page turner for sure. Tess once again is knee deep in a mystery and one in which the facts in the case seem to align somewhat with the writings of a book. Could a work of fiction be the basis for the crime or vice versa? This second in series works by itself although reading the first one before makes it better.
November 17, 2022
For the most part, I thoroughly enjoyed this, the second Tess Harrow mystery. Not your run-of-the-mill cozy. The narrative is fast, funny, and filled with self-deprecating humor. In this book, relationships have progressed and now feel more mature and authentic. The plot flowed naturally from one event to the next and the distinctive narrative voice carried me through any rough patches, such as when the case was going in circles with no resolution in sight.
I found the final confrontation with the antagonist to be a bit of a stretch (actually, this happened in the first book, too.) The story flowed smoothly, the characters and their dialogue are fun, and the setting is clearly described.
I’ll be looking forward to the next book in the series.
I found the final confrontation with the antagonist to be a bit of a stretch (actually, this happened in the first book, too.) The story flowed smoothly, the characters and their dialogue are fun, and the setting is clearly described.
I’ll be looking forward to the next book in the series.
September 18, 2024
I am enjoying this series. The characters are quirky and likable .
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