Bookmarked For Death
by Lorna Barrett
Booktown is a town for mystery lovers!
Stoneham,
New Hampshire is a haven for book lovers and brick and mortar
bookstores. Once another dying small town, bookstores of every
genre have helped Stoneham give it its unique Booktown image, a place
that draws in tourists by the bus load. Tricia Miles, owner of
the Haven't Got A Clue mystery bookstore, thought she had put away the
jinx label when she solved her last mystery. Now celebrating her
bookstore's anniversary with a book signing from the renowned mystery
writer Zoe Carter, Tricia could not be more thrilled. Her plans
turn into a nightmare when the famous author is found dead right in the
bathroom of her store. Not only are the police questioning her
but the local story goes national. Tricia's life is upturned when
her bookstore becomes a restricted crime scene. She and her cat,
Miss Marple, are forced to move in with her sister Angelica, a sister
with whom she has only recently reunited. Tricia decides to take
matters into her own hands and investigate the crime when the sheriff's
approach to the crime leaves much to be desired. Anxious to
figure out the mystery and get her bookstore back in business,
Tricia sets about investigating the mysterious past of Zoe Carter.
Second in the Booktown Mystery series, Lorna Barrett's BOOMARKED FOR
DEATH takes fans back to the wonderful town where books and book lovers
populate the town and the pages of the mystery. The series' first
book, MURDER IS BINDING, gave readers an overview of the mystery genre
itself with its insider's look into the great mysteries and book
business. Here, in BOOKMARKED FOR DEATH, Lorna Barrett takes the
reader deeper into the world of books as the hunt for the murderer
examines the life of a celebrated but reclusive author, her agent, her
family and the idea of authorship itself. Small town gossip and
local issues, both civic and personal, give the reader an insider's
look at the town's personality, a side not seen by the tourists.
BOOKMARKED FOR DEATH is a mystery for book lovers! Once again,
Lorna Barrett delves into an aspect of books beneath the finished
product between the covers. What can be better than a good
mystery puzzle and a scrumptious meal? Angelica's cooking
stimulates the palette with hints of cooking perfection while Tricia's
investigation takes the mystery lover on a trail of clues that keeps
the reader guessing until the very end. Fortunately,
recipes of the mouthwatering dishes are included at the back of the
book. Lorna Barrett captures the joys and
difficulties of sibling relationships as the two sisters help one
another. A couple of heart-warming scenes present a nice contrast
to some of the
more troubled family relationships in the books. Zoe's
relationship with her impossible niece Kimberly stirs things up in this
small town. In this book and her previous book, Lorna Barrett's
character development shines in her portrayal of family
relationships. Clever twists in the mystery puzzle take readers
on a journey through the intricate layers of book publishing known to
avid fans and book collectors. BOOKMARKED FOR DEATH, and
indeed the Booktown series, is a mystery to be cherished by insiders in
the book world from authors and agents to readers tracking down all the
connections between an author's works under pseudonyms. Mention
of the Jeff Resnick mystery suspense series will bring a special
delight to mystery lovers following the works of Lorna Barrett.
BOOKMARKED FOR DEATH can be read as a stand alone mystery. Lorna
Barrett gives her new readers the important connections from her past
book in just the right measure without getting bogged down in a summary
of her past book. The past flows naturally in this story,
cluing in new readers but also bringing a smile to readers of the
series as they recall some of the highlights of MURDER IS
BINDING. Although this book works as a stand alone mystery,
reading BOOKMARKED FOR DEATH in conjunction with the first book allows
the reader to see the the author's fine handling of the series.
The sometimes tense relationship between Tricia and her sister Angelica
develops as the two are forced into closer proximity.
Even Miss Marple's changed environment adds a flair to
the feline character development from book to book. Fans of the
Booktown Mysteries will leave this book anxious for the third as Lorna
Barrett's BOOKMARKED FOR DEATH demonstrates the joy of revisiting
characters and the town as it changes through time.
Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime (February 2009)
