cover image Death of a Toy Soldier: A Vintage Toy Shop Mystery

Death of a Toy Soldier: A Vintage Toy Shop Mystery

Barbara Early. Crooked Lane, $25.99 (304p) ISBN 978-1-62953-838-9

Just in time for the holiday season comes this heartwarming series launch from Early (Bloom and Doom and two other Bridal Bouquet Shop mysteries written as Beverly Allen). In a village in western New York, retired police chief Hank McCall and his 30-something daughter, Liz, run a vintage toy shop. But their efforts are hampered by Hank’s insistence on checking out local crime scenes and his joy in making dreadful puns. The former leaves his daughter fretting about his safety—and the latter may make the reader wince. Liz runs interference for Hank, putting her in conflict with the new chief of police, who appears to have taken a shine to her. Meanwhile, a man who brings in some old toys to be valued ends up dead in the shop, the toys missing. Since the store alarm never sounded, Hank becomes a suspect in the man’s murder. Naturally, the McCalls stir the pot by investigating. The characters can be whiny at times, but cozy fans should be satisfied. (Oct.)