cover image Murder on the Toy Town Express: A Vintage Toyshop Mystery

Murder on the Toy Town Express: A Vintage Toyshop Mystery

Barbara Early. Crooked Lane, $26.99 (304p) ISBN 978-1-68331-309-0

The train and toy show comes to East Aurora, N.Y., in Early’s delightful sequel to 2016’s Death of a Toy Soldier. Liz McCall, who owns a vintage toy shop in town with her retired police chief father, Hank, is looking forward to the event, until she discovers that comic book dealer Craig McFadden, who bullied her all through grade school, has the booth next to hers. The first day of the show, Craig climbs onto a catwalk high above the floor, dressed in a superhero costume, to perform a publicity stunt. Just before he’s due to make a big announcement, he loses his balance and falls onto the train layout below. Craig later dies in the hospital. Hank, who observed Craig’s fall, suspects it was no accident. Liz can’t resist joining the subsequent investigation, especially since she feels sorry for Craig’s sole employee, a friendly older woman named Maxine. Well-drawn characters and an intriguing plot will keep cozy fans turning the pages. [em]Agent: Kim Lionetti, BookEnds Literary Agency. (Oct.) [/em]