cover image Little Bookshop of Murder: A Beach Reads Mystery

Little Bookshop of Murder: A Beach Reads Mystery

Maggie Blackburn. Crooked Lane, $26.99 (336p) ISBN 978-1-64385-438-0

This charming series launch from Blackburn (The Jean Harlow Bombshell as Mollie Cox Bryan) introduces Summer Merriweather, who returns after years away to her hometown of Brigid’s Island, N.C., to attend the funeral of her mother, Hildy. Summer’s aunt, Agatha Merriweather St. Clair, tells her that the cause of death has yet to be determined, though Summer doubts her healthy 64-year-old mother died of natural causes. At Beach Reads, the bookstore Hildy owned, Summer is alarmed to find notes threatening Hildy if she won’t sell her beloved store. Summer suspects Rudy Irons, owner of the arcade next door, is behind the threats, but the local police chief isn’t going to be any use to her since he’s hated her ever since she left his son at the altar. Fortunately, she finds allies in Aunt Agatha, Agatha’s daughter, and granddaughter, not to mention the ladies in the Mermaid Pie Book Club, in her effort to unmask a killer. Plenty of booklore (Beach Reads has three shelves of werewolf romances) enhances the sleuthing. Cozy fans will be delighted. Agent: Jill Marsal, Marsal Lyon Literary. (July)