***Spoilers ahead you’ve been warned***

 

So I just finished reading the second one a while ago. As far as cozy mysteries go, I like them and pick them up when I can. They’re more like a go between heavy reads or when I need something light. (Reading is like eating you see..you’d like an appetizer before you dig into the main course.)

 

With most cozy mysteries you don’t get much character development. They’re usually just there like placements in a diorama with nothing much to them except it makes the story readable and whole. Or it provides support to the setting and the plot. There’s nothing central to them.

 

In Bookplate Special, that pretty much changes.

 

Tricia and Russ break up! Which is not big news anyway. You were anticipating it and quite frankly, Russ was pretty much boring to begin with. Enter the green eyed (and this is emphasized throughout the novel) Captain Baker who’s not that charming but at least has somewhat more of a personality than Russ, he’s certainly a gentleman, and manages to grab Tricia’s attention. So there’s that development there in that regard.

 

Then we have Ginny and Brian who aren’t together anymore because Brian’s done some really awful things (and ended up being the culprit anyway.) Well, Ginny was going through some really tough times anyway and this just ended up being the icing on the cake but now she’s got some goals for herself. There’s some development there. Although it’s probably going to take some time for Ginny to get used to this situation.

 

Then we have Mr Everett and Grace getting married. Which is pretty much the most happiest part of the book with all the breakups happening here. Congratulations to them, by the way.

 

Angelica who still acts like the older sibling you wish you never had, had a secret all along (well, not really) and you find out the reason for her behavior. I liked this part the most. It made her more human and less of an annoying character. For those that have gone through similar situations like Angelica would completely understand and maybe even sympathize.

 

The plot overall was interesting but not as great as the first two I’ve read. Pammy who is the victim is here and gone. She wasn’t that likable anyway but Tricia, being the nice girl and the doormat, tolerated her and ended up doing the right thing for her. Sure, it makes Tricia look like she’s being put on a pedestal and nothing can go wrong but at the same time Tricia was going through her own issues (her relationship with Russ for example, among other things she was involved in throughout the novel). It makes Tricia sound almost unstoppable and it’s amazing what she can accomplish while her store is running at the same time. It can be unrealistic as it seems like Tricia can just come and go when she pleases but if you think about it, don’t most bosses do the same?

 

I started losing interest towards the last third of the book. It really started to drag and Tricia could not stop whining about Pammy and her guilt over kicking her out of her place. I don’t know how much you could drag about the secret diary, and how a philanthropist could have been involved in this (which he really wasn’t.) Top that with adding in a group of Freegans and someone born with a birth defect that needed gender reassignment surgery. Okay. I can handle it, but did it have to drag? It really should have ended about 4 or 5 chapters ago.

 

Other than that, it wasn’t a bad read but as of now it’s my least favorite of the series. I hope the fourth one will be better than this one. The characters changing and developing was a welcome change however. Cozy mystery fans may or may not enjoy this one. Take it or leave this one.

***Possible spoilers***

 

The first book was a great read. It’s fun, it’s quick, and it’s light. Same goes for this one as well. It may help reading them in order, as it would be nice to know who’s who and how were they introduced in the book.

 

What I love the most about these particular series is Booktown itself. It’s such a quaint little place and it’s written up so nicely it makes you feel like you want to visit this place yourself. The characters themselves give the setting a nice tone even though they’re a little more than just cookie cutter characters. Tricia is likable and her staff are always nice to read through. Angelica can get on your nerves like any sibling would. However when it’s all said and done they add to the quaint setting.

 

The mystery itself was good. Although the crime is done ‘off stage’ things that happen to Tricia are a little more graphic than what I’m used to seeing in cozy mysteries. Which is not a bad thing. You’d have to wonder though, if it’s like this in every book, Tricia is in for a lot of surprises. There’s a mild twist in it but not enough to wow the reader.

 

I don’t like what’s going on between Tricia and Russ. In fact I don’t really see the appeal in Russ at all. He’s not that great, he doesn’t have much of a personality and what’s happening between him and Tricia isn’t really fireworks either. I’m not expecting something incredibly romantic between the two of them. But, some chemistry would be nice at this point. There’s nothing like that between them.

 

Overall, it’s still good for a fast quick read. Cozy mystery lovers would enjoy this one. I’m a sucker for the recipes in the back as well.

See this and more of my reviews at Mystereity Reviews

Tricia and Angelica have set out on a book lovers cruise, featuring many popular mystery authors, including EM Barstow, the author of a hit mystery series. EM is an abrasive woman who makes enemies wherever she goes, so it's no surprise when Tricia later finds her dead, hanging from her shower by a scarf. Tricia can't help but investigate, convinced that the ship's security office isn't investigating and that it's up to her to find a killer.

This one was just...okay. I loved the idea of a book lovers cruise, and it was so easy to picture myself in that sumptuous stateroom and enjoying all the luxuries while cruising the high seas. But the plot just didn't do it for me; it felt like the book focused more on Tricia and her issues and the mystery was just along for the ride. On one hand, it did explain a lot about why Tricia is such a doormat. On the other hand, the ending was far-fetched and implausible.

Overall, I did like this book, I always look forward to catching up with Tricia and the gang, but this one fell a little flat for me. It is an enjoyable series, and I will continue with it.

I have followed the Booktown Mysteries since the very first book. (Being a reviewer, I sometimes start well into the middle of a series). In my recent review of book 8, BOOK CLUBBED, I declared it to be the best in the Booktown series. It was best. That was before A FATAL CHAPTER blew it out of the water!

 

The action started almost immediately and only slowed long enough for me to catch a breath before it was back to the edge of my recliner seat reading.

 

After nine books, the characters in this series feel like old friends, and some them old enemies. ;-). In A FATAL CHAPTER author Lorna Barrett really took all of them and me on an emotional rollercoaster ride. Without giving spoilers let me just say…things have changed for many of the regular characters. Big things. When reading the exciting, action packed reveal, my mouth was literally handing open.

 

Fans of this series are truly in for a great read!

 

And remember to keeping reading once the story is done so you don’t miss out on the six delicious recipes at the back of the book!

 

As usual I enjoyed this installment of doings on in Stoneham, New Hampshire. I do wonder how Haven't Got A Clue bookstore survives as owner, Tricia Miles is never there, doesn't order stock or do anything business related. I guess Ginny is a real life-saver, er store saver.

Well in this one we get ex-college roommate Pammy Fredericks overstaying her welcome and getting kicked out of Tricia's house only to wind up dead in a dumpster that very same day. Of course, Tricia is feeling beyond guilty and promptly sets out to find her killer. We get Sheriff Grant Baker instead of Wendy Adams (the woman who hates Tricia with a passion) investigating so Tricia is happy until Baker tells her to mind her own business and let him do the investigating. That is like waving a red flag and Tricia takes the bull by the horns and thumbing her nose at Baker, once again sets off irritating people and sticking her nose where it doesn't belong.

I admit to finding the disgustingness (is that a word?) of dumpster diving off-putting and having picked this book up during lunch, promptly put it down again until I was finished eating. I did like the fact that Ms. Barrett addressed the obviously very real problem of hunger in this country and she used normal everyday people to express it not the homeless population. I found this aspect of the book very believable and it actually makes one feel guilty for having enough to eat.