Review and Giveaway: Murder on the Half Shelf

Murder on the Half Shelf (Booktown Mystery - Book 6) by Lorna Barrett

Publication Date: July 2, 2013 (Paperback Edition)
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley Prime Crime
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 320
ISBN-10: 0425262731
ISBN-13: 978-0425262733

(Received for an honest review from Berkley Prime Crime)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound

Lorna Barrett on the WEB: Website, Blog, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads

Books in the series:

Murder is Binding (2008), Bookmarked for Death (2009), Bookplate Special (2009), Chapter and Hearse (2010), Sentenced to Death (2011), Murder on the Half Shelf (Hard-Cover) (2012)

Coverart: Click the image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.

Excerpt from Murder on the Half Shelf, courtesy of the author's website.

Synopsis:

Tricia Miles—owner of Haven’t Got a Clue, the best mystery bookstore in Stoneham, New Hampshire—once again plays amateur sleuth as she is unexpectedly reunited with a man from a chapter of her life she closed long ago…

The town of Stoneham is a haven for bookstores, but it is sadly lacking in bed-and-breakfasts. Fortunately Pippa and Jon Comfort’s Sheer Comfort Inn is about to open, and the couple has offered some locals a free night as a trial run.

But it won’t be so easy to sleep after Tricia makes two startling discoveries: Pippa’s murdered body in the backyard, and the fact that Pippa’s husband, Jon, is actually Harry Tyler, a man Tricia loved—and believed dead—for nearly twenty years.

Though Harry is the prime suspect, Tricia doesn’t believe him capable of murder, even though he’s led a life of lies. Especially when she discovers that Pippa had a few secrets of her own—some that may have been worth killing for.

Thoughts:

Lorna Barrett's sixth book in the Booktown Mystery series, Murder on the Half Shelf finds heroine, Tricia Miles once again involved in a murder. Tricia is quickly becoming known in the little town of Stoneham, New Hampshire as the town "jinx". Fans of this series were eagerly awaiting this installment and won't be disappointed as Barrett brings more of Tricia's past into the story. With an unpredictable motive and outcome, Murder on the Half Shelf may be the best in the series so far!

First let me say, that Stoneham is a town I would love to live in. I live in a relatively small town with one bookstore. Yes, just one! The idea of a tourist town specifically based on bookstores would definitely be a dream for me. I am a very eclectic reader and love something from just about every genre. Today's economic climate may not be conducive to this kind of a town because of e-books and the like, but wouldn't it be great?

Barrett once again brings back the tried and true characters that have made this series so successful. Tricia and her domineering sister Angelica, Mr. Everett and Grace, Grant and of course Miss Marple the cat. I love the nod to Agatha Christie with the name. Great idea! But she also infuses new life into this character driven series with two new Stoneham residents, Linda and Pixie. I like the way that Barrett never gets rid of an old character without replacing them with someone new. I think Pixie is going to be amazing going forward with the series. She is very intriguing and fun to read about.

The mystery aspect of the story was definitely interesting. It did not go the direction I expected at all. In fact the motive kind of came out of nowhere on this one. I wasn't too sure how I felt about that part. I felt like I had no idea this was even a possibility. I wish Barrett had given a few minor clues along the way, that way readers could have speculated, what if... But it wasn't detrimental to the story and in the end it all comes out, so no harm, no foul. 

Tricia's love life is once again, not exactly where she would like it to be. She really needs to catch a break and find that one special guy. Especially, when the murder victim's husband ends up being Tricia's ex that faked his own death. I think Barrett needs to let Tricia settle down, find that perfect balance between sleuthing and bookselling and love. Readers have watched her struggle with her personal life throughout the series, and I think all of us want to see something really good happen for this character that we have grown to love. Just a thought!

A great addition to the series, with a flawless set up for the next book. Looking forward to seeing where Barrett will take us next with this series.

Murder on the Half Shelf is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

The immensely popular Booktown Mystery series is what put Lorna Barrett's name on the New York Times Bestseller list, but it's her talent -- whether writing as Lorna, or L.L. Bartlett, or Lorraine Bartlett -- that keeps her there. This multi-published, Agatha-nominated author pens the exciting Jeff Resnick Mysteries as well as the acclaimed Victoria Square Mystery series and has many short stories and novellas to her name(s).

Lorna lives in Rochester, NY with her husband and three felines.

Giveaway Details:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Murder on the Half Shelf by Lorna Barrett.

~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US Addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, August 8th.

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