I really liked the mystery even if I didn't feel any connection to the heroine.
The mystery was good, the cast of characters interesting but sometimes the mystery took the backseat to the lot of emotional issues that were involved.
As it's not the first instalment in the series there were some references to previous books and sometimes they were not clear.
Sometimes it was not easy to read as there were some mistakes in the characters name (for instance referring to one character and calling her with the name of another).
Recommended.
Many thanks to Kensington Books and Netgalley.

Lethal Literature is the fourth installment in the A Book Barn Mystery series set in Hazel Rock, Texas featuring book barn co-owner, Charli Rae Warren and her pet armadillo Princess. Charli and her father, Bobby Ray, are working with County Clerk Ava James on a literacy fund raising drive for the local foster care system.

Making a surprise early morning visit to see Bobby Ray, Charli is shocked to discover a disheveled looking Ava coming out of his house. Knowing the woman has a live in boyfriend with a bad temper, Charli is worried that her father is having an affair. Things become even more complicated when Isla Sperry, the wife of Ava's employer, Judge Sperry accuses the woman of having an affair with her husband.

When Ava's body is discovered stabbed and laying in the Judge's yard it's really no surprise but, which one of the many suspects finally had enough with her over the top flirting. With Bobby Ray on the top of the suspect list, Charli sets out with best friend Scarlet to find the killer and not only clear her father's name but also Isla, who is suffering from dementia.

A fast paced plot featuring the return of many series characters including County Sheriff Mateo Espinosa. The story line touches on domestic violence, racial tensions and Alzheimer's Disease which are topics usually not featured in a cozy, but these topics tie the mystery together and result in shocking discovery.

I enjoy this series but the one thing that completely drove me nuts in this installment was the constant use and overuse of the phrase "Fuzz Buckets". I seriously hope that the author curbs the use of Charli's favorite phrase in the next addition to the series "Perilous Poetry".

I received an advanced copy of Lethal Literature from NetGalley via Lyrical Underground, a division of Kensington Publishing. While not required to write a review I am more than happy to offer my honest opinion.

Lethal Literature is the fourth book in Kym Roberts ongoing Charli Rae Warren Book Barn mystery series and each book keeps getting better and better. While this one doesn’t pick up right where the previous installment left off – why? I still need to know who got a pie to the face – there are enough continuing elements that it feels like you just kept reading. Charli, of course, is up to her eyebrows in murder, but this time it also provides an opportunity to learn more of her own history. Charli and Sheriff Mateo are still on a slow burn, but progress is made. Fans of the early books will love this latest installment.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this novel.

The Book Barn series fourth installment deals with several topics these include literary drives for the foster system, domestic violence, dysfunction families and their secrets and assisted living homes.
Charli Rae Warren is working on a book drive to collect books for the state foster system when the coordinator of the drive is stabbed to death. Evidence shows that victim was being abused by her live-in boyfriend. As Charli seems to connect with the state welfare system she finds another woman and her children being controlled by her husband. Her Dad is acting strange and refused to tell Charli what he is worried about. She decided to make more visits to an elderly friend who is in an Assisted living home. Charli explores the evidence and her world suddenly shifts. The ending will shock and please you. It did me. Looking forward to Charli next adventure, it is sure to be good. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book and series.

Disclosure: Many thanks to Lyrical Underground for a review copy. The opinions expressed are my own.

Lethal literature by Kim Roberts is a well told mystery about a small town antics. Even though this is the fourth book in the series, and the first one for me it can be read as a standalone.
Charlie Rae runs a Book Barn, bookshop with her dad, and all is good and well until one day her dad's girlfriend is killed. Charlie's boyfriend who just happens to be the current Sheriff doesn't want her to get involved but she can't help it, she thinks that somehow her father will become a person of interest and she needs to find out who the killer is.
It's very easy to get to know all characters. The atmosphere was a bit gloomy and dark, I could literally tension between Charlie Rae and her dad , judge and her ex-boyfriend, like a black cloud hanging over them and just waiting for something manacing to happen.
I liked the fact that her pet is armadillo and pink of all things and the cover is absolutely gorgeous.
It's a well crafted mystery with very distinctive characters. Well described surroundings and it deals with so many important issues, abuse, racial prejudice and illness.

Another wonderful novel in this mystery series, this story had a bit more bite to it because it truly affects Charlie more personally this time. The murder of Ava hits close to home and family secrets are at the forefront as Charlie delves into the mystery. This was a more emotional story this time and more touching for her relationship with her dad. The story really grabbed me and surprised me so I can't say much more. The only (very small) downside was too many "fuzz buckets". Otherwise, it's one of my favorites in the series.

I received an ARC thru NetGalley for my honest opinion

Lethal Literature
A Book Barn Mystery, Book #4
Kym Roberts
5 Stars


Synopsis:

Running an independent bookstore in small-town Hazel Rock, Texas, doesn’t sound like a high-risk pursuit. But when a fundraiser reveals a story with a truly killer ending, Charli Rae Warren will need to scramble to sort out the deadly plot…

Sponsoring the literacy drive to benefit the foster care system should be a feel-good endeavor, but one of Charli’s helpers is definitely on another page. Charli’s dad is distracted and keeping something secret, which Charli suspects is a harmless flirtation with an attractive county clerk who offered to lend them a hand. It’s nothing to worry about—until the same clerk winds up dead…

When nosy locals begin pointing fingers, Charli finds herself entangled in a race to uncover the killer’s identity—and to get to the bottom of a shattering family secret that could rewrite her history in alarming ways. Suddenly Charli is facing her worst fears and her childhood nemesis in order to unmask a murderer—before he silences her for good… (Goodreads)


Review:

The characters are well developed and well rounded. The interactions between all of the characters is fascinating and enjoyable to read about. I really liked spending time with Charli and her friend Scarlet again. They are such good friends and would do just about anything for each other. They are also very smart and funny. I still think Charli has a couple of love interests, even though she thinks that she has made her decision. And you cannot help but love Princess, the pink armadillo.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. There is a lot of action taking place throughout the book and I kept swiping pages to see what would happen next long after I should have been sleeping. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and it pulled me right into the book.

The mystery was well plotted and there were plenty of suspects to consider and clues to sift through. With so many twists and turn and red herrings thrown in, it was not an easy mystery to solve.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I have read every book in this series and I think they get better with each one the author writes.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

t's always nice to visit with Charli Rae aka Princess and her pet armadillo (this detail sets the series apart from other cozies.). This time around, she's poking into the death of a county clerk who was helping her father, who has, of course, become a suspect. There's a family secret and the plot veers a bit into some more serious issues. I had an ARC and hope that it received a good copy edit before publication. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I've read all four books in the series but I think you'd be fine with this as a standalone.

A mystery within a bookstore is heaven for me. However, though I liked the earlier books, I found this one very slow.

This is the first book I've read in the Book Barn Mystery series, and now I'll be going back to read the earlier titles. Princess is a funny and smart and down-to-earth bookstore owner in small-town Texas, and I want to spend more time with her.

The plotting is complex but rational, and though all the family dynamics/relationships were a bit confusing to me, it was worth sticking it out, as they all made sense in the end.

I enjoyed not only the main character, but also her father, best friend, boyfriend (sort of), and pet armadillo. Now I just need to read books 1-3 so that I'm all set for book 5 when it comes out!

Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Lethal Literature is the fourth book in Kym Roberts’ Book Barn Mystery series and is well plotted and steady paced, with well-developed and likeable characters, humor, a sense of community and friendship, plus a sweet pink Armadillo, named Princess. The books in this series can be read as standalones. The sensitive issues of domestic abuse, race and prejudice, and the sadness of Alzheimer’s are addressed in this book. There are enough twists and turns to keep the reader guessing who the murderer is until the reveal.

Charli Rae “Princess” Warren moved back to her hometown of Hazel Rock, Texas, where she helps her dad, Bobby Ray, run the Book Barn Princess. Charli and Bobby Ray continue to work on repairing their estranged relationship, but hit a rough patch when secrets concerning their pasts become revealed. The Book Barn Princess is working with Ava James on the literacy drive for foster kids Ava organizes every year, but when Charli sees Ava leaving her dad’s house early one morning, she’s convinced there’s more going on than just a book drive. Ava is a caring woman who ex-sheriff and current judge, Jacob Sperry, and his wife, Isla, took under their wings years ago when she aged out of the foster care system. Charli Rae has never gotten along with the Judge but has always been close to Isla, who is currently in a nursing home recovering from a broken hip and suffering the begin stage of Alzheimer’s. Ava is found murdered in the Judge’s yard after a run in with Isla. Since Bobby Ray is found at the scene, Charli is concerned he’ll become a person of interest if anyone learns he was with Ava that morning and decides she has to investigate to clear both Isla and her dad’s names. Charli has a knack for getting into dicey situations and helping to solve crimes, but Bobby Ray, her best friend, Scarlett Jenkins, her boyfriend, Sheriff Mateo Espinosa, and her ex-boyfriend, Mayor Cade Calloway, worry about her safety and rightfully so because she always ends up in over her head and in harm’s way.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

Reading Lethal Literature was a fun way to spend a few days. As the 4th book in the series, we find Charli Rae Warren organizing and sponsoring a literacy drive to benefit the foster care system,

For me, Charli Rae is still a bit immature and impulsive. In small doses it can be quirky, I just hope it doesn't become obnoxious.
Be sure to grab a copy on May 1st from Lyrical Underground Mystery & Thrillers

#LethalLiterature #NetGalley
I volunteered to read and review an ARC of this book provided by the publisher and NetGalley |

This is a series however it was my first book by Kym Roberts that I had read. It was good as a standalone as the author provided lots of background, this might have been frustrating if you were reading the third back and then this fourth straight after. I enjoyed Charli Rae’s character and her recognition of her flaws.

I had some issues with the writing which detracted from the plot and I felt the ending was rushed however I thought the author addressed race and issue of prejudice well.

These are great books. Rarely do cozies address race and issues of prejudice in such a meaningful and beautiful way.

A solid cozy series. I recommend you read this series in order so that you can fully appreciate the characters and their histories.

Charli's dad is up to something, but she can only guess at what he might be hiding. She suspects a flirtation – or more? – with a local county clerk, but when that clerk turns up dead and the people of Hazel Rock start pointing fingers in every direction, Charli sets out to be sure her dad doesn't end up in jail for something he didn't do. In the process, family secrets are revealed that shake Charli's world to the core.

This is the fourth book in this series, which I enjoy much more than I expected to. I love the idea of a bookstore in a bright pink barn in small town Texas, and the addition of Princess, the store's pink armadillo mascot, makes it even more fun. I'd love to meet the characters who populate Hazel Rock, and would probably become a regular at The Book Barn. In this installment, there were plenty of suspects, and I was certain I knew the identity of the bad guy … until the reveal near the end of the book. Ooops! I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

Princess is back, both of them, to solve another mystery of a murder in town. This time she thinks her father will be accused of the crime, but when he isn't and someone tries to kill him and blow her to smithereens they all must team up to track down the culprit before someone ends up BBQ.

I love the armadillo Princess in this series! If only the armadillos that invade my yard were so nice and gentile instead of digging holes everywhere you look!

I was given an eARC by the publisher through NetGalley.

This is an interesting mystery featuring quirky characters and a delightful Texas small town setting where everyone knows your name, your family history and gets involved in your life. Charli Rae (known as Princess) and her dad Bobby Ray own the local book store and are involved in a literacy drive for foster kids being organized by Ava. Princess sees Ava leaving her dad's house early one morning and doesn't know what to think about their relationship since Ava was the clerk to Judge Sperry, a man Princess has always disliked. Princess has, however, always been close to the judge's wife, Isla, who is in a nursing home suffering from the beginnings of Alzheimer's disease. When Ava is found murdered shortly after Isla threatened to kill her, and Bobby Ray is found at the scene, Princess decides she has to investigate to clear her two favorite people, despite the strong admonition from her boyfriend Mateo to stay out of his investigation. In addition to being a compelling mystery, the book is also a discussion of the important issue of domestic abuse and, as such, is an important addition to the cozy mystery genre. I highly recommend it.

Having visited Hazel Rock before I was totally into understanding Charli from the first paragraph, and that was the beginning of a happy time in Texas. The characters in Book Barn Mysteries are so engaging, with complex backgrounds visited with great humor. The mystery was skilled and layered, the result touching Charli to her core. I loved it, and can't wait for more!

I was immediately drawn to this book for two reasons:

1. Cozy Mystery - and I LOVE cozy mysteries
2. Set in TEXAS!!

So those two qualities prompted me to read Lethal Literature by Kym Roberts. And while the premise of the novel is sound, it left me feeling a bit "bleh."

In a nutshell, Charli Rae Warren runs a bookstore with her father called "The Book Barn." They are currently working together to host a fundraiser for underprivileged foster children in addition to keeping themselves busy in the hubbub of daily small town life. And as cozy mysteries go - we have a dead body that tends to put a dark damper on the uplifting event.

Add to this her father keeping some sort of secret he refuses to reveal and a little "on the side" flirting from Charli while she puts her sleuthing skills to work, and you have a case to be solved. As Charli attempts to uncover the killer's identity and break her father's silence on the secret he is holding, she finds herself in precarious situations not only with those she loves, but those from the past that threaten to haunt her forever.

So - solid story...we have an amateur sleuth, a dead body, a secret to reveal, and a past that's making it challenging. Unfortunately, the plot doesn't quite roll out this smoothly. The author also spends a fair amount of time discussing the protagonist being of mixed race, and while lovely to know, it's really not relevant. The diversity is admirable, but unwarranted as a focal point.

Charli is clunky at best in her characterization and erratic with her thought process. I'm sure this is to add to her quirky charm, but I found it irritating. Additionally, her father's somewhat stoic behavior makes the reader feel disconnected from the novel. As far a cozy mystery goes, this one left me less than cozy.

Additionally - where is the editor? I try really hard to overlook the occasional typo, but multiple uses of incorrect sentence structure and verb use by page fifteen left me less than enthused to read the text. I know my writing isn't perfect, but had I paid an editor for this, I would not be a happy camper.

My advice is to pass on this series - this is book four, but it didn't leave me with any desire to go back and read books one through three.

Just 🍷🍷on this one folks and that's because it was set in Texas and had a pink armadillo as the bookshop pet. Gotta love a pink armadillo.