The first in the Antique Bookshop mystery series, this book is also the author’s debut, which I honestly found surprising, as it doesn’t have any of the very irritating flaws of many of the recent cozy mysteries I’ve read in recent months.

The protagonist, down on her luck Jenna Quinn, has just arrived to a small town in the mountains of North Carolina, on the kind invitation of her uncle Paul, hoping for some breathing room as she tries to figure out a future after her old life collapsed around her.

Alas, disaster strikes, and now she’s in more trouble than ever before.

The story is told in first person, past tense, by Jenna; and while the narration didn’t grab me as deeply in the first chapter, I soon found myself quite intrigued by her backstory, precisely because we don’t get an immediate infodump with every little detail. By the time the basic facts of this came to light, I was well and truly hooked.

Jenna’s mistrust of the police is a welcome exception to the usual run of cozies; a badly run investigation imploded her life before, and now she’s acutely aware of how flawed the system is, how little protection innocent citizens have from the people supposedly protecting them, and how precarious her own situation is: one cop fixating on her can destroy her life again, even before she can finish rebuilding it.

So it makes sense for Jenna to decide not to be a passive observer as another cop takes aim at her; not only does she want her uncle’s murderer caught, she needs to not be the main suspect again. However, she’s essentially a decent person, and when someone else is nabbed on the flimsiest of circumstantial evidence, her reaction feels authentic:

“My appetite was gone. If this kid was getting railroaded, I could definitely relate, and I didn’t have the right to feel relieved I wasn’t the one arrested. Did I?” (Chapter 12)

What exposition is there happens in appropriate contexts; Jenna’s neighbor Rita explaining the story behind her place of employment, for example, happens naturally as part of the two women getting to know each other.

Jenna’s is in her mid-twenties, but recent experience has helped her mature fully; her internal dialogue is by turns moving and really funny.

“I’d almost rather give her the book than have to politely put up with her snotty remarks again. Almost. However, the drive to sell something, anything, to be productive again, was too strong.” (Chapter 14)

A bit later, at her uncle’s funeral

“I wept for the fun times, the laughter, the thoughtful gifts, the funny jokes, and all the moments we’d shared during my childhood. I wept for all the invitations to visit that I’d turned down in the last ten years. I wept for the not-quite-intimate emails we’d swapped, realizing we hadn’t really communicated beyond acquaintance pleasantries since I’d started turning him down. I wept for the loss of a man who had offered a home and protection at a time when I so desperately needed both….I wept for the loss of the next few decades of laughter and funny jokes and fun times that would now never come, not even in the form of scattered emails.” (Chapter 16)

Generally, the dialogue is well written, and again, natural; however, it did feel like several characters only exist as props in Jenna’s story. Rita immediately becomes Jenna’s best friend and confidante, and seems to have no other friends or, basically, no life outside this role.

There is the usual romanticization of small towns; more than once Jenna wonders if she has “found Mayberry after all” and whether “everyone in small towns is as nice” as the people in this small town–even as several people have been confrontational or rude already.

The events in the book take place in something like ten days total; the first half has a leisurely pace, as Jenna starts to find her footing in Hokes Folly, and the rest of the cast of characters is introduced organically, as she goes about settling in. There’s quite a bit of time spent at the bookstore; sorting books, dealing with red tape, sorting bills and invoices, picking up mail and packages, and all the drudgery of dealing with a business after a death.

As one keeps reading, the story starts picking up speed, and by the time we reach the halfway point we are racing ahead, with unexpected developments and a second murder in quick succession, until a fairly dramatic climax.

There is a valiant attempt at making this a fair play mystery, with a number of cues (rather than clues) about the identity of the murderer sprinkeld through the book, but there are so many open questions at the end that there’s a post-game analysis scene to provide all the answers, and close all the plot holes.

Which brings me to my main quibble with the novel: poor treatment of mental illness.

Plenty of people with mental health issues never harm anyone or commit any crime, and more then enough perfectly sane people do both at the drop of a hat, including panning and executing cold blooded murder for pretty flimsy reasons. There’s really no need to litter fiction with “insane” killers.

A second quibble is the last minute relationship between Jenna and the junior detective investigating the murders; there are a couple of weak hints early in the novel, but the character is absent for a good two thirds of the story, then at the very end, boom, let’s date. It feels quite shoehorned into the book.

Still, I read the book in just a couple of sittings, and I’m intrigued to see what the author does with the characters and setting.

For Whom the Book Tolls gets a 7.25 out of 10

It was well written and i enjoyed reading it. The characters were well done and I liked the setting. It kept my interest throughout the book and I look forward to continue the series.

I don't remember a whole lot about this book, but I did make quite a few highlights and notes on the Kindle (and as I always say, a lot of notes either means really good, or really bad). Going through them, my main takeaway is that I really loathed the main character, Jenna Quinn. She has fled ... something ... to stay with her uncle, discovers him dead, and then discovers that he left her his antiquarian bookstore (that setting being the main reason I took a chance on this).

My notes consist of wordless highlights of certain turns of phrase Quinn repeated which I found egregious ("Gads"? Really? OK) and mildly profane comments on Quinn's demeanor (most of them seem to contain "bitch"). Her default seems to be rude - '“Gee, can we do each other’s hair and makeup too?” - escalating to ungrateful and nasty: "Rita smiled and patted me again. The woman really needed to find another comfort gesture". You're welcome. And her attitude toward the book shop did not endear her to me, either. She seems to be the last person that uncle should have left a shop to, with her abysmal people skills, let alone a book shop, considering her apathy toward the things.

I also noted some plot holes or errors or just odd bits of the book, like: "Paul thought modern computers were useless. They might crash, there might be a power outage, or someone might steal them, so he refused to own one" - to which I asked "Wait - then how did he email whatshername????" At one point someone expresses concern that someone might have altered their fingerprints ...? This person is a hardened enough criminal that they might have burned off the skin of their fingertips? OK. One other thing was a note that this Quinn person seems to have no problem climbing a spiral staircase mere minutes after proclaiming that she had just sprained her ankle.

Again, I remember pretty much nothing of the plot, but my opinion of it seems to have been about on par with my opinion of the main character: I'm surprised I finished.

Jenna Quinn is the protagonist in this new antiquarian bookstore series by Laura Gail Black.

Jenna comes to stay with her uncle who owns an antique bookstore. Soon he is found dead in the attic. Janna is shocked to find out that she inherits everything from him - including a large sum of money from an insurance policy.

This means she becomes suspect number one. Thus the need to solve the murder is not just professional but personal.

The characters are endearing, it is a light read and feels like I have found a new home

A wonderful first book from this author and a first in her new series!! I am a huge fan of of cozy mysteries specifically and have read a lot. I love when I can’t quite figure out the answer that come up. I like when they leave me still trying to figure it out, until all is revealed. That’s exactly what the author accomplished. I will continue this series!

I really enjoyed this new to me author and series. The characters were enjoyable and I can't wait to see what happens to them next! I listened to the audio version of this book and the narrator Susan Boyce was enjoyable to listen to and was able to bring the characters and location alive for me.

I will definitely continue with this series!

There are a lot of bookshop themed cozies out there. This one is cute and fun, and a fast read. Sadly, it did not really stand out. But I would read another book if it came out. It's a good start to a series.

Jenna Quinn arrived at her uncle’s apartment at around 2am and after finding the key, let herself in quietly and went to bed. It was the next morning that Jenna, on searching for her uncle, found him lying at the bottom of the stairs. and who does the cops think did the deed? of course the niece! like why do they always assume it's the person staying with or the person who found the dead body, like sure i'm sure maybe like 25% of the time it is that person but they really need to just not be like hey you did it, and then not even really try to keep finding other people who make MORE SENSE!

I enjoyed this book quite a bit. There was enough action to grab my attention and keep me interested to the end. Could have done with a little less reflection on the past life and accusations (why do these MCs always stay with horrid guys?) but still a good start to the series and introduction to a new author. I'll continue with the series and hope it goes on for awhile.

I really enjoyed reading it 🤗

📖 the book was a lovely change of scenery between my hot steamy bullies and dark mafia romance books.

It was fun and an adventure to get to end.

Thank you for the arc

Being an antiquarian book dealer myself I was drawn to the antique book store. I am glad I read this one. It is the first in the series by this author and I look forward to seeing how the characters develop.
The characters are realistic. The mystery was well developed and had enough twists and turns to keep your interest.

After being acquitted of embezzlement and murder in her hometown, Jenna Quinn hopes for a fresh start when her uncle invites her to stay with him and work in his bookshop. Before she can even thank him face-to-face for his kind offer, Jenna finds him at the foot of the staircase that connect the bookshop and his apartment. Local police immediately suspect her of causing his death, especially once they discover her past and the fact that her uncle named Jenna as his heir. When Jenna and her new friend and neighbor Rita find the body of a man who tried to scam his way into the inheritance, police are even more convinced that Jenna is the killer. Despite her innocence, past experience tells Jenna that it will be up to her and her new-found friends to figure out who the actual killer is and just what could be worth killing for...

Always on the lookout for a new series, this tale definitely did not disappoint! An easy but still fun read, I devoured this book in one sitting. I had the killer figured out pretty quickly, but enjoyed the reveal as it was done in a way that I didn't quite expect. The characters are developed enough that makes me look forward to getting to know them more. The bookshop in a small town setting, although a concept done in other series, is also always a winner in my eyes.

All in all, this book a good start to a series that I look forward to reading more of!

An enjoyable light cozy with a villain so obvious that you are positive it can't be them and a cop so dumb it stretches belief. Still, a fun read.

With as many cozy mysteries as I’ve read, I sometimes feel that there are no more surprises. Poison in the tea? Read it. A man murdering his brother over a dirty land deal? Read it. The main character foolishly cornering the villain in an isolated place during the penultimate chapter? Yeah, definitely read it.

So when an author offers up something unique within the first chapter? I know I’m settling in for a special book.

Laura Gail Black surprised me. A lot.

While For Whom the Book Tolls has all the hallmarks of a traditional cozy, it feels completely fresh. Jenna Quinn, leaving behind some pretty serious problems, arrives in Hokes Folly, North Carolina with the intention of staying with her uncle while she sorts out her life. Black expertly lays the ground for Jenna’s personal problems, and they feel real. She’s obviously experienced some trauma—even before a murder occurs—and it makes her an incredibly sympathetic character. From the first pages, I cared about her, and that’s a testament to Black’s ability to conjure up believable characters.

Unfortunately, this is a cozy, and that means danger lurks around every corner. After her first night in her new residence, she finds her uncle dead at the bottom of a staircase. Making matters worse, her inheritance, including her uncle’s bookshop and large insurance policy payout, put her as the main suspect in his death. Thankfully, Jenna isn’t the type of sleuth to run straight into mindless investigating and unnecessary chances. No, she wants to clear her name, but her generally balanced temperament keeps her from more dangerous risks. Even so, the mystery itself remains compelling, and Black deftly balances submersing Jenna into the case while also running her new business.

It helps that Black has populated Jenna’s surrounding with the usual cast of cozy denizens. Overly suspicious police. Neighbors with secrets. Most importantly, new friends that drop in and lighten the mood at just the right time. Yet there’s the hint of a gritty veneer over Hokes Folly. Though Black drops in plenty of laughs in this otherwise idyllic community, the danger never fully abates, making one of the few cozies I’ve read where the heroine’s safety doesn’t feel guaranteed.

Somehow, Black has managed all the traditional trademarks of the cozy, and yet things never feel cutesy. No, this is a real mystery with consequences that just happens to be an awful lot of fun. This is as perfect as a series debut gets.

This is the first book in a new series. I enjoyed the setting and I liked that the main female character made smart decision most of the time. She didn't fly off the handle like most main characters in cozy mysteries. I thought her back story was interesting and her new group of friends (Rita, Mason, Philley) are a nice mix of male/female and different ages. I really liked the next door neighbor, Rita. She's the kind of friend anyone would want. I think this group of friends will be fun to read about in future books. The mystery itself kept me guessing. All in all this was a good book for the first in the series. I expect the next will be even better, now that all the ground work of the characters and setting has been established.

Jenna Quinn believes she is getting an opportunity to leave behind all of her troubles. She decides to move in with her uncle and help out in his bookstore. Trouble, however, seems to follow Jenna. Shortly after arriving, Jenna finds her uncle's body in his bookstore. The police suspect Jenna is involved in her uncle's death.

This is a good beginning to a new series. The characters are interesting, flawed, and realistic. The mystery is full of twists and turns. The storyline is well-developed and moves at a quick, steady pace. I am interested in seeing how the series develops over time.

All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way have I been influenced by anyone.

Love the Cozy!! First time reading this author and I love!! I have bought more of the series of this cozy. Sorry late on review. Too much work.

For Whom the Book Tolls is the first book in the Antique Bookshop mystery series. It's a decent start to a series that I think I'm going to really enjoy with future installments. I do feel like the plot was rushed along and that some important parts happened with and for characters off the page. There were several times where a character said or thought something about a previous event and I wondered when that had happened in the story. So, I really hope the next book in the series doesn't feel as rushed and lacking in important details. I like the main character, Jenna, but I'm hoping we get more character development in the future. She still seems a bit two-dimensional. With the murder mystery part, I guessed who it was, and pretty much why, early on. It was confirmed with one big clue maybe a little over the halfway point of the book. I hope the author is more subtle with clues in future books. Even with all of these issues, I did still enjoy the book because I really like the premise of the series. I will read the next book in hopes that the author has improved on the issues I found with this first one.

This is thefirst book in the Antique Bookshop Mystery. Jenna Quinn is just stepping out of a nightmare situation into a fresh start. Jenna’s Uncle Paul has offered her a place to stay while she works to pick up the pieces, but on her first morning in town she finds Uncle Paul dead at the bottom the stairs that lead to his book store from his upstairs apartment. Jenna immediately finds herself at odds with the local detective who seems bent on proving Jenna guilty. Jenna tries to prove her innocence and get to the bottom of the mystery that her uncle had mentioned in his email inviting her to stay. Can she solve the mystery and find a forever home?

Wonderful first book of the series!! I really enjoyed the characters and I can’t wait for the next book to come out.

I feel really awkward in giving this a star rating because I didn't finish it. I requested it for a change from my usual dark & gruesome mystery/thrillers. I was hoping to like or at least enjoy a cozy mystery, but unfortunately, I did not. I can't fault the book, the author, or the writing. Cozy mysteries are just not for me.