Cover Image: Murder by the Bookend

Murder by the Bookend

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Member Reviews

Some books are just to die for. Fortunately for cozies, author Laura Gail Black's Murder by the Bookend is another solid mystery helping keep the genre alive.

In the second entry in the Antique Book Mystery series, Jenna Quinn is set to reopen her deceased uncle's bookstore with a party. However, there's not much to celebrate when Linus Talbot, a rare book expert, is found dead in the parking lot, apparently bludgeoned by a bookend. Black opens the story with a bang and things don't slow down until the killer is unmasked some 300 pages later, as Jenna finds herself thrust into the middle of yet another investigation.

One of Black's most successful choices is complicating Linus Talbot's background. In cozies, it's not uncommon for the victim to be the most despicable character in the book. Here, Linus is outwardly charming to Jenna, and his death does serve as an early surprise. Yet there's also no shortage of individuals who downright despise him, and some of the best moments of the book involve Jenna unraveling exactly how someone could be so polarizing. This adds complexity to the overall mystery, muddying up exactly what motive someone would have for killing him. And even though the individuals who hate him hate him, it's often a genuine tossup when deciding who the killer could be. Ultimately, this makes the answers more enjoyable.

However, the real highlight here is Jenna herself. While Murder by the Bookend works fine as a standalone, Black has continued to develop Jenna in a way that's even more satisfying after reading the first book. While Jenna still has some insecurities about her past and her mother's cutting voice weighs heavily in her mind, she's also found more confidence. Perhaps being connected to multiple murders does that to a person. This does mean her investigative techniques might be a little unorthodox and she often runs into dangerous situations, but that's all part of coming into her own as a cozy sleuth.

Toss in a wonderfully quirky set of secondary characters, a genuinely sound mystery, and a cute (if traumatized) dog, and Murder by the Bookend is just to die for. And as to the series: it has a lot of life left in it.

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Jenna Quinn’s is ready to reopen the bookstore she inherited from her uncle. She kicks it off with a party and invites all her uncles special clients. One of whom is a librarian of Antiquarian books that has helped her value several tomes. A few quarrels take place and after the party a dog is found running with blood on his paws. Jenna and her detective boyfriend rush out to find where the blood may have come from and find the librarian bashed in the head with a prize he won at her party. Jenna is determined not to let her store be renown for murders and delves into investigating. Turns out the librarian had ruffled a few feathers. Will she wind up a victim before she discovers the culprit.

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Found it super boring and annoying! The character is nosy, unnecessarily annoying and just makes the whole plot so irritating! Tried really hard to actually progress but it just did not hold my attention! Dnf this one!

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This is the second book of the series. And just as the 1st book, this one did not disappoint. One thing that I wish were improved upon is the mystery be more highlighted. As much as I wish the background of the characters be touched on, the mystery needs to be the highlight of the story. The writing is absolutely gripping.

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A good follow up 2nd in the series. A cozy mystery set in the hills of North Carolina. When Jenna has a party to celebrate the grand re-opening of the bookstore, the fun is marred by a murder in the parking lot. Enjoyed this one, and a good continuation of the relationships from book 1. Kept my interest throughout and look forward to reading the next in the series. Would recommend.

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Jenna has a grand reopening of her Uncle’s bookstore under its new name, but the successful evening ends with a murder. Was it related to the party or was someone out to get the librarian who repairs old books? Was it because of the mistreatment of the dog? Did someone just dislike him? So many reasons but what is the right one. Read this second in the series and find out.
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I apprecitate the publisher allowing me to read this book. I found this a really interesting mystery and the characters are quite engaging. it kept me guessing until the end. I highly recommend.

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Murder by the Bookend was just as good as the first book in this series. I'm really enjoying getting to know more about Jenna and all the other main characters. I just wish there had been more to do with antique books in this story. Even though it's a major plot point, it still felt like it was barely touched on throughout the story as a whole. The murder mystery was very well crafted though and I was honestly surprised with who did it and why. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

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This was a great follow up to the first book in the series. The cast of characters including Jenn are interesting, realistic, and refreshing. I like that there was movement with Keith and Jenn fairly quickly (I don't like when the will they won't they last for too long in a series) And Eddy was a good addition to make Jenn a more relatable person. Jenn is a great main character that is taking charge of her circumstances and really becoming part of the community that she is now a part of. I can't wait to read the next one in the series!

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This cozy murder mystery was a good blend of fun and bookish. I enjoyed the characters, the dog story, and the setting. The beginning was a bit abrupt, launching into characters and conflict almost immediately with very little context, though I imagine it would have felt less so if I had read the first in the series. Overall this isn't a mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat, but it was a light and fun read.

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At its heart this is a well-plotted cosy crime in which a rare books librarian is murdered after an event organised by a relatively-new-to-town antique book shop owner. Jenna, who we are told repeatedly had been wrongly accused of her uncle’s murder, is instantly invested in finding out what had happened this time, and we then go with her in her investigations.

I really like the story that forms the core of this tale. I just feel that it could be about a third shorter than it is. A feature of cosy crime is the backstory of the protagonist, but in this instance I find it a bit repetitious. In some ways it reminded me of one of those American TV shows with lots of adverts in which they remind the audience what is happening before and after every ad break. Except in this case there are no ad breaks. Just a reminder every few pages of where we’ve reached.

That said, 3 stars means I think this is a good book. I liked the characters and I liked the central plot. And if library murders are your thing (and they certainly are mine), this is a good addition to the genre.

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This installment has the series starting to get its stride. A solid plot, amazing setting, and full bodied characters will not disappoint!

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Thank you #NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for giving me the opportunity to read this.

A cozy mystery with the love for books! How much better can it get!

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I love this series already.

As much as this is a cozy, I feel like there is a more serious undertone which gives you the best of both Mystery worlds.

The setting and cast draw you in for sure.

I look forward to continuing with this series and hope for many more books to come.

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absolutely loved this book! it was such a fun read, i would highly recommend this books to my friends and family if they wanted a delightful time,

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I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. If you are into murder mysteries this is a easy fast read and it was entertaining. It is a little bit unrealistic but a lot of these who done it type books are like that.

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Jenna has inherited a bookstore from her uncle. She has a new job, lives in a great small town, has a new boyfriend, and inherits a dog. Life is good. Until one of the guests at her grand-opening party is killed. Now she reverts back to her mystery solving self.

This book, the second in the series, is well written. The characters are well developed. The book has humor. The solution to the mystery wasn't all that complex. In fact, she pretty much "telegraphed" the identity of the murderer through repeated analyses of the possible suspects. But, the story was entertaining.

My only beef was, why do so many cozy mysteries have the same formula. Main character owns a bookstore/tea shop or works in a library. Check. Main character owns a dog/cat. Check. Main character or best friend dates the local police inspector. Check. I would love to see one of the cozy mysteries step out and take the formula a bit further. But maybe that's just me. Overall, this was a good book.

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Another series that is the sequel. This was read last year. It is a quick enjoyable read. Great read -- characters and plot was interesting. Interesting enough of a read.. from what I can remember.

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Jenna Quinn has tried to make good with the bookshop that she inherited from her uncle. The Grand re-opening of Twice upon a Time, previously known as Baxter's Books, is marred by the murder of the local library's Director of Antique Books with the bookends that he won at the celebration. To honor the victim, Jenna takes in the victim's little dog, Eddy, who was traumatized by the murder.

As only the 2nd book in the series it seems that relationships of the new girl in town with others are moving a bit too fast and the background details are not filling in as they should. Hopefully, more character details will be in future books.

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Jenna owns a bookstore for old books.
The local librarian is killed by two old bookends and it is up to Jenna to solve the crime

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