Crime and Parchment

A Rare Books Cozy Mystery

by Daphne Silver

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Pub Date Nov 21 2023 | Archive Date Jan 17 2024

Level Best Books | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles

General Fiction (Adult) | Mystery & Thrillers | Women's Fiction

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Description

Rare books librarian Juniper Blume knows this much… an ancient Celtic manuscript shouldn’t be in a Maryland cemetery.

But that’s exactly what her brother-in-law claims.

Last year, Juniper saw the 1,200-year-old Book of Kells in Ireland. She learned how their bejeweled covers were stolen centuries ago, never to be seen again. So how could they have ended up in Rose Mallow, a small Chesapeake Bay town? Being Jewish, the Book of Kells might not be her sacred text, but as a rare books librarian, the ancient book is still sacred to her, making it important to Juniper to find out the truth.

Rose Mallow is the same place where Juniper used to summer with her sister Azalea and their grandmother Zinnia, known as Nana Z. Ever since Nana Z passed away, Juniper’s avoided returning, but her curiosity is greater than her grief, so she heads down in her vintage convertible with her rescue dog Clover.

Juniper discovers that her sister Azalea has transformed their grandmother’s Queen Anne style mansion into the Wildflower Inn, backing up to the Chesapeake Bay. Although Juniper isn’t much of a cook, Azalea has kept their grandmother’s legacy alive, filling the house with the smells of East European Jewish treats, like sweet kugels and tzimmes cake. Will coming back here feel like returning home or fill Juniper with a deeper sorrow? Can she apologize to her sister for not being there when she was needed most?

Rare books librarian Juniper Blume knows this much… an ancient Celtic manuscript shouldn’t be in a Maryland cemetery.

But that’s exactly what her brother-in-law claims.

Last year, Juniper saw the...

A Note From the Publisher

eBook: 9781685125097

Advance Praise

"I love the way Daphne Silver twists fact and fiction together in Crime and Parchment to create a unique mystery involving the covers for the Book of Kells. I can't wait to see what happens next in this charming, new series featuring rare books librarian Juniper Blume."

— Sherry Harris, Agatha Award nominated author of the Sarah Winston Garage Sale and Chloe Jackson Sea Glass Saloon mysteries

“Crime and Parchment sends its readers on an exciting mix of history, small town secrets, romance, and murder in this captivating start to a wonderful new series!”

— Emmie Caldwell, national bestselling author of the Craft Fair Knitters Mysteries

“I’ve rarely been as intrigued by a cozy mystery as I was while reading Daphne Silver’s Crime and Parchment. The debut novel in Silver’s Rare Books series combines well-researched history with fictional elements to deliver a fascinating mystery. The search is on in the Chesapeake Bay town of Rose Mallow for the priceless long-lost covers to the sacred 9th-century Book of Kells. Who better to investigate than rare books librarian Juniper Blume, especially after she literally stumbles across the body of a murdered woman while planning to meet about the missing covers with her estranged brother-in-law who has now disappeared? With a diverse cast of characters, heartwarming relationships, and a unique bayside town full of charm and history, this cozy version of National Treasure will keep readers enthralled and waiting impatiently for Juniper’s next Rare Books adventure.”

— Korina Moss, Agatha Award-winning author of the Cheese Shop Mystery series