author: Laura Gail Black
genre: cozy mystery
published: August 11, 2020 by Crooked Lane Books
my copy: eGalley, 264 pages
purchase: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
rating: 3 / 5 stars
goodreads
In this cozy series debut from Laura Gail Black, Jenna Quinn finds her uncle murdered in his antique bookstore, and Jenna--his primary beneficiary--becomes the prime suspect.
Trouble follows Jenna Quinn wherever she goes. Fleeing some unsavory doings in her hometown of Charlotte, Jenna accepts her uncle's gracious invitation to stay with him in small-town Hokes Folly, NC. In exchange, she'll help him out in his antiquarian bookstore. But soon after she arrives, Jenna finds her uncle's body crumpled at the base of the staircase between his apartment and the bookstore.
Before the tragedy even sinks in, Jenna learns that she's inherited almost everything her uncle owned: the store and apartment, as well as his not-so-meager savings and the payout from a life insurance policy...which adds up to more than a million dollars. This is all news to Jenna--bad news, once the police get wind of her windfall. An ill wind, indeed, as a second murder cements Jenna's status as the prime suspect in both deaths.
Jenna can hit the road again, taking her chances that she can elude trouble along the way. Or she can stick it out in Hokes Folly, take over the bookstore, and try to sleuth out her uncle's killer. On the one hand, she's made some wonderful new friends, and she feels she can thrive in the genial small-town environment. On the other hand, trouble knows her address--and so does the killer, who is determined to write the final page of Jenna's story.
nice read but not enough BOOKS!
I picked this book up because it's been a while since I read a cozy mystery. I tried reading the other ones I have and nothing really got me reading something to the end. I instantly downloaded this one as well because it involves a bookstore and somehow... that didn't work out well.
For Whom the Book Tolls follows Jenna as she visits her uncle in the small town of Hokes Folly. She arrives late in the evening, called it a day, and the first thing she sees in the morning is her uncle dead right. The next thing she knows, she's inheriting everything her uncle owns and is being accused of murdering him.
If you're looking for something new and refreshing, this really isn't what you're looking for. However, if you want the usual cozy mystery with the main character generally being accused of the murder and going around asking everyone in town and being threatened by the murderer to stop her meddling, then thing is for you. But then again, I probably have more gripes than enjoyment for this one which kind of disappointed me.
The thing about For Whom the Book Tolls is that it's light and is good if you want a quick read. It follows a very basic structure for light cozy mysteries. I liked Jenna but then I feel that there wasn't really enough about her for me to like. It feels like she wasn't really explored that much that I didn't care about her. There was a tinge of romance but it came out later on in the novel. A bit out of the blue thus I ended up not caring about the two of them but then also expected when the guy showed the first sign of interest. I do like Jenna's relationship with [insert name here]. I feel that there was enough development for the two of them.
The mystery aspect of the novel is pretty light and definitely easy to predict. So if you want some whodunit that will keep you thinking, this isn't it (just grab an Agatha Christie). It did throw out a couple of interesting things to stir up the story a bit and I like the hidden treasure aspect. That kind of made me interested on what's going to happen in the end.
OVERALL, For Whom the Book Tolls is a light mystery read. If you want a light and quick mystery read, this is definitely a good enough one. But if you want something more gritting, this isn't it. Also, I am disappointed that there isn't enough talk about books and mention of actual books for a novel series whose title is a pun of a classic novel and is called Antique Bookshop Mystery. but ohwell.
let's connect!
If you're looking for something new and refreshing, this really isn't what you're looking for. However, if you want the usual cozy mystery with the main character generally being accused of the murder and going around asking everyone in town and being threatened by the murderer to stop her meddling, then thing is for you. But then again, I probably have more gripes than enjoyment for this one which kind of disappointed me.
The thing about For Whom the Book Tolls is that it's light and is good if you want a quick read. It follows a very basic structure for light cozy mysteries. I liked Jenna but then I feel that there wasn't really enough about her for me to like. It feels like she wasn't really explored that much that I didn't care about her. There was a tinge of romance but it came out later on in the novel. A bit out of the blue thus I ended up not caring about the two of them but then also expected when the guy showed the first sign of interest. I do like Jenna's relationship with [insert name here]. I feel that there was enough development for the two of them.
The mystery aspect of the novel is pretty light and definitely easy to predict. So if you want some whodunit that will keep you thinking, this isn't it (just grab an Agatha Christie). It did throw out a couple of interesting things to stir up the story a bit and I like the hidden treasure aspect. That kind of made me interested on what's going to happen in the end.
OVERALL, For Whom the Book Tolls is a light mystery read. If you want a light and quick mystery read, this is definitely a good enough one. But if you want something more gritting, this isn't it. Also, I am disappointed that there isn't enough talk about books and mention of actual books for a novel series whose title is a pun of a classic novel and is called Antique Bookshop Mystery. but ohwell.
let's connect!
I read cozy mysteries when I'm deep in a reading slump because they're usually short and easy reads. It's too bad it didn't deliver on the book premise :-(
ReplyDeleteKaren @ For What It's Worth
I know what you mean!! It is quite unfortunate for this one :(
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