annieb123's Review of For Whom the Book Tolls (An Antique Bookshop Mystery, #1)

by Laura Gail Black

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.

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

For Whom the Book Tolls is the first book in a new bookshop cozy series by Laura Gail Black. Released 8th Sept 2020 by Crooked Lane, it's 264 pages and available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats.

This is a fun and engaging 'shopfront' bookstore cozy set in a small town in North Carolina. I enjoyed the way main character Jenna shows grit and resilience finding her feet after a series of personal crises (being accused of murder and embezzlement and finding her uncle dead in the bookshop the morning after she arrives) and the interplay between her and her newfound neighbors and associates. There's a light romance element, a sleazy land developer, hidden treasure from long ago, missing diaries, and lots of hidden motives seething under the surface of the otherwise peaceful small town.

The book is admittedly formulaic, but it is quite well written and fun and full of the whimsical amateur cozy vibe which keeps readers of the genre ticking over the pages. I liked Jenna's dedication to getting her life on a better footing, her honesty, and her loyalty to her friends. There were a few twists on the way to the denouement, and I liked the ending. I'm looking forward to the next book. Note to completists, the background (murder + embezzlement) plot threads are not finished in this book and are strongly foreshadowed for future book(s) in the series.

Four stars, entertaining and fun.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

For Whom the Book Tolls (An Antique Bookshop Mystery, #1)

by Laura Gail Black

Reviewed by annieb123 on Sep 8, 2020

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