Secrets Between the Shelves, 4 Cozy Mysteries ~ a book review

 

Murder in the Mystery Section by Cynthia Hickey

The Secret Passage by Linda Baten Johnson

By Hook or by Book by Teresa Ives Lilly

The Missing Chapter by Marilyn Turk

This is a collection of four clean, contemporary mysteries in bookshop settings with varying degrees of elements of Christian faith.

In the first story, Murder in the Mystery Section, Amber, the owner of the local bookshop, has purchased some rare books. One of the local residents, Mrs. Peabody, claims that the books were stolen from her and that Amber has purchased stolen property. She demands that Amber return the books to her. Unfortunately, Mrs. Peabody is murdered in Amber’s bookshop and Amber is their main suspect. Mrs. Peabody’s nephew, Brandt, comes to town and wants to ascertain what was so special about the books that someone would kill his aunt for them. He and Amber find themselves working together to solve the mystery.  Are the books a treasure map? And if so, what is the treasure? Will Amber and Brandt’s blossoming relationship survive the revelation? This story is fast paced and easy to read with minimal faith elements.

The second selection, The Secret passage, Abbie bought a local building where she plans to open a bookshop and also works for a local rancher, Ben. He employs troubled youths in the hopes of helping them rehabilitating them.  One day when Abbie is working in the building, she is attacked. Once she recovers, she and her friend Zach begin working on the renovations. She enters the shop one day and discovers the dead body of a young girl. In the process of renovations, they discover a secret door that leads to a secret room, apparently used for runaways to take shelter in. How did runaways know about the secret room? Is someone helping them? Will Zach and Abbie develop more than a friendship while renovating the building and solving mysteries? This story is easy to read and involves a strong element of faith.

In By Hook or by Book, the third story in the collection, Lily Carter has moved back home and opens a pirate themed bookstore in honor of local folklore. Someone tries to break into Lily’s bookstore and Dwayne Forgione, a policeman who loves to tell jokes, is sent to investigate. As the story progresses, there are two murders. One in front of the local thrift store, owned by Lily’s mother’s best friend Katie and the other in Lily’s shop. The list of suspects is plentiful. What was the murdered person looking for? Will Lily and Dwayne solve the mystery? Will they forge a lasting relationship?  This story has a strong element of Christian faith and is an enjoyable who-dunit.

The final story of the collection is the longest of the four. Kelly moves to town and plans to open an art shop highlighting local artists. She meets Jeb, the owner of the local bookshop reading room, who has secrets. The locals suspect he had something to do with the disappearance of his wife. The rumor is that he killed her and set his large mansion on fire to cover up the crime.  There is no proof he was involved and no body was ever found. He prefers to keep the truth private.  When a local woman, Bunny, dies in his shop, the old rumors emerge. Kelly is determined to discover the truth and forms a friendship with Jeb. Was Bunny’s death a result of natural causes or was there foul play involved? Will Kelly and Jeb learn to trust each other and allow their friendship to grow? Will the mysteries of Jeb’s wife’s death and Bunny’s death be solved?

This was a fun story to read, not heavy or dark, very clean with an element of faith that was not pushy or preachy. 

This is from the publisher’s website:

“Mysteries Leap Off the Page
 
Murder and mayhem haunt four newly-opened bookstores.
 
The mysteries enjoyed in books come to life, threatening four businesses. Amber’s new bookshop and tearoom draws rare book collectors, but when one ends up dead in the mystery section, the shop’s future is questionable. Lilly’s pirate themed bookshop fits right into Harbor Inn, Maine, but she never expected to find a young pirate dead on her shop’s floor. Abby opens Secret Passages Bookshop in a Wyoming mountain town, not realizing her historic building held a real secret passage and a missing teenager. Lauren moves to Florida and frequents the Seaside Books and Reading Room, where she is strangely attracted to the owner—who is suspected of killing his wife. Can the store owners and their patrons solve the mysteries before their businesses go under?”

All four of these stories are easy to read with varying degrees of Christian faith involved.  All are clean with no objectionable language or inappropriate intimacy.

Go HERE to read an excerpt

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from the Barbour publishing via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed  are my own.

(A word about ARC books.   Advanced Reading Copies (ARCs) are a preview copy and are not a finished product. They may differ from the final published work and may include additional editing. My reviews may include some things that vary from the final published book.)

 

Heart of the Glen by Jennifer Deibel ~ a book review.

 

This story begins in the early 1900’s, in Ireland. Saoirse Fagan has had to leave her job and is set to begin a new one as maid in Drumboe Castle.  Upon arriving, she discovers that the castle has been closed down and there is no job available.  She has no family and can’t return to her former job. She has no money and no where to go so she begins walking, taking shelter on a nearby farm. Aileen McCready, the farm owner’s sister happens upon her and gives her shelter in their barn, unbeknownst to her brother Owen. Owen raises exceptional sheep for their wool and weaves much sought after fabric. His farm is often raided and sheep stolen, He is unable to catch the man he knows is responsible. He reluctantly agrees to let her stay with them, even though he doesn’t completely trust her because of the secrets she keeps.

Owen’s hand is severely injured after a vicious attack and he is unable to weave. He fears if he can’t complete a large order, he will lose his farm. Against his better judgement, he teaches Saoirse how to weave. They work many hours together and begin to have feelings for each other but both are reluctant to allow them to develop.

The author does a great job of transporting the reader to the old Irish countryside and culture. There is a glossary that helps the reader with some of the Irish words and terms. The characters are very believable and relatable.

Will their faith withstand the obstacles thrown in their way? Can they learn to trust each other? Will Saoirse ever forgive herself for what ever happened to force her away from home?

This is a story of trust in God, faith, love, courage and determination.

This is from the website:

“Can the lonely thread of her life be woven into a new and finer pattern?

When Saoirse Fagan arrives at Drumboe Castle to start her new job as housemaid, she is dismayed to learn that the lord of the house passed away a week prior. Already running from the tragedy that claimed the lives of her family members, Saoirse wanders the road through the darkening glen with nowhere to go until Aileen McCready offers her a lift and a place to stay for the night.

Aileen's brother, sheep farmer and weaver Owen McCready, is known for his intricate and impeccably woven tweed. But when he's injured, his entire livelihood is endangered. A new--and distracting--mouth to feed adds fuel to the fire, and Owen struggles to keep his family afloat. Though Saoirse is eager to help, even offering to learn the weaving craft, Owen is hesitant to accept aid from this strange young woman, no matter how inexplicably magnetic he finds her.

But Saoirse is not one to give up easily. She's determined to convince the McCreadys that they need her--perhaps as much as she needs them.”

Go HERE to read an excerpt 

Go HERE to learn more about Jennifer Deibel and her books.

 

 

 

 

I received a complimentary ARC** of this book from Revell via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed  are my own.

**A word about ARC books.   Advanced Reading Copies (ARCs) are a preview copy and are not a finished product. They may differ from the final published work and may include additional editing. My reviews may include some things that vary from the final published book.