Library Loot Mini-Reviews: Antique Bookshop Cozy Mysteries

 

Last month I read the first book in Laura Gail Black's Antique Bookshop Mystery series and not only liked it, but felt it was the best cozy mystery I'd read in a very long time. There were immediate high stakes, a strong focus on the mystery, and not an overabundance of small town cutesy crap.  Because I'm a mystery reader from way back (and rather nostalgic about the genre since I've been reading it since my teen years) and I'm a typical reader who can't say no to a series, I made the not terribly bright decision to glom my way through the remaining (to date) three books.

Murder by the Bookend is a solid book two. Having helped crack the case of her uncle's murder, Jenna has settled into her inheritance, renaming his former antique bookstore Twice Upon a Time. She's holding a champagne reception / grand opening event - and combed through her uncle's client files to send invitations and invite a few local dignitaries.  However the event takes a turn with the arrival of the local library's Director of Antique Books. He has words with a few of the guests, wins a pair of antique bookends in Jenna's prize drawing, and then proceeds to get his brains bashed in with one of those bookends in the parking lot. Another murder connected to her store, which is the last thing Jenna needs.  She also finds herself the new guardian to the murdered man's traumatized dog, Eddie, who witnessed the whole thing.

Once again the mystery was solid and the stakes were high.  Unfortunately, just like the first book, the whole thing hinges on a mentally unstable and unhinged bad guy.  The antagonist is "crazy" ergo of course they committed murder.  

Final Grade = B-

Bound by Murder is book three and honestly the best in the series because the author mines Jenna's past. When she was living in Charlotte Jenna was accused of embezzlement and murder. She was eventually exonerated, but her life was in ashes - including a broken engagement to a fiancé' who kicked her to curb and handed her a key to a storage unit to pick up her stuff when she tried to come back to their home. The local historical inn in Hokes Folly has started booking weddings and who should waltz into Jenna's bookshop?  Her ex-fiancé', Blake, and his odious Mean Girl bride-to-be, Missy. Naturally Missy ends up dead (seriously, she is TERRIBLE!) and Blake is Suspect #1.  But as much as Jenna was hurt by Blake, even given his behavior towards her over the course of this book (he's stalking her trying to win her back), she doesn't see him as a murderer. It just doesn't pass the smell test.  This, of course, rocks the boat a bit in her relationship with hunky local cop, Keith.

Even though I pegged the bad guy from the jump, the motive in this book is strong, credible, and the author doesn't trot out the mental illness "crazy" killer card. I also loved that while Jenna doesn't think Blake is a killer, she sticks up for herself and defends herself rather spectacularly when he accosts her with unwanted groping and kissing. She fights back - which is not something you see in a cozy mystery heroines every day. All this being said, the story did lag in spots as more small town cutesy crap gets introduced, including, Lord help us all, another new friend for Jenna that is somehow supporting herself by opening a candle shop.  Just candles. That's it.  In a small town.

Final Grade = B

Caught on the Book is where I really should have known better. Quit while you're ahead Wendy. Don't jump right into book four, maybe cleanse the palate with something different first.  But of course I didn't do that, and here we are.

Hokes Folly's annual fishing tournament and festival is underway and Jenna decides to have a booth, thinking to off-load some fishing-themed books collecting dust in her store. Then a local author at the festival is found murdered in his booth, and all hell breaks loose.  The prime suspect is Frank Sutter, a local retired police detective, her boyfriend Keith's former partner, and the guy who tried to pin murders on Jenna in the first two books of the series. Seriously, the guy is The. Worst. Frank's motive is that the victim was dating Frank's estranged wife and, of course, because Frank is terrible, he had a couple of very public altercations with the man at the festival.  Now he's dead and Frank is playing the "I don't remember" card.

Keith is on ice. The department doesn't want him anywhere near the investigation because they want to avoid any semblance of impropriety or a cover-up.  So Keith practically begs Jenna to investigate. Yes, a civilian. And on top of that, a civilian who has been in Frank's crosshairs more than once as he tried to pin a crime, just about any crime, on her. Jenna, of course, agrees and then Keith gets subsequently butt-hurt when Jenna runs off half-cocked swiping evidence from people's houses and sh*t.

This is the book where it all runs off the rails. Besides the last paragraph, the small town cutesy crap hits a fever pitch in this book.  Also, Jenna - a grown-ass woman - says ridiculous crap like "Oh snap," "Hot pickles on a popsicle stick," "Hot pickles on a pancake" or some other stupid variation to exclaim surprise.  Look, I'll say things like "cheesy crackers" or "Oh shoot!" but only when little ears are around or, in my day job, I'm around subordinate employees or working with the public.  I don't think those things in my own head.

After reading these last 3 books in a row, the writing ticks and foibles got exponentially more annoying, the jump in small town cutesy crap hit a raw nerve, and while there were plenty of credible suspects and motives this time out - the final denouement read like a balloon slowly being deflated. Also everybody, including Frank Sutter, who really is a terrible person, are all singing Kumbaya at the end.  This book was just released back in October, so if there will be a book 5 it's probably going to be a little ways out. We'll see if my crankiness has faded by that point to potentially pick it up.

Final Grade = C-