Daily Archives: October 27, 2020

Cozy mystery set in an English bookstore

Murder in the Margins (The Open Book Mysteries 1)

By: Margaret Loudon

Rating: 5 of 5

This is the first book in this series which is set in a small town in current day England. Penelope Parish is an American, who has unexpectedly written a best selling Gothic novel. She is having problems with writer’s block and looks for a change of venue to help with it. That is, not to mention getting away from family and friends who, simply, are not helping.

She applies and is accepted to be the author-in-residence at the Open Book bookstore in Upper-Chumley-On-Stoke. It seems to do the trick and gets her writing again.

She has made friends with people at work and has writer’s and book groups at the store. She gets involved in the local fest and someone turns up murdered. Penelope is pulled into helping solve the crime.

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Cousin Charlotte is back on the case

Candy Cane Crime (An Amish Candy Shop Mystery)

By: Amanda Flower

Rating: 5 of 5

I so enjoy these cute short stories which involve Cousin Charlotte. They are whodunnits but they do not involve murder.

Charlotte steps in to be in charge of a candy cane exchange when Bailey King has too much on her plate to do it. Charlotte takes it very seriously, indeed. It is the first time this sweet Amish young woman has done anything of this magnitude.

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Christmas, classical music and murder

Murder at an Irish Christmas (An Irish Village Mystery Book 6)

By: Carlene O’Connor

Rating: 5 of 5

This is the sixth book in this series. I enjoyed it so much, I have purchased the earlier books as well. It can easily be read stand-alone, as I had no problem in picking up the story line. I wanted the earlier books to get the back history and because I enjoyed the author’s writing so well.

Siobhán O’Sullivan is a Garda and she is engaged to a Detective Sergeant. She is taking time off at Christmas to spend with her siblings, as she and her older brother, James, have been responsible for raising them.

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Two intrepid ladies in a small English village

Murder Comes to Call (A Beryl and Edwina Mystery Book 4)

By: Jessica Ellicott

Rating: 5 of 5

While this is the fourth book in this series, it is the second one that I have read. I recently finished the third and jumped right into reading this book afterwards. It is a story which can be read stand-alone without any problems. While there is an overall progression of plot and characters, all of the whodunnits are self-contained in each novel.

Edwina Davenport is an English spinster in her forties. Beryl Helliwell is an American who is well known for her for her adventures. They became friends at school and Beryl is now living at Edwina’s home in a small and sleepy village called Walmsley Parva. They have started a private enquiry agent business to investigate various crimes that occur.

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