With nothing left her her in Charlotte, Jenna accepts her uncle's invitation to stay with him for a while in Hokes Folly. Before she can even get settled, she finds him unresponsive at the base of the stairs that connects his bookstore to his apartment.

Before Jenna has time to grieve, she learns she is her uncle's beneficiary. He left her the bookstore, apartment and a large sum of money. But when a second man ends up dead, Jenna becomes the prime suspect in both murders. As Jenna gets acquainted with Hokes Folly, she realises she needs to find her uncle's murderer or her time in Hokes Folly will be a repeat of the last few months in Charlotte.

For Whom the Book Tolls was a decent whodunnit mystery but also a little predictable. The characters were pleasant but development was lacking and they were not as complex as I would have liked. My favourite thing about this book was the use of setting. Every building and even the town itself played a role in the story.

My main issue with this book is a line about "druggies" while it doesn't affect the overall story I was bothered with the lazy generalization and depiction of drug users. There are better ways to mention and include potential negatives about drug use without speaking negatively about the users.

For Whom the Book Tolls will intrigue you and entertain you. Lots of twist will keep you guessing who dun it. The characters will keep you interested in their thinking and actions.

Cozy mystery...bookstore...what is there to not love? When Jenna's uncle is found dead the morning after she arrives, she sets out to solve the mystery. Filled with twists and turns sure to entertain most readers, this book is a definite hit.

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read an advance reading copy.

This was a very entertaining cozy mystery set in a quaint little antique bookstore. This book has plenty of mystery and lovable characters and it is a wonderful beginning to a new new series. I just love cozy mysteries an this one does not disappoint. I really look forward to any other additions to the series.

I received this book from NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an honest review.
#ForWhomtheBookTolls
#NetGalley

Jenna Quinn has come to stay with her uncle she hasn’t seen in years to get back on her feet after her life fell apart. Life isn’t coming together just yet as the morning after her arrival she finds her uncle at the bottom of the stairs.

The police officers that come on to the scene are quick to assume foul play. I guess that’s their job, but the question of could this be an accident is not even raised. Jenna then learns she is her uncle’s sole heir and now the proud owner of his antiques bookstore.

Jenna isn’t even sure she wants to stay in Hokes Folley, but first she’s got to find out who killed her uncle, ‘cause one of the detective’s keeps throwing scenarios at her where she is the murderer and she can’t go through that all again.

I liked this book okay. It’s well-written but slow paced. The characters are believable and (very important) there aren’t too many of them. It was an enjoyable read, but I wasn’t thrilled by this book.

Laura Gail Black
For whom the book tolls.
I enjoyed this entertaining mystery love the Antique book shop setting.
The cover is beautifully designed which also drew me to this first book.
Uncle Paul come to Jenna’s rescue just at the right time and invite Jenna top help in he’s antique book shop.
Then the mystery starts. Uncle Paul is found murder next day and poor Jenna is the prime suspect.
Fun to read Also great characters ,and cleverly plotted.
Many thanks to crooked Lane books and NetGalley for given me a chance to read and review this book.
Definitely recommend.

An entertaining cozy mystery set in a book lovers world! First in a new series and Laura Gail Black has given us an a great cast of characters set in a well defined community that will provide many more chapters for us to enjoy.

When I describe this book as "cosy," it's intended as a compliment. And Jenna is a fabulous character, even if... well, calling her a "Jonah" might be a little over-dramatic. But you really wouldn't want to hang out with her for too long, not with the sort of luck she attracts..

That aside, books about bookshops are almost always delightful, and the one that takes centre-stage in this story is no exception. Neither are the flow of characters who weave in and around Jenna's strange little world. And with a mystery to solve as well? Reader and protagonist alike have a delightful puzzle on their hands...

Fantastic start to a new series!
As always, I am a huge fan of cozies set in my dream life: small town, cute business (in this case- an antique bookstore), with smart and likeable characters. For Whom the Book Tolls hits it right on the head for me. I really, really enjoyed this one and can't wait to see what else Laura Gail Black brings in her next books!

This is a great start to a new series. I really liked Jenna and the small town setting, as well as the antique bookstore. There were plenty of twists and turns to keep me guessing.
Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

It’s not looking good for young Jenna Quinn. Newly arrived at a small North Carolina town at her Uncle Paul’s invitation, Jenna finds her uncle dead in his antique bookstore. Jenna’s the prime suspect. It looks even worse when the police find out she’s just beaten an embezzlement/murder rap and is the primary beneficiary of her uncle’s will. Uncle Paul not only named her the new owner of Baxter Books Emporium, he also left her a lot of dough.

But something doesn’t add up about Uncle Paul's death. Jenna wants to redo the math almost as much as someone else wants her dead. Can the recently jilted, ex-accountant uncover obscure clues from another century and discover a hidden treasure before the killer does? Can Jenna stay ahead of the local gum shoes? Will her broken heart ever mend?

Packed with enough plot twists to rival the tilt-a-whirl at the county fair, For Whom the Book Tolls is an engaging, entertaining read. Nimbly paced, the writing is also top-notch. It includes vivacious, three-dimensional characters, credible dialogue and rich descriptions of an historic downtown district, lawyers’ offices, and the secret passageways, opulent lobby and dining hall of a 1900s-era inn.

The story is lithe and lively, with generous doses of dry humor and rapier wit. Readers will find themselves quickly draw into Jenna’s labyrinthian maze of suspects, motives, death threats, hidden treasure, blackberry cobbler, and attic squirrels.

Subtle clues are also woven into the story, alerting readers to possible suspects without giving anything away. Suspense is maintained throughout, keeping readers guessing until the final pages.

Anyone who relishes a clean, clever murder mystery will enjoy this book. Simply delicious.

#NetGalley
#ForWhomTheBookTolls

I really wanted to like this book, I love a cosy murder mystery and the premise really interested me but I just found it a little slow. I do not know why the book has so many pages and could do with being editted down.

There were a few red herrings but I felt it was very obvious who dunnit which was a shame. I felt it was a little lazy in the writing and the characters constantly repeating themselves really irked me.

Unfortunately I won't be recommending the book but thank you for providing me with am arc.

I loved this setting of this story, and it had me gripped from the start.
So many different twists and turns, and really likeable characters. I've found myself wishingI could visit the location, the author describes it so nicely.
I'll definitely be following this series!

This is an excellent start to a new series. The mystery had many twists and turns that had me guessing to the end. I look forward to reading more of Jenna, her new friends and the small town of Hokes Folly.

I reviewed a digital arc provided by Netgalley for an honest review. Thank you.

For Whom the Book Tolls – Laura Gail Black
A cosy bookshop murder mystery.
For Whom the Book Tolls does exactly what it says on the tin! A cosy murder mystery set in an antique bookshop in a small historical town in America.

Jenna Quinn visits her uncle Paul, who’s offered her a place to stay and some work in his bookshop, to help her through a rough patch. Unfortunately uncle Paul has been murdered and Jenna’s past comes back to haunt her, as she becomes a main suspect.

She determines to get to the truth to clear her name, making friends along the way and learning about her new potential home. Run-ins with colourful local characters abound as well as a budding romance with one of the investigating policemen.

This is definitely a “cosy” read, nothing too gruesome with regard to the murder methods but just enough suspense and menace to keep you interested. There is a cast of suitably eccentric characters, from Jenna’s new friend, to the slimy local property developer, the calm and collected solicitor and the ageing and slightly eccentric sisters.

Overall I enjoyed this book as a light-hearted read. I didn’t always connect with Jenna and found her character a little shallow and hard to sympathise with, likewise her instant friendship with Rita felt slightly too easy, given the circumstances. However I left the book feeling satisfied at the conclusion and having had a diverting and enjoyable read.

I received this ebook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

For Whom the Book Tolls by Laura Gail Black delivered exactly what I hoped for when I picked up the book to read this weekend. This is a cozy mystery, with a likeable protagonist, interesting cast of supporting characters (suspects), cute historical neighborhood setting, hints of a future love interest, and set in an antique bookshop. There were a few points that seemed a tiny bit far fetched and characters that seemed a little bit too cliché but honestly that is part of what I expected. There is a murder of course and even though it’s a bit sad the reader is not emotionally connected to the victim so the story still feels safe and you’re sure there will be a happy ending. I wished the main character’s back story had been a little clearer earlier in the book; it felt like this was the second book in a series and I was supposed to know “what happened before” but I didn’t and it was gradually revealed. There were a couple weak transitions in the text and one point that just didn’t seem logical but I only noted because I was reading with a view to write a review. Overall – enjoyable. I will definitely watch for the next book in the series. I voluntarily received and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book on Net Galley, all opinions are my own.

This is a nice little debut cozy mystery. Jenna Quinn is off to see an uncle whom she has been, if not estranged from, then perhaps distanced from, for the last 10 years. She is looking forward to reconnecting after some difficult times in her own life. Her uncle's bookstore even offers her a chance at learning a new trade. However, hours after arriving, Jenna finds her uncle dead - and soon is at the top of the suspect list as she inherited all of his estate. Can she clear her name, and still make a home for herself in this little town? Great characters, a good story, and plenty to keep you turning the pages. All in all, a great first book to what looks to be a fun new cozy series.

I  received a free digital copy of this book from Netgalley for an honest review.

Its a good start to a series. Can't wait to see how the next books go. I enjoyed the characters and settings. Good cozy mystery.

It’s always nice to find a new cozy mystery series that doesn’t feel exactly like dozens of others. Even though I guessed who the killer was, there were enough twists to the story to keep it interesting. However, I did feel that the characters were either black or white. They would have been more realistic if they weren’t so one sided. But I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.

Loved the settings of this new cozy mystery in a little town and the antique bookshop therein!

Jenna flees from her hometown to settle with her Uncle Paul in his home. When she discovers him murdered in his store the first morning, she quickly becomes the primary suspect.

Finding new friends and learning to know neighbours she´s not sure what to think about them, she stumbles from one event to the next, the police not only being her friend. When she finds out more about certain circumstances, not only she gets into danger.

Perhaps I´d read an Agatha Christie book before, I´d always expected everyone to be a suspect, till the solution is found by someone she may get a closer relationship to.

Lovely setting, though I´d have liked to read more about books, but I guess this as well as Jenna´s several relationships will make a great new series!

I got this AR copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.