I have been a fan of this series and these characters for awhile. This was a good solid entry in the series. I enjoyed the progression of relationships and development of characters. I thought it added something for "Stinky" to need their help and for them to give it.

Samantha Washington and her grandmother, Nana Jo, work at their mystery bookshop. After witnessing an argument between mayoral candidate Frank Cloverton and police Detective "Stinky" Pitt that ends in Pitt slugging Cloverton, there is no surprise that when Cloverton turns up dead, the prime suspect is Pitt. Nana Jo, though she does believe that Pitt is missing a few light bulbs, still doesn't agree that he is a murderer. Sam, Nana Jo, and the Silver sleuths set out to prove that Nana Jo is right.

I love all the characters and their quirkiness and it id great fun to read the book in the book as Samantha writes her on mystery series!

V.M. Burns adds another fun amateur senior sleuth mystery to the Mystery Bookshop series. This seventh entry includes a late-1930s British historical novel within the contemporary novel, as Sam and Nana Jo, and the ladies from the Shady Acres retirement community aid a local police detective who they feel is wrongly accused of killing a man. Recommended that readers begin this good series with book one and enjoy their way to book seven

This series is so much fun. I’ve really come to enjoy the “books within a book” that Burns writes. There’s just something about the group of sleuthing seniors that brings a smile to my face. Burns has created a cast of characters that really works.

Say what you will about Detective Brad “Stinky” Pitt but don’t call him a murderer, at least not in front of Nana Jo, even though Detective Pitt has no respect for the abilities of Samantha (Sam) Washington and the Shady Acres sleuths. Perhaps we should we be worried that Nana Jo thinks that to relieve Sam’s boredom we “just need another murder…” Such a feisty and funny grandma. Nany Jo is but one in a great cast of characters, the type you would want to hang out with in addition to level-headed Sam. Another enjoyable aspect to Ms. Burns’ books is that there is a historical mystery inside the Cozy mystery, making it a two-fer! I found this to be an enjoyable read with a casino, canoodling, possible cop-related corruption, and maybe some commitments. There were several red herrings as every good cozy needs, as well as mention of apple pie tartlets.

Although I have enjoyed the previous books in this series, this one did not capture my attention from first few pages.

All of the main characters are there helping to find the murderer to clear "Stinky Pitt' from the crime. I admit that Nana Jo would drive me crazy but she does love Sam and works hard to help.

My rating: 3 of 5 stars, I really liked most of it.

Book 7 in the series.

This book made me want to go back and read all of the previous books in the series. I binge read them all, before I went back and restarted this one. It could be a stand alone, but for me, I just needed to read about what came before.

I love the family/found family parts of this series, the characters are mostly fun and likeable. Nana Jo and her group of friends never fails to make me laugh. The main storyline moves pretty quickly and the wrap up was satisfying.

The one big thing that I don't particularly enjoy about this series is the "story within the story." I get that Sam is an author as well as a book store owner (though how she has time to run a business, write books, and solve murders, I do not know!) but I admit that I skimmed through the parts of Sam's writing. It just annoyed me more than moved the main plot forward.

All in all, I enjoyed the series and hope there are many more.

Killer Words was another fantastic installment in the Mystery Bookshop series following our characters as they work to clear the name of the cop they've worked with in the past.

After the excitement of solving two murders while in England, mystery bookshop owner Samantha Washington is happy to be home while she anticipates the publication of her first book. After attending a breakfast with their family, Sam and Nana Jo see Detective Bradley Pitt deck mayoral candidate John Cloverton. When Cloverton later turns up dead, Detective Pitt is arrested for his murder. There's no love lost between Sam and the detective who arrested several members of her family, but she doesn't believe he's a murderer. With the help of Nana Jo and the Sleuthing Seniors, Sam works to uncover who framed Detective Pitt and clear his name.

The mystery in Killer Words was well done and I enjoyed how the author put a well known character at the center of the case. Sam and the Sleuthing Seniors have always found Detective Pitt to be a bit lacking when it comes to solving cases which is in part why they became involved in so many murder investigations. For all his faults though, the group doesn't believe Detective Pitt would murder someone. Working to clear a police detective made it so the group had to come at the case from a different angle. With no one inside the police department to pass on information, they had to rely on other sources. I love how many connections the Sleuthing Seniors have and how great they are at chasing down leads. Overall I was happy with the way the case was resolved and how Sam managed to figure everything out in the end.

Sam's writing career has really taken a step forward in this book with the publication of her first book inching closer and closer. I enjoyed watching Sam as she learned there was more to publishing a book than just writing it such as the use of social media. Like the previous books in this series, Sam writes another installment in her British cozy mystery series throughout the book. She continues to use her writing to work out her theories for the real-life murder which is a great way for the author to get across Sam's ideas for the case. In this book, her novel doesn't as closely resemble the real murder as it has in the past which I thought was a nice change of pace compared to the previous books.

Overall Killer Words was a great read and I'm looking forward to reading more from the author in the future. I highly recommend this series for readers looking for a fun cozy mystery series.

We first met Sam Washington in The Plot is Murder, and we’re now onto book 7 in the cosy mystery series. Sam was widowed young but decided to make her and her late husband’s dream come true, by opening a mystery book store. Through the series she and her friends and family, Nana Jo and the ‘Silver Sleuthers’ have faced murders and incorrect suspicions, often aimed at themselves. This time, though, the prime suspect isn’t exactly a friend – and yet, they still can’t stand by and let Detective ‘Stinky’ Pitt take the rap for a crime they’re fairly sure he didn’t commit, no matter how bad things look!

Meanwhile, Sam’s first book, a mystery set in an English stately home, is about to be published – indeed, we’ve followed the story drafts through the series as bonus inserts. It’s nice to see Sam’s life going well, even if I haven’t been greatly impressed with the character’s writing. Although, it has been nice seeing some real-world historical events being mentioned.

It was also a nice twist having the team investigate someone as prickly as Stinky, who was so often on the other end of mistaken accusations. Caught up in politics and with shadows of past relationships, the case isn’t going to be an easy one to unravel.

As ever, I enjoyed the light read of this cosy mystery, but it still isn’t my favourite of the book-themed series I’ve tried. The tone is just a little too flippant for me, the characters somewhat tending towards cliche. And yet, this might be the best in the series, and the mystery was well enough done.

Nana Joe, Sam, Dawson and the entire crew is back. When Detective Bradley "Stinky" Pitts is accused of Murder, The gang takes it upon themselves to find out who really did it. With the help of her support system/family, Sam does what she does (while still writing her first British mystery novel) to make sure an innocent person doesn't get railroaded.

I am thoroughly enjoying this series. I love how Sam accepts help from her village and allows especially the seniors to help and play to their each individual strengths. If you like British Mysteries, then you will enjoy this book, as the book that Sam is writing is included in each book in the series. I can't wait to see what's next for this small town in Michigan.

Whenever I learn about a new Mystery Bookshop installment, my reader heart leaps with glee! I love the characters & the warm relationships between them. I love the clever mysteries and the fun subplots. I love the ‘story within a story’, courtesy of the protagonist’s novels in progress. And, of course, I love the bookshop. What’s not to love, am I right?

Samantha is a fabulous main character! She loves her family – the one she was born into & the one she has gathered around here – and pours her heart into the next generation. While she has suffered great loss in her life, she also exhibits great strength. All of these traits make her an excellent amateur sleuth, and Burns once again gives us a smart plot to keep Sam on her toes. I really enjoy not only Sam but also Nana Jo and Irma and Frank and Dawson and Sam’s dogs … and all the other supporting characters in Sam’s life. And after reading Killer Words, I have even developed a sort of fondness for Detective Pitt, thanks to the deeper layers Burns introduced for him.

Bottom Line: Killer Words met all of my preconceived, series-fan expectations, and then some. It was delightfully clever, sweet, and fun with some surprising twists and turns – and even some lovely romantic moments, too. Another entertaining & warmly written visit to the Mystery Bookshop!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

The Mystery Bookshop cozy mystery series by V.M. Burns never fails to put a smile on my face. Just finished book 7 in the series Killer Words and gobbled it up in one day. I think one of things I love most is the relationship between Sam and Nana Jo. A fun series—especially if you like a story within a story.

There is so much to love about this series. First, there the two-mysteries-for-one aspect where we get the mystery Samantha is involved with and then the one she is writing. Second, there’s the characters, who are so welcoming that they feel like family. Each one has a distinct voice and role in the investigations that it’s so much fun to watch them work. Then, there’s the mysteries themselves, which are well written and keep you guessing until the end. There are a lot of surprises in this one and big changes are coming soon to all the characters. I can’t wait to find out what happens next.

Sorry I did not get time to read this book before it was archived. I am in college and had to get assignments written ahead of Christmas. I will look out for it another time as this seems like a book I would enjoy..

Killer Words: A Mystery Bookshop Mystery
By VM Burns
Kensington
December 2021

Review by Cynthia Chow

Samantha Washington hates change. Heavens knows she’s experienced enough of it in the past few years, after losing a husband, buying her dream Market Street Mysteries Bookshop, gaining a new boyfriend, and then writing and winning a contract for her own historical mystery series. Now even more changes are barreling towards Sam as her beloved staff graduate and leave for college while her mother and stepfather move to Australia. Henry’s abundant trusts that he is setting up as departing gifts allows them all to pursue their dreams, but it’s definitely a bittersweet goodbye. Especially since their hometown of North Harbor, Michigan is simmering with political intrigue as their local newspaper accuses their mayor of multiple acts of corruption and Sam spots the rival candidate at a casino dallying with a woman not his wife. It’s Detective Brad “Stinky” Pitt who takes umbrage at John Cloverton’s lack of fidelity though, especially when it turns out that Mildred Cloverton used to be Stinky Pitt’s wife.

Having encountered – and solved – an alarming number of murders themselves, Sam and her Nana Jo for once learn of the death of John Cloverton in the newspaper. The public fight, not to mention Pitt’s service weapon being responsible for John Cloverton’s death, means that the detective is quickly arrested and in need of a competent attorney. So it’s very convenient that Sam’s sister Jenna Rutherford happens to be a very good one, and that Nana Jo’s Sleuthing Seniors book club are more than eager to take up cause for justice. In times of stress Sam retreats into writing her historical mysteries as a coping mechanism and sort through clues, so this is the perfect time for her to continue the fictional adventures in 1939’s Wickfield Lodge, home of Lord William Marsh and his family. There tensions are high as the British debate over whether to enter into war with Germany while American Ambassador Joseph Kennedy strongly advocates against it. When the friend of Scotland Yard Detective Peter Covington falls dead from poison, the question quickly becomes if the victim was the actual target.

This seventh in the series once again achieves the trick of delivering two mysteries in one, and readers will find it impossible to choose which is the favorite. Sam’s life is hurtling forward and giving her a life of happiness she never could have predicted, which is why she is so unsettled by the number of changes that seem to be coalescing all at once. Her adorable toy poodles Oreo and Snickers are always around to provide emotional support, and she will rely on them as her bookstore family grows up and moves on. The author must share a love of research with her heroine, as the compelling and fascinating world of pre-WWII England comes alive with Lady Clara, her American friend “Kick” Kennedy, and assassination attempts that go wrong. Or possibly right. This mix of British WWII espionage and Nana Jo’s more down-home investigation led by very networked seniors succeeds in crossing genres and satisfying a multitude of tastes. This is another fun installment of a bookstore-loving cozy mystery with a classical mystery twist.

I love the “A Mystery Bookshop Mystery” series, and with the addition of the latest installment, Killer Words, this series is definitely one of my all-time favorites. Sam and Nana Jo are magnificent characters, along with the senior sleuths who make readers laugh, cry, and lead them down a path of excitement and entertainment without any pretense. There is nothing about the characters, the setting (who doesn’t love a bookshop?), or the mystery that would make readers put this book down. Add in the chapters from the novel Sam is writing, which are sprinkled throughout the book, and you have the perfect who-dun-it and more.

When Detective Pitt finds himself arrested and put behind bars, he relies on Sam and Nana Jo to clear his name, not that he would ever ask them to do that, but he finds he is grateful that someone believes in his innocence. Having wrongfully accused Nana Jo and Sam of crimes they didn’t commit previously, he now knows what it’s like to be in their shoes. Sam puts the bookshop and her novel to the side as she and the senior sleuths jump into action to save the Detective from going to prison for a murder he didn’t commit and catch a killer.

Killer Words is perhaps the best book so far in this series, but it is hard to say as all of the books are wonderfully written and immensely enjoyable. The suspects are believable, and their motives could easily come from real-world murder cases. The clues are there to be found, but some readers may need a bit more concentration to realize they are a clue at all. Finding the clues and figuring out which suspect is a killer will keep readers happily busy. When the senior sleuths and Sam finally reveal the murderer’s identity, many readers will be surprised. Sam’s bookshop doesn’t play as big of a role as I would like, but that is mainly because I am a glutton for books. This is the only complaint I have with this story. To put it bluntly, this book and series are perfect, and readers will thrill at each and every word.

Once again V. M. Burns has written a double mystery right in the same book. Killer Words is set again in Samantha's bookstore with her grandma Nana Jo, and a packet of other relatives, friends, college kids, and a to-die-for restaurant owner "fiance." This time it is the fumbly police detective who is accused of murder... with a bunch of other pitiful politicians and their warring wives and girlfriends as suspects. Despite great lunches and visits to the casino, how Samantha and "the girls" ever figure out who lthe killer is, is a wonder to me. It's also a pure joy to read.

But the next best thing about this series, is the historical mystery and murder that plays right alongside the modern day one. Burns has her protagonist - a mystery writer too - step aside now and then to write mini chapters in a pre WWII era espionage-detective-mystery among the upper class of Britain. What fun! And in this book, Samantha has some other big decisions and changes to think about. I really do enjoy reading these clever mysteries, set in one of my favorite places; a book store. Keep 'em coming!

Having recently reviewed the previous book in this series, I was anxious to review the next one. Samantha is a bookstore owner and has just published her first novel. She has a feisty grandmother and a whole slew of family/adopted family that help her to solve mysteries. I actually liked the plot in this one better than the previous one, which was set in England. I still am not a big fan of the dual story lines (Samantha's and that of the characters in the book she's writing). But, it was a bit less annoying this time around. This story revolves around the town detective, Brad (Stinky) Pitt, being implicated in the murder of a mayoral candidate. It was pretty obvious who the real culprit was, but I still enjoyed the path they took to finding the killer. And, it seems that the author is starting to move away from the detective's awful nickname in this book, as I felt the use of the nickname gave some sort of approval to giving people demeaning nicknames (i.e., bullying). So, that's a positive change that I hope will remain in future editions. A fun novel to read!

I keep saying I don't like British historical cozies but I love the story within a story and I love that one is a British historical cozy. It makes the story read so much faster because the action never stops. So much fun to read. I love the payback that Det. Pitt got by being accused of the crime. This series keeps getting better and better.

Killer Words by V. M. Burns is the 7th book in the Mystery Bookshop series, and it is becoming one of my favorite series. Samantha Washington owns Market Street Mysteries bookstore in North Harbor, Michigan. Sam is really excited about the publication of her first book. Nana Jo and her friends at Shady Acres Retirement Village go to the casino, where they see Detective Pitt, aka Stinky Pitt, hit the mayoral candidate John Cloverton. When Cloverton later turns up dead and Pitt is arrested Sam is determined to find the real killer, and the sleuthing begins. This book was great. It has so many twists and turns. The author did an excellent job, I was hooked from the start to finish. I am looking forward to the next book in the series. I would strongly recommend this book and series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.