I've recently started reading cozy mystery books and so far this has to be one of my faves! Tess, a successful crime novelist, was a persistent, likeable character who literally had a murder fall into her lap in the first chapter. The mystery itself was twisty and complicated in just the best way that it took almost till the end for me to figure out whodunnit. I also love the romance elements (no spice) which kept my emotionally invested in her success. I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys a writing themed mystery that was somehow both lighthearted and sensitive to the emotional journey for these characters. I am definitely interested in checking out the rest of this series!

This was an honest NetGalley review.

I have not read the first in this series but the author told just enough about the plot so I could keep up. On Spine of Death is a welcome addition to the cozy read and Tamara Berry's characters are fun and engaging.

The last thing Tess expected to find when she decided to renovate her grandfather's hardware store and turn it into a bookstore was bones. Old human bones. But that's what Herb, her handyman found when he pulled down a wall and now she's got a problem. But here's the thing, Tess is a thriller writer and she's pretty sure she knows how to solve a crime, even one that clearly happened a long time ago. Not so fast- Sherriff Boyd isn't happy with her methods which are not, to put it mildly, by the book. This is a fun cozy that sees Tess and her teen daughter Gertie engaging with others, finding answers, and creating a new business while clearing her grandfather's name. I missed the first book in the series so this was a standalone for me but Berry gives good back story. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. And there's a bookmobile!

This is the second release in the new cozy series "By The Book." Thank you to Net Galley and to the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC. My review opinion is my own.

This was such a exciting read ! The author has a masterful way of infusing different stories among the sleuth that certainly kept this reader guessing to conclusion. Tess and her daughter at staying in Winthrop to convert their inherited hardware store into a bookstore. As the work progresses and human remains are found Tess finds herself at the center of another mystery that only she and her skills can solve. With her beloved Grandfather a long ago suspect Tess is determined to save the family reputation and solve this cold case.

A very enjoyable read with many twist and turns . I loved the building of suspense and unearthed clues along the way. All the charcters add to the story and Tess, her daughter, the Sheriff are all enjoyable well crafted charcters. I look forward to the next in series.

I really enjoy this author; she has a great writing style, very clear and to the point. I didn't think it was predictable and I also loved the characters. I really love books with writers as a main character. I think this series reminds me of Agatha Raisin. This was a great continuation of the first book. The small town setting really lends itself to the cozy mystery genre.

Great cozy mystery series! Tess Harrow is a Thriller book author. Tess and her teenage daughter Gertie are involved in renovating Tess's deceased grandfather's hardware store into a bookstore. It is a lot of work! Gertie is helping and part of the floor comes crashing down on Tess along with some bones. It is the beginning of a pile of problems! Her grandfather is a suspect and she wants to clear the family name. Sheriff Boyd is a great character and they get along much better in this book. Nikki is her best friend and adds some humor. There are a couple of new characters who add to the story as well. There is a little more detail to the murders from Tess's thriller writer perspective but it isn't grusome or gory. This was a very enjoyable book and was hard to put down! Can't wait for the next book. #NetGalley #OnSpineOfDeath

Warning: Crude innuendo; this is not a cozy mystery.

Tess Harrow is a successful "method" author. She's always willing to test the same situation or circumstance she puts her characters in; such as being zip-tied to a chair in a damp basement with a door that has a sliding view window.

That was precisely when friendly demolition above, brought dirt and human remains down on her below. Old bones. Grandpa didn't bury them in the floor, so who did? Sheriff Boyd would take care of it. But this was going to set back renovations for the bookshop.

The really odd thing was, the circumstances were eerily close to the plot of a book written years ago, and each body was struck with an ax multiple times.

Not really knowing who she can or should trust, and with the FBI trying to place an agent for another reason entirely, Tess is trying to tiptoe around and investigate in a town where everyone seems to know what all the others are doing. Unfortunately, they've missed a rather important someone--who has been killing young women for decades.

2/5 Stars (-2 Stars for objectionable content, and not recommended.)

Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press, Sourcebooks, Inc., and NetGalley, for the temporary digital preview of this book; any review is voluntary and my own opinion.

#OnSpineOfDeath #NetGalley
#BytheBookMysteries2
#TamaraBerry #TamaraBerryAuth
#PoisonedPenPress
#SourcebooksInc
#FictionSmallTownMurderMystery
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#NotRecommended

ON SPINE OF DEATH is the second book in the By the Book Mystery series by Tamara Berry. From the very first sentence, I was captivated until I’d read the very last word. The action starts immediately and the author’s vivid descriptions pulls you in to experience everything that protagonist Tess Harrow is experiencing. I love that Tess is a thriller author, and the reader gets a peek into her writing process, which seems to mirror the murder mysteries she somehow finds herself involved in. I also enjoyed that Tess is a single mom raising her teenage daughter, Gertrude. Given Tess’s occupation, her daughter is quite used to the discussion of murder, and Gertrude is eager to help her mom out when needed. However, there’s still the typical teenage attitude with plenty of banter between the pair. Ms. Berry’s “voice” is full of humor, and I found myself chuckling often. Between the well-plotted murder that kept me glued to the pages and the laugh-out-scenes and repartee that imbued the story, this series has become one of my favorites.

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

What another thrilling book in this series!

The book is told once again from the point-of-view of Tess Harrow, a mystery writer who recently moved to the small town of Winthrop. It hasn’t been a quiet time either because bodies keep popping up. Tess is on the case and somehow keeps stumbling into trouble.

I love Tess. She is funny and loves pestering the sheriff. He still may not want to admit his feelings but I can see her weaseling her way into his heart. They both have different ways of handling situations and her method is usually going in guns a blazing, it doesn’t always work out in her favor though. Her daughter is another great character and I like that she has been diving into her own hobbies which still end up involving mysteries and bodies. What a weird family, haha.

New characters have also popped up and I am curious to see if they will have more to their story arc, one in particular!

As with the last book, I did not see the big reveal going down the way that it did, let alone figure out who it was! I didn’t suspect them and kind of feel like an idiot for not, ha. It was a great plot and I loved going along for the ride.

Overall, this was another great cozy mystery. I am very happy that I found this author.

Tess Harrow is a successful mystery writer. Following a difficult divorce she decided to spend the summer with her fourteen year daughter Gertrude (Gertie) in a cabin inherited from her grandfather in Winthrop in northern Washington. However, after solving a murder literally on her door step and making friends in the process, Tess and Gertie decide to stay and make a fresh start in their lives. After fixing up the cabin so it now has electricity, wifi and running water, Tess is now embarking on renovating her grandfather’s old shop, planning to re-open it as a bookstore.

Undertaking hands-on research for her new book, Tess had tied herself to a chair in the shop’s basement and was struggling to free herself when her handyman knocking down a wall caused the ceiling above her to collapse, showering her with human bones. Suddenly the shop has become a crime scene and, when the bones turn out to be from a thirty year old cold case, her grandfather a suspect in a murder.

This cosy mystery zips along at a fast pace, filled with twists and turns and red herrings aplenty, with never a dull moment. Tess is an engaging character – impulsive, too nosy for her own good and always thinking about how she can use the investigation for her new book. Her fictional detective Gabriel Gonzales shares an uncanny resemblance to Winthrop’s sheriff Victor Boyd and she is often annoyed that Boyd doesn’t think and work the same way as Gabriel. For his own part, Boyd is often annoyed with Tess sticking her nose in everywhere and trying to meddle in his case but he respects her intuition and listens to her theories. Their growing attraction and conversations provide much of the humour in the novel.

Together with her friends Nicki, a librarian with a mobile lending library (and her own reasons for being in Winthrop), her new handyman Jared (who has suspiciously uncalloused hands for a workman), fellow author Peter (who has an unusual interest in bones) and her daughter Gertie (who has an uncanny attraction to dead bodies), Tess sets out to clear her grandfather’s name and find the murderer. With an entertaining mixture of humour and mystery, non stop action and a cast of quirky characters, this will appeal to fans of fun, bookish cosy mysteries.

There are books that I rate at 5 stars, and there are books I wish I could rate at more than 5 stars. This is one of those. I thought it would be hard to beat the flying limbs from the last book, but Tamara Berry has managed to do it! I loved reading this book. I felt like I was there, in the hardware store with Tess and Gertie when they found the bones, and there with them while they were picking up clues and sorting them out. The characters have really started to take shape and develop. I enjoy seeing the relationships grow and trying to figure out where they are headed.

In this installment, Tess and Gertie find bones in the hardware store that Tess is turning in to a bookstore. All clues point to Tess's grandfather, and even though she barely knew the guy, she can't believe that he would have murdered people and hidden them under the shop. The girls are up to their ears in bones, as Gertie has started interning at the morgue and Tess has called her friend, world renowned forensic expert, Peter to help identify the hatchet marks on the skeletal remains they found. The medical examiner and Sheriff Boyd are both awestruck by Peter's arrival. Also new in town is a new FBI agent, who is supposed to be helping Nikki, but can't tell a lie to save his life (literally).

When the bones go missing from the morgue, Gertie is beside herself. Mama bear Tess sets out in search of the bones and the killer!

I am so eager to read the next one in the series. I love these!

When I started reading it, I wasn't aware that it was book 2 in a series, but not having read the first one didn't affect my enjoyment of this engaging new cozy mystery. Full of quirky characters, this is well worth your time, especially as the days grow shorter and you want to nestle indoors with a warm cup of tea (or hot cocoa!) and read!

Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for access to a digital ARC on NetGalley.

On Spine of Death by Tamara Berry is book #2 in the By the Book Mystery series. Tess Harrow and her daughter Gertie have adjusted to living in the small town of Winthrop, Washington. During renovations in the hardware store Tess' grandfather left her two sets on bones were discovered. Of course Tess gets involved in the mystery of the bones. Tess and her friends are led on a merry chase, a dangerous chase to find the person responsible for the deaths. I found this book to have a very intriguing storyline and well-developed, very likable characters. There were a number of surprises throughout the story. I am really looking forward to the next book in the series.

On Spine of Death by Tamara Berry is the entertaining return to the By the Book cozy mystery series & sequel to Buried in a Good Book! I had a blast whilst reading the first book in this series but I have to say I enjoyed this sequel even more!

Tess Harlow & her teenage daughter, Gertrude, are slowly settling down in their cabin in their new home of Winthrop. They are renovating the family hardware store & turning it into an independent bookstore. However, with demolition underway what they uncover is more than just dust & debris, it’s bones that literally topple onto Tess’s head. Rumors run rampant & now the town thinks that the original hardware store owner, Tess’s uncle, was a serial killer.

Crime aficionado & mystery writer Tess cannot help but want to dive into this case that actually fell onto her head & begins to Nancy Drew her way around town. In true Nancy Drew like fashion, she uncovers more than her far share of secrets, lies & crimes, oh my!

I was so excited to revisit this town & the lovely characters that come with it. This book also introduced some amusing new ones as well. There were several twists & turns along the way that kept me guessing until the end.

On Spine of Death is the quintessential cozy mystery tale with a quaint town, entertaining residents, ridiculousness to keep you amused, the strong family bond, a fascinating cold case & maybe even some romance along the way…what more could you ask for?!

On Spine of Death comes out November 29, 2022!

Massive thanks goes to NetGalley & Poisoned Pen Press for the arc, which I voluntarily read & reviewed. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

Trigger warnings: This book mentions &/or contains murder, gore & violence.

I will post to my social media closer to release & add links once I do!

On Spine of Death by Tamara Berry is the second book in the By the Book Mysteries series. I’ve seen this categorized as a cozy mystery and that fits although it is slightly more gritty and gripping than many. It is also laugh-out-loud funny in places.

Tess Harrow is a bestselling thriller writer who has inherited her grandfather’s rustic cabin in the woods near Winthrop, Washington as well as his hardware store. Now that she and her daughter Gertie have updated the cabin, they are working to convert the hardware store into an independent bookstore. However, when the renovations result in bones from a cold case being found, the work comes to a halt. Was her grandfather a murderer or is there more to the story?

Tess has a hard time separating her fictional detective’s methods, which aren’t always “by the book”, and local Sheriff’s Victor Boyd’s method of following procedure, which leads to some fascinating and funny interchanges between the two. Dealing with real law enforcement officers is harder than she expected. The normally calm and levelheaded sheriff doesn’t stay that way as he interacts with Tess. Additionally, Gertie seems to enjoy being part of a murder investigation a little too much for Tess’s comfort. Now she wants to job shadow the town coroner.

For book lovers, readers not only get a main character who is a thriller writer, but there is a bookmobile that makes the rounds of the local communities and a deputy that has been writing a science fiction novel in her spare time. There’s also a couple of other book and author related tie-ins. Themes include parent-child relationships, friendship, murder, trust, family, and much more.
The writing is terrific. What an opening scene! The characters, as well as the story, quickly engage readers. Visual and auditory imagery comes through vividly. The plot is absorbing and intriguing with a storyline that has a few red herrings, a couple of surprises, and lots of humor.

Overall, this engaging and funny novel immediately pulled me into the storyline and the lives of the characters. If you enjoy excellent cozy mysteries with a little extra grit, then I recommend that you check out this series. I am looking forward to finding out what happens in the next book of the series.

Poisoned Ped Press and Tamara Berry provided a complimentary DRC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for November 29, 2022.

I was excited to see what was happening next to Tess and Gertie after reading the first book in this series, but found this mystery less satisfying and more convoluted. It was hard to keep track of what was real and what was a theory, and the new character didn't seem like an actual person. The mystery kept changing in a way that felt unrealistic and made me feel less engaged in the book.

The characters and relationships were much more developed in the first book so if I hadn't read the first one I would have had a harder time getting through this book.


*I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is book 2 of the By the Book series, but first I have read (there are three). It's an interesting look at a mystery author, who leaves the chaos of big city behind to return to ancestral land, only to have ols secrets come out and bring dead bodies into her new business. It's the perfect set up for the plot, and the characters are very realtable (hello, teen age daughter drama) and chamring enough to keep you turning pages, as thebody count mounts up and more truths need to come to light. An enjoyable read, you'll like this series!

When we begin this new story, Tess is in the basement of her grandfather's old hardware store, doing a bit of method plotting for her new book. Her daughter Gertrude is upstairs helping with some demolition when a body rains down from the floor into the basement.... right on top of Tess. Now if that isn't bad enough soon another body is found, and that's only the beginning.

This series has quickly become one of my favorites! Tess is an author and has a very... unique way of plotting out her books, in which anything she plans to put her character through she would like to make sure first they can handle it. Her daughter Gertrude is a typical teenager, but she brings so much to the story! The interactions between her and her mother have me laughing out loud constantly,
This mystery was quite a good one, we have the bodies of missing women found, a strange book that seems to be following the town and the murders quite closely, and a new FBI agent in town, who is better suited to swinging a hammer than going undercover, and a famous author (not tess) who comes to town to help with the investigation.
This case kept me guessing and when I was sure Tess was wrong about who she thought the killer was, she was so convincing I changed my mind, turns out we were both wrong lol.

I'm so excited to continue this series, and see what kind of crazy case Tess will be in the middle of next!

What a great second book in this series!

The relationship between Tess and her teen daughter Gertie is so fun (and very believable), and their banter had me chuckling. I even found myself laughing out loud on occasion. The small town characters are quirky and lovable. There were so many twists and turns that I kept thinking I knew whodunnit until something new happened. Loved this installment and can’t wait for the next book in the series. I am hooked!

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Unputdownable cozy mystery!
Tess and her daughter, Gertrude, have decided to stay, and they are renovating their hardware store. But when the bones of two missing females is found in the walls of the store, Tess can't help but start sleuthing. She calls upon an old friend, who leads her to very interesting clues hidden in a book.
Love the characters in this series. The book has everything I love in a good cozy mystery - a plot that flows seamlessly, a sprinkle of humor, a dash of romance, and of course a great mystery. Highly recommend.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.