📖My Thoughts📖

Cozy mysteries. They’re a genre that I never get tired of. While they tend to all follow the same recipe: a murder, someone acting as a detective, an animal, nine times out of ten it’s either a feline or canine, a romance whether it be new or old and of course some quirky characters. I like the lightness of a cozy mystery as they don’t get too involved or intense, but are just enough to where you not only enjoy the story while also being a smidge challenged with trying to figure it out. This one kind of earned extra brownie points right off the bat because for one, the main character and sleuth is a bookseller, but it also takes place in the state of New Hampshire, which just happens to be the state in which I reside in. It was kind of cool hearing surrounding towns and cities throughout the book that I’m familiar with. OK, so with most cozy mysteries, this is a part of a series; number 17 to be exact. While the fact that I haven’t read the rest of the series prior to reading this one, it didn’t seem to take away too much from the story, but I kind of wish I had a little more of a background with the characters. There were a few times that some of the characters (Tricia’s sister Angelica being one) rubbed me the wrong way, but I’m not sure if that’s just their personality or if I missed something. Other than that little hang up(?), I felt like it was fairly well written, easy to understand and follow along, with good balance between the elements. I’m not entirely sure how I feel about the impending potential romance between Tricia and David, but I’m curious to see how it plays out.
Thank you Netgalley, Berkley Publishing Group and Lorna Barrett for the opportunity to ready and review this book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Questionable Character is the 17th Booktown shopfront cozy by Lorna Barrett. Released 18th July 2023 by Penguin Random House on their Berkley imprint, it's 336 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format due out in late 2nd quarter 2024 from the same publisher. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

This is a well written light cozy with a MC who owns and runs a bookshop in a small tourist town destination full of bookstores and specialty shops. The background is well interwoven in the book, and it works as a standalone without needing to have read the previous books. With so many books extant already in the series, it would make a good choice for a long binge/buddy read.

It's a little longer than most cozies at over 300 pages but the plotting is fairly tight and it doesn't drag. The book is relatively clean, with only a sprinkling of 'hell' and 'damn' and nothing more objectionable in the book than off-page murder, and the requisite threatened violence in the denouement and solution to the murder. Definitely safe for reading at work or on the bus. It's a joke about the death count in the MC's immediate vicinity - she always finds out whodunit, but at this point the sheer statistical impossibility would make her a real life typhoid Mary. (Oh, it's okay Tricia, you don't have to come to the wedding! Just send a card *nervous laughter*).

Four stars, a fun light cozy mystery. The series will be a hit with fans of "Jessica Fletcher", Ellie Alexander, Cleo Coyle, and Jenn McKinlay.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Why is it so hard for Tricia to visit locations in town and not find a body? She would like to run her bookstore help her sister with the town council and enjoy had family and friends Sunday meal. Yet another dead body shows up, and the new intern wants to solve the murder. Tricia's sister Angelica is doing everything she can to discourage them from becoming involved, but no one seems to be listening. Another fun read in the series.

A Questionable Character is a quick easy read. Tricia and Angelica are back and as different as always. I was not happy with the sort of romance between Tricia and the summer intern, David. It just didn’t feel right and seemed forced. The murder in and of itself did not come as a surprise, and the killer was easy to figure out. This series has always been enjoyable, but this addition to the series may be a bit too soft when it comes to a murder mystery. Generally speaking, the story is fun and leaves readers with a happy outcome. If you are looking for a calm relaxing read, this book is for you.

I have enjoyed the few books I have read so far in the Booktown series. I do have plans to go back and fill in the gaps and read all of them to this point. The characters are well developed and the setting is quaint and perfect small town feel. And a book about a bookshop is something that appeals to me. However, I am going to hold off making any decisions about the new character and Tricia’s new possible love interest. Not sure how I feel about him and the relationship. But I will give it a chance to develop in the next adventure with the people of Stoneham, New Hampshire.

Though I love Mr. Everett and Pixie! They are wonderful characters and add so much to the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

Princess Fuzzypants here: Tricia does not want to let anyone down. Her powerhouse sister has her helping run the local Chamber of Commerce. A new intern for the summer arrives and immediately latches onto Tricia. In spite of the age difference, Tricia is not spurning David’s friendship although Angelica reminds her to maintain decorum. But Angelica has a problem that seems to drive them closer together.

Angelica is renovating a grand old house into offices but things are not going smoothly. The man who is running the day to day work is found murdered on the site. As if that was not enough, when Tricia and David start asking questions, the uncover a hornet’s nest of fraud and intrigue and suspects. Tricia does not make friends and influence people during her search for answers. In fact, just the opposite. She does however stumble across the killer. Without giving too much away, let us say the villain turned out to be a big surprise.

I have enjoyed this series but I suspect that in future books Tricia may be less concerned about “saving face”. If that is the case, it is going to a very interesting twist.

Four purrs and two paws up.

See my reviews of other books in this series: Not the Killing Type, Book Clubbed, A Fatal Chapter and Clause of Death.

When I think about my favorite cozy mystery series, The Booktown Mystery series, is one that instantly comes to mind. Tricia and her sister, Angelica, and all of their coworkers, friends and other townspeople have become family over the years. Lorna Barrett never fails to amaze this cozy reader and I am sure that this series is a favorite of other readers as well. In this newest addition to the series, Angelica is renovating an old mansion in town to house the employees of her lucrative business, Nigela Ricita Associates, which has been very influential in bringing commerce and creating jobs in the small town. When the local contractor’s main man, Sanjay, is found dead at the mansion, Tricia just can’t keep herself from trying to discover who had the motive, means and opportunity to commit this murder.

Tricia is soon off to solve a murder and when the new intern at the Chamber of Commerce, David, begins to involve Tricia in his own investigation, they decide to team up and investigate together. Two heads are better than one right? Rumor around town is that Sanjay was involved in an affair with his boss’ wife and had several relationships with other ladies around town. Was one of them the murderer, or did someone else have it out for Sanjay? Angelica is less than pleased that Tricia has involved herself in yet another murder mystery and is less than forgiving towards Tricia regarding the budding relationship with the much younger intern. Will this mystery finally drive the sisters apart?

Another fantastic, well-written and engaging installment from Lorna Barrett. She never disappoints with her mysteries. While this book lacked some of the intrigue that we saw in other installments, this was still a great read and one that I couldn’t put down. If you are a cozy mystery reader and you haven’t discovered this series yet, then what are you waiting for? I promise you will not be disappointed.

Overall Rating: 4.5 stars
Author: Lorna Barrett

Series: Booktown Mystery #17

Publisher: Berkley

Publication Date: July 18, 2023

Pages: 331

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Get It: Amazon

Disclaimer: This book was given to me by the publisher, through NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review. I reviewed this book without compensation of any kind. All thoughts and opinions are solely mine.

Synopsis

Tricia Miles cannot help stumbling over at least one body in every book in this series. If you were expecting something different in this installment, you're reading the wrong series. Fans will be happy to know that nothing has really changed in Booktown. Angelica is developing more of her real estate holdings when her contractor's assistant turns up dead at the property. If you've made it this far in the series, you don't need me to tell you who discovers the body.

What is new and surprising is Tricia's maybe yes/maybe no love interest. Is there a May September romance budding for our favorite bookish sleuth? Or does this dapper young gent have something to hide? Why is Angelica warning Tricia to keep her distance?

My Overall Thoughts

I've been reading this series for several years now and I keep coming back. It's a cozy mystery set in a mystery book store in a town full of independent book stores. I mean, what's not to love.

That said, every time I read another book in this series, I do tell myself it is the last one. I'm always left a little disappointed at how formulaic each novel is and how little changes from one volume to the next. There is nothing bad about each book. They are enjoyable and well written. The characters are well developed if somewhat dull. However, the series is almost the same book over and over. There is some overall moving forward of the main characters' lives, but it's just not quite enough.

I definitely recommend reading at least one book in the series, but I think you could pick any one as they are pretty interchangeable.

What I Didn't Love

I wish Tricia were just more assertive and dynamic. She's always on the milquetoast side especially in her interactions with her sister. The protagonist should just be a more interesting character.

Potentially Offensive Content

In true cozy fashion, there is little to warn the reader about here. You know the book centers around a murder but there are no graphic details. Even the age disparity romance is very tame.

What I Loved

Where this book, as well as the whole series, shines is the setting. It's a place any mystery reader will feel at home. It really doesn't get any more "cozy" than Booktown and Haven't Got a Clue.

Barrett adds another great book to her Booktown Mystery series. Tricia is at it again with a new sidekick and perhaps love interest! Her normal secondary characters play a lesser role in this book which is somewhat disappointing, but overall, it was a great read.

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

What finer place could there be for an avid reader to live or visit than Stoneham, AKA Booktown, New Hampshire? I could get used to being around so many bookstores of various sizes and specialties! Those of us who thrive on mysteries would appreciate Haven’t Got a Clue, owned by Tricia Miles. Her specialty is mystery novels, with an emphasis on vintage mysteries.

I had mixed feelings about this visit to Booktown. I still enjoy the village even if it does have more murders than anywhere else in the state. The dedication that sisters Angelica and Tricia have to the village is outstanding, as is how active they are on its behalf. I was pleased to see a bit of change in the friendship between Tricia and Mr. Everett, one of the bookstore employees. A private man, he rarely involves himself with other people’s personal lives, but when he chose to do so, it was done with the utmost care and respect. The mystery was a challenge to understand and solve, especially with a limited number of clues. I even suspected one of the “good guys”!

This is a busy summer for everyone, including Stark Construction, owned by Jim Stark. His company has done several jobs for Tricia and Angelica, and is currently renovating a mansion for Nigela Ricita. Nigela has poured vast amounts of money into the local economy with business ownership and partnering with new businesses. The historic mansion will be used as an office building by NR Associates. with original fixtures and décor saved for future restoration of the original home. Since Angelica’s identity as Nigela is a secret, she can only go there very early or late when no workers are present. Tricia came with her, but they didn’t get far before finding Sanjay, the project manager, lying dead in the butler’s pantry.

Later, Tricia went to the bus station to pick up the summer intern they hired for the Chamber of Commerce, of which they were co-presidents. David was looking forward to this summer in a charming village while learning a vital service to the community. Tricia would oversee David.

One thing David read about before arriving was the high rate of murder. Another is how Tricia had helped solve many of them. When he learned a murder occurred the morning he arrived, he wanted to be involved with Tricia in solving the murder even when she said she was staying out of this one. He wouldn’t take no for an answer, so Tricia wouldn’t, either, even when it angered Angelica.

There is an eclectic collection of characters, and I was happy to see Tricia’s employees and Angelica’s son and his family. Each are defined through conversations and behaviors. The prior novel in the series told how Tricia and the new chief of police, Ian, knew each other from before, but this time, it was as if they never knew each other. I did appreciate the list of characters; as otherwise I keep a cheat sheet of my own.

Perhaps her actions result from grieving several recent deaths, but Tricia was very out of character this time. I didn’t like her attitudes or behaviors especially regarding Angelica and people she questioned about the murdered man. Angelica was also acting out of character when it came to Tricia, as if they were squabbling children.

The mystery was intriguing and challenging, holding my attention throughout. There was a good number of suspects, most with similar possible motives. Plot twists kept my focus on the case, and I was happy when Ian finally shared some of the information the police had garnered and who their person of interest was. I was very surprised, ultimately, at who the killer was and at the motive behind it and relieved that it would finally be over. I love how this author can still surprise me! The end was satisfactory. I recommend this book and series, and look forward to visiting Booktown again!

Lorna Bennett continues the Booktown mysteries with A Questionable Character. When Tricia Miles and sister Angelica visit the mansion that Angelica is having rebuilt as an office building, the discover Sanjay, one of the contract workers dead--murdered. Stark the builder is in trouble with the loss of his top worker and equipment disappearing from his operations. Sanjay has the reputation as a playboy. Lots of suspects. Tricia is snooping into the murder with the chamber of commerce David; romance may be blooming even with age differences. All the suspects are being crossed off the list. Whodunit?

This was a fun cozy set in a town dedicated to books. I wish I had known it was book #17 in the series; I felt a bit behind on some of the character dynamics. I think there were a few bits of this book that were misleading for no reason, not red herrings, just weird information to add. Overall I am excited to read the backlog of this series.


I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

Tricia Miles is accompanying her sister Angelica on a tour of the latter’s latest property renovations when they’re both shocked to discover the body of their contractor’s right-hand man, Sanjay Arya, bludgeoned to death in the mansion’s pantry. They immediately call it in to the cops, and are nonplussed at the professional, if not outright personable, reaction they get from Stoneham’s new Chief of Police Ian McDonald. It’s a far cry from the hostility of his predecessor, so when he asks them to stay out of investigating Sanjay’s death, the sisters are more than happy to oblige. After all, Tricia only really snoops when she has a personal connection to the death. Since that isn’t the case now – and since Chief McDonald seems perfectly competent – she’ll gladly leave any investigating to the proper authorities. Angelica, who usually only gets involved in these kinds of shenanigans due to Tricia, is even more relieved to leave this one alone.

Unfortunately, the Miles’ attractive new intern at the Chamber of Commerce has no such compunctions. David Price did his homework on Stoneham prior to arriving in town, and is well aware both of the high concentration of murders in the area and of Tricia’s reputation for solving them. When he hears about Sanjay’s murder, he’s eager to jump right into sleuthing. Tricia’s initial instinct is to discourage him, but after Angelica basically orders her to stop him, she finds herself quietly, and defiantly, showing him the ropes of amateur detection instead.

Complicating matters is Tricia’s growing attraction to David, who is about two decades younger than she is. He keeps wanting to spend time with her, ostensibly to discuss Sanjay’s case but really, she suspects, for more personal reasons. In order to nip all this in the bud, she decides to hurry up and help David figure out whodunnit so they can go back to having a properly professional boss and intern relationship.

Uncomfortably enough, their sleuthing uncovers more than one age-gapped romance in Sanjay’s life, as he had apparently been in the habit of romancing various older women in the area. Will Tricia be able to keep herself and her young “friend” out of trouble of more than one kind, as their snooping draws both small town gossip and the attention of a killer?

At the start of this book, I was somewhat taken aback by how snippy so many of the characters were with one another, especially in comparison with previous installments of the Booktown mystery series. As A Questionable Character progresses though, our main characters’ motives become not only clear but completely understandable as they deal with their relatable fears and neuroses. Tricia, especially, is large-hearted and empathetic despite her own self-doubts and occasional moments of being judgmental. No one is perfect, and her flaws only make her that much more believable and compelling as a heroine.

There were four cookie recipes included here, some easier than others. I decided to try one of average difficulty:

QUOTE
New Hampshire Maple Syrup Cookies

½ cup shortening
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
½ cup maple syrup
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup flaked coconut
½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C, Gas Mark 5). In a mixing bowl, cream the shortening and brown sugar until fluffy. Beat in the egg, syrup, and vanilla until well mixed. Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt; add to the creamed mixture. Stir in the coconut and nuts (if using). Drop by teaspoonfuls onto greased baking sheets. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until lightly browned.
END QUOTE

As usual, I eschewed nuts in making these, and used parchment paper instead of greasing the cookie sheet. I’m especially glad I skipped the nuts, because of the very light texture of the cookies. The airiness goes really well with the flaked coconut, but would contrast too much, I feel, with anything crunchier.

I actually managed to make just a little over three dozen cookies from this recipe, almost all of which my kids absolutely housed in one evening (they thoughtfully left a few for their parents, though.) We’re all big fans of maple flavor, and these cookies showcase that in a delicately delicious manner.

Next week, we head a few states south to bake up another sweet treat while paranormally investigating a hit and run. Do join me!

I enjoy this series and the relationships between all of the characters. The mystery kept me guessing.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review

In a town affectionately known as Booktown, Tricia runs a mystery bookstore-and solves murders when the police can’t. This time a construction worker is found dead by Tricia and her sister.

I loved the setting of this story, but not the story itself. I think it’s because I didn’t really love the characters. Even the romance felt off. This book just wasn’t for me.

When Tricia Miles and her sister Angelica went to check on Angelica’s latest business venture, renovating the Morrison Mansion into office space. Angelica was going to use the space for Nigela Ricita Associates, the development company she ran under an alias. But when the sisters went to the mansion so Angelica could show off the work to Tricia early one morning, what they found was the head contractor, Sanjay Arya. But he wasn’t working. He’d been killed.

Tricia and Angelica have a lot going on, between running their respective businesses and co-presidents of the local Chamber of Commerce. For the summer, they’ve hired an intern named David Price to help with the day-to-day office work of answering phones and such for the Chamber. Tricia also runs one of the many local bookshops, a mystery store called Haven’t Got a Clue. Angelica owns several businesses around town, including a beauty shop, an inn, and the café where the sisters usually meet for lunch.

Jim Stark ran the contracting company where Sanjay had worked, and Stark had done work for both of the sisters. Sanjay had been his right-hand man, handling a thousand details for the Morrison Mansion job as well as many others. Now, all those jobs are on hold, and the mansion is a crime scene. While Tricia had been known for doing some amateur investigating from time to time, Angelica told her in no uncertain terms that she should leave this one alone. And Tricia intended to do just that.

Except.

Their intern David has different ideas. He’d done some research on the town before he got there. He knew about the murders that had happened in the area, and he knew Tricia was involved with many of them. He wanted to investigate, and he wasn’t going to be deterred. When Tricia accompanied him on one fact-finding mission, she realized that his heavy-handed investigating skills wasn’t going to get him very far. She agrees to help, partly to protect him from himself and partly because despite their age difference, Tricia finds herself drawn to him.

But the closer they get to the truth about Sanjay, wading through the gossip and the facts, the closer Tricia gets to coming face-to-face with another killer. Will she figure out how to protect herself, and her heart, before it’s too late?

A Questionable Character is book 17 in Lorna Barrett’s Booktown Mystery series. The series is set around a small town filled with bookstores and book-themed restaurants and around the Miles sisters, who give so much back to the town. But while the town has charm and history, it also has dark secrets, and Tricia has had to face a lot of them.

This was my first time in Booktown, but I really enjoyed it. I liked the Miles sisters and how much they cared for the town. I did think Tricia made some short-sighted mistakes in her investigation, and that was a little disappointing in a series that has gone on for so long, but overall, I thought it was an interesting plot, well developed, with lots of memorable characters. I feel lucky to have been introduced to Booktown through A Questionable Character, and I will need to make trips to visit Booktown in the future.

Egalleys for A Questionable Character were provided by Berkley through NetGalley, with many thanks.

A Questionable Character by Lorna Barrett transports readers to Stoneham, New Hampshire where Angelica and Tricia find their contractor’s right-hand man, Sanjay Arya, dead, dead inside the building being renovated for the new the headquarters of Nigela Ricita Associates. Tricia Miles, with help from the new Chamber of Commerce intern, David, investigates the crime. I look forward to visiting Stoneham each year. This visit, though, was a letdown. The story seemed to focus on the Tricia’s day-to-day activities, especially her daily lunch and dinner with her sister. The new Chamber of Commerce intern, David Price, is a quirky new addition. He is a library sciences graduate student with a unique style of dress (personally, I liked his choice of brooches). David is curious about the murder and wants to help Tricia solve the case. The attraction between the two is apparent from the beginning. People’s reactions to this pairing will be entertaining. I was not a fan of how Angelica treated Tricia over this new development. She acted like it was scandalous for her sister to be interested in a younger man. The mystery was unexciting. It lacked action, suspense, and suspects. It felt like the author did not take the time to plan it out. It seemed like the guilty party was plucked out of thin air. There is a secondary mystery that has Angelica up in arms. The guilty party to that whodunit was easy to identify. The reveal neatly wraps up both mysteries. I was envious of the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boy books that Pixie and David found at an estate sale (at such a good price too). I wanted them for myself. There is an incident in the book that will either make you laugh or cringe (or both). You laugh because of the description and cringe for the same reason (it is something you never want to happen to you). Tricia does have an enlightening conversation with Mr. Everett. I wonder what Tricia will do with the information she learned. While I like the characters and the setting, I was not a fan of the storyline. A Questionable Character was not at the same level as earlier book in the series. A Questionable Character is the seventeenth book in A Booktown Mysteries. While it could be read as a standalone, I recommend reading the earlier books in the series as they are more engaging.

A Questionable Character is book 17 in the Booktown Mystery by Lorna Barrett.
Well this one really drew me in.
This was a really good mystery with great characters, excellent premise and a very intriguing story.
The mystery is full of twists and turns and is well-plotted. I was completely blindsided when the culprit was revealed. The mystery I found it to be well plotted and it moved along at a steady pace.
This book was a fun read. I have enjoyed all the characters that make the town.
This is a must read cozy mystery that I really loved!

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Berkley for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Book 17 in the Booktown mysteries is another winner. I really enjoy the characters and the setting. It is like visiting old friends. Who doesn't love a series set in a town with lots of bookshops? She introduces a new character, who hasn't grown on me. We will see what the series has in store!

A Questionable Character by Lorna Barrett is book #17 in the Booktown Mystery series. Tricia Miles gets involved in another murder mystery and her sister Angelica is not happy about it. This time Tricia has the young Chamber of Commerce intern David Price along on the case. Seems it is David's idea to investigate. I have read a number of the earlier books in the series and really enjoyed them. This one was an okay read and not my favorite in the series. I just couldn't warm up to David or Tricia's attraction to him.