Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Bookmarked for Death

Title: Bookmarked for Death
Author: Lorna Barrett
Publisher: February 3rd 2009 by Berkley Prime Crime
Format: Mass Market Paperback, 297 pages
Genre: Cozy Myatery
Series: Booktown Mystery #2

I almost put this book down after the first chapter. Ten plus characters were introduced and Lorna Barrett has the most annoying habit of overly describing the surroundings. Does the reader really need to know the type and texture of the wallpaper or even the color of the bungee cord wrapped around the victim’s neck?

On the evening of a book signing at Haven’t Got a Clue, a bookstore owned by lead character Tricia Miles, the body of local author Zoe Carter is found. After having a spat with her niece and a revelation that there was a blackmailer, no one is quite sure what to make of the death or who could be behind it. To add more confusion -- is possible that the two crimes are not related.

As Tricia once again plays amateur sleuth, interesting questions arise as to whom Zoe Carter really was. Why was she so reclusive and what did she have to hide – beside that whole embezzlement thing a few years prior.

As clues are dropped all over town, Tricia begins to weave an intricate pattern that will lead to who really was behind the murder and who will be avenged in the process.

As I said, the character count is excessive. There were a couple that I kept confusing and a couple that might not have a place in this book, but I am sure they will reappear in future installments.

Overall, I did not like how the book ended. Suddenly there was information in the conclusion that was not even mentioned in the preceding chapters and the overall solution seemed to have been woven out of nothing.

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