About the Book
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Madeline Brimley, new owner of a bookstore in a small Georgia town, finds herself playing sleuth when a friend is charged with the murder of a much-disliked woman.
Madeline Brimley recently inherited a bookstore in Enigma, Georgia, is embarking on her second career, after her first one (acting) founders upon the metaphorical rocks. Settling in, Madeline recruits her friend Gloria Coleman, the local Episcopal priest, to help her plant azaleas in the front yard of the old Victorian that houses the bookstore. Turning the soil, however, uncovers the body of one Beatrice Glassie, a troublesome woman who has been missing for the past six months.
When her friend Gloria is arrested for the murder, Madeline is determined to prove her innocence and, as she quickly finds out, there aren't many people in town who hadn't wanted to kill Bea Glassie at one point or another. And the very expensive and rare first edition of a particular volume of Grimm's Fairy Tales—ordered by the victim and her sister is somehow tied to the grim death. With the help of her not-quite-boyfriend, a local lawman, and her deceased aunt's bestfriend, Madeline plans to set a trap to catch the real murderer—before she becomes the next victim.
My Review
Madeline Brimley is busy making a success of her inherited bookshop in Enigma, Georgia. It hasn’t been easy, but Madeline has made it work. She and her best friend, Gloria Coleman are busy planting flowers in front of the store when they get the shock of their lives. Someone has buried human bones there and when the bones are identified as Bea Glassie, the small town is turned upside down.
There are many who disliked Bea, including her own sister. The police focus on one person - Madeline’s BFF Gloria. She’s immediately arrested. It’s up to Madeline and her friends to figure out who really did away with Bea. She knows it couldn’t be Gloria.
This is an intriguing mystery. It’s the second book of the series. You don’t have to read the first one, but I would think readers would enjoy getting the full picture behind Madeline being there in the first place. It’s always helpful to have background information.
Madeline is a strong character who never backs down. She sometimes acts a bit recklessly, as all amateur sleuths seem to do but she has a good reason. She must prove her friend’s innocence, and the police aren't much help.
The story moved along at a steady pace. There were many potential suspects each with their own story to tell. I enjoyed getting to know Madeline a little more in this book and look forward to reading more books in this series.
Craving for Cozies Reading Challenge 2025
NetGalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge 2025
Literary Escapes Reading Challenge 2025 (Georgia)
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
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