Title: The Bookshop Mysteries: A Murder at the Church

Author: S.A. Reeves

Genre: Cozy Mystery

 

In the town of Belper, Gemma Curtis owns and manages The Bookworm Bookshop and Cafe. Gemma enjoys her days at the shop working with her best friend Mavis and sharing her love of books with new and return customers. Gemma takes any opportunity to boost her business and a church fair provides just such an opportunity.

However, the hustle and bustle of the fair is dramatically interrupted with the discovery of a dead body within the church’s confines. Gemma and Mavis waste little time in securing and photographing the crime scene, the booksellers begin to showcase their amateur detective skills which they have previously utilized in solving a crime. However, Gemma’s ex-beau and partner David is an actual police detective and would prefer the investigation be left to the professionals.

S.A. Reeves has penned a clever and intriguing whodunit set in a small town in England where the murder victim is not a choirboy and the suspect list is lengthy and full of surprises. While the appearance of the dead body in such a sacred location is grim, the author aptly offsets this with the resolve of Gemma and Mavis in their desire to get to the bottom of the murder and catch the killer.

Gemma Curtis is a woman who is determined in everything she does, whether it be as an entrepreneur or a part-time gumshoe. Gemma is willing to take risks in expanding her business, despite the inconsistent demand for brick-and-mortar bookstores. The current reality of this situation and its possible consequences lends this book an extra bit of authenticity. Gemma’s boldness in probing the church murder stems from her perception that things aren’t what they seem and that the police currently have the wrong person in custody. Gemma can be disarming in her queries, but the occasional outrage from some witnesses/suspects deftly increases the tension.

The benefits of living in a small town are often in how close-knit they can be and how neighbors can be trusted. Yet the author ingeniously tweaks this idea in illustrating how familiarity often furthers contempt and how secrets are desperately clung to in order to avoid ostracism. The murder has upset the stasis of Belper, and fear and paranoia have become palpable feelings.

The love of books is evident from the initial pages and is seen throughout the book. Whether it be Gemma talking to a customer about a worthy recommendation or Mavis thrilling children with her storytelling, the appreciation and knowledge of literature is noteworthy. The author even engages in an enjoyable meta moment when a debate develops over which type of mystery genre is preferable.

The key question of the story revolves around who killed the young man at the church. There are allusions to Gemma and Mavis solving a prior case, yet the story might benefit from a flashback exploring this case and how they were successful.

The Bookshop Mysteries: A Murder at the Church is a fun and interesting mystery novel from start to finish, filled with stellar characters and dynamite plot twists. The demand for the next whodunit for Gemma and Mavis to solve will be appreciable.

 

 

This Editorial Review was written by the Book Review Directory staff. To receive a similarly honest, professional review for one of your own books, click here.