A poisonous page

Kitt Crowe

Book - 2022

Kitt Crowe's second Sweet Fiction Bookshop mystery whips up an array of intriguing suspects and motives into a diabolically deft read, perfect for fans of Jenn McKinlay and Joanne Fluke. It's summer festival time in Confection, Oregon, and that means a barrage of tourists making cash registers ring at Sweet Fiction Bookshop. But what should be bookseller Lexi's most lucrative time of year turns disturbing when a member of the chamber of commerce suddenly dies of a heart attack. Not entirely unexpected--considering her family history--but it's a different story when another chamber member dies just one week later…also, presumably, of natural causes. Something about this doesn't read right to Lexi. And it gets more ...unfathomable when her friend Dash--who dated both women--stands accused of murder! With Cookie, her lovable border collie mix, at her side and countless volumes of inspiration on her shelves, Lexi opens the book on another perplexing case. Who could have murdered two prominent townspeople without leaving even a hint of evidence on the scene? And why is an irksome-but-intriguing detective always seeming to catch her and Cookie working the case? Lexi's Confection Rose-colored glasses come off when she learns of thorny discussions among the council members, involving a string of secretive real estate transactions. Enlisting her faithful fellow members of the Macaroon Book Club, Lexi sets out to bind the clues together and clear Dash's name. But if she can't devise a clever trap for the real killer, she may soon end up with a very unhappily ever after of her own.

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Subjects
Genres
Cozy mysteries
Novels
Published
New York, NY : Crooked Lane Books 2022.
Language
English
Main Author
Kitt Crowe (author)
Physical Description
311 pages ; 22 cm
ISBN
9781643859200
Contents unavailable.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

In Crowe's sprightly follow-up to 2021's Digging Up Trouble, bookshop manager Lexi Jones of tourist town Confection, Ore., is suspicious of the sudden death of real estate agent and chamber of commerce chair Marilyn Freeman. Though imperious Det. Chad Berg is more inclined to regard it as the result of a sudden heart attack, Lexi wonders if it might relate to shady property deals in the area. When Marilyn's rival, Rachel Nevis, also turns up dead, Lexi is convinced that the two cases are connected and is impelled to investigate when Dash Hagen, the brother of a friend of hers and a former lover of Marilyn and Rachel, becomes the police's prime suspect in Rachel's killing. Members of the Macaroons book club are more than willing to assist Lexi, despite Berg's hostility toward amateurs meddling in official investigations. Winning characters, slapstick interactions between Lexi and Berg, and an offbeat climax will keep readers riveted. Both fans and new readers will look forward to the inquisitive Lexi's next appearance. Agent: Nicole Resciniti, Seymour Agency. (July)

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Review by Kirkus Book Review

A satisfying follow-up to Crowe's engaging debut, Digging Up Trouble (2021). Lexi Jones' mystery-loving book club got her out of trouble when she was suspected of murdering her neighbor. Now her friends and her very smart dog, Cookie, have to rescue her bestie Teri's brother, flirtatious tavern owner Dash Hagen, once again putting Lexi in conflict with drop-dead-gorgeous police detective Chad Berg. In Confection, Oregon, where Lexi manages her parents' bookstore, sweet treats and festivals entice a constant stream of tourists. When Marilyn Freeman, a stunning real estate agent with a roving eye, dies of an apparent heart attack, there seems nothing for the sleuthing Macaroon book club members to investigate. But things change once Rachel Nevis, who worked for Marilyn, is found dead in Dash's backyard. Dash is arrested, and Lexi and the Macaroons must prove his innocence. Marilyn and Rachel were enemies, and rumors have it there was something hinky about some of Marilyn's dealings. Rachel's death leads the police to take a second look at Marilyn's body, and they find enough ketamine to trigger a heart attack. The Macaroons are perfectly placed to hear all the town gossip, and Marilyn, who cherished a well-honed indifference to whether the men she slept with were married, left behind a plethora of angry wives and girlfriends. Though Berg doesn't want Lexi sleuthing, he has to admit that she comes up with some good clues. Sparks fly when their mutual attraction is muddled by murder. A complex mystery, a clever dog, and a fraught romance make perfect cozy ingredients. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.