When a murder occurs during a mystery-themed dinner party, bookstore owner Emma Starrs and her aunt Nora work together to try to solve the crime.
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When a murder occurs during a mystery-themed dinner party, bookstore owner Emma Starrs and her aunt Nora work together to try to solve the crime.
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Add this copy of How to Book a Murder (a Starlit Bookshop Mystery) to cart. $1.23, fair condition, Sold by ZBK Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Woodland Park, NJ, UNITED STATES, published 2021 by Crooked Lane Books.
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Fair. Used book-May contain writing notes highlighting bends or folds. Text is readable book is clean and pages and cover mostly intact. May show normal wear and tear. Item may be missing CD. May include library marks. Fast Shipping.
Add this copy of How to Book a Murder (a Starlit Bookshop Mystery) to cart. $1.98, very good condition, Sold by The Maryland Book Bank rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from baltimore, MD, UNITED STATES, published 2021 by Crooked Lane Books.
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Add this copy of How to Book a Murder (a Starlit Bookshop Mystery) to cart. $2.79, good condition, Sold by Blue Vase Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Interlochen, MI, UNITED STATES, published 2023 by Crooked Lane Books.
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Add this copy of How to Book a Murder to cart. $2.89, like new condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Reno rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Reno, NV, UNITED STATES, published 2021 by Crooked Lane Books.
Add this copy of How to Book a Murder to cart. $2.89, like new condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Baltimore rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Halethorpe, MD, UNITED STATES, published 2021 by Crooked Lane Books.
Add this copy of How to Book a Murder to cart. $2.89, very good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Reno rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Reno, NV, UNITED STATES, published 2021 by Crooked Lane Books.
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Add this copy of How to Book a Murder (a Starlit Bookshop Mystery) to cart. $3.00, very good condition, Sold by HPB-Ruby rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2023 by Crooked Lane Books.
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Colorado's Starlit Bookshop may be on its last legs so Emma Starrs comes home hoping to save the family store. To help line the store's coffers Emma agrees to step in to plan a mystery-themed party for one of her high school classmates when the original planner quits. Tabitha Baxter has the kind of friends and acquaintances that may want to host similar events and that would be good for the shop's bottom line. The hostess's husband is really into the works of Edwin Allan Poe, so he will be playing Detective C. Auguste Dupin in the game. But he soon finds himself playing the role of the deceased when he is found dead and the murder in the game goes unsolved, This is definitely not good for the host, it could also mean the end of the Starlit Bookshop when Tabitha accuses both Emma and her aunt, a famous author and college professor, of the murder to anyone who will listen. Of course, everyone at the event is on the suspect list including Tabitha Baxter.
While trying to book the real killer, gothic author and colleague of Emma's aunt, Calliope Nightfall requests a book signing at the Starlit Bookshop to launch her new book that also has a Poe connection. Knowing this may be her chance to pin down a few suspects Emma can't refuse. But will she push someone too far in her quest to book the murderer? Will the killer have the last word?
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In How To Book A Murder we meet Emma Starrs, her sister Lucy and their aunt Nora. All three are trying to save the bookshop but Nora also teaches at the local college. I found all three to be likable and genuine.
Beyond the main characters, readers will find a large supporting cast. What I came to think of Tabitha and her posse �¬ Her 3 BFFs and their husbands. Tabitha calls the shots and they fall in line. We also meet Nora's college colleagues. They were all at the party when their host was killed so they are suspects. Even the catering team is called into question.
The author has basically written a closed room mystery unless someone snuck onto the patio to do the deed and Emma has to take that into account. She does have a hard time getting anyone to talk. because Tabitha and her friends just keep accusing Emma and Nora even going so far as saying since Nora wrote a cozy mystery with a similar crime she must be guilty. This theory had me giggling. Look out, my cozy author friends!!
I did enjoy the way Ms. Kuhn plotted out this mystery. I had a lot of fun following the clues right along with Emma. My original theory was found false early and I found myself caught up in the whole story and was totally surprised when all was revealed.
I have to tell you that I have come across a few bookstores in my cozy mystery reading history that I would love to visit in real life if that was actually possible. Well, I have added the Starlit Bookshop to that list. The way the place was transformed for Calliope Nightfall's reading and signing as well as the wonderful shopkeepers really piqued my interest.
There is so much to entertain readers in How To Book A Murder. Unique characters, a marvelous setting and a really stirring mystery all come together for a very intriguing read. I am excited to see where the author takes these characters next after this enjoyable debut.
Kristina
Dec 8, 2021
A lighthearted cozy mystery
Dr. Emma Starrs returns home to help her sister, Lucy run the family bookstore, Starlit Bookshop. They need an influx of cash, so Emma steps in to help mean girl Tabitha with a murder mystery dinner. The event is a hit until Emma finds Tabitha�s husband dead on the patio. Emma�s aunt, Nora becomes the prime suspects with Emma in line behind her. The pair set out to find the truth. The killer, though, is not done with their slaying. Can Emma and Nora identify the guilty party before they end up next on the hit list? How to Book a Murder by Cynthia Kuhn is the debut of A Starlit Bookshop Mystery series. There are a variety of characters in this new cozy mystery. I liked Emma�s sister, Lucy who is a sweetie as well as Emma�s eccentric aunt, Nora. Nora has a lively personality and I like her unique attire. There is a large cast of characters and I found it a challenge to keep them a straight. Emma�s high school nemesis, Tabitha and her gaggle of followers are still in town. They are still mean (worse than in high school because now they have influence) and now they are rich. This might be a trigger for some people who had trouble with mean individuals in high school. The author�s descriptive writing allows readers to envision the characters and the town. Starlit Bookstore sounded like my type of place (where you could spend hours browsing through the books). The murder of Tabitha�s husband, Tip has Emma and Nora becoming amateur sleuths. Tabitha is openly accusing the pair of doing the deed. They have no choice but to search for the killer. They have an extensive list of suspects. Nora and Emma need to whittle down the list to figure out which individual committed the crime. It is a frustrating venture since the mean girl clique is unhelpful and spreading heinous gossip. In the end, all the clues come together for Emma. She needs to step carefully, or she could end up the next victim. I wish the wrap up had been more complete. I was left with a couple of unanswered questions at the end of the book. It also felt more like a recitation of information. There were two secondary characters that I thought were a hit. The caterer, Vivi Yang is a warm, friendly, and upbeat character who creates delectable food. I liked her and I hope we see more of her in future books. I also enjoyed Calliope Nightfall. She is an author with a flair for the dramatic. How to Book a Murder is blithe cozy mystery with a bewitching bookstore, office obstruction, multiple murders, a Poe party, malicious mean females, exquisite culinary cuisine, academic afflictions, and a raven reveal.
