Murder Is Binding by Lorna Barrett
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Book Reviews of Murder Is Binding
Book Review: Small town cozy mystery with mystery bookseller sleuth
Summary: 5 Stars
Lorna Barrett's MURDER IS BINDING introduces the new Booktown Mystery series. A cozy mystery with a mystery bookseller amateur sleuth and a book at the center of the puzzle, this mystery is a fun light read. For mystery enthusiasts, the tribute to the mystery genre itself with mentions of mystery classics from Cornell Woolrich and Ngaio Marsh to Dorothy Sayers and Agatha Christie makes MURDER IS BINDING a must read. Every good cooking mystery must include recipes, and true to form, Lorna Barrett delights readers with a recipe addendum in the back.
Stoneham, known as the safest town in New Hampshire, was a dying town until the downtown revitalization. Now, the center of town houses genre specialty bookstores and draws in tourists and book collectors. Tricia Miles and her cat Miss Marple run the mystery bookstore, Haven't Got a Clue. When she discovers Doris Gleason, owner of the Cookery, dead in the neighboring bookstore, Tricia sees a new side of Stoneham from the political race threatening to divide long term natives on the town's outskirts and the bookstore newcomers to other simmering jealousies. When another resident has a suspicious car accident, Tricia thinks she might have a lead into the motive behind the murder but who can she trust? Sheriff Adams seems determined to pin the murders on Tricia, the town jinx. Tricia's sister Angelica arrives into town unexpectedly, stirring up the past along with her appetizing dishes.
Lorna Barrett's MURDER IS BINDING is a must read for mystery buffs. Full of first edition classics and tributes to many of the great mystery classics, readers will not only feel the nostalgia of a small town mystery but of their personal reading histories. Lorna Barrett's research into the bookseller trade flows in the smallest details from the details of book sources and different types of booksellers to the antiquarian and rare book standards for packaging books.
Tricia Miles is a wonderful sleuth. With each new trail, the reader catches a glimpse of a woman who cares for others and justice beyond just clearing her name even to the point of endangering her own safety. Tricia's relationship with her sister Angelica adds depth to the characterization as Tricia battles a history of sibling rivalry at the same time as she gains a mystery sidekick who amuses and endears the reader to the sisters. To the reader's delight, the mystery details and resolution provide several twists until the very end. Lorna Barrett gives readers a delicious mix of small town family jealousies and undercurrents beneath the surface complemented by heart-warming scenes, all brought together by Doris Gleason's murder. After reading Lorna Barrett's MURDER IS BINDING, the first in the Booktown Mystery series, readers might just find themselves hoping that this small town will forever shed the distinction of safest town to make way for more Booktown mysteries!
Book Review: Get A Clue with this Fascinating New Cozy Series!
Summary: 5 Stars
Well, I already knew that L.B. could write a mean paranormal thriller, but the question was whether or not she could pull off a cozy - something much more lighthearted and fun than her usual hard-boiled fare. No worries - it's as if she's been writing about Stoneham, the Safest Town in New Hampshire, and its interesting inhabitants all her life. Cozy lovers should definitely add the new Booktown Mysteries to their not-to-be-missed lists!
Tricia Miles is a successful businesswoman who moved to the safe little village of Stoneham, New Hampshire following a painful divorce. As part of a downtown renovation project to revitalize the village, Tricia and several other booksellers were wooed to open up shop along Main Street. The new businesses helped give the town a new lease on life - but too bad for Doris Gleason, owner of the The Cookery, it didn't work both ways! While Tricia is giving her sister, Angelica, the 50-cent tour of her new digs, they discover the body of the recently deceased Doris - with a knife sticking out her back.
As it turns out, Doris hasn't exactly endeared herself to the other booksellers, or anyone else for that matter, so there is an abundance of people who disliked her, although circumstantial evidence starts to point toward Tricia as a possible suspect. Tricia continues to be in the wrong place at the wrong time as Stoneham's nickname, the Safest Town in New Hampshire, becomes more and more of a misnomer.
The entire book is wonderfully descriptive, the characters fascinating and 3-dimensional, the plot exquisitely complex, and L.B.'s painstaking attention to detail doesn't go unnoticed (check out the facade of Haven't Got a Clue on the cover)! In addition, there is the added bonus of Tricia and Angelica's interesting and complicated sibling relationship. The way they were able to put aside past history to work together when push came to shove was touching. It made me ache for the company of my own sisters!
There are an awful lot of new series to choose from in the cozy mystery subgenre these days, but if you're debating about which one to add to your TBR list, I'd recommend putting Murder is Binding at the top!
Carol Ann Hopkins 4/7/2008
Book Review: Great Start for a series!
Summary: 5 Stars
Being a first time reader of Ms. Barrett's work, I am highly impressed. The detail of the book is so much fun. I felt like I really did walk into Haven't Got A Clue. The small town life is so much fun to read. I loved the cleanliness of the book. Ms. Barrett did a fabulous job. The characters were lively and fun to read.
Tricia was full of life and had moved on. I loved how she came to create her store and the atmosphere in it. She has a fantastic business with old/used books as well as the new ones. Her personality is fun to read and loved watching her store bloom. Her only employee Ginny loves her job and is a sweetie. Their balanced personalities make the store run smoothly. There is also their number one customer Mr. Everett who is there when the door opens and stays till closing time. He always helps out wherever Tricia might need help even though he is not an employee. Angelica, Tricia's sister, sweeps into town and wants to help Tricia in any way she can. Yet she makes friends with Bob Kelly, the main realtor of the town. Tricia isn't thrilled one bit.
I loved this series. I think it is great and getting off to a good start. I am curious to see how all the relationships play out like between Tricia and her sister Angelica. Plus I can see story lines coming hopefully in the romance department for Tricia. At least that is what I hope for. I don't know when I will pick up the next book but I hope soon!
Book Review: Fun little book
Summary: 5 Stars
I am not a mystery reader. In fact, I think I may have read a Sherlock Holmes and maybe a Nancy Drew or two. But I liked this book. The whole book town scheme lured me into it and then the story was pretty good. I'm used to very in depth characters and complicated storylines. This book was full of shallow, gossipy, self centered New Englanders. I actually liked that, because it made them all pretty realistic. None of the characters were very likeable, which made each one of them possible suspects of the murder. The murder victim was someone not very liked (or so we thought), so I could spend less time mourning her and more time trying to solve the mystery. The actual solution to the mystery was a little confusing, but it was still good.
I loved the book town theme. I loved all the names of the shops and how particular all the shop owners were about staying in-theme. I even liked the cat, and I'm definitely not a cat fan. The cat was even more self centered than the villagers. All this crime and murder going on around her and her biggest concern is her dinner. It was pretty cute.
I got the book for Christmas along with the sequel. I would recommend it to any book lover, whether they normally like mysteries or not. It really was a good, comfy read.
Book Review: Found this title most......
Summary: 5 Stars
enjoyable and am looking forward to the next title in this series.
Having read most, but not all, of the previous reviews, I have to say that I do agree with some of the comments with regard to awkward phrasing,
punctuation, etc. Add to that my own discomfort with Tricia's inner thoughts and feelings about her sister, and hoping that the author sees fit to alter what appears to me to be a "changing-for-the-better" relationship between the sisters, I still maintain my 5-star rating.
I loved the town and all the possibilities that exist for this series to grow on...especially Ms. Sheriff who must learn to control herself, as well as follow the law or leave it!! Loved Miss Marple tremendously, feel as though Angelica will grow in a positive way, as will Tricia, and
as for her two employees, well, for me they just saved the day on all heartwarming levels.....
And for someone who donates her books, I loved the cover artwork enough to keep this one on my shelf...
Other recommendations: Julie Hyzy's State of the Onion, Mary Jane Maffini-check amazon.com for her series'; Deb Baker, Michele Martinez,
David Rosenfelt, Lee Child, Harlan Coben. ENJOY