November 15, 2009
Soon after Tricia Miles, who owns a mystery bookstore in quaint Stoneham, New Hampshire, kicks her former college roommate Pammy Fredericks out of her apartment after a two-week visit, she finds Pammy dead in a garbage can outside a caf' owned by Tricias sister, Angelica. Tricia learns that Pammy, who was always working a get-rich-quick scheme, had found a diary and was apparently trying to blackmail someone. After getting threatening phone calls seemingly linked to Pammy, Tricia decides to investigate the murder. Meanwhile, she struggles to run her bookstore, deal with Angelica (who owns a cookbook store as well as the caf'), and plan a wedding for one of her employees. Her own romantic life takes an interesting turn when a captain in the county sheriffs department piques her interest. Small-town New Hampshire life, the sisters turbulent relationship, a budding romance, and plenty of cooking (including recipes) provide the ambience in this satisfying series. A good bet for readers of Joanne Flukes Hannah Swensen mysteries.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)