Book Review of Murder is Binding by Lorna Barrett

Title:  Murder is Binding
Series:  Book One of the Booktown Mystery Series
Author:  Lorna Barrett
Publication Date:  1 April 2008
Publisher:  Berkley
Pages:  288
Genre:  Mystery
Cover:  eBook
Price:  $7.99
Purchased from:  iBooks

Author Lorna Barrett has written the Booktown Mystery series which currently consists of six volumes, of which Murder Is Binding is the first release.  The mystery series is set in a quaint town in New Hampshire which has been turned into a book collector's mecca in order to revive the town's slumping economy.  Main street has a mystery book shop, cookbook shop, and history book shop, just to name a few.

Recently divorced Tricia Miles has come to New Hampshire and opens up the Haven't Got a Clue Book Shop which specializes in current and vintage mysteries.  Doris Gleason owns The Cookery book shop specializing in cook books, and within the first few pages she is murdered with a kitchen knife and the sheriff is looking at Tricia as the number one suspect.     

By the middle of the book, I had the mystery all solved, and I was a little dissapointed that Ms. Barrett had written such an easily solved murder mystery, but after a few more pages, I quickly learned that I was all wrong.  The book has one amazing ending.

I love the characters that Mr. Barrett has created.  Tricia Miles, our protagonist,  is very real and three-dimensional.  Angelica Preston is Tricia's sister, and she is so animated and I love how she is set to repairing her relationship with Tricia.  Tricia's two employees, Ginny and Mr. Everett are delightful as well.  I especially fell in love with Mr. Everett who is so kind and a perfect gentleman.  There is even a cat named Miss Marple! 

Murder is Binding is an excellent mystery and has encouraged me to read the rest of the Booktown Mystery series.  Bibliophiles and bookaholics will love that the mysteries are set within a town of book shops.

Comments

[Lorna Barrett (aka Lorraine Bartlett)]

Thank you for the lovely review. I hope you'll not only read the rest of the series, but try my other books; The Victoria Square mysteries (under the name Lorraine Bartlett) and the darker Jeff Resnick mysteries (under the name L.L. Bartlett).

[Joseph David Quinton]

Ms. Barrett, I was so overjoyed that you commented upon my blog post. I really am enjoying your Booktown Mysteries so very much; I started Bookmarked for Death this morning and I am loving it. Most gruesome death of Zoe! Once I complete the Booktown Mysteries, I will venture into your other two series. Who are your most favorite mystery authors?

[David Popely]

Thanks for the review Joseph - I shall be ordering a copy (or hopefully downloading to my now-indispensable Kindle) as soon as I have finished my own current read - "You Can't Say That" by Ken Livingstone, ex-Mayor of London and lifetime socialist.....