Read Herring Hunt: A Mystery Bookshop Mystery

Hello!  A Wrench in the Works by Kate Carlisle is the next installment in A Fixer-Upper Mystery series and it comes out on November 6.  Murder at the Mansion by Sheila Connolly is the first book in Victorian Village Mysteries.  It will be available on June 26.

Read Herring Hunt by V.M. Burns is the second installment in A Mystery Bookshop Mystery series.  Samantha “Sam” Washington owns Market Street Mysteries in North Harbor, Michigan.  Dawson Alexander works (and lives) at the shop as well as bakes delights for their customers.  Dawson is also MISU (Michigan Southwest University) star quarterback.  On Monday, Dawson’s ex-girlfriend, Melody Hardwick is found dead by a jogger and Dawson is the police’s primes suspect.  Sam calls her sister and criminal defense lawyer, Jenna to defend Dawson.  Jenna tells all of them (with a special look at Nana Jo) to not speak with the press.  Unfortunately, Dawson’s wayward father, Alex did not get the message.  Dawson is suspended from school and the football team pending the outcome of the case.  Sam, Nana Jo and the Sleuthing Seniors dig up dirt on Melody to see who could have wished her harm.  They need to clear Dawson’s name before the next big game or his future will be over before it begins. 

Read Herring Hunt can be a read alone.  All the information a reader needs is included.  The case from The Plot is Murder is discussed three times and the background on the main characters is included.  Read Herring Hunt is an easy to read cozy mystery.  I like that the main story has a nice steady pace and an active murder investigation.  I felt that Nana Jo overwhelmed the main character, Sam.  Nana Jo has a lively personality, a variety of friends and a busy social life.  Sam comes across as rather bland (she is also a blabbermouth).  Sam is busy working on her second British cozy mystery and the chapters from it are included in the book (alternating chapters).  I do not like that the author included the book Sam is writing into the story.  It does not enhance the main story and it felt like filler.  It also takes a reader out of the story.  I wish the author had focused on improving her main story which could have used further development.  I found it lacking in depth and complexity.  All readers should be able to solve the murder mystery.  One detail gives away the killer’s identity (especially fans of Agatha Christie).  I do appreciate that the investigation was hands-on.  The Sleuthing Seniors and their connections are helpful in ferreting out details that aid in narrowing down their suspect list and pointing them in the direction of the evil doer.  I could have done without the cliché nasty detective with the unfortunate nickname of Stinky Pitt (courtesy of Nana Jo).  While A Mystery Bookshop Mystery series is not the right fit for me, I suggest you get a sample and see if it works for you.  We all have different reading tastes!  The next book in A Mystery Bookshop Mystery series is The Novel Art of Murder which will be published on November 27.  Sam's dogs are featured on the cover and Nana Jo (she is so feisty) lands herself at the top of the suspect list.

Thank you for stopping by today.  I will share my review of Cinco de Murder by Rebecca Adler tomorrow.  For now I am heading to the grocery store.  I am almost out of Pepsi and Hershey Kisses!  The dogs have added dog treats to the list along with bones.  I am amazed that they can tell which sack holds their goodies.  I hope you have a day filled with fun.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris
The Avid Reader