Murder Off the Books is book 3 in the By the Book Mysteries series, by Tamara Berry, but for those new to the series like I am, it’s easily read as a stand-alone.
Mystery writer Tess Harrow decides to open a bookstore in her town, and, along with her teenaged daughter, Gertrude, has put a lot of planning into the event. Cue the unexpected arrival of her somewhat distant, quirky mother, and her mother’s alleged serial killer boyfriend, and plans for the grand opening of the store go off the rails quickly.
Now Tess is involved in another murder (she has a bit of a reputation there), and trying to prove that her mother is not the killer.
With quirky characters, and complex relationships, this was a really enjoyable cosy mystery.
Thanks to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and Tamara Berry for providing an ARC of this book for review purposes.
Murder Off the Books releases on May 30th 2023.
Life, Tea, and Everything 