Monday, December 13, 2021

Book Spotlight ~ #Giveaway ~ #Review ~ How to Book a Murder (A Starlit Bookshop Mystery, Book 1) by Cynthia Kuhn @cynthiakuhn #CozyMystery

 

How to Book a Murder (A Starlit Bookshop Mystery) by Cynthia Kuhn

About How to Book a Murder:

How to Book a Murder (A Starlit Bookshop Mystery)

Cozy Mystery

1st in Series

Publisher: ‎ Crooked Lane Books (December 7, 2021)

Hardcover: ‎ 336 pages

ISBN-10: ‎ 1643858599

ISBN-13: ‎ 978-1643858593

Digital ASIN: ‎ B08QVJFZZK

Perfect for fans of Jenn McKinlay and Kate Carlisle, in award-winning author Cynthia Kuhn’s series debut, small-town bookseller and literary event planner Emma Starrs is out to close the book on a killer intent on crashing the party.

To help save her family’s floundering Colorado bookstore, Starlit Bookshop, newly minted Ph.D. Emma Starrs agrees to plan a mystery-themed dinner party for her wealthy, well-connected high school classmate Tabitha Baxter. It’s a delightful evening of cocktails and conjecture until Tabitha’s husband, Tip—hosting the affair in the guise of Edgar Allan Poe’s detective C. Auguste Dupin—winds up murdered. 

In a heartbeat, Emma and her aunt Nora, a famous mystery writer, become suspects. Emma is sure the party’s over for Starlit events, until celebrated author Calliope Nightfall, whose gothic sensibilities are intrigued by the circumstances, implores the bookseller to create a Poe-themed launch event for her latest tome. Throwing a bash to die for while searching for additional clues is already enough to drive Emma stark raven mad, but another shocking crime soon reveals that Silvercrest has not yet reached the final chapter of the puzzling case. 

Someone in this charming artistic community has murder on the mind, and if Emma cannot outwit the killer, she and her beloved aunt will land behind bars, to walk free nevermore. 

My Review:

How to Book a Murder is the first book in the new Starlit Bookshop Mystery series by Cynthia Kuhn. Emma returns to Colorado to help her sister, Lucy, and Aunt Nora save their bookstore. Unfortunately for Emma, returning home re-ignited long ago rivalries with high school adversaries. When she gets involved in hosting a murder-mystery evening at her rival's home, tragedy occurs and all fingers point to Emma and her Aunt Nora.

 I enjoyed the premise of the story and how the author unfolded the mystery. She included several side stories that gave How to Book a Murder depth and realism. I was invested in the characters and the plot as I read about two sisters running the family bookstore, trying to figure out additional income streams to keep them afloat.

The book is full of twists, turns, double-crosses, and deceit. I was surprised at the reveal of the murderer, but not at all surprised about the who the person hung around with. There was a lot going on and sorting out what was part of the murder plot and what wasn't, kept me on my toes. I look forward to the next book in the series.

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

My Rating:


 

About Cynthia Kuhn:

Cynthia Kuhn is an English professor and author of the Starlit Bookshop Mysteries and the Lila Maclean Academic Mysteries. Her work has also appeared in Mystery Most Edible, McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern, Copper Nickel, Prick of the Spindle, Mama PhD, and other publications. Honors include an Agatha Award, a William F. Deeck-Malice Domestic Grant, and Lefty Award nominations. Originally from upstate New York, she lives in Colorado with her family. For more information, please visit cynthiakuhn.net.

Author Links:

Website: cynthiakuhn.net
Twitter: @cynthiakuhn

Purchase Links - Amazon - B&N - Kobo - Google Play - IndieBound - Bookshop

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December 6 – The Book Diva's Reads – SPOTLIGHT
December 6 – The Book's the Thing – REVIEW
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