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fxtrtr's review against another edition
4.0
After the death of her husband, Penelope needed a change for herself and her son. That change came in the form of her aunt's failing bookstore. Penelope took the life insurance, made some changes in the bookstore and together with her aunt, breathed some new life into the old building. When their very first guest author dies in their store during a promotional tour, Penelope begins to feel that she is being fitted for a frame job.
brucethegirl's review against another edition
3.0
Okay. Okokokok.
Is it great? No. Did I already buy book 2? Yes.
It’s fun, it’s not overly complicated, and I’m intrigued to read more of this story. Jack’s mysterious death in particular.
I had issues throughout the book- the specific choices made to talk about Calvin’s desperation and suicide. The decision to never mention the dream in terms of how it ended. Was it even actually a dream? I’m honestly confused on that regard. I’m really hoping that this becomes the main way of communication between jack and Pen just because it’s fun and he has a body. But I digress.
A quick read, a lazy read, but entertaining.
Is it great? No. Did I already buy book 2? Yes.
It’s fun, it’s not overly complicated, and I’m intrigued to read more of this story. Jack’s mysterious death in particular.
I had issues throughout the book- the specific choices made to talk about Calvin’s desperation and suicide. The decision to never mention the dream in terms of how it ended. Was it even actually a dream? I’m honestly confused on that regard. I’m really hoping that this becomes the main way of communication between jack and Pen just because it’s fun and he has a body. But I digress.
A quick read, a lazy read, but entertaining.
soubhi's review
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
krisrid's review against another edition
4.0
The first book in the "Haunted Bookshop" series is buckets of fun!! Newly widowed Penelope Thornton-McClure has taken her son Spencer and hightailed it out of NYC and away from her rich, over-bearing in-laws, to return to Rhode Island to become co-owner with her aunt Sadie, of "Buy the Book" a mystery bookstore that's been in the family for years.
Pen is just barely making ends meet and hits on the idea of holding author readings to bring people into the sleepy little store. Doesn't it just figure, that the first author she gets - famous mystery writer Timothy Brennan - drops dead in the middle of the reading in front of a store full of people AND two camera men filming the whole thing?
Then, when it turns out the death was murder, and the apparent murder weapon - a bottle of water - was handed to the author by Peneope, on film no less! well, Pen's in hot water.
Oh, did I forget to mention that the main character in the books written by Timothy Brennan, Jack Shepard, who's been dead for more than fifty years happens to be haunting Penelope's bookstore and somehow is able to not only hear her thoughts but talk back to her inside her head?!
This is a delightful romp of a book! Penelope starts out a little wishy-washy, having just seen her husband commit suicide and having to battle her nasty in-laws to keep her son with her and relatively unspoiled so she's a bit battered. But once Jack gets ahold of her, she gets her moxie back in a hurry, which is a good thing, since she needs to solve the murder in a New York minute if she doesn't want to find herself locked up in the big house!
The book is very much an homage to the traditional gum-shoe, private eye, film noir genre and while the Jack Shepard character spouts cliches out the wazoo, he's so funny and clever you really don't mind. Each chapter starts with a quote from either a film noir movie, or a private eye book or author which is also fun.
All in all a fun, fast moving read with likeable characters and a good plot. You can even try to figure out whodunnit, if you want to!
Pen is just barely making ends meet and hits on the idea of holding author readings to bring people into the sleepy little store. Doesn't it just figure, that the first author she gets - famous mystery writer Timothy Brennan - drops dead in the middle of the reading in front of a store full of people AND two camera men filming the whole thing?
Then, when it turns out the death was murder, and the apparent murder weapon - a bottle of water - was handed to the author by Peneope, on film no less! well, Pen's in hot water.
Oh, did I forget to mention that the main character in the books written by Timothy Brennan, Jack Shepard, who's been dead for more than fifty years happens to be haunting Penelope's bookstore and somehow is able to not only hear her thoughts but talk back to her inside her head?!
This is a delightful romp of a book! Penelope starts out a little wishy-washy, having just seen her husband commit suicide and having to battle her nasty in-laws to keep her son with her and relatively unspoiled so she's a bit battered. But once Jack gets ahold of her, she gets her moxie back in a hurry, which is a good thing, since she needs to solve the murder in a New York minute if she doesn't want to find herself locked up in the big house!
The book is very much an homage to the traditional gum-shoe, private eye, film noir genre and while the Jack Shepard character spouts cliches out the wazoo, he's so funny and clever you really don't mind. Each chapter starts with a quote from either a film noir movie, or a private eye book or author which is also fun.
All in all a fun, fast moving read with likeable characters and a good plot. You can even try to figure out whodunnit, if you want to!
bibliophile421's review against another edition
5.0
I decided to give this book a try because I am absolutely addicted to their coffeehouse series. This book did not disappoint. If you love cozy small town mysteries with a slight paranormal twist, I highly recommend this book!
yeti's review
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
meigs's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed this book for the most part, but the subtle sexism, blatant misogyny, and casual racism (there’s a comment about a Korean person being Chinese) was a bummer. I get it, it’s a story about a “private dick” from the 40’s and I know the book was written in 2004 - so reading it in 2021 gives one a much different lens. But having that lens it’s hard to overlook. Overall it’s an entertaining, cozy mystery. I just wish white writers would do better.
pussreboots's review
3.0
I don't like the male narrator's voice. He does a terrible job with most of the characters. The female narrator should just do his POV chapters too.
jresendez610's review against another edition
3.0
The only thing I didn't really like about this book was the ghost! I didn't hate him, but I found his dialogue very corny. And when he kept hitting on the MC, and the MC finding herself attracted to him, it was very awkward. He's a ghost! Other than that though, I liked this book. I loved that it was set in a bookstore and all the mentions of authors I recognized. The MC was very likable as were all the secondary characters. I especially enjoyed the mystery. Unlike most cozy mysteries where the MC suddenly stumbles upon the answers, or figures things out suddenly, it took this MC awhile to put the pieces of the puzzle together, which was way more realistic. Without the help of the ghost and the secondary characters, she probably wouldn't have figured it out. But everyone kind of worked together and talked things out until everything came together. I'm hoping the ghost becomes less cheesy, because I plan on continuing with the series. 3.5 stars.
aunt_t's review against another edition
3.0
The premise of this book was original, or at least it was to me. However, not being a fan of the 1930s-1940s gumshoe lingo, I doubt I'll continue the series