A review by tsundoku_problem
Murder in the Bookshop by Anita Davison

lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75

A cozy mystery but feels like paint-by-numbers and for me, the characters were shallow and stereotypical.  The main character, Hannah, is - extremely annoying and naive beyond belief.  It would have been better to have the books be about Aunt Violet...

Hannah was engaged to someone she didn't love but - luckily for her - he was conveniently killed at the front.  A series of somewhat stupid events ensue and so Hannah's real love becomes single again, thereby setting up a will-they-won't-they for the rest of the series (which I won't be reading, even though I bought the first three books in the series - why do I always do this???).  Also, it must be nice for Hannah and Aunt Violet to be so rich that they don't have to worry about the bookshop being bombed...I'm sure the cheeky cockney chappie bookshop assistant will find some other way to feed his family...