Book Details:
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Publication Date: November 29, 2022
ASIN: B09RTH1T7Q
ISBN-10: 1728248639
ISBN-13: 978-1728248639
Print Length: 408 pages
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3nyKhfL
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60350618-on-spine-of-death
About the Book:
In the aftermath of solving their first murder, bestselling author Tess Harrow and her teenage daughter Gertrude have decided to stay in Winthrop permanently. Now that they've made some updates to their cabin in the woods, they're turning to the family hardware store that Tess inherited and converting it into the town's first independent bookstore.
But when renovations unearth bones from a cold case and send them toppling—literally—onto Tess's head, the work comes to a grinding halt. With the whole town convinced that her grandfather was a serial killer, Tess has to call in a fellow horror author for reinforcements. Together, they'll come up with a perfect story to make all the clues fit...and solve a mystery more than thirty years in the making.
My Review:
On Spine of Death is the second book in the By the Book Mysteries by Tamara Berry. Tess Harrow and her teenage daughter Gertrude are still reeling after the murder from book 1. Instead of moving back home Tess and Gertie have decided to stay in Winthrop. The cabin has been upgraded to fit a teenager's lifestyle and construction has started on the old hardware store that Tess's grandfather owned.
As the renovations are taking place, Tess is trying to learn first hand how to escape capture. In doing so, when the floor above her collapses, Tess finds herself buried in rubble and covered by a set of old human bones. Now the town thinks Tess's grandfather is a murderer and are convinced further when additional evidence is uncovered. To assist the local morgue with identifying the bones, Tess calls on her literary friend for assistance.
What ensues is a hilarious cozy mystery where Tess still has a blurred vision between fiction and reality as she tries to mold Sheriff Victor Boyd into Detective Gabriel Gonzales. Add in an excellent Bookmobile librarian, and zany antics by Tess, and this is another great book in the By the Book Mystery series.
The mystery itself is complex with several threads and suspects. There are suspects that have means, motive, and opportunity. Hidden dangers abound and there are surprises and red herrings around every corner. I enjoyed the twists and turns as Tess tries to maintain a sense of normalcy for herself and Gertie. The involvement of the past, how it collides with the present, and holds out hope for the future kept me wanting more.
The character development was done well throughout the book as we learned more about Tess, Gertie, the ex, the sheriff, and Nicki. I'm a huge fan of Victor and Nicki. They are patient and kind with Tess and her halfcocked theories, research, and suggestions. The chemistry between Tess and Victor is explored a bit more in On Spine of Death but nothing that overshadows the mystery. Nicki cracks me up. Her character is fantastic and I can't wait to see her again in the next book.
The setting was fun and interesting - a rustic cabin in the middle of the woods in Northern Washington State, a logging operation, and an old-timey downtown. The author created a wonderful world for these characters. I was complete engaged in this fast-paced story. The world building was done well and I was able to visualize everything.
My review copy courtesy of my local library's MelCat program.
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