Bookmarked for Death (A Booktown Mystery)

I just put this book down about 10 minutes ago and ran straight to my computer to review it. I am already aching for the next installment of this series. I feel like I know the characters, can see ever scene in the book as if I was there, and love how the plot twists and turns. I honestly hope if you are a fan of a good mystery with humor, a little love, and great characters that you will run right out and buy the two books in this series so far.

I purchased this book mainly because of the blurb on the front that says the author is donating all royalties to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, a wonderful organization that saves many "last chance" animals. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the book was wonderful! The plot has been repeated here, so I won't add to it. The heroine is extremely likable and real, and the dogs are wonderful. There is just enough communication with them to be entertaining and heartwarming without being sappy or taking away from the mystery of the story. I will be following the series to see how Sam and Ellie end up as well as Rudy and his pals. I highly recommend the book and the royalties are going to a wonderful cause.

A wonderful read; fun, relaxing, well written. Just what I needed to relax at the end of a day. I like to get some clues before the end of the story but also have some surprises at the final revelation. This book did the trick.

With her latest Booktown Mystery, Bookmarked for Death, Lorna Barrett (aka L.L. Bartlett) has ensconced herself firmly into the role of my favorite contemporary mystery author. She has already long proven herself adept at writing hard-hitting, nail-biting paranormal thrillers (see her Jeffrey Resnick series), but she is really busting out as a fantastic cozy author as well - with a delightful and believable heroine in bookseller Tricia Miles, an interesting and complex supporting cast of characters, and a scintillating plot with a plethora of viable suspects. This is by far the best cozy I've read in some time (at least since the release of the first Booktown Mystery, Murder is Binding). I can hardly wait until the third book in this wonderful series comes out! Carol Ann Hopkins 2/4/2009

Stoneham, New Hampshire was one of those towns whose reputation was gained not by its long gone founder nor any battle once waged on its ground, but by the number of bookstores lining its streets. Tricia "Trish" Miles, the proprietor of the Haven't Got a Clue mystery bookstore, could proudly say she contributed to the reputation. Of course Miss Marple, her cat, might just want to raise a paw as she was the one who really ran the store. Book scouts the likes of Larry McMurtry would have a field day in Stoneham, but as a rule the typical buyer tended to be a local bookworm or occasional tourist. Gossips usually provide enough fodder to keep a small town like Stoneham going for a while, but recently it was the Canada goose population that was wreaking havoc. Just as the poop crisis was beginning to get out of control, something else hit the fan and then there was real trouble. Zoë Carter, big time author, was at Haven't Got a Clue for a book signing. It seemed like everyone in town was there from the members of the Tuesday Night Book Club to Zoë's nasty niece Kimberly. It might be said that a few people, including Zoë, could have taken a few lessons in social skills, but just as things started to tone down, the big time author turned up missing. Where in heck did that gal disappear to? A quick search of the store found Ms Carter trussed-up like a Christmas goose at a banquet . . . on the commode no less The nonplused Tricia and Miss Marple had yet another murder to solve. Sheriff Wendy Adams was NOT amused. The most recent corpse had a knife sticking in her back and Tricia "discovered" that one as well. With half the town in the store for the big event narrowing down the prime suspect would take some doing. Stoneham, we have a problem and it isn't goose poop. BOOKMARKED FOR DEATH is the second installment of the Booktown Mystery series, a series that will quickly gain a dedicated readership. If anyone has the formula for a frolicking fun mystery down pat it's Lorna Barrett. The read is light and sheer entertainment. The characters were not heavily fleshed-out, but because I live in a small town I "recognized" them all. CSI buffs need not apply here, but if you want a good rollicking read, by all means, pick up a copy. Deb Fowler - Roundtable Reviews