CAUGHT ON THE BOOK

A North Carolina bookshop owner reluctantly investigates a murder.

Jenna Quinn, owner of Twice Upon a Time in Hokes Folly, may not be able to cook dinner or do laundry, but she has an excellent memory. She’ll never forget how Det. Frank Sutter zeroed in on her last year as chief suspect in a murder, causing her to be locked up for months on end. So when Frank comes under suspicion himself for killing author Greg Hurst, his estranged wife Emma’s new boyfriend, Jenna enjoys a moment of well-earned schadenfreude. But only for a moment. Then Jenna’s boyfriend, Det. Keith Logan, pleads to her better angels. As Sutter’s former partner, Keith can’t be involved in the investigation, but he’s sure that even though the whole town heard Frank threaten to kill his rival for Emma’s affections at the annual Bass Festival the day before Hurst’s demise, Frank can’t possibly be guilty. When Jenna finally agrees to track down Greg’s murderer, she doesn’t have far to look. Members of the local writers’ group, led by Amanda Trent, offer plenty of reasons why someone would have wanted the shifty author dead. But will her attempt to exonerate Frank and vindicate Keith’s faith in his partner succeed? Or will it just put Jenna directly in the crosshairs of a killer who won’t hesitate to strike again?

Snappy banter among colorful townsfolk makes this shopkeeper cozy a winner.