Second book in the Main Street Book Club mysteries!
You won’t be able to stop turning the pages of this small town mystery, which is:Perfect for Fans of Ellery Adams and Lorna Barrett
A riveting book club cozy mystery
For readers of club mysteries and small-town cozy mysteries
This murder will have to be solved by the book…
It was only a few months ago that the ladies of Arlo’s Friday Night … by the book…
It was only a few months ago that the ladies of Arlo’s Friday Night Book Club—Fern, Camille, and Helen—solved the murder of the renowned author, Wally Harrison. So when they select Wally’s bestseller, Missing Girl, for their next discussion, Arlo is hopeful it will be the end of their mystery hunt.
But since their recent success as sleuths the crew officially see themselves as a women’s mystery club, and they’re convinced Missing Girl was inspired by a 50-year-old cold case. It’s a case from their own Sugar Springs, Mississippi—the disappearance of Mary Kennedy—and Arlo can do little to stop the book club ladies from investigating.
But what starts out as a fun hunch quickly turns into a very real cold case murder mystery when a young girl is murdered in the exact place the women believe Mary went missing all those years ago. It’s clear the two cases are connected—and the mystery book club is determined to find answers. With Arlo’s help, they may just be able to crack the case.
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A decades old mystery and a resent murder have the ladies of the book club all excited. Now can they only solve them?
This is the second contemporary cozy murder mystery from, A Main Street Book Club Murder series and I enjoyed it even more than the first. The storyline flows smoothly and quickly with multiple side stories that add interest to the main one. The characters are interesting with distinctive personalities and small town quirkiness. The narrative is great and is from the heroine’s point of view. The murder mysteries are engaging with multiple suspects, tons of clues to sort through, surprises, twists and turns, danger and suspense. I particularly enjoyed how the character’s interact with each other and how they continue to grow and evolve. I find the elderly ladies a hoot and enjoy their antics a lot. I look forward to the next book in this series.
A Murder Between the Pages by Amy Lillard is the second in the Main Street Book Club Mysteries series. I enjoyed this easy to read mystery.
There are plenty of plot twists and suspects. The characters are likeable and relatable. There is humor and a hint of romance..
I was given an ARC by Poison Pen Press and NetGalley for an honest review.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
We return to Arlo and Chloe’s Books & More in this second book in the Main Street Book Club Mysteries where the Friday Night Book Club, which meets each day at noon are discussing Missing Girl by the now-deceased Wally Harrison. (Can’t Judge A Book by Its Murder) The elderly members of the group, Fern, Camille, and Helen, are sure the book was derived from a 50-year-old-case when piano teacher Mary Kennedy went missing after giving a lesson to the son of a wealthy family.
When the ladies travel to the very manor where the disappearance occurred to pick up a book donation they witness another murder. They are convinced the two murders are connected and no matter how hard Arlo tries to direct their attention elsewhere they are intent on investigating both murders come hill or high water.
I will confess when I started this book I stopped to be sure I hadn’t already read it because the young woman’s death was very similar to something I had remembered reading before. I had not read this book and as I got further into it the similarity faded away.
Arlo is a terrific character. Her book club plan did not come together as planned but she rolled with it and accepted that she ended up with Fern, Camille, and Helen. It sure turned out to be a lot more work especially now that the ladies see themselves as amateur sleuths instead of book club members. It tests Arlo’s patience but I enjoyed tagging along to see what kind of mischief they were going to get into much to Arlo’s dismay. Arlo also has man trouble, personally and tangentially. With both Sam and Mads back in her life, she is dealing with old feelings and new. Plus Camille is dating a very interesting man that no one knows anything about. Ms. Lillard has created a wonderful group of characters. They make me laugh and a bit nervous at times but all are characters I want to follow through their adventures.
As I said the new mystery felt familiar but the way the author twisted it to encompass the old cold case caught my interest. While nosing around a certain event got the ladies all twitterpated. They were all in on solving both mysteries. I was nicely entertained by the way the drama all played out. Ms. Lillard threw in some wonderful twists and turns that really muddied my thinking. I really enjoyed the subplot about Chole and her son too.
There is plenty of humor sprinkled through this story including the antics of some spry octogenarians but also from a certain parrot named Faulkner. His quips and one-liners had me in stitches.
A Murder Between the Pages was a delightful trip back to Sugar Springs, Mississippi. I am excited to know I will be returning in just a couple of weeks when I read and review A Murder Like No Author.
Arlo Stanley moved to small town Sugar Springs, Mississippi when she was sixteen and tired of her parents’ hippie lifestyle. Since then, she’s put down roots and opened a bookstore and coffee bar with her best friend, Chloe. She’s tried to put her past behind her and live in the present, but it’s not easy with two ex-boyfriends muddying the water.
The bookstore hosts the Friday Night Book Club, which has more or less turned into the Anytime They Feel Like It Book Club, with three elderly friends, Fern, Camille, and the woman who cared for her until she grew up and moved out on her own, Helen. These three had some success a few months ago when they solved the murder of author Wally Harrison, a local boy who moved away and became a successful author. They’ve decided to read his book, Missing Girl, and have come to the conclusion that the book is about a fifty-year-old mystery itself: that of Mary Kennedy, who went missing after leaving the wealthy Lillyfield estate and was presumed murdered.
But now they want to investigate the murder to see if they can come up with clues as to who did the deed. Their way in is Arlo, who has been asked to come to the estate for a book donation, but she emphatically refuses until they wear her down. While there, a young woman falls from a second story balcony, and they think it’s an accident, until the police chief lets it slip that it was a murder. Now they want to know who killed the young woman and why.
But with no access to the estate, the mystery of Mary Kennedy still looming around them, and Camille’s disappearances to meet a new beau, the women have a lot on their plate, and Arlo has her hands full trying to keep them in line. Will they find a killer or will someone get away with murder?
This is the second book in the series and I found it just as delightful as the first. I found only one thing that bothered me, which is in a spoiler at the bottom, so if you haven’t read the book, please don’t read the spoiler.
While Arlo is trying her best to rein in the three ladies, they’re having none of it and of course she’s dragged along on their escapades, hoping to keep them out of jail and/or danger; none of it is doing much good anyway. They have their own minds, and it’s no help that the book store’s upstairs tenant, private detective and Arlo’s ex-boyfriend Sam Tucker, seems to encourage them to do what they want.
The estate’s owner is disabled by a stroke, so she can’t help them, so the ladies just investigate on their own, coming up with what they consider clues, and go on their merry way. It’s an hysterical ride as we listen to their conversations and are grateful that we aren’t part of any of it. These women just rattle on, making their case to Arlo, and she really doesn’t have any say in the matter, even if she does want to leave it all up to the police. Never gonna happen with these three.
When the ending comes, the climax is done very well and it all comes together nicely tied up in an interesting package. This is where my question comes in, so this is why you will have to read the book first. But never fear — there are no cliffhangers, and while I was fairly sure who the murderer was early on, I was glad to see that I was not disappointed in my supposition. All in all, it was definitely satisfactory, and it also gives a teaser to look forward to in the next book. Highly recommended.
To see the spoiler, please check here: https://joannesbooks.blogspot.com/2021/10/a-murder-between-pages-main-street-book.html
Loved this cozy mystery, it is funny with great characters and a great mystery to solve!
While I enjoyed the first book in the Main Street Book Club Mysteries, Can’t Judge a Book by Its Murder, I have to say that Amy Lillard did even better with the second book, A Murder Between the Pages.
In my review for Can’t Judge a Book by Its Murder, I had mentioned it didn’t flow as smoothly as other cozies and Arlo and Chloe spent a lot of time at the beginning of the book rehashing everything. Lillard seemed to have tightened up the editing with book two! The flow was much better and I didn’t feel like the information was repeated quite as much…. although there were still times.
And while Arlo may be the protagonist, Fern, Camille, and Helen steal the show for me. They all have such unique personalities and I really enjoyed the love interest for Camille. Arlo still has a love triangle going on, but it’s not annoying me yet, so that’s always a plus. And how could I forget the parrot?!? Love all of his comments that he makes during the conversation bits.
I did know the murderer very early on, but the twist that Lillard wrote still made for an interesting ending and I didn’t see half of it coming. I’ll be back for book three, A Murder Like No Author, which comes out the end of November 2021, to read more about the Friday (now everyday) Book Club members and to see what they get up to next.
Murder, Mystery and Mayhem… Nothing says cozy mystery any better than 3 older female mystery sleuths who bind together in book club meeting at their local bookstore. While reading a book called Missing Girl, the ladies decide that the book is in fact connected to a missing girl from 50 years ago in their own hometown. After all, the author had lived there. Determined to find the connection the ladies set out to prove their theory right. This was an enjoyable read. I want to thank Net Galley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
No matter the genre, Amy Lillard does not disappoint. I enjoyed the antics of Helen, Fern and Camille. The three elderly ladies that made up Arlo’s book club. They made it their job to solve a cold case and kept Arlo busy trying to keep them out of trouble.
I think my favorite in the book though is Arlo’s bird Faulkner. That bird is a hoot!
Read this story about Arlo; the bookstore owner, her two ex-boyfriends; one a sheriff and the other a PI, and those mischievous old ladies. It will have you chuckling throughout.
Lillard is on my must-read list and, if read one of her books, she’ll be on yours too. Thank you Amy for another great read!
This is everything that a cozy mystery should be. There are fun, eccentric characters, a small-town setting, and mysterious occurrences needing to be explained. Author Amy Lillard has included all of these in A Murder Between the Pages and she offers ample clues to help us solve the mystery. I loved that the main characters belong to a book club and while they are sometimes overly eager to find out what is going on, they are very capable in doing just that! Arlo, the bookstore owner, certainly has her hands full trying to keep these grandmothers with absolutely no filters under control!
If you are looking for a fun, entertaining mystery that will keep you guessing until the end, you will want to read this book. It is the second book in Lillard’s Main Street Book Club Mysteries series but I didn’t feel like I was left out by not having read the first.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book. There was no requirement for a positive review and no monetary compensation was given. These are my own thoughts.
To be 100% honest it was a bit confusing. The book club ladies didn’t help at all with their shenanigans but it was entertaining. The ex-boyfriend juggle needs to be resolved and soon, although it seems she would rather be with Sam. I wonder what they are going to get into next time.
Just when things were getting back to normal…
I’ve been on a real cozy mystery kick this year. Whether it’s an e-book or audiobook, as long as it’s a clean read and features a nice friendly murder, I’m in. That means A Murder Between The Pages, the second book in Amy Lillard’s fun Main Street Book Club Mysteries series, fit right in with my mood.
While I enjoyed the first Main Street Book Club Mysteries book I actually enjoyed A Murder Between The Pages even more. I’m a fan of stories where mysteries from the past are connected to current crimes so I really got into the story straight off. I had so much fun following clues Amy Lillard wove throughout the story and trying to figure out whodunit and why they done it.
Let me just say that I love the ladies in Arlo’s book club! They are quirky, not very PC, and always speak their minds. Plus they are not your average grandmas, no these ladies poke their noses into some pretty dangerous situations and help solve crimes, albeit sometimes almost inadvertently, instead of baking cookies. You just cannot help but get a kick out of them!
If you enjoy cozy mysteries, small town settings, and sometimes hilarious characters you really should check out Amy Lillard’s Main Street Book Club Mysteries. Though, for A Murder Between The Pages to make more sense you do need to read the first book. Anyway, what are you waiting for?
(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)
A MURDER BETWEEN THE PAGES is the second book in the MAIN STREET BOOK CLUB MYSTERIES series and reunited us with the book club from Books and More as well as the small town of Sugar Springs, Mississippi. There’s a lot going on along with a presumed murder that happened almost fifty years ago that resembles a book that the book club is supposedly meeting to discuss, Missing Girl.
There are a lot of twists and turns to the story along with lots of laughter. Between the very senior citizens in the book club that Arlo, the bookstore co-owner, has to keep an eye on, Sam the private investigator who has his office on the third floor of the building and the police who are thwarted at every turn – or at least seem to be – the story unfolds little by little. There’s a very talkative bird, Faulkner, as well as some unexpected love interests. Clues are dropped left and right to try and solve the mystery of the Missing Girl as well as bring some closure to their everyday lives!
There is a surprise ending along with some loose ends. I would have loved an epilogue to give me the closure I look for. I hope that there will be more books in the series so I can meet up with them all again.
Ms. Lillard is an author whose books I enjoy whether a cozy mystery or an Amish one or an Amish story. All her books are filled with family and friends and hold my interest from the first page to the last. Give her books a try if you haven’t already. You’ll be glad you did!
The ladies of Arlo’s Friday Night Book Club―Fern, Camille, and Helen- are at it again. Fresh from solving the murder of a renowned author, the ladies are reading his book based on a 50 year unsolved murder. When a young girl loses her life, both cases seem connected. What could have happened that long ago that a young woman should loose her life?
I love how these ladies are such a force despite their advanced ages. They have so much energy that Arlo wonders how she ever keeps up with them. Also while not fearful of getting themselves into situations, it is often comical when they are trying to find their way out. I look forward to the next mystery for them to tackle. A received a copy through Netgalley and the publisher. A review was not required.
The Friday Night Bookclub that meets everyday at noon is at it again. A group of elderly ladies who supposedly meet to discuss the latest new novel, veer from their agenda to discuss the latest murder, or maybe a fifty year old murder in the small town of Sugar Springs, Mississippi. These ladies grew on me quickly, each one with their own set of quirks. And what about Faulkner, who talks up a mean streak? Arlo, the owner of Books and More, where the “book club” meets daily seems to be the only one with a stabilizing influence on the others but they rarely listen to her anyway. A lot of their “investigation” stems from their weekly, sometimes bi-weekly trips to Dye Me A River, the local hair salon. Seems like a great choice for finding out clues and general knowledge from around town, right?
The two murders they seem to be talking about, are they somehow connected or not? Seems like a stretch for fifty years apart!
This was a sometimes serious, sometimes funny, sometimes interesting story that was captivating and easily held my interest. If you enjoy murder mysteries, quirky old ladies, and small town shenanigans you must read this one. You won’t be sorry.
I received an ebook copy from the author and Netgalley but was not required to write a review.
Oh I was given this book by NetGalley written by one of my favorite authors. Amy Lillard is so wonderful bringing you into the actual story and making you so want to be one of the ladies working on this project. I love the fact that we have one who is wise and steady, one who will just run wild with anything, one who has decided not to give up on living life right now and all the other characters that make up the town and story line.
Amy you constantly amaze me in how your stories are so personal to people that don’t know these characters but I am sure have a member of their family that they can relate to.
Please pick up this book, find a soft chair and a quiet corner and enjoy. I did.
Once you start you won’t be able to stop turning the pages of this exciting small town mystery.
Those spunky,meddling ladies of Arlo’s Friday Night Book Club–Fern, Camille, and Helen are at it again getting into things and solving another mystery their own way.
Love these ladies and their perseverance in solving the case, they won’t let anything hold them back.
Very interesting mystery.
Published November 24th 2020 by Poisoned Pen Press
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.
This is the 2nd book in the Main Street Book Club Mysteries and I really enjoyed it. Well and her gang of octogenarian book club members are back and there is a murder to solve, in addition to a 50 year old cold case. Helen, Fern, and Camille are confined that a 50 year old missing person case is tied up in their book club book written b the murder victim in book 1 of this series. There’s no controlling these women and Camille has a new tattooed ex con love interest that could be involved in the current murder. Arlo, our protagonist, once again struggles to keep control of the situation. The book is easy to read, and funny. I think you need to read book 1 to be able to enjoy this book. The only downfall for me is the dreaded love triangle. I need Arlo, Mads, and Sam to figure it out. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and I’m voluntarily providing an honest review.
If you enjoy a cozy mystery with suspense and a book club group of zany octogenarians, you will enjoy this latest release from Author Amy Lillard. You will find a plethora of characters that you really need to pay attention to in order to keep up. Plus, even though it can be read as a stand-alone I think it will be helpful to read Book One “Can’t Judge a Book by Its Murder” to familiarize yourself with the individuals. I have not read Book One, so I was lost at times.
I received a complimentary copy from Net Galley. All opinions are my own.
A Murder Between the Pages (Main Street Book Club Mysteries #2 )
By: Amy Lillard
A Murder Between The Pages is book two in the series Main Street Book Club Mysteries. A Women’s mystery club, a missing girl, and a 50 year old cold case. These women in the club will have you laughing throwout the story. Quirky characters and mysteries will have you trying to read faster. The author keeps you guessing till the end.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book by the publishing company and NetGalley, but was not told that I had to give a positive review. All opinions are my own.
It seemed like a good idea at the time but, as they say about best laid plans….hadn’t factored in the senior citizens who joined the Friday Night Book Club. Camille, Helen and Fern not only attend on Friday but just about every day of the week finds these senior ladies in the bookstore, Arlo and Chloe’s Books and More. The more part is the coffee shop that Chloe runs and Arlo runs the book half. Best friends turned business partners but Arlo never thought that she would be trying to control three seniors who made her feel like “a babysitter of juvenile delinquents”. After solving the mystery of the death of Wally Harrison, a famous local author, the three ladies are certain that they can do it again. A fifty year old cold case of a missing music teacher, Mary Kennedy, has them convinced that Wally wrote his best selling novel about her. When they find out that Arlo is going out to the mansion to pick up some books for her store, all three insist on tagging along. After all, it is the ‘scene of the crime’, the last place Mary was seen.
All goes well when the four arrive at Lillyfield mansion but, within moments tragedy strikes when a young woman, working as house staff, falls down the grand staircase and dies at their feet. That’s the cue for Helen, Fern and Camille to switch into detective mode – the young woman had wanted to speak with them about a mystery she needed help solving. There is no way to stop them so Arlo is drawn into their sleuthing if for no other reason but to keep them from getting in the way of the police investigation.
This series makes me laugh out loud with the interaction of the senior ladies along with Arlo, Chloe, Mads Keller – police chief and Sam Tucker. Add a cat and a cheeky African grey parrot named Faulkner and the lovely small town of Sugar Springs, MS and it makes for a great getaway. The mystery is well crafted and left me eager to read the next in the series.
My thanks to the publisher Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.