Running an independent bookstore in small-town Hazel Rock, Texas, doesn’t sound like a high-risk pursuit. But when a fundraiser reveals a story with a truly killer ending, Charli Rae Warren will need to scramble to sort out the deadly plot… definitely on another page. Charli’s dad is distracted and keeping something secret, which Charli suspects is a harmless flirtation with an attractive county clerk who offered to lend them a hand. It’s nothing to worry about—until the same clerk winds up dead…
When nosy locals begin pointing fingers, Charli finds herself entangled in a race to uncover the killer’s identity—and to get to the bottom of a shattering family secret that could rewrite her history in alarming ways. Suddenly Charli is facing her worst fears and her childhood nemesis in order to unmask a murderer—before he silences her for good…
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The cutest town with the highest murder rate in Texas returns!
Charli Rae (aka Princess) is back with the rest of the Hazel Rock Crew and sure enough mayhem, murder and mystery aren’t that far behind!
Charli is involved in fundraising for books for Foster families. But she has a couple of big shocks to her system coming. Like realising her father has a life which may not centre around her, the Mayor has been keeping secrets and Mateo…well they might just get to spend some time together…at last!
But when Charli’s dad gets caught up with an investigation into the murder of Ava, assistant to the puritanical, tyrannical former sheriff of Hazel Rock and Charli’s teenage Nemesis, Charli and Scarlet end up knee deep in the investigation. Ava was the victim of domestic abuse and Charli follows the trail of devastation to Dallas. She learns some family secrets along the way that may just clear up a few of her childhood memories.
I love this series so much. The characters all leap off the page and into my brain. With the usual Hazel Rock quirky inhabitants popping up to be some comic relief, Charli deals with some powerfully emotive topics such as domestic abuse, child neglect, the Foster Care System and does so with care, empathy and conviction. There are family twists that I DID NOT see coming but explains so much! Mateo…well he is just such a sweetheart even when he has to be cop Mateo and not boyfriend Mateo. The scene in Dallas, well that just took my breath away!
Come on Hazel Rock, what are you going to come up with next!
Lethal Literature
A Book Barn Mystery, Book #4
Kym Roberts
5 Stars
Synopsis:
Running an independent bookstore in small-town Hazel Rock, Texas, doesn’t sound like a high-risk pursuit. But when a fundraiser reveals a story with a truly killer ending, Charli Rae Warren will need to scramble to sort out the deadly plot…
Sponsoring the literacy drive to benefit the foster care system should be a feel-good endeavor, but one of Charli’s helpers is definitely on another page. Charli’s dad is distracted and keeping something secret, which Charli suspects is a harmless flirtation with an attractive county clerk who offered to lend them a hand. It’s nothing to worry about—until the same clerk winds up dead…
When nosy locals begin pointing fingers, Charli finds herself entangled in a race to uncover the killer’s identity—and to get to the bottom of a shattering family secret that could rewrite her history in alarming ways. Suddenly Charli is facing her worst fears and her childhood nemesis in order to unmask a murderer—before he silences her for good… (Goodreads)
Review:
The characters are well developed and well rounded. The interactions between all of the characters is fascinating and enjoyable to read about. I really liked spending time with Charli and her friend Scarlet again. They are such good friends and would do just about anything for each other. They are also very smart and funny. I still think Charli has a couple of love interests, even though she thinks that she has made her decision. And you cannot help but love Princess, the pink armadillo.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. There is a lot of action taking place throughout the book and I kept swiping pages to see what would happen next long after I should have been sleeping. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and it pulled me right into the book.
The mystery was well plotted and there were plenty of suspects to consider and clues to sift through. With so many twists and turn and red herrings thrown in, it was not an easy mystery to solve.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I have read every book in this series and I think they get better with each one the author writes.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
Copied from Goodreads.
4.5. May not be everyone’s cozy style but I love this series with the way out there humor. Especially like that little Princess is getting more of a role. For those familiar with the series we get new and unexpected information on the main character’s (Charli Rae Warren aka Princess) family, a wonderful aborted love tryst and, oh yes, a mystery. Recommend if you like fun in your mystery.
Lethal Literature is the fourth book in Kym Roberts ongoing Charli Rae Warren Book Barn mystery series and each book keeps getting better and better. While this one doesn’t pick up right where the previous installment left off – why? I still need to know who got a pie to the face – there are enough continuing elements that it feels like you just kept reading. Charli, of course, is up to her eyebrows in murder, but this time it also provides an opportunity to learn more of her own history. Charli and Sheriff Mateo are still on a slow burn, but progress is made. Fans of the early books will love this latest installment.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this novel.