Charli Rae Warren doesn’t plan on striking it rich as the owner of an independent bookstore in Hazel Rock, Texas—especially one with a pink armadillo as its mascot. But when an ingenious advertising campaign puts her business on the map, it ropes in some deadly publicity . . . Charli can’t believe writer Lucy Barton has agreed to promote her latest Midnight Poet Society novel at The Book Barn … novel at The Book Barn Princess—or that there’s only a week-and-a-half to prepare for the signing. It’s all because of The Book Seekers, a smartphone app created by her cousin Jamal exclusively for Charli’s bookstore, which sends fans on a virtual scavenger hunt around town for a chance to meet the bestselling author. But as soon as it goes live, people turn up dead . . .
Someone’s using The Book Seekers to track victims and copycat the fictional Midnight Poet Society homicides, and horrified locals suspect Jamal could be the mastermind behind the crimes. While Charli readies the Barn for a stampede of new customers, it’ll take true grit to shelve the culprit before her brainy cousin gets locked behind bars, Ms. Barton backs out of the visit, and she finds herself up a creek—with a serial killer holding the paddle!
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Book #3 is as appealing as the rest! The characters are so well fleshed out , you will feel as if you actually know them! The mystery is up to the minute in apps, and there are enough twisty turns to keep the reader guessing. I really enjoyed this one— on to book 4!
Weird.
Enjoyed
Easy read Enjoyable
Enjoyable.
Every once in a while you need something different. Perilous Poetry by Kym Roberts is the perfect palate cleanser. Charli Rae and the goings-on in the book barn are fresh and interesting and the ending will keep you guessing. Roberts has mastered the perfect blend of romance and mystery and wrapped it all up in a creative bow. She leaves things on a definite cliff-hanger and least romance-wise, which makes me very glad the next book will be released soon.
I voluntarily reviewed and ARC of this novel.
Perilous Poetry is delightful, suspenseful, and at times very frightening. I have been looking forward to seeing the latest mystery with Charli and the bookstore in a barn that her family opened when she was a child. A surprise gift to Charli is being used for evil by someone bringing murder and mayhem to Hazel Rock, Texas. The results can also be deadly for her family.
Charli, nicknamed Princess as a child, gets a surprise visit from her Aunt Violet and cousin Jamal. When Charli left home at 17, she ran away to Aunt Violet’s in Colorado, and hadn’t been home until several months ago. Aunt Violet is her mother’s twin, and she is reminded what her mom would look like if still alive – a stunning beauty. Jamal is like a younger brother to her, have spent years as both grew up.
Jamal has a huge surprise for Charli and her dad. He has designed a special app that includes a game with a great prize for the users. Not only has Jamal arranged for Lucy Barton, Charli’s favorite mystery and best-selling author, to do a book signing at Book Barn Princess, but the grand prize winner would have a private meet and greet with Ms. Barton. The app clues lead people around town, and the further a user goes, the closer to winning he will be. Not only is it perfectly fun, around-the-world advertising for their Indie bookstore, it encourages more authors to sign books in Hazel Rock and could lead to a nationwide chain of Book Barn Princess stores, many other Indie stores might buy the app. The income potential for Charlie and her dad, and to Jamal as the designer of the app, is unlimited.
Until the strange events begin. Including a murder, which appears to be a copycat as depicted in Lucy Barton’s mystery series, Midnight Poet Society. It seems that the booksellers are targeted, as well. An electrician dies from a short in the wiring when starting to put up a new sign for Book Grove as part of the owner’s renovation. A stranger has a shooting spree at Book Barn Princess that results in property damage. Worse, it results in an injury to Princess, their pet pink armadillo who lives at the store.
Charli and her best friend Scarlet are well-rounded and very likable. I enjoy seeing both of the guys who are interested in Charlie. Waiting to see who captures Charli’s heart is a very sweet element of the series. Many of the townspeople are delightful, but when the Mystery Moms descend on Hazel Rock to solve the crimes, it gets a little creepy.
There are many exciting facets to this novel. There are twists and turns throughout, with layers of mysteries involved. Is there one bad guy, or several? Jamal’s app, Book Seekers, seems to be overshadowed by the Book Kreeper, who holds the town in the grip of panic. It is another unique, detailed mystery from Kym Roberts, and I had no idea who the bad guy(s) might be. The term ‘lighthearted mystery’ sounds like an oxymoron, but if I were looking for a cozy mystery that is entertaining as well as suspenseful and challenging, I would return to one of the books in this series. The end was a surprise and overall it is a satisfying read. I highly recommend Perilous Poetry to those who like their cozy mysteries challenging, their setting in Texas, and a bit of romance and humor.
From a grateful heart: I received this eBook from the publisher and NetGalley, and this is my honest review.