Murder Off The Page
(Book Club Murders #2)
by Maggie Allswell
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When the local fish and chip shop owner is found dead next to the fryer, is it a case of wrong plaice, wrong time or is a killer on the loose in the village?
Judy is reading late one night when a knock at the door disturbs her. Local teenager Megan has discovered her boss Colin, owner of local fish and chip shop The Codfather, lying dead next to the fryer. Found with the book club pick of the month at his side, surely Judy and her crime-loving book group can help?
The local police haven’t a clue, but as Judy gathers her bookish friends, they soon uncover more suspects than they bargained for. Was it John from rival fish and chip shop Salty Towers, the estranged brother who stands to inherit the family business? Or is there something fishy about Dazza, the new handyman who carries an empty toolbox? But when they both appear to have solid alibis, the book club are worried there are more red herrings in this case than they had counted on.
When another body is found, Judy realises that time is running out to crack the case before the killer strikes again. Can Judy and her book club follow in the footsteps of their fictional detective heroes to uncover the murderer before someone else is found sleeping with the fishes?
An absolutely hilarious and unputdownable new cozy mystery series, perfect for fans of Richard Osman, Robert Thorogood and Faith Martin.
My Rating:
Favorite Quotes:
My dream undercover role would be infiltrating the Swedish royal family as a visiting dignitary, something like that. Much more suited to my hair. My hair wouldn’t last five minutes in that atmosphere.
Kerry imagined her to be unmarried with no kids. This was a woman who liked to be in control. A man or children would bring too much chaos into her life.
When he said he wanted to come to me, I panicked… I couldn’t have a client come to Mum and Dad’s house, could I? I mean, Mum still has a photograph of me from when I started primary school on the hall table. How embarrassing would that be! Yes, please let me take care of your loved one’s funeral food and here is a photo of me with buck teeth and a bowl haircut.
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My Review:
This installment has my new favorite book club members solving not just one murder but two. Ms. Allswell’s odd collection of bookworms kept me amused and entertained with their colorfully pondered theories and unusual sleuthing methods, such as tailing a suspect on a mobility scooter. The storylines were lively, unpredictable, well-paced, easy to follow, and delightfully amusing. I enjoy this clever scribe’s wit and sneaky wry humor and am looking forward to more of the same with their next adventure.
Maggie Allswell never dreamt that she would write a murder mystery series! Having spent the last twenty years writing bestselling romcom novels as Tracy Bloom, she turned fifty and suddenly found that murder was on her mind! She has had the most fun dreaming up a cast of book club pseudo-sleuths who find themselves trying to fathom the unprecedented rise in murders in the quaint Derbyshire town of Matlock. She lives with her husband and two children, not far from Matlock, who say that they haven’t noticed much change in her personality since she started killing people off on paper; however, they do worry when the subject of ‘easiest way to murder a difficult relative’ gets raised at the dinner table.
When not writing, Maggie loves a walk with her dog Connie, a slow Parkrun, a good dance, and a seriously good crime drama on the TV.
Maggie Allswell has written fourteen novels as Tracy Bloom, including the No 1 bestseller NO-ONE EVER HAS SEX ON A TUESDAY.