A Deadly Deletion (A Booktown Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
15th in Series
Setting – New Hampshire
Publisher : Berkley
Publication date : July 27, 2021
Print length : 336 pages
Hardcover
ISBN-10 : 0593333470
ISBN-13 : 978-0593333471
Kindle
Print length : 336 pages
ISBN-13 : 978-0593333495
ASIN : B08M191YJH
Mass Market Paperback
Publisher : Berkley
Publication date : May 3, 2022
Language : English
Print length : 320 pages
ISBN-10 : 0593333489
ISBN-13 : 978-0593333488
Tricia Miles has just received a second marriage proposal within fifteen minutes. The first was from her friend with benefits, Marshall Chambers, and the second from her ex-lover, police chief Grant Baker. Tricia’s got some serious thinking to do.
She’s still weighing her options when she hears the sound of an engine roaring down Main Street. It’s a big white pickup truck that aims for and hits Marshall as he’s walking back to his apartment. Tragically, he’s killed, leaving Tricia feeling bereft and guilty. She retreats to her sister, Angelica’s, apartment to wait for Baker to update her on what happened. While there, Tricia takes Angelica’s dog out for a comfort call behind the building, and the same white pickup roars up the alley and just misses hitting Tricia.
Still shaken by that news, Tricia returns to Haven’t Got a Clue and is met by federal marshal Kirby, who tells her that Marshall had been in the Federal Witness Protection Program. Everything Marshall told Tricia was a lie—in particular, that he was a widower. Was his death an act of revenge?
Tricia’s on the hunt for a killer, and it seems like she might be next on the list.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Tragedy strikes soon after Tricia Miles receives her second marriage proposal of the day, when Marshall Chambers, her friend with benefits and the first to propose, is killed when hit by a huge white pickup. The second to propose, police chief Grant Baker, quickly arrives on the scene. Tricia wasn’t ready to accept anyone’s proposal, but was saddened by the loss of her friend. A short time later, the huge white truck is back and tries to run Tricia down in the alley, but thankfully misses.
Later, still upset, Tricia returns to her bookstore, and it is there that Federal Marshal Kirby catches up with her, revealing that Marshall Chambers was part of the Federal Witness Protection Program, and she realizes everything she knew about the man was a lie, including that his previous wife was dead.
Did someone from Marshall’s past take away his future? Tricia hopes to find out. She also wants to know why she was targeted, and probably still is!
After I finished the previous book in this series Handbook for Homicide, I was excited to continue the series, thinking Tricia had some happy days ahead. Then I read the synopsis for this book, and saw that it was far from the case. I decided I needed to take a break from the series. When I needed a book set in New Hampshire for my Literary Escapes Challenge, I decided it was time to read this book, hoping there would be a great story behind Marshall Chambers’ death. What I found were characters I didn’t recognize. After reading 14 books in this series, it was like they had all undergone personality changes. Tricia has been through a lot, so understandably, she is sad, but instead of rooting for her, she came across as very unlikable. Her sister, too, and others all acted strangely.
The mystery of Marshall’s death was complicated by the fact that the Miles family became the targets of violence. Tricia spends most of her time having meals with her sister, on chamber business, making bad decisions, or trying to trap Marshall’s ex-wife into revealing that she was the killer. Spoiler – she wasn’t. When the killer was revealed, it was like whiplash and far-fetched. Tricia has a miserable track record with men, but seriously . . . seriously. Had this been an actual print book and not on my Kindle, I would have thrown it at the wall. Instead, I slammed the cover shut and fumed, and then I was disappointed. Disappointed that a series I had loved from the start has made me reconsider reading any more books in this series.
While some readers have loved this story, I am not alone in my feelings. Was this a book to shake things up in Booktown? Will a new, happier, stronger protagonist in Tricia be revealed soon? With the way this series is going, she could be the next killer or victim. (The series has continued, so I know this hasn’t happened. YET!)
A Deadly Deletion was a real let-down and depressing. The ending was dark, abrupt, and painful to read. The motive was thin, the clues needed a hard push to come together, and they really made no sense for the character. I finished the book, but I wish I hadn’t. I think this was my last visit to Stoneham.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
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About the Author
The immensely popular Booktown Mystery series is what put Lorna Barrett’s name on the New York Times Bestseller list, but it’s her talent — whether writing as Lorna, or L.L. Bartlett, or Lorraine Bartlett — that keeps her there. This multi-published, Agatha-nominated author pens the exciting Jeff Resnick Mysteries as well as the acclaimed Victoria Square Mystery series and has many short stories and novellas to her name(s).
Lorna lives in Rochester, NY, with her husband and two cats, Poppy and Emma.
Find out more about Lorna and her books on her webpage here.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” “As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.” I am also an affiliate of Bookshop.org and I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.” These funds are often used for gift cards and other giveaways.
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