Read 5.2025

Tricia Miles mystery bookstore, Haven't Got a Clue, is finally re-opened after a fire shut it down for numerous months. During an author's book signing a local woman, Carol Talbot, slaps the author after they are seen having a short conversation. But the author isn't the only one slapped by Carol. Tricia's father has returned to Stoneham and apparently he has a history with Carol as well.

Shortly after Carol leaves the bookstore she is found dead - but who would kill her? Are the 2 slap-ees prime suspects? Did Carol have other enemies past and present? Tricia and her sister, Angelica, know that their father needs to be cleared of suspicion, but with his behavior isn't helping.

Love Tricia and Angelica, Pixie and Mr. Everett. Wish that Stoneham and Booktown really existed! ( )

Cozy Mystery - the audio book was well performed, but I found the story less engaging and more predictable than I usually like. Would not do another audiobook in this series, but might take an e-book out from the library. ( )

Well this was a let down, I usually enjoy this series when it sticks to the book stores or the mystery butI really didn't like all the FAMILY DRAMA, it felt like 50% of this book was spent on that, very little time spent in the book stores and hardly no time at all on the actual mystery. ( )

A Just Clause is the 11th book in the Booktown Mystery series. I've been wanting to try out this series for some time, so when I saw the newest book available for review, I jumped right on it. I'm glad I did!

Although it is always best to read a series in order to get all the developing nuances of character and place, I had no trouble following the plot and characters. I will definitely be back tracking to read the rest of the series in order up to this point though, as there were some situations and characters from prior books mentioned. I'd like to know the whole story of Booktown before the next book comes out!

The basics: Stoneham, New Hampshire found a niche to bring in the tourist trade -- bookstores. The streets are lined with bookstores and related businesses of every sort. Tricia Miles runs her mystery bookstore, Haven't Got a Clue. Her sister, Angelica, lives in town as well and owns a couple inns and restaurants. Other than the occasional murder to investigate, life in Stoneham is great for the sisters.....the one problem they have is with their father. He's a scoundrel. A thief. A liar. The list could go on for quite awhile. And after previously sneaking out of town owing money to nearly every business in Stoneham, he's back. And chaos follows. Their father isn't back in town for a day before a woman, Carol Talbot, is found murdered after slapping both him and an author who was in town for a signing at Tricia's shop. Reluctantly, the girls start investigating the killing because even if their father is a scoundrel, he is still their father and they don't want him prosecuted for a murder he didn't commit. Who killed Carol Talbot and why? And what are they going to do about their father's antics this time?

I enjoyed this book! The characters are quirky and interesting. Main characters, Tricia and Angelica, are independent, intelligent and feisty women. The mystery was interesting and engaging with plenty of suspects and twists and turns. The ending was believable. All in all, a great cozy!

I will definitely be backtracking to read the earlier books in this series! :)

Lorna Barrett writes under several pen names and is the author of several popular mystery series including the Victoria Square series. For more information on the author and her books check out her website at: http://lornabarrett.com/

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. ** ( )