Proving again that no good deed goes unpunished, Sam offers her bookstore as a meeting place for a book club when the library is flooded. After this generous act, she becomes a “person of interest” in the murder of the obnoxious leader of the group who is found dead in Sam’s store. Delia Marshall is disliked yet feared by several people, but they don’t want to make that known, or the reasons why they hated her. And it seems like Sam has a reason, too: Delia was going to sue her after Sam’s dogs charged at her and she fell. It’s a lot of unpleasantness to deal with, just as Sam’s first book is about to be published. I like this series for the quirky characters, dogs included, and for the stories within the story. This one takes place in England in the 1930’s. I’m always tempted to read those sections first, but I dutifully wait to read them as they appear. And while the main story takes place in Michigan, this glimpse into another country and culture is quite entertaining. The characters are well defined, and the mysteries in both tales are well thought out. ( )

Bookclubbed to Death is the eighth book in the A Mystery Bookshop Mystery series by V. M. Burns.

A tornado has ripped through North Harbor, and when Samantha(Sam) learns from her fiance, Frank, that the local library has sustained some damage, Sam immediately sets off for the library. Arriving at the library, Sam talks to the librarian, asking her if there is anything she can do for the library. The librarian asks if Sam would provide her bookstore for a couple of book groups. The first book group to use Sam’s bookstore in the Mystery Mavens. Delia Marshall, a syndicated book reviewer, heads Mystery Mavens. Her reviews have been known to make a book a bestseller or ruin an author’s career. Sam is hoping that with her first book about to be published, she is hoping to get a five-star review from Delia. When Delia enters the store, she acts like she owns the place and gets into arguments with some members. Delia will soon trip over Snickers, Sam’s adorable toy Poodle. Delia claims that she was attacked and injured her back. She threatens Sam with a lawsuit that could financially ruin Sam. Close to midnight, Sam gets a call from Delia asking her, no, telling her to deliver the book Sam had ordered for her right away. The book, The Complete Works of Agatha Christie, is rather substantial in weight and costs $1200. When Sam arrives at Delia’s home, there is no response to her repeated knocks. Sam returns to the bookstore and goes directly to her apartment above the store. The next morning they will find the body of Delia dead, having been beaten to death heavy book Sam had tried to deliver the night before. Sam became a prime suspect as she had the book, and the body was in her bookstore.

Sam will need to call on Nana Jo and her posse from the retirement community, her sister Jenna, and Frank to help her track down the murderer.

I love this series because the reader gets two mysteries in one. The second mystery occurs in 1939 at Lord and Lady Marsh’s English Country Home, Wickfield Lodge. The Marsh’s grandson's christening is coming, and the family will be heading to Buckingham Palace so King George VI can attend. Once there, the family will be involved in solving a murder that may affect the Queen.

I found the book well-written, plotted, and read at a good pace. The characters are all interesting and well-developed. I like Nana-Jo and her posse. They would keep me laughing all the time.

I’m eagerly awaiting the next book in this enjoyable series. ( )

A solid 4-star cozy murder mystery. Athough a part of a series, this book is the first I have read by this author, and I had no trouble keeping up as it's just fine as a stand-alone novel. It took me a chapter or two to get into the story, but once I did, I couldn't put it down. A quick and easy read, all the supporting characters keep you entertained. I also enjoyed the story within the story, the writer pulled it off smoothly. Will definitely pick up another book from this series now.

GoodReads FirstReads Giveaway ( )

Sam Washington finds herself in the middle of another murder investigation when critic Delia Marshall is found dead in her bookstore. She was bludgeoned to death with a copy of The Complete Works of Agatha Christie which she had asked Sam to order for her. Delia's syndicated book review column can make or break any author, and Sam's first historical mystery is due out soon. But Sam isn't the only author wary of Delia.

The police seem convinced that Sam committed the crime. If she wants to stay out of jail, marry her fiancé, and celebrate the release of her new book, she has to find out who murdered Delia and find out fast. Luckily, she has the help of her grandmother Nana Jo and all the ladies at the Shady Rest Retirement Village to help her out. Her fiancé with his mysterious past is also very helpful. She has somewhat less help and support from her pessimistic older sister Jenna who is also her attorney.

I enjoyed this cozy story despite the fact that Sam seems to break down in tears awfully frequently. I liked that she worked out her thoughts by writing on her next historical mystery set in England just as World War II is about to begin.

This was an entertaining story which is eighth in a series but works well as a standalone title. I have the first two in the series but haven't read them yet and felt that, while background might have added depth, it wasn't necessary to the enjoyment of this story. ( )

Michigan, bookseller, small-business, small-town, former-teacher, widow, cozy-mystery, amateur-sleuth, book-within-a-book, pet-dog, verbal-humor, retirees, extortion, sisters, sleuthing-seniors, law-enforcement, lawyers*****

It's not difficult to figure out who "deserved" to be murdered!
The egomaniac book influencer went out of her way to humiliate others and even trumped up an imagined injury from the dogs in order to gain money. Then she got dead in the bookstore she denigrated. Let the sleuthing begin. It's a great read with plenty of real characters, plot twists, and red herrings!
The inset book is set in 1939 England and is purported to be the book that the bookshop owner is writing, which is also a cosy mystery.
I requested and received a free e-book copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you! ( )