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When she moved to Stoneham, city slicker Tricia Miles met nothing but friendly faces. And when she opened her mystery bookstore, she met friendly competition. But when she finds Doris Gleason dead in her own cookbook store, killed by a carving knife, the atmosphere seems more cutthroat than cordial. Someone wanted to get their hands on the rare cookbook that Doris had recently purchased-and the locals think that someone is Tricia. To clear her name, Tricia will have to take a page out of one show more of her own mysteries-and hunt down someone who isn't killing by the book. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
Ugh. I wasn't thrilled with this book from the first page where the protagonist immediately comes off as catty towards other women. But hoping it would be a minor issue, I pressed on because I'm always a sucker for a bookish cozy mystery. I really shouldn't have. The protagonist appears to have NO women friends (or really any friends), is internally judgmental about everyone, and more than once internally refers to her one staff member in her bookshop as "the help." *cringe* And age can't be an excuse as the book was published in 2008. What made me immediately close this ebook and send it back to the library though was that after discovering the murder victim has a daughter with Down's syndrome, in passing the information on to another show more character, she used the "r" word. And that was it. I'm done. Not at all recommended. show less
This was just....okay.It was cute and an interesting mystery, but I thought the "who done it" was so obvious that it was hard to continue reading as they bumbled along.
I did love the cat Miss Marple. She had so much personality. And Angelica, for as annoying as she was, made an interesting distraction. I didn't find Trish to be particularly nice or friendly. She was okay to customers but, for the most part, she was judgmental and really grumpy (boarding on rude almost every time she talked with a non-customer).
It was cute but I don't think I'll be reading more of this series. Loved the recipes at the end too! Yum!
I did love the cat Miss Marple. She had so much personality. And Angelica, for as annoying as she was, made an interesting distraction. I didn't find Trish to be particularly nice or friendly. She was okay to customers but, for the most part, she was judgmental and really grumpy (boarding on rude almost every time she talked with a non-customer).
It was cute but I don't think I'll be reading more of this series. Loved the recipes at the end too! Yum!
This book cost me a penny, and I found it when I was looking for another book. I had never read an adult mystery novel before, having only ever read a couple of Middle-Grade mysteries, but for a penny, I figured it was worth trying.
For that small piece of mostly zinc, I discovered that cozy mysteries are my new favorite comfort reads. I enjoyed Murder is Binding so much that after I won a giveaway, I chose the 2nd book in the series, Bookmarked for Death as my prize. I also bought a couple of other book-related mysteries when I took a box of books to the used bookstore, and the first book of another mystery series when it popped up as a Kindle daily deal. Then there's the other mystery I bought with some of my Barnes and Noble show more settlement money. Yep, I've added five books to my TBR all because of a book I got for a penny. Let this be a lesson to those of you who love books as much as I do: those random, too good to pass up deals are how they get you.
I have no idea if I will like those other series, but having already finished Bookmarked for Death, I can safely say that Lorna Barrett's "Booktown Mystery" series is perfect for anyone who is a fan of cozy mysteries. Even better if you love stories about books. And if you want to try out the mystery genre, Murder is Binding works as a stand-alone novel to find out if it's your cup of tea. show less
For that small piece of mostly zinc, I discovered that cozy mysteries are my new favorite comfort reads. I enjoyed Murder is Binding so much that after I won a giveaway, I chose the 2nd book in the series, Bookmarked for Death as my prize. I also bought a couple of other book-related mysteries when I took a box of books to the used bookstore, and the first book of another mystery series when it popped up as a Kindle daily deal. Then there's the other mystery I bought with some of my Barnes and Noble show more settlement money. Yep, I've added five books to my TBR all because of a book I got for a penny. Let this be a lesson to those of you who love books as much as I do: those random, too good to pass up deals are how they get you.
I have no idea if I will like those other series, but having already finished Bookmarked for Death, I can safely say that Lorna Barrett's "Booktown Mystery" series is perfect for anyone who is a fan of cozy mysteries. Even better if you love stories about books. And if you want to try out the mystery genre, Murder is Binding works as a stand-alone novel to find out if it's your cup of tea. show less
Narrator's voice on audiobook was annoyingly grating at times and affected my enjoyment of this otherwise light, entertaining amateur sleuth mystery set in Stoneham, New Hampshire where the tourist trap is bookstores of all kinds. Tricia, owner of Haven't Got a Clue (mystery bookshop) discovers the body of the the owner of the cookbook bookstore and becomes the number one suspect. Her sister Angelica visits and stays, ostensibly, to help Tricia beat the charges. Hopefully, in the rest of the series, owning a bookshop is portrayed in a more appealing way. In this first book, it's all work and not much fun - possibly true, but not suitable for a cozy series called the Booktown Mysteries!
In which it is shown, that it takes more than a bookshop (even a mystery bookshop!), a cat and some recipes to make a good murder mystery. Sigh. This isn't it.
A typical "cozy" mystery which has the owner of a used bookstore being accused of murder. She has the requisite cat, and her sister, whom she loathes, is the one with the recipes. Possibly this would be just the book for folks who love cozy mysteries, but I cut my teeth on Rex Stout, Dorothy L. Sayers and Ellis Peters, so it was not a satisfactory read for me. The characters grated, and the topics were banal. After the first 50 pages, I skipped to the end to see if I was missing anything. I was not.
A typical "cozy" mystery which has the owner of a used bookstore being accused of murder. She has the requisite cat, and her sister, whom she loathes, is the one with the recipes. Possibly this would be just the book for folks who love cozy mysteries, but I cut my teeth on Rex Stout, Dorothy L. Sayers and Ellis Peters, so it was not a satisfactory read for me. The characters grated, and the topics were banal. After the first 50 pages, I skipped to the end to see if I was missing anything. I was not.
Very good first book in a series. I love the idea of a town with its major tourist attraction different kinds of bookstores. The main character in this one owns the mystery shop (big surprise).
This is one of those series where the sleuth DOESN'T sets out to get involved in a murder mystery, in fact she has to be dragged into the whole thing when it becomes obvious that someone is trying to frame her for the murder.
The whole family dynamics aspect of this is interesting, as in, there is dysfunctional and then there is DYSFUNCTIONAL. Made for some good twists and turns.
I'll be watching for the next book in the series.
This is one of those series where the sleuth DOESN'T sets out to get involved in a murder mystery, in fact she has to be dragged into the whole thing when it becomes obvious that someone is trying to frame her for the murder.
The whole family dynamics aspect of this is interesting, as in, there is dysfunctional and then there is DYSFUNCTIONAL. Made for some good twists and turns.
I'll be watching for the next book in the series.
Just before starting this book, I had to give up on a cozy mystery that I could not get interested in but after reading the first page of Murder is Binding by Lorna Barrett, I knew that right away that I was hooked. I can always count on wonderful quirky characters, a mystery full of twists, great dialogues and a place where I would love to live and interact with the characters. Lorna Bartlett never ever lets me down!
Trisha Miles is recently divorced moves to Stoneham, New Hampshire and wants a new beginning in her life. So she starts up a mystery book shop. She already has one employee, Ginny Wilson and a charming and dependable customer who never buys but always shows up on time, Mr. Everett. She has a love/hate (stronger on the hate) show more relationship with her older sister, Angelica, who announces that she is moving to Stoneham. We learn a lot about the background of their relationship.
Next door to Trisha’s shop is Doris Gleason’s Cook Book Store. When Trisha first meets her, she is pushing for organizing a protest for the high rents for the shops. Trisha finds her dead with a kitchen knife in her back. For some reason to be figured out later, the sheriff thinks that Trisha did it. More characters are introduced but as the events roll on, the town people starts to believe that the sheriff is right, except of course for those closest to her.
The mystery is engaging and good and evil struggle on these pages. There several typical several family situations that the characters have to deal with.
I highly recommend Murder is Binding and have already added the other books in this series to my wish list. show less
Trisha Miles is recently divorced moves to Stoneham, New Hampshire and wants a new beginning in her life. So she starts up a mystery book shop. She already has one employee, Ginny Wilson and a charming and dependable customer who never buys but always shows up on time, Mr. Everett. She has a love/hate (stronger on the hate) show more relationship with her older sister, Angelica, who announces that she is moving to Stoneham. We learn a lot about the background of their relationship.
Next door to Trisha’s shop is Doris Gleason’s Cook Book Store. When Trisha first meets her, she is pushing for organizing a protest for the high rents for the shops. Trisha finds her dead with a kitchen knife in her back. For some reason to be figured out later, the sheriff thinks that Trisha did it. More characters are introduced but as the events roll on, the town people starts to believe that the sheriff is right, except of course for those closest to her.
The mystery is engaging and good and evil struggle on these pages. There several typical several family situations that the characters have to deal with.
I highly recommend Murder is Binding and have already added the other books in this series to my wish list. show less
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- Original publication date
- 2008-04-01
- People/Characters
- Tricia Miles (Patricia, owns Haven't Got a Clue mystery bookshop); Angelica Miles (Tricia's bossy 5 yrs-older sister, divorcing, her 4th husband, Drew Prescott ); Doris Gleason (owner, The Cookery bookshop); Ginny Wilson (lithe redhead in her 20s, Tricia's employee); Frannie Mae Armstrong (works at the Chamber of Commerce); Mr. Everett (regularly patronizes Haven't Got a Clue, former grocery store owner) (show all 25); Bob Kelly (head of Stoneham's Chamber of Commerce & owner of Kelly's Realty); Mike Harris (independent insurance agent running for selectman); Wendy Adams (sheriff, says Stoneham hasn't had a killing in about 60 years); Russ Smith (editor, 'Stoneham Weekly News'); Bess (Brookview Inn receptionist); Deborah Black (owns the Happy Domestic shop, pregnant); Winnie Wentworth (sort of combination bag lady & antiques picker); Deputy Jim Placer; Deirdre Gleason (Doris' sister); Christopher (ex-NYC stockbroker now in Colorado, Trish's ex-husband, over the phone); Grace Harris (widow of Jason, granddaughter of Letty & Roddy, Mike Harris' mother); Martha (a nurse at St. Godelive); Roger Livingston (nephew of Grace Harris' lawyer, Harold Lingston); Ed (of Ed's -- really great food); Mrs. Barton (a local woman who thinks she's witty); Mrs. Grant (another local woman who wants to glimpse Tricia); Mrs. Richardson (a serious collector from the Hamptons); Euginia (college-age waitress at the Bookshelf Diner); Miss Marple (Tricia Miles' gray cat)
- Important places
- Stoneham, New Hampshire, USA (fictional village); Haven't Got a Clue Bookstore, 221 Main Street, Stoneham, New Hampshire, USA; The Cookery Bookshop, Stoneham, New Hampshire, USA; Brookview Inn, Stoneham, New Hampshire, USA; Stoneham's Chamber of Commerce, Stoneham, New Hampshire, USA (in what was the sales office of a company selling log homes); The Bookshelf Diner, Stoneham, New Hampshire, USA (show all 10); The Harris House, Stoneham, New Hampshire, USA (Mike's mother's, that is); St. Godelive Assisted Living Center, Benwell, New Hampshire, USA; Livingston, Baker, and Smith, Route 101 A, right off the Oval, Milford, New Hampshire, USA (legal firm, in a restored Victorian); Ed's, New Hampshire, USA (great food in a shack, up on the highway, east of Milford)
- Dedication
- For Valerie Bartlett
Thank you for introducing me to the wonderful world of mystery novels. - First words
- 'I tell you, Trish, we're
all victims.' - Quotations
- Tricia turned away. 'I'm starving. I haven't had a thing to eat since breakfast. Where's the bakery bag? There must be a few cookies left.'
'Sorry,' Angelica apologized. 'I ate the last one just before you came bac... (show all)k.'
Suddenly fratricide seemed like a wonderful solution to all life's problems. (chapter 21) - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)'Not bad for the village jinx, huh?'
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