Killer Words

Burns’s charming seventh Mystery Bookshop mystery (after A Tourist’s Guide to Murder) finds Samantha Washington, owner of a mystery bookshop in North Harbor, Mich., eagerly awaiting copies of her newly published debut novel, Murder at Wickfield Lodge, a historical cozy set in England. Meanwhile, Det. Bradley “Stinky” Pitt of the North Harbor PD becomes suspect number one in the murder of mayoral candidate John Cloverton, who had accused him of police brutality. Even though Stinky has been a constant thorn in Samantha’s side for years, she, her grandma, and “the girls” from Shady Acres Retirement Village nonetheless step up to find the real killer. The geriatric detectives sort through local gossip while Samantha, who has a “knack for solving murder,” does the hands-on investigation. Whenever the case gets tricky, she takes refuge in her writing, treating readers to a parallel mystery for Lady Clara, her amateur sleuth, to solve. Change seems to be the theme in both Samantha’s “real” life and in her work-in-progress novel. Newcomers will have fun, while established fans will relish the evolution of the characters and welcome Samantha’s bright new future. Agent: Dawn Dowdle, Blue Ridge Literary. (Dec.)