For Whom the Book Tolls (An Antique Bookshop Mystery #1)

For Whom the Book Tolls is the first book in a new bookshop cozy series by Laura Gail Black. Released 8th Sept 2020 by Crooked Lane, it's 264 pages and available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats.

This is a fun and engaging 'shopfront' bookstore cozy set in a small town in North Carolina. I enjoyed the way main character Jenna shows grit and resilience finding her feet after a series of personal crises (being accused of murder and embezzlement and finding her uncle dead in the bookshop the morning after she arrives) and the interplay between her and her newfound neighbors and associates. There's a light romance element, a sleazy land developer, hidden treasure from long ago, missing diaries, and lots of hidden motives seething under the surface of the otherwise peaceful small town.

The book is admittedly formulaic, but it is quite well written and fun and full of the whimsical amateur cozy vibe which keeps readers of the genre ticking over the pages. I liked Jenna's dedication to getting her life on a better footing, her honesty, and her loyalty to her friends. There were a few twists on the way to the denouement, and I liked the ending. I'm looking forward to the next book. Note to completists, the background (murder + embezzlement) plot threads are not finished in this book and strongly foreshadowed for future book(s) in the series.

Four stars, entertaining and fun.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.