I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
A Killer Romance
by Maggie Blackburn
Series: Beach Reads Mystery #3
Series Rating:
Published by Crooked Lane Books on February 6, 2024
Setting: North Carolina
Genres: Cozy Crafts and Hobbies Mystery
Pages: 304
Format: Hardcover, Kindle
Source: NetGalley
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Get Your Copy at: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Nook
Also in this series: Little Bookshop of Murder
Love and murder are in the air this Valentine’s day in Maggie Blackburn’s third Beach Reads mystery, perfect for fans of Eva Gates and Miranda James.
When Beach Reads bookshop hosts a Valentine’s Day event, “Romance by the Sea,” bookseller Summer Merriweather has no idea that the guest author is under investigation for her own husband’s murder. When that same author is found dead at the local bed and breakfast, nobody assumes it’s natural causes–there were plenty of people who wanted her dead.
As Summer searches for the truth about the author’s stranger-than-fiction life, Summer finds suspicious indications of shady behavior in the author’s belongings. But the casual sleuthing is quickly derailed when Summer’s friend Glads gets hauled in for the murder, and they launch a full-blown investigation to clear her name.
As Summer and company pick through the scant clues to solve the case, they may find more treachery and heartbreak than they bargained for.
A Killer Romance by Maggie Blackburn shows us what the small, sleepy island town has been doing for the past four years.
Will Summer keep Glads out of jail?
Summer Merriweather
Summer Merriweather is already close to forty years old, and she’s feeling it. She misses her mom, especially around Valentine’s Day, and does a lot of reminiscing throughout. Summer is moving forward (she’s actually liking romance books) and trying so hard not to stick her nose into other people’s business. The last part is hard for her. Summer is still working out a few flaws, but she’s stepping more into her role as a bookstore owner and liking romances more every day.
I have to say that I don’t know if I would be friends with Summer, but I would probably say hi and shop in her bookstore.
The Mystery
Summer Merriweather accidentally twists her ankle and can’t be there for the author, who is doing the Valentine’s Day event for the bookstore. Everything is going okay besides that fact until the next day when the author is found dead in her bed and breakfast room. There are so many things to unravel and digest throughout. I definitely didn’t suspect that plot twist of who the actual murderer is.
Four Stars
I am giving four stars to A Killer Romance by Maggie Blackburn. It’s a good book, and it’s great to see what these characters have been up to.
Don’t forget to check out the recipes in the back. The recipes are Brigid’s Bakery Honey Cakes, Aunt Agatha’s Stuffed French Toast, Glads’s Blueberry Muffins, and Glads’s Brownies with Chocolate Syrup.
Beach Reads Mystery Series
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of A Killer Romance by Maggie Blackburn. Check out the other stops and giveaway if you have time.
Until the next time,
Happy Reading!
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About Maggie Blackburn
Maggie Blackburn is the author of the Cora Crafts mysteries and the Cumberland Creek mysteries under another pen name. Her books have been selected as finalists for an Agatha Award and a Daphne du Maurier Award and as a Top 10 Beach Reads by Woman’s World. She has also been short-listed for the Virginia Library People’s Choice Award. She is the mother of two young women who are off following their dreams in the music business. She currently lives in Waynesboro, VA, and works at the University of Virginia as a development associate.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 2023 Beachcombers Mystery RC
- 2023 Cloak and Dagger
- 2023 Craving the Cozies
- 2023 Cruisin' thru the Cozies
- 2023 Goodreads RC
- 2023 Medical Examiner RC
