Bound by Murder

Bound by Murder by Laura Gail Black is the third An Antique Bookshop Mystery. It can be read as a standalone for those new to the series. I like the author's writing style which makes the story easy to read. There is a great cast of characters that includes Jenna, Keith, Rita, Mason, and Jenna's adorable canine. The characters are friendly, realistic, relatable, and developed. I love Jenna's shop. It is a place where I could spend hours browsing through the shelves of books. I enjoyed the description of her wedding themed window display. Like Jenna, I am a fan of the Five Little Peppers and How They Grew by Margaret Sidney (I have a vintage copy of the book). The mystery gave us several suspects who could have done the deed. There is misdirection to lead armchair sleuths astray. I picked my guilty party out early and then joined Jenna on her investigation to see if I was right. There are various events that keep things lively as well as clues to help readers solve the crime. I enjoyed the tense reveal. There is mild foul language in the book (just a little bit). There is romance in the story. Jenna is dating Detective Keith Logan. Their relationship is progressing nicely, but the road to happily ever after does have a few potholes. Mason, Jenna's shop manager, is smitten with Lily Monahan who works at The Weeping Willow. I enjoyed reading Bound by Murder, and I am looking forward to returning to Hokes Folly in the next An Antique Bookshop Mystery. Bound by Murder is an entertaining tale with a frustrating ex-fiancé, a cuddly canine, a bridezilla with her band of bridesmaids, a wasted witch, a furtive fire, a smitten store manager, and a distressing discovery.