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Opening a new book often begins a whirlwind of...stuff... This is the case with Murder by the Book. After reading the epigraph, I wondered, "What?!"
Moving on I begin reading what is actually a book within a book... It seemed to me historical and I was not anxious to continue to read. Finally, readers are confronted with the fact that a book was being read by a small group of people--having just added one, there are now four. A discussion of the book just read began. So I have to say, upfront, I've never participated in a book club--no, forgive me, it is stated over and over and over, that this is a reading group not a book club, even though the cover does "name" it as a book club like no other... I'm so confused, by the way, about what actually happens at a book reading. Do we take turns reading, as we did in grade school? A bit of sarcasm is creeping in, I'm afraid...
In any event, the group did talk and argue as expected until time was up. The bookstore manager came to meet them as she prepares to close the shop. All's well that ends well? Not... Soon there is a loud scream from inside the building. All of the members come running back and try to get back in. In lieu of that, they call the police...
Yes, the bookstore manager is dead. Was it an accident? Or... Nevertheless, the four readers identify themselves to the lead detective and are asked to return to the room where they had just met. Of course all of them began to talk about their relationship to the now deceased individual. Readers of course know she's dead because this is a cozy mystery and a dead body is a prerequisite...
Interestingly, we have already been confronted with a discussion about the antagonistic relationship between the "amateur detective(s)" and the book proves to follow that requirement. I, however, have personally read many cozies in which a companionable relationship occurs. Even on Hallmark mysteries, LOL, normally a love relationship begins... So... is the discussion really a clue?
I must admit, I got bored as the regurgitation of the same discussions began. Between two group people, or the entire group, or between one member who talks to a news rep and tells all, even though they were told not to talk about the death to anybody, including each other, by the detective. And, of course, none of them were willing not to talk to each other, so...
The characters lives were interesting and one of them begins to "shine" as she blossoms after interaction with her new friends. So much so, that she decides to kick her husband out, after being controlled by him her entire married life. Good for her!
However, it was very near the end of the book when readers began to get some semblance of where the book was headed--you know, the type of writer who decided to have the full story to be "revealed" at the end? Well, this is one of those. I'm not a fan.
Even though it was indeed a climatic ending...
One which has been determined by the publisher not to allow excerpts to be used without written permission... Thus, I could only decide to use one song to even give a flavor of the book... but not the writing of the author...
And as I write this review, I realize just how much there was, not, to enjoy the book itself. So you'll have to decide whether you are the type who enjoys the full surprise bang at the end, or, like me, want to be fed clues, in order to really enjoy the book as a mystery... You decide...
GABixlerReviews
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