The Next Deadly Chapter

"Pure enjoyment" (The New York Times) for cozy mystery lovers is in store when a killer strikes at the surprise bridal shower Nana Jo and the lively ladies of Shady Acres Retirement Village have organized for Michigan bookshop owner, mystery writer, and amateur sleuth Samantha Washington.Fans of Gigi Pandian, Ellery Adams, Jenn McKinlay, and other biblio-themed cozies will say "I do!" to this latest Mystery Bookshop novel from Agatha Award-finalist V.M. Burns!"Pure enjoyment" (The New York Times) for cozy mystery lovers is in store when a killer strikes at the surprise bridal shower Nana Jo and the lively ladies of Shady Acres Retirement Village have organized for Michigan bookshop owner, mystery writer, and amateur sleuth Samantha Washington.Fans of Gigi Pandian, Ellery Adams, Jenn McKinlay, and other biblio-themed cozies will say "I do!" to this latest Mystery Bookshop novel from Agatha Award-finalist V.M. Burns!All Sam wanted was to make a good impression on her fiance Frank's mother, the very proper Dr. Camilia Patterson. But when Nana Jo and the lively ladies of Shady Acres Retirement Village throw a surprise bridal shower for Sam at the Four Feathers Casino-watch out! Things spin out of control faster than a roulette wheel. Fortunately, Sam knows when to fold 'em and slips back to her room to work on her latest historical mystery set between the wars, in which a houseguest meets a grim end at an English country manor.The morning after brings another rude surprise. Sam gets a frantic call from Camilia, who's discovered a dead body in her room. Now winning over her soon-to-be mother-in-law means keeping the good doctor out of a potential scandal and attempting to discreetly solve a murder without ruffling any feathers. For that she'll need the help of Nano Jo-not exactly the soul of discretion-Detective "Stinky" Pitt, and the ladies-because the casino killer keeps upping the ante. . .

Praise for The Mystery Bookshop Series by V.M. Burns

“This novel, like Burns’s others, wipes the mind clean of anything but pure enjoyment.” —The New York Times on Murder on Tour
 
“Colorful characters and just enough mystery trivia boost the fast-moving plot. Cozy fans are sure to have fun.”  —Publishers Weekly on A Tourist’s Guide to Murder
 
“In the ninth in the Mystery Bookshop series by this prolific Black author, the two stories complement each other, and the returning characters are unforgettable.” —Booklist on Murder on Tour

“Cozy fans get two mysteries for the price of one: The intuitive heroine finishes her novel and solves a murder.” —Kirkus Reviews on A Tourist’s Guide to Murder
 
“Wed, Read & Dead deliciously delves back into the life of Samantha Washington…This charming page-turner is a must-read for any animal lover who loves a good mystery.” —Modern Dog Magazine
 
“This two-in-one mystery satisfies on so many levels, with this fifth in the series being as fresh and unique as the first.” —Kings River Life Magazine on Bookmarked for Murder
 
“As good as any Jessica Fletcher story could be, Burns has a way with words and her characters are absolutely riveting. There is no doubt this is one series that will continue for a good, long time to come.” —Suspense Magazine on Read Herring Hunt
 
“Readers of Carolyn Hart and Vicki Delany will appreciate the lively seniors, the humor, and the bookstore environment.” —Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW on The Plot is Murder

“Adventure and chaos ensue in this fun whodunit.” —Woman’s World Book Club Pick for The Plot is Murder
 
“With plenty of fun and a mystery within a mystery, readers will eat this one up.” —Parkersburg News & Sentinel on The Plot is Murder

Valerie (V. M.) Burns is a mystery writer whose novels and short stories have been finalists for the Agatha, Anthony, Edgar, and Next Generation Indie Book Awards. She is the author of the Mystery Bookshop, Dog Club, RJ Franklin, and Baker Street Mystery series. Valerie is a member of Sisters in Crime, Crime Writers of Color, Mystery Writers of America, and the Crime Writers' Association. She is also an adjunct professor in the Writing Popular Fiction Program at Seton Hill University in Greensburg, PA. Born and raised in northwestern Indiana, Valerie now lives in the southeastern United States with her two poodles. Connect with Valerie at VMBurns.com.

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