Everything was going great for Tricia Miles, right up until her estranged mother, Sheila, arrives on her front step with an urn she says contains the remains of Tricia’s father.
Shocked and saddened, Tricia and her sister, Angelica, attempt to get to the bottom of what happened. But their efforts for clarity are dashed when Shelia disappears the very next day, leaving without a word.
Naturally, the sisters are upset—especially after they take the remains to the local funeral parlor and discover that not only is the urn filled with kitty litter, but hidden inside is a valuable (and stolen) Rolex watch. Digging deeper, the sisters find their parents are in dire financial trouble and seem to be lurking around Booktown.
Tricia and Angelica can’t help but wonder how many more secrets their mother was keeping…and whether that includes murder.
Release Date: Sep 23, 2025
Series: Booktown
Book: 19
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley
Price: $14.99
This is the nineteenth book in the Booktown Mystery series, and I’ve read many of them. It has been up and down for me. I love the premise of this book, and there are some nice moments, but overall, it was disappointing. The main character is Tricia Miles, who owns a vintage mystery bookshop. She and her sister Angelica were told by their difficult mother that their father had died. However, they learn that their father may actually be alive and working on his next con.
There is a death and a disappearance in this book, but unlike most of the books in this series, Tricia doesn’t do much investigating. She and her sister do try to find out if their parents are up to something, but it doesn’t really feel like a mystery. Furthermore, the book features several truly toxic characters. Tricia’s own mother has always been horrible to her and shows her true colors in this book. Her mother’s best friend says terrible things, as does someone who claims to be Tricia’s best friend!
There just wasn’t a cozy vibe to this “cozy mystery”. The exception is when Tricia and Angelica hold their weekly dinners for family and close friends who have become like family. These moments are touching, and I wish there had been more of them.
The book is a quick read, but the resolution leaves some loose ends. It’s possible some could be addressed in a subsequent book, but I was hoping for a more detailed ending that explained important events. Tricia and Angelica often talk about the meals they’re going to be preparing, and there are some recipes at the end. There are some great books in this series, so if you’re a new reader, I would suggest starting with some of the earlier books.
~ Christine
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