It was a good read and still really enjoy the characters. My only disappointment was that I picked the murderer by 2nd chapter. Will probably still continue to read the series. ( )

Fun read; will read the next one. ( )

I was really looking forward to book 2 since I found the first in series enjoyable. Bookmarked For Death ended up being a slight disappointment with MC being just too perfect and the overall story didn't hold my interest as the first. ( )

Really, it was a 3.5 stars. I like the main character, Tricia and the growing dynamic between her and big sister Angelica. They are growing closer in a realistic way, getting along but with some issues unresolved. The plot wasn’t bad either, but why oh why are small town cops always either petty, incompetent, or both? ( )

Bookmarked For Death is the second book in the Booktown mystery series. 'Booktown' is the nickname for the village of Stoneham, New Hampshire, which revitalized itself by inviting outsiders to open specialty bookstores for the tourist trade. So far as many of the villagers are concerned, the outsiders are unwelcome, no matter how many improvements the increased revenue has brought.

Our heroine is an outsider, Tricia Miles. Her bookstore is Haven't Got a Clue, which specializes in vintage mysteries. Her assistant is Ginny Wilson and her other employee is a retired grocer, gentleman-of-the-old-school William Everett. Tricia's gray longhair, Miss Marple, is the bookstore cat. Tricia's older sister, Alicia Miles (she sheds her fourth husband's name of Prescott in this book), has The Cookery bookstore. They both live in loft apartments above their stores.

Tricia is having a book signing for Zoë Carter, a local woman who became a best-selling author. Ms. Carter had moved away to North Carolina, but she's back to sell her Stoneham house. Her assistant is Kimberly Peters, the niece she took in ten years ago after the girl's mother died. If Kimberly has any manners, she's not using them. This is the last stop for Zoë's first book tour, which Kimberly talked her into doing. The fifth book in the bestselling Forever series is going to be her last. That was her intention. She didn't intend to be murdered during the signing.

This is the second time that Tricia has found a murder victim. The Sheriff, Wendy Adams, still angry with Tricia over something that happened in the first book, is out for revenge in the form of being slow to let the store re-open for business. Bossy Angelica offers to pay Tricia's employees, Ginny and Mr. Everett, to work for her in the meantime. Angelica's latest assistant has just quit. We soon find out why.

Secrets start coming out as Tricia, who has no faith in Sheriff Adams, tries to find out who killed Zoë Carter. I must admit that the motive took me by surprise.

Subplots include a town invasion of Canadian geese leaving their disgusting droppings all over, Angelica wanting to get her cookbook published, Tricia not usually eating sweets, food poisoning cases, and Russ Smith, Tricia's boyfriend, being a jerk (especially in chapter 6).

Notes:

Chapter 1:

a. Ginny Wilson is now 24.

b. This is the 13th book signing Tricia has had at the store.

Chapter 2:

a. It's been seven months since the first book's murder.

b. The cottage Ginny bought might as well be named 'Money Pit'.

Chapter 3:

a. The log cabin used by Stoneham's Chamber of Commerce was once the Trident Log Homes' home office.

b. Frannie Mae Armstrong has lived in Stoneham for almost 21 years.

Chapter 5:

a. Tricia has never experienced a day of poverty in her life.

b. Here is where head librarian Lois Kerr talks about the importance of libraries.

Chapter 6: When I found out the mystery author who had committed murder when she was a teen was Anne Perry, I just thought it explained why morality is so important in her books. I still read them.

Chapter 7: Look here for information about the defunct Trident Log Homes company.

Chapter 10: We get some information about Mr. Everett's past.

Chapter 11: There's some advice for authors who want to be published.

Chapter 13:

a. Wendy Adams and her deputies protect 876 square miles.

b. This is where Tricia says she's not into sweet treats.

Chapter 15: Yes! This is where Tricia mentally corrects Sheriff Adams' 'hero' with 'heroine' (I hate seeing 'female hero').

Chapter 16: In the spring of 2003, Portia McAlister spent a week in jail for refusing to reveal a source.

Chapter 17: We learn something about Nikki Brimfield's past (Steve Fenton's past, too).

Chapter 20:

a. That Brian, Ginny's boyfriend, has an aunt who works at the Southern New Hampshire Medical Center will be helpful in book 3, Bookplate Special.

b. There is at least one descendant of Hiram Stone, founder of Stoneham, living.

Chapter 22: Yes, Wolfe Pack members, this is where Nero Wolfe is mentioned.

Chapter 25: It's not fair to Bob Kelly what later books say about him, Frannie Mae Armstrong, and Angelica here. It's true, but the events are told a bit out of order.

This is a good cozy with engaging characters and some nice twists. I really enjoyed Angelica showing how much she cares about her younger sister in the climax. I wouldn't have expected it of her.

Cat lovers: Yes, Miss Marple has her scenes.

Bird lovers: Enjoy the geese. I'm glad a humane solution to the problem was used.

The recipes in this book are: Blood Glaze, Buttermilk Sugar Cookies, [Cream Cheese] Frosting, Easy-to-Make White-Chocolate Ganache, Red Velvet Cake, Pastry Chicken Cordon Bleu, Peanut Butter Blondies, Sausage-Swiss Cheese Muffins, Shrimp Scampi, Stuffed Baked Potatoes, and Tlalpeño-Style Soup. ( )