Review: A Dickens of A Murder by: Joyce and Jim Lavene

Title: A Dickens of A Murder
Author: Joyce and Jim Lavene
Publisher: J. Lavene
Series: Canterville Book Shop Mystery #1
Pages: 201
Format: e-book ARC
Source: Great Escapes Book Tours

Description:

Christmas at Canterville! 

Lisa Wellman and Simon Canterville are surprised to find a dead man on their roof in the midst of rushing to open the Canterville Book Shop in time for the holidays. And not just any dead man – Ebenezer Hart – the man who opposed the book shop opening in Olde Town, Portsmouth, Virginia. 

What might be more surprising is when Daniel Fairhaven – Lisa’s ex – turns up at the door of the three-story Victorian house to head the police investigation. She hasn’t seen him in years but the sparks start to fly as soon as they are in the same room together. 

Simon and Lisa are obviously the best suspects for the murder. Each of them had something to gain by Hart’s death. Then an attempt on Simon’s life throws that theory into a tailspin. 

But the biggest surprise yet comes when the ghost of Charles Dickens turns up to help Lisa with the murder investigation – and writing the mystery novel she has been working on for years. 

Without a doubt, Daniel and Dickens in Lisa’s life means trouble. And there’s still the matter of trying to get the book shop open with a killer on their heels. 

My Thoughts: 

First I want to take the time to offer our condolences to Jim Lavene for the loss of his wife Joyce recently.  She was a pleasure to work with in both of your various book series.  She will deeply missed.

This book follows Lisa Wellman whose working with Simon Canterville to open a book shop when they discover someone hanging from their roof not long into it Simon finds himself in trouble and Lisa finds herself wanting to find out who killed the victim and why they are framing Simon!  What she wasn't counting on is her ex-husband Daniel Fairhaven investigating the crime. 

I love the books Jim and Joyce write they never fail to deliver they always leave you wanting more or wishing the book was longer this one was full of all sorts of intrigue and mystery trying to figure out who the killer was and why they did what they did.  As always a gem of a book and one for cozy lovers old and young!