|
[ Home ]
[ About | Reviews | Search | Submit ]
Penelope Thornton-McClure, is a young widow with a seven-year-old son. Pen's husband, Calvin, had suffered from depression for many years and ultimately committed suicide. His wealthy family tried to keep Pen under their thumbs in NYC, but she rebelled and came home to Quindicott, Rhode Island. Pen has gone into partnership with her 72-year-old Aunt Sadie in Sadie's bookstore. The bookstore business is not thriving as it once did, but Pen feels that with her background in publishing and with new innovations they can make a go of it. Having purchased additional space in the old building, Pen next embarks on a course of painting and fixing up the store, retaining the old charm but with new bookcases, seating and new ideas. However, there is just one item she didn't bargain for - well, actually there are two items. One is the resident ghost and the other a world-famous author dropping dead in the bookstore! Jack Shepard was a private eye from NYC who arrived in the small town in 1949 on his last case. He was killed as he set foot in the old bookstore. Now his spirit is trapped in the building. After 50-plus years Pen is the first human he has attempted to make contact with. But only Pen, no one else can hear him or knows of him. The author is Timothy Brennan, who has revived his once-flagging series featuring private eye Jack Shield. Brennan, cantankerous and obnoxious to Pen and his entourage from the publisher's, tells the large assembled crowd that his character is based on Jack Shepard and that Jack had given him his case files, which Timothy used as a basis for his books. When Brennan chokes and dies in front of the audience, which is also being filmed for CSPAN, things will never be the same in once-peaceful Quindicott. The media circus that surrounds the revelation that it was murder threatens to make Pen and Sadie's lives a nightmare. Fortunately Pen learns from a friend on the police force that she is one of the suspects and with the aid of Jack Shepard, Pen solves the mystery. This is a light-hearted romp through a delightful bookstore. Most of the action takes place in Buy the Book Pen's charming store where mysteries are the main fare. Lots of references to books and authors living and dead will bring smiles to the faces of mystery readers. As the former owner of a bookstore, I can say it was never this exciting - but we didn't have a resident ghost. At least not one who spoke to me. This is the first in a series; I can hardly wait for the second book. I think Ms Kimberly has a hit on her hands.
Reviewed by Lorraine Gelly, March 2004
[ Top ]
QUICK SEARCH:
Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
[ About | Reviews | Search | Submit ]
[ Home ]
| 
