July 5, 2025 - fundinmentalfundinmental

Murder on the Books (A Cozy Bookshop Mystery)
by Toni LoTempio

Murder on the Books has set this series off to a fine start. There are engaging characters with ample room for growth, a great home base in Austin that brings the history of the characters, a puzzling mystery that keeps everyone on their toes, and you can’t go wrong with a small-town bookstore and bakery as a place for people to gather. I have enjoyed everything I have read by this author. T.C. Lotempio doesn’t disappoint.
~Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book

About Murder on the Books

Murder on the Books (A Cozy Bookshop Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Pennsylvania
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Severn House
Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 1, 2025
Hardcover Print length ‏ : ‎ 240 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1448315263
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1448315260
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DTYF8XYF
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1448315277

Newly retired mystery writer Charley James returns to her small hometown only to find herself amidst a real-life murder mystery in this first book in the brand new Cozy Bookshop mystery series by award-winning and national bestselling author T.C. LoTempio.

Thirty-year-old Charlotte James, better known to her mystery fans as C.J. Barrett, decides to take a break from writing her popular Steve Sheppard mystery series. Leaving New York City, she moves back to her hometown of Austin to wind down, recuperate, and maybe come up with some new ideas for her books.

Settling into her new life, Charley reunites with her long-term friend and baker Zane who is about to open a charming double store front. But while Zane is ready to open her café, her business partner Sheila unexpectedly departs town, bailing on her bookshop and leaving nothing but a note behind.

Charley is more than happy to take over, but when she finds Sheila’s body in a chest in the store’s basement, things take a dramatic turn. Now Charley has to juggle the opening of her bookshop, a stoic but attractive Philadelphia detective, and a stray cat, all while solving Sheila’s murder Sheppard-style before the killer can strike again!

Fans of Jenn McKinlay, Ellery Adams, Lucy Connelly, Lauren Elliott, and Ellie Alexander will love this cozy mystery “featuring a plucky, likable heroine, plenty of suspense [and] unexpected twists” (Booklist).

“I was hooked from start to finish!” Laura Childs, New York Times bestselling author of the Tea Shop mysteries, on Eat, Drink and Drop Dead

About Toni LoTempio

T.C. LoTempio is the award-winning, nationally bestselling author of the Nick and Nora Mysteries, the Urban Tails Pet Shop Mysteries, and the Cat Rescue Mysteries. Born in New York City, she now resides in Phoenix, Arizona, with her two cats, Maxx and Rocco. Rocco prides himself on being the inspiration for her Nick and Nora series! For more information, check out her and her cat Rocco’s blog at www.catsbooksmorecats.blogspot.com and visit her website at www.tclotempio.ne
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/toni.lotempio.5
TWITTER/X: ROCCOBLOGGER
WEBSITE: https://www.tclotempio.net/
Purchase Links – Amazon – B & N – Bookshop.org – Kobo –