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V.M. Burns
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The Plot Is Murder (Mystery Bookshop Book 1) Kindle Edition

by V.M. Burns (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 1,356 ratings
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The small town of North Harbor on the shores of Lake Michigan is about to have a new mystery bookshop. But before the first customer can browse, the owner becomes a real-life murder suspect . . .
 
Samantha Washington has long dreamed of owning a mystery bookstore. And as she prepares for the grand opening, she’s realizing another dream—penning a cozy mystery set in England between the wars. While Samantha hires employees and stocks her shelves, her imagination also gets to work as her heroine, Lady Penelope Marsh, long-overshadowed by her beautiful sister Daphne, refuses to lose the besotted Victor Carlston to her sibling's charms. When one of Daphne's suitors is murdered in a maze, Penelope steps in to solve the labyrinthine puzzle and win Victor.
 
In the meantime, however, the unimaginable happens in real life. A shady realtor turns up dead in Samantha’s backyard, and the police suspect her—after all, she might know a thing or two about murder. Aided by her feisty grandmother and an ensemble of enthusiastic retirees, Samantha is determined to close the case before she opens her store. But will she live to conclude her own story when the killer has a revised ending in mind?
 
“A promising debut with a satisfying conclusion.”
—Publishers Weekly
 
“Cozy mystery readers and historical novel aficionados will adore this warm-hearted,
cleverly plotted new series.”
—Kings River Life

 
 
Previous page
  1. Book 1 of 9
    Mystery Bookshop
  2. Print length
    258 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publisher
    Kensington Cozies
  6. Publication date
    Nov. 28 2017
  7. File size
    4012 KB
  8. Page Flip
    Enabled
  9. Word Wise
    Enabled
  10. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  11. See all details
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Total Price: CDN$57.09
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Product description

About the Author

V. M. Burns was born and raised in South Bend, Indiana. She currently resides in Tennessee with her two poodles, Coco and Kenzie. Valerie is a member of Mystery Writers of America and a lifetime member of Sisters in Crime. Readers can visit her website at www.vmburns.com.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B06XFBYLHC
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kensington Cozies (Nov. 28 2017)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4012 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 258 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1496711815
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 1,356 ratings

About the author

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V.M. Burns

V.M. Burns

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V.M. (Valerie) Burns was born and raised in the Midwestern United States. She currently resides in the warmer region of the country with her two poodles, Kenzie and Chloe. Valerie is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Dog Writers of America, Crime Writers of Color, International Thriller Writers, and Sisters in Crime. Valerie is also a mentor in the Writing Popular Fiction MFA program at Seton Hill University. Readers can visit her website at vmburns.com.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
1,356 global ratings

Top reviews from Canada

Alexander Ballou
5.0 out of 5 stars A fun Read
Reviewed in Canada on November 9, 2020
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Cute and enjoyable
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D. Kam
3.0 out of 5 stars two mysteries in one book!
Reviewed in Canada on March 3, 2024
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Interesting approach to these novels, with a story within a story. I quite enjoyed the characters and this particular way of setting the novel. Well done!
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Susan
5.0 out of 5 stars good read 😊
Reviewed in Canada on December 20, 2023
I enjoyed this book. A lovely murder mystery.
I liked the two stories that were written in such a clever way.
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Karen Kenyon
5.0 out of 5 stars I loved it!
Reviewed in Canada on November 30, 2017
This was one of my favourite books of 2017.
I enjoyed the premise of the character owning a mystery bookstore. The characters were well written and I look forward to reading more about them, especially the senior citizens, who were written as smart, full of life and entertaining.
The whodunit was well plotted and kept me guessing.
This is the first in a new series, and I cannot wait to read the next in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
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Anne
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
Reviewed in Canada on February 10, 2021
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I enjoyed the characters and the story but particularly the way the author wove the main story and the manuscript story together. It was smoothly done. Will definitely read #2.
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W Hunter
5.0 out of 5 stars A great read with a neat twist.
Reviewed in Canada on November 30, 2021
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I thoroughly enjoyed the book and loved the surprise ending. It dealt with all manner of circumstances plus an amazing group of older women, who support the heroine .
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Top reviews from other countries

Debra G. Hatfield
5.0 out of 5 stars A delightful Cozy Mystery
Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2023
Verified Purchase
I got this book by a lucky accident. I thought I was ordering the third book in another series but found myself with the first book in this series. It was a delight to read. Samantha (Sam) becomes a widow and following her late husband's wishes buys and opens a bookstore. Before she even gets it open to the public the realtor who sold it to her shows up and demands she sell it back to him. She doesn't do it and the next morning he is discovered dead in the back area behind her bookstore. This involves the police, of course, and becomes news. Once it becomes public knowledge her grandmother finds out and shows up to help her solve the mystery of who killed him. Her grandmother involves 3 or 4 friends from the Senior Citizens Living Center where she usually lives, and sort of mob, overwhelm Sam. They do go on to solve the mystery. It is a hoot having a 40+ year old woman having to deal with a handful of senior citizens and all of them trying to solve a mystery at the same time. These are very lively women, they don't set and knit. Good plot, good characters, and a good story. I think I have known someone like each of the characters, they are very believable. You will enjoy this read if you like a mystery.
2 people found this helpful
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Donna
4.0 out of 5 stars What a fun start to a new series!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 1, 2023
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Such a fun start to a cosy mystery series. A perfect setting, in a new mystery dedicated bookshop with great characters and a couple of cute dogs too, Snickers and Oreo. Loved all the characters especially Nana Jo and her friends from the Shady Acres Retirement Village…they were a definite force to be reckoned with and very funny to boot!
Looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
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sherylyn kelly
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in Australia on June 6, 2018
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Enjoyed it immensely
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Kindle Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Two books in one. And both are worth the read
Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2021
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While waiting for college football to start I decided to pick up the book I started last night. I had every intention to stop reading so I could watch the games with my husband while he flipped from game to game. Much to my surprise I never put the book down.
I became entranced in the story of Sam Washington and her new life as book shop owner, author, murder suspect and sleuth.
V.M. Burns has created characters that pop from the pages and a storyline that kept me saying, just one more page all afternoon. I had to finish this book.
The story is about a teacher, widowed before the dream of owning a bookshop with her husband could be realized. As she carries on her dream alone, the murder of a not well liked realtor lands in her backyard and Sam is considered the main suspect. Mainly because her manuscript is found by Detective Pitts. A man with little knowledge of differences between real life and a manuscript for a cozy mystery.
I can't wait to find out what happens to the characters. And hope there will be more sleuthing for the grannies.
3 people found this helpful
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Susan Roberts
5.0 out of 5 stars so well written
Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2024
Verified Purchase
I read it in one sitting. Characters were believable and applaud able. I loved both stories. Yay. Thank you for a wonderful day.
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