Verse and Vengeance: 04/15/20

Verse and Vengeance by Amanda Flower is fourth in the Magical Bookshop Mystery series. Violet Wavery has agreed (reluctantly) to participate in the Tour de Cascade race, along side her boyfriend David Rainwater. Meanwhile P.I. Joel Redding is back and making a pest of himself, until he's found dead near the end of the race.

With the bad blood between Violet and Joel, she's at the top of the list of suspects. To clear her name, Violet is once again investigating a murder. This time the clues point to her part-time teaching job at the university. Her favorite student seems to have ties to the murdered man, and now she's missing.

The book that the bookshop has chosen is Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman. Of course the lines the books open to give a mixture of clues to Joel's death, as well a larger historical mystery. There's evidence that Whitman visited the town and his stay might be what's needed to boost funding for the beleaguered city hall.

In the background of the investigation there is more history about the tree at the heart of Charming Books as well as the different caretakers that have come before Violet and her grandmother. If this series continues, eventually Violet will have to share her secret with David.

Five stars

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