Murder on the Half Shelf (A Booktown Mystery, #6)

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Murder on the Half Shelf (Booktown Mystery #6)

by Lorna Barrett (Goodreads Author)

3.88 of 5 stars 3.88 · rating details · 430 ratings · 88 reviews

“If anyone has the formula for a frolicking fun mystery down pat, it’s Lorna Barrett” (Roundtable Reviews), the New York Times bestselling author whose latest Booktown Mystery finds amateur sleuth Tricia Miles unexpectedly reunited with a man from a chapter of her life she closed long ago…

Stoneham, New Hampshire, is a haven to bookstores, including Tricia’s own mystery s...more

Hardcover, 293 pages

Published July 3rd 2012 by Berkley Hardcover (first published January 1st 2012)

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Jul 17, 2012 Olaf rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: best-mysteries

I enjoyed returning to Stoneham quite a bit and the Booktown mystery series is one of my favourite "cozy" reads. However, despite liking the book, I was annoyed that the revelation of the murderer came out of nowhere and that the motive had never been so much as hinted at anywhere. The series still has a very strong cast and I intend to keep reading, but it is not the best in the series and not a good place to start with the books.

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Apr 01, 2013 Drebbles rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

When a Bed and Breakfast Inn comes to Stoneham, New Hampshire, Tricia Miles and her sister Angelica have a chance to stay there overnight before it opens to the public. Unfortunately, before they are there long Tricia, who is rapidly becoming known as the Town Jinx, stumbles across the body of Pippa Comfort one of the people running the Inn. When it is discovered that Tricia was involved with Pippa' husband years ago she quickly becomes a suspect in Pippa's murder. Tricia needs to find the kille...more When a Bed and Breakfast Inn comes to Stoneham, New Hampshire, Tricia Miles and her sister Angelica have a chance to stay there overnight before it opens to the public. Unfortunately, before they are there long Tricia, who is rapidly becoming known as the Town Jinx, stumbles across the body of Pippa Comfort one of the people running the Inn. When it is discovered that Tricia was involved with Pippa' husband years ago she quickly becomes a suspect in Pippa's murder. Tricia needs to find the killer to clear her name and save her reputation - and her relationship with police chief Grant Baker.

"Murder on the Half Shelf" is the nicely done sixth book in Lorna Barrett's Book Town cozy mystery series. There is a lot to like about this series starting with the setting and characters. The idea of Stonheam being a tourist attraction with all bookstores (specializing in certain items like cookbooks) is an inspired idea and Barrett makes it very real as some store owners are struggling financially. In fact, all of the business aspects are well done while not bogging down the book in boring details. Another thing that makes this series sparkle is the relationships between the characters - starting with Tricia and Angelica. Angelica is definitely high maintenance and may seem to take advantage of Tricia at times but it is clear that the two sisters love and take care of each other. Along with Tricia's relationship with Angelica is her friendship with others in town including her complicated romance with Grant Baker, her friendship with her employee Mr. Everett and his beloved wife Grace, and her search for another employee to help out at the store (which leads to the introduction of a new truly unforgettable character!). The mystery aspects are well done, with plenty of suspects although the killer's motive seemed to come out of nowhere and perhaps could've been foreshadowed more. Still this is an enjoyable cozy mystery series and the book ends on a cliffhanger that has me eagerly waiting for the next book.
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Sep 02, 2012 Karen rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is the sixth in the Booktown Mystery series. Though I have read all previous entries, this is my favorite to date. I enjoy this series, but I never really liked the main character, Tricia Miles. I even posted on a cozy board in GoodReads that I'd shop her store and discuss books with her, but wouldn't consider her a "friend"---which is unusual in cozy series because the characters become friends, which is why one returns to series book after book. I don't know what it was about her in the e...more This is the sixth in the Booktown Mystery series. Though I have read all previous entries, this is my favorite to date. I enjoy this series, but I never really liked the main character, Tricia Miles. I even posted on a cozy board in GoodReads that I'd shop her store and discuss books with her, but wouldn't consider her a "friend"---which is unusual in cozy series because the characters become friends, which is why one returns to series book after book. I don't know what it was about her in the earlier stories, but this is the first time I actually liked her. Maybe I'm just used to her after six books, but one would think it wouldn't take that long. Oh well...

This outing has Tricia, Angelica, and several other Chamber of Commerce members visiting a new, local B&B for a pre-opening test run. The B&B is being run by a couple new to Stoneham, Jon and Pippa Comfort. It isn't long before Tricia makes a couple of discoveries, Pippa's body and ex-boyfriend Harry Tyler living under an assumed name---Jon Comfort. Harry, one-time author, is accused of Pippa's murder. Tricia believes him to be innocent.

This puts Tricia at odds with her sort-of beau Police Chief Grant Baker, who doesn't think they should see one another while he's investigating a murder involving her---even though he believes her to be innocent---and head of Chamber and Angelica's off again, Bob Kelly, who has his own reasons for wanting Tricia to stop investigating. Add a few red herrings to the mix and you get a pretty good mystery.

If that weren't enough, Tricia and Mr. Everett are being run ragged because they haven't found a replacement for Ginny, who's now managing another store. Mr. Everett is stressed; he and his wife are at odds over her involvement in their charitable endowment to the exclusion of all else. Angelica is going to be on TV. Plus, Tricia is getting weird gifts in the mail. And...well, you get the picture.

Maybe what made this most enjoyable for me was (view spoiler)

My only negative (view spoiler)

Finally, this story ended on a sort of cliffhanger that has me---for once---anxiously awaiting the next edition. Thank you, Lorna Barrett!!(less)

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Jul 12, 2012 Jeannie and Louis Rigod rated it 5 of 5 stars

This series is without question earning my respect with each and every new novel published. I liked the series from book one, but the maturity levels now reached, make me feel, that I am almost reading a completely different series and loving it! I do suggest reading the entire series from volume one, "Murder is Binding" through this current novel, "Murder on the Half Shelf." I have heard that the first three novels will be put into one book in October, 2012...check that rumor out. Great idea if...more This series is without question earning my respect with each and every new novel published. I liked the series from book one, but the maturity levels now reached, make me feel, that I am almost reading a completely different series and loving it! I do suggest reading the entire series from volume one, "Murder is Binding" through this current novel, "Murder on the Half Shelf." I have heard that the first three novels will be put into one book in October, 2012...check that rumor out. Great idea if correct.

Without question, Ms. Barrett can write a solid, fast-paced, complicated, yet cozy murder mystery. What makes this series so attractive is the intense attention given to the very drawing of each character. Take for instance, Tricia's (our sleuth and book store owner,) physical appearance, to her personality, to her viewpoints of life, to the interactions with her family, friends, and co-workers, we realize that Tricia is a 'live' person (yes, I understand this is a fictional book,) that makes me, the reader, care about her. Tricia can make me angry, sad, happy, and even confused at times. Tricia is complex and each novel reveals new and varied dimensions to her character. As I finished this current book, past questions had been resolved, new questions opened, and even an exasperated, "What next?" sprung from my lips.

However, isn't that what makes this series so creditable? Tricia is believable and flawed. I am drawn into the situations right along with this fictional character and the pages slide by without any sense of time. Normally, characters drawn so completely are only found in the traditional British Murder Mystery, such as an Agatha Christie.

I love that this series is now in Hardcover, as I can keep it neatly in my bookshelves at a finger's touch away. My one regret is that we must wait so long for the next book out. However, I fill in the time by cooking recipes from "Recipes to Die For" by Lorraine Bartlett, not to mention recipes found in the book just read! Join me in this reading adventure!

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Jun 30, 2012 Betty rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: cozy, murder, mystery, stoneham, booktown, tricia-miles, lorna-barrett, recipes, surprise, fiction, series

As the story begins, Tricia and Angelica, two sisters who own shops in Booktown, a revamped original part of Stoneham, New Hampshire, are trundling their way to the new Sheer Comfort Inn, where Angelica has won an overnight stay for two in a draw at the town Chamber. The Sheer Comfort Inn, a beautifully renovated Victorian home, has not been officially opened yet and is having a sort of dry run a week before opening. After a brief conversation with their hostess Pippa Comfort, Tricia becomes awa...more As the story begins, Tricia and Angelica, two sisters who own shops in Booktown, a revamped original part of Stoneham, New Hampshire, are trundling their way to the new Sheer Comfort Inn, where Angelica has won an overnight stay for two in a draw at the town Chamber. The Sheer Comfort Inn, a beautifully renovated Victorian home, has not been officially opened yet and is having a sort of dry run a week before opening. After a brief conversation with their hostess Pippa Comfort, Tricia becomes aware that Mrs. Comfort was expecting Angelica to be accompanied by Bob Kelly, owner of Kelly Real Estate and head of the Chamber of Commerce. As they head to their room, Tricia gets a glimpse of a slightly familiar man in the hall who suddenly turns away as though he does not want to be seen by her. Who would she know here aside from the other Chamber members who were recipients of the free stay? He looked like he worked at the hotel.

Love is definitely not in the air, but that doesn't stop a bit of running around among some of the residents. What is happening to romance in Stoneham? Angelica is angry with ex-boyfriend Bob, Mr. Everett is concerned about his marriage with Grace, Tricia is on the outs with Grant Baker, police chief and sometimes boyfriend/lover, too busy to see her, and more. Some friendships slip and jealousy rears its head. The mixed bunch of guests at the Inn don't seem to be having a romantic evening either. When Tricia takes Angelica's dog out for a walk a few minutes after getting to their room, Sarge sniffs out a body behind the fence and wouldn't you know it, the body is that of Pippa Comfort, last seen about five minutes before! What on earth could have happened? Naturally Tricia is faced with interrogation by Grant resulting in further distance between them after she reports the "accident". On the suspect list as the one who discovered the body, he can't be seen talking to her except about the case.

There are so many suspects for this murder and a lot of very interesting hobbies among the shopkeepers come to light. Nothing like a murder investigation to bring out the dirt, and this bit of laundry is sure to hang out someone to dry eventually. A lot of changes in this, the sixth of the Booktown Series. Lorna Barrett has served up another great mystery with old and new characters, a surprise from the past, good news and seriously bad news for Angelica in particular. Will she rise from the ashes of her career? Lorna Barrett's characters are believable, although possibly a stretch with one. When we get to know her better. we learn you not only can't judge a book by its cover, but the first introduction doesn't tell the whole story. I love some of the tongue-in-cheek names that show up occasionally in these books. Now I ask you, what could be more fitting than the Full Moon Nudist Camp and Resort?

Meanwhile, with the town beginning to think of Tricia as a jinx, who is sending her "gifts" in the mail with oblique messages? Who is always standing in shadow? Why does she have to find another body, fortunately one that is still breathing, on her next walk with Sarge, the dog with the great sniffer? So many questions to be answered and difficult to guess what the answers may be. Lots of twists and mixed emotions among the Booktown people in this book. Once again, a downright good read with recipes as a bonus. Even with all the many conflicts and resolutions in this book, all part of the mystery, this storyline does not falter nor confuse. Good, solid writing and a very funny last paragraph...don't peek, it won't make any sense unless you read the book! Four easy and tasty recipes included.(less)

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Jul 25, 2012 Pixie Poe rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-better-world-books-book-drive

Tricia Miles, owner of Stoneham, New Hampshire's Haven't Got a Clue mystery bookstore, returns in Lorna Barrett's Murder on the Half Shelf, the sixth in her Booktown mystery series.
Tricia agrees to join her sister, Angelica, who has won an overnight stay at the new Sheer Comfort Inn. Tricia realizes this trip is going to be no prize when she stumbles across the body of Pippa Comfort, who ran the inn with her husband Jon. Things go from bad to worse when Tricia realizes that Jon is actually Har...more

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Jul 09, 2012 Georgette rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery

This is another book in the Booktown series by Lorna Barrett. If you like “niche mystery” and books, this is a good series to read.

Trish is the owner of Haven’t Got A Clue, a mystery bookshop in Massachusetts. One bookshop of many- the entire town is made up of specialty bookstores, and a tourist attraction. Trish’s sister Angelica now runs a store in the town, and she ends up being Trish’s partner in solving crimes, unwittingly. This time, Angelica has won a night free at the new hotel in town-...more This is another book in the Booktown series by Lorna Barrett. If you like “niche mystery” and books, this is a good series to read.

Trish is the owner of Haven’t Got A Clue, a mystery bookshop in Massachusetts. One bookshop of many- the entire town is made up of specialty bookstores, and a tourist attraction. Trish’s sister Angelica now runs a store in the town, and she ends up being Trish’s partner in solving crimes, unwittingly. This time, Angelica has won a night free at the new hotel in town- the Sheer Comfort Inn. The two sisters have barely settled into their night out when during a walk with Angelica’s dog, Trish finds the body of Pippa Comfort, who was one of the owners of the hotel. The search turns up Pippa’s husband, who Trish is stunned to recognize as Harry Tyler- her ex who disappeared over twenty years ago and was presumed dead. He’s immediately under suspicion. So are a number of people who won the raffle that the hotel was holding. One by one, the suspects are eliminated. In the meantime, Angelica is almost killed during a talk-show appearance hyping her cookbook, and Trish has her hands full with chatty gossip town-goers trying to get information out of her about the murder. Trish’s now-estranged boyfriend is the chief of police, and after telling her she is also a suspect, she cools things off between them for the forseeable future. Trish also has her hands full with her store, her part-time employee and his marriage issues, and her new hire, who’s doing a great job but is being courted away by another job. Sounds like a lot? It is. Throw in Trish getting mysterious items in the mail alluding to her past, although she honestly has no idea who could be sending her this stuff. Still more….one of the most disappointing things about this book was that there was so much upheaval going on around. There are character references of familiar Stoneham residents throughout the book, but none of them are ever followed through. Nikki, the town’s baker, is a friend of Trish’s who is now engaged to her ex Russ. There’s a misunderstanding between them and Nikki tells her to buzz off and stay away from her soon-to-be husband. This is quite upsetting to Trish, and yet it’s brought up- and dropped. No resolution. Angelica’s accident that could have killed her? It’s never really investigated or deemed suspicious, except by Trish. We never hear of any resolution with regard to what happened. Frannie, the gossipy older lady- she keeps sticking her nose into everyone’s business, and she drops a big bomb- then just- disappears. Michelle, one of the owners of the new bar/restaurant/tourist attraction in the town, supposedly hates Trish and is on best friend terms with Angelica, but she suddenly is buddy-buddy with Trish. There’s a scene toward the end of the book where Michelle acts rather oddly, which you are led to believe, is leading to a great revealation- or some part in this murder. Guess what? It’s dropped- never addressed. That’s really frustrating. None of the other books in this series have ever done that. I don’t know why it’s going on in this one, but I hope by the next one, this new writing plot- whatever it is or what’s it called, I could care less about-is gone.

Another thing I was heartily sick of in this novel is the fact that Trish is finally starting to come out from her sister’s shadow and stand her ground(Angelica was always the go-getter overly ambitious success- Trish went the quieter route to her life, and the earlier books touch a lot upon the fact that she always felt she didn’t measure up to Angelica). Then- half of the book has her mooning over her past with the ex who’s wife has just been murdered. Then she re-visits her broken marriage, her back-and-forth flirtation with Russ, and her now faltering relationship with the police chief. You have the feeling that she doesn’t feel like she can be anyone unless there is a man there for her to focus on. Trish is a great character, I would love one of these books to be her on her own, and not pining over the males that have come and gone in her life. After the ending Barrett throws at us, well, I don’t see that happening in the next book.

The end pleased me to no end. I had no flipping idea who killed the hotel owner. There was a revolving door of probable suspects, and when the big reveal came, it wasn’t convoluted, it made perfect sense. They introduced 2 new characters- a lady who starts out as an assistant manager at Haven’t Got a Clue, and a sarcastic punk girl who ends up being on parole for being a hooker, and who’s sentenced to working the phones at a non-profit organization. They end up switching jobs at the end, but not before both characters have endured themselves to you, and in the future Booktown books. So great job. And as usual, the book is a quick, enjoyable read. I just wish it flowed smoothly as it usually does. Not one of her better books in the series, but still a highly enjoyable quick read.(less)

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Apr 01, 2013 bella rated it 5 of 5 stars

In the sixth book in the Booktown Mysteries, Tricia and her sister, Angelica, are looking forward to being two of the very first guests to stay at the new bed-and-breakfast, Sheer Comfort Inn. However what starts out as a nice night away turns into murder, when one of the owners, Pippa Comfort turns up dead. Tricia finds herself in another murder investigation, when she discovers the body of Pippa and discovers someone at the Inn from her a past. Someone that she thought was dead. It's now up to...more

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Jul 25, 2012 Patty rated it 5 of 5 stars

This series just keeps getting better and better.

Tricia has lost her assistant manager, is having trouble with people she interviews and to top if off her sister Angelica invites her to a new hotel, where she and Angelica's dog find a body!

With the return of former lover, who btw was declared dead several years earlier, current boyfriend not wanting to talk to her because she is a suspect in a murder case, and all of the drama that goes along with being sisters with Angelica, Tricia is feeling m...more

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Jul 14, 2012 LORI CASWELL rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-2012

We return to Stoneham, New Hampshire just when a man from Tricia's past also arrives in town. Tricia, owner of the Haven't Got A Clue Mystery Shop and her sister Angelica have received a free night at the town's new Bed & Breakfast, Sheer Comfort. They join some other members of the Chamber of Commerce so the hosts can have a trial run before they open to the public. Pippa and Jon Comfort are new in town but it seems they already know some of Stoneham's prominent residents.

Of course Angelica...more We return to Stoneham, New Hampshire just when a man from Tricia's past also arrives in town. Tricia, owner of the Haven't Got A Clue Mystery Shop and her sister Angelica have received a free night at the town's new Bed & Breakfast, Sheer Comfort. They join some other members of the Chamber of Commerce so the hosts can have a trial run before they open to the public. Pippa and Jon Comfort are new in town but it seems they already know some of Stoneham's prominent residents.

Of course Angelica couldn't leave her dog at home even though the inn has a strict no pets policy. As usual she cons Tricia into sneaking him outside for a comfort walk. That's when what should have been a relaxing overnight stay turns into nightmare. Sarge sniffs out a dead body in the backyard. Tricia has too much experience in this kind of discovery so it takes her only seconds to realize that Pippa has been murdered. If that isn't enough, Tricia meets Pippa's husband Jon and discovers he is actually Harry Tyler, a man Tricia loved and thought was dead for the past twenty years.

Harry needs to answer a lot of questions for Tricia but he has become the prime suspect in his wife's murder. Tricia may not have seen this man for 20 years but she knows he wouldn't murder his wife. There is much more to Pippa's story and Tricia can't help herself, she just needs to follow the clues and catch the real culprit.

Dollycas's Thoughts

Lorna Barrett is one of the best at writing a cozy mystery and I believe this is the best story she has written yet.

This is a tight, well written fast moving mystery with well developed characters readers have grown to love, including Miss Marple the cat and now Sarge the dog. We are also introduced to some new very interesting characters in this edition. I can't wait to see how Pixie impacts the next installment. You know characters are wonderfully created when you as the reader want to reach into the pages and slap one of them up aside the head. C'mon Grant, seriously!!

The story is also chock full of humor. Angelica has quite a harrowing experience but it had me laughing out loud and quickly turning the pages. Also when Tricia meets Pixie, priceless.

This wonderful mystery is filled with plenty of suspects, more twists and turns that a carnival ride, and a few surprises. Barrett has also gone the way of television drama. This book has a cliffhanger! Yes, a cliffhanger. I was already anxious for a return trip to Stoneham but Lorna this is just cruel :) I will be baking some of the delicious recipes included in the book while I wait not very patiently.(less)

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Mar 18, 2013 Rusty rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery-thriller

First, let me explain that cozies are not my reads of choice. I found the characters in this one quite different. Tricia, who owns a mystery bookstore and tells the story, is one-dimensional to me. However, her sister, Angelica, has enough personality to make up for her. The mystery is simple. Angelica wins a free night in a bed and breakfast establishment that will open in a week. She invites Tricia to join her and, of course, Tricia finds a body, that of Pippa, one of the managers when she tak...more

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Jan 06, 2013 Gail rated it 2 of 5 stars

Hmmm not committed. Didn't realise it was a series, although that become obvious quickly. Given some of the feedback below I will probably give the series another try.

But for this one: Far fetched in so many murders in one small town discovered by the same person. SO many bookshops in one town?! But I did enjoy the bantering between the characters and continued to read through the slow first half because of that. You are not going to plough through this if it is mystery you are after....in some...more

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Oct 17, 2012 Marge rated it 1 of 5 stars

I have read this entire series but I will not continue it. The people in this town including Tricia are just awful, mean, and snarky. Even the 911 operator has an attitude. The author is writing Tricia's personality just like Katie's in her Victoria Square Mystery series, which I find very grating and distasteful. How can you enjoy a book when the main character is unlikable? She even complains that Grant brings a sandwich made the way he likes it and not her way - grow up Tricia.

Also, for a mys...more

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Oct 11, 2012 Snap rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: cozy-mysteries, read-in-2012

A visit to Stoneham, New Hampshire would be a book lovers dream ... bookstore after bookstore -- each with its own specialty. The only problem, there are not enough hotel rooms. A new bed and breakfast is getting ready to open its doors and some locals have been offered a free nights stay as a trial run for the B&B staff. Tricia, owner of the mystery book store "Haven't Got A Clue" and her sister, Angelica (who is a cook book author and owns The Cookery) should have a pleasant overnight stay...more

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Feb 22, 2013 Shirley rated it 4 of 5 stars

Tricia tries to solve another murder, this time at the newest addition to their little town, the Sheer Comfort Inn. Tricia find the one of the owners of the new B&B dead and she and the victim's husband become prime suspects. This is especially true when Tricia discovers the victim's husband is a long lost lover, who supposedly died in a boating accident twenty years ago, leaving Tricia, his family and scores of fans of his popular book to mourn. The fact that she's a suspect puts a wall bet...more

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Jun 14, 2012 Fred rated it 5 of 5 stars

Murder On The Half Shelf is the sixth book in the interesting Booktown Mystery series. Barrett does a wonderful job of putting together an intriguing mystery with a touch of humor to provide the reader with an enjoyable book.

Tricia and Angelica are walking over to Sheer Comfort Inn, a much needed B&B, to enjoy a free one night lodging. Angelica won the stay in a raffle and elected take her sister, rather than her sometime boyfriend, Bob Kelly. As they are getting ready to check in Tricia see...more Murder On The Half Shelf is the sixth book in the interesting Booktown Mystery series. Barrett does a wonderful job of putting together an intriguing mystery with a touch of humor to provide the reader with an enjoyable book.

Tricia and Angelica are walking over to Sheer Comfort Inn, a much needed B&B, to enjoy a free one night lodging. Angelica won the stay in a raffle and elected take her sister, rather than her sometime boyfriend, Bob Kelly. As they are getting ready to check in Tricia see someone that she thinks she knows. As he is disappearing out the backdoor, she realizes that it is a boyfriend from long ago who had gone missing and was presumed dead from a boating accident. As they are going to their room they pass Mary Fairchild on the landing, who appears deep in thought. Angelica has snuck her dog, Sarge, into the B&B. While Angelica is getting ready for dinner, Tricia takes Sarge for a quick walk out back. As he looking for the perfect spot, he finds the body of B&B's owner, Pippa.

Tricia soon finds out that Jon Comfort is in fact her old boyfriend Harrison Tyler and the husband of Pippa. Of course Tricia wants to find out where he has been and why he staged his drowning, when he had a chance for a successful career as an author. As is usually the case, he becomes the prime suspect as there is an unexplained period of time that he can't account for, around the time of her death. But two other guests have known her is the past too.

Then Grant Baker, the police chief and someone Tricia would like to know better, warns her off looking to murder and also puts their working on a relationship on hold, too. Quite naturally this is the wrong thing to say to Tricia.

In addition to her sleuthing, she also has problems to deal with at her bookstore. She has just started training a new assistant manager. Luckily, Amy is a quick learner and Tricia is fairly confident in leaving to run the store while she is chasing down leads. Her other employee, Mr. Everett, is upset, as he thinks his wife is spending to much with their charity foundation and wants Tricia to talk with her. Tricia doesn't know where to turn first.

For the lighter side, the reader will enjoy Angelica as she ventures into the TV world. There is a new TV station starting up and they have invited Angelica to come and talk about her cookbooks and prepare a dish. Well, let's just say that what happened wasn't pretty.

This a wonderful series and has a great cast of characters that you have to love.

Looking forward to the next book.(less)

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Jul 10, 2012 Linda rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery

Another great whodunit from Lorna Barrett! Tricia Miles, owner of Haven't Got A Clue Bookshop, once again finds a dead body in the small town of Stoneham. As her sister, Angelica tries to help and her boyfriend, Sheriff Baker avoids her, she tries, on her own, once again, to find the killer. She can count on one hand the number of suspects, including herself. As one suspect after another is cleared by personality or circumstances there is little left to go on until she finds herself in danger. A...more

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Feb 11, 2013 Scott rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: cozy

I had been reading a couple very dark books and wanted some comfort food so I turned to Lorna Barrett because she writes characters who feel like family and they don't call them cozy's for nothing. The non-crime related plots in this book were amazing (can't wait to read more about Pixie).
Not a 5 star book only because this mystery book seemed to overlook the mystery/murder. It wasn't until half way through the book that the mystery solving began and I really don't think there were enough clues...more

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Jul 27, 2012 Pam rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, m-f-romance, mystery

I like the premise of this series, and Trish and the characters that inhabit the town are so realistically flawed. I like Ms. Barrett's attention to detail and her ability to pull a reader into a scene, or get across what a character is feeling. Her knack for writing fun, bantering dialogue capable of making me chuckle hasn't changed. That being said I hate to admit the first half of this newest book wasn't my favorite. For me, it somehow seemed to lag and I almost put it aside. There were just...more

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Oct 02, 2012 Ellen rated it 5 of 5 stars

A wonderful escape into the world of Haven't Got a Clue., October 2, 2012
By Ellen Rappaport (Florida)
This review is from: Murder on the Half Shelf (A Booktown Mystery) (Hardcover)
"Murder on the Half Shelf" is the 6th in the BookTown Mystery series by Lorna Barrett. I've read all of the books in series and continue to be an eager fan.

Haven't Got a clue is the mystery bookshop run by Tricia Miles in Stoneham, New Hampshire. Tricia's shop is among many cozy shops in that village with growing re...more

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Feb 18, 2013 Linnae rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery-suspense

Cozy mystery, set in a town with bookstores abounding (in fact, it was a little hard to keep them all straight at times).

Overall, I liked it. A couple of sticking points: the relationship between Tricia and her sister seemed odd--it switched from biting to caring frequently and without notice; also, the murderer pretty much came out of left field. There was nothing that would have led me to suspect this particular person.

I have read other reviews that have said others in the series are better....more

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Jul 07, 2012 Stacy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mysteries, ibook, 12-in-12-challenge

Usually, I enjoy the Lorna Barrett book sellers series, but Murder on the Half Shelf just wasn't quite as good as some of her others. It was still a page turner and held my interest, but I hate mysteries where the reader doesn't have a chance at legitimately figuring it out and this one felt like that. Also, the characters usually seem more real then they did this time around - perfectly normal people start behaving quite irrationally. Who knows, maybe I just wasn't in the right mood, but this o...more

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Sep 03, 2012 Jbsokolowski rated it 2 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Aug 08, 2012 Smpaetz rated it 5 of 5 stars

Lorna Barrett's Booktown mystery series is so much fun to read. This one was delightful. I love the characters. The sisters, Tricia and Angelica are so fun to watch squabble. Ms. Barrett always has recipes included. I have found them to be very good. My family loves her meatloaf recipe she had in the first book and I am looking forward to trying out these recipes as well. Looking forward to her next book in this series with great anticipation.

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Jul 06, 2012 Darlene Ferland rated it 5 of 5 stars

Do you know what I wish? I wish there really is a town like Book Town minus the murders. Ms. Barrett has another success with her newest in the series, Murder on the HalfShelf. The twists keep the reader interested and turning each page waiting and wondering just what will happen next.
This novel has it all - romance, murder and mystery. A wonderful cozy mystery waiting to be taken off the halfshelf!

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Sep 13, 2012 Juanita rated it 2 of 5 stars

Not my favorite Booktown installment. I wasn't very happy with some of the secondary characters (view spoiler), and I don't see why Trish would be interested in continuing to see Grant. I understand that he could be frustrated that (view spoiler)...more

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Sep 23, 2012 Harry Lane rated it 1 of 5 stars

Ok, I only read half of this, having picked it up off the new book shelf at the library. I found the sister relationship off-putting, and not quite believable. And that in fact characterizes my whole feeling about the book; I couldn't find much to like about the people, and their relationships where mostly on the dysfunctional end of the scale.

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Jan 03, 2013 Maryellen rated it 2 of 5 stars

Tricia finds the owner of the new B&B dead. I think this series is becoming bogged down in the same dysfunctional merry-go-round. I no longer like the main character and her sister. Tricia's redundant relationships are tedious and the mystery is the least important part of the story. I won't be wasting anymore time on this series.

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Jul 22, 2012 Nikki rated it 3 of 5 stars

Another book with a bad bad ending. To little to read and really the feeling that our main Character needs to move on without the cop and her exhusband. Also Angelica the mains sister needs to do less whining about Bob and set an example and move on. Anyway to tidy of killing and not enough evidence till the end.

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Aug 08, 2012 Sandybear76 rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mysteries

Tricia is lugging Angelica's luggage up to the third floor suite for a one-night stay at Booktown's newest (only) bed and breakfast. Angelica won the overnight in the Chamber's monthly raffle and the owners needed guests before the final opening. However, Angelica's little pup leads Tricia to the new owner laying in the backyard, dead. Suddenly, Tricia's sometime boyfriend Chief Baker can't talk to Tricia because she is a suspect. Tricia is having problems hiring a new assistant manager.

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About Lorna Barrett

The immensely popular Booktown Mystery series is what put Lorna Barrett’s name on the New York Times Bestseller list, but it’s her talent -- whether writing as Lorna, or L.L. Bartlett, or Lorraine Bartlett -- that keeps her there. This multi-published, Agatha-nominated author pens the exciting Jeff Resnick Mysteries as well as the acclaimed Victoria Square Mystery series and has many short stories...more

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Books by Lorna Barrett

Murder is Binding (A Booktown Mystery, #1)

Bookmarked For Death (A Booktown Mystery, #2)

Bookplate Special (A Booktown Mystery, #3)

Sentenced to Death (A Booktown Mystery, #5)

Chapter and Hearse (A Booktown Mystery, #4)

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title link	preview: Murder on the Half Shelf
avg rating	preview: Murder on the Half Shelf Goodreads rating: 3.88 (430 ratings)
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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12608175-murder-on-the-half-shelf?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1323788288l/12608175.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12608175-murder-on-the-half-shelf?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Murder on the Half Shelf by Lorna Barrett[/url]

Murder on the Half Shelf (Booktown Mystery #6)

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