Clause of Death

Booktown Mystery #16

by Lorna Barrett

Bookstore owner Tricia Miles tries to open a new chapter in life, but murder mars the pages in the latest entry to Lorna Barrett's New York Times bestselling Booktown series.

Tricia Miles and her sister, Angelica, are the co-presidents of the Stoneham Chamber of Commerce. Things are changing in the booktown, and some merchants would say not for the better. They grumble that too many non-book-related stores are moving into the village, taking up the most visible storefronts on Main Street, diluting the “Booktown” moniker. Of course, the members with other businesses, like the latest, The Bee’s Knees, are fine with other businesses moving in. No matter what side of the argument they're on, all the business owners agree on one thing: Tricia and Angelica are to blame.

Still, it's a pretty typical day in the life of a small-town Chamber of Commerce until one of the disgruntled bookstore owners is killed—Eli Meier from The Inner Light Bookstore, the most vocal of the Chamber complainers. He sold religious and other spiritual books, but also stocked books on wild conspiracy theories and sold incense, crystals, etc. Eli had never been a member of the Chamber until Angelica recently convinced him to join. He hit on her and she, having good taste, turned him down. He hounded (but not stalked) her, and some might think that was a motive for murder.

Stoneham's new police chief is an old friend of Tricia's, but that doesn't mean he's going to go easy on her sister. One might even say that he's going to throw the book at her.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Audiobook, Books About Books, Crime

336 pages, Hardcover

First published June 7, 2022

About the author

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 and novellas to her name(s). Check out the links to all her works here: http://www.lornabarrett.com

Reviews

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clause of Death is the 16th book in the Booktown Mysteries written by Lorna Barrett. Last time this year, I had only read two of the books in the series, but I made it a focus to catch up before the newest release, and I've barely made it in time. Reading ~15 books from a series in such a brief time really connects you to the characters. Ange and Tricia are fantastic leads for the New Hampshire literary setting, and I am already eager to dive into another one when it releases in 2023. In this caper, our book-town is a mess! The last police chief is gone (no spoilers as to why). Tricia was suddenly single again. And things were getting hectic with the Chamber of Commerce. The disaster continues when the sisters need to turn everything around in quick fashion, except one shop owner can't help but spew his crazy theories about the world and try to stop progress. What does that lead to? Murder! But it also brings a former character back to enter both the police force and maybe Tricia's romantic life. Great installment, and I'm excited to see where it goes next.

[Kelly Wiech · Rating 1 out of 5]

Couldn't finish this one. I'll say first that I do think we have too many guns in this country, but the gun control dialog in this book became too much of a soap box for the author.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clause of Death by Lorna Barrett is the sixteenth A Booktown Mystery. Tricia Miles finds herself once again embroiled in a mystery. She does not find the dead body (this time), but Tricia finds herself dragged into the case by the person who did. The town has a new chief of police, and it is the one person Tricia thought she would never see again. There is tension among the members of the chamber of commerce about the introduction of new businesses. Eli Meier is raising a stink over a new business that is not a bookstore. Eli has been causing trouble all over town. It is not a shock when Eli is found dead in an alley. There is a town full of suspects. Unfortunately, Tricia’s sister Angelica is at the top of the list thanks to a public bruhaha caused by Eli. Tricia casually asks some questions, stumbles upon clues, and is fortunate when some information comes her way. Tricia will need to be careful, or she could become the next victim. I enjoyed reading Clause of Death by Lorna Barrett. We get to catch up with Tricia, Angelica, Mr. Everett, Pixie, Grace, Miss Marple, and the rest of the gang. It is a pleasure to visit Stoneham with its town full of bookshops. There are enjoyable, developed characters in this engaging series. In addition to the whodunit, Mr. Everett suffers a fall, and an injury puts him at a disadvantage. A homeless man keeps coming around Tricia’s bookshop. He makes Tricia and Pixie nervous. Clause of Death can be read as a standalone if someone is new to the series. I like who has become the new chief of police. I was hoping this character would show up again. The mystery surrounding the death of Eli gives us a town full of suspects. He was not well-liked (one person liked him). I thought the killer was easy to identify. I had no idea why this person did the crime though. The reveal was eventful and entertaining. There was some sadness as well. I wish the mystery had been at the forefront of the story. It seemed to take a backseat to the other events in the book as well as Tricia and Angelica’s lunches and their happy hour each day. The storyline about the homeless man, Edward brings up some difficult subjects (stalking, intimidation). I was surprised by what was revealed about Edward. Becca Dickson-Chandler is still in town. Tricia knows that the woman has an agenda, but she needs to figure it out. Ginny’s due date is getting closer. Angelica cannot wait to meet her first grandchild. There is a small amount of foul language in the book (just a few words). Guns and people owning them is discussed a couple of times (just to let you know). I love the ending. It has me wondering what will happen in the next A Booktown Mystery. There are recipes at the end for Angelica and Tricia’s Happy Hour Repasts. Clause of Death is a charming whodunit with chamber meeting madness, a strange stalker, a killed conspiracy theorist, a storage shed search, an unanticipated appearance of an old acquaintance, a bothersome Becca, and a killer is caught.

[Deanne Patterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clause of Death is the sixteenth book in the Clause of Death series.
Having read several books in the series I was looking forward to this book.
What I thought was pretty neat is because this is Booktown, most of the bookstores and restaurants along with shops have a book related name. I want to visit this bookish town.
I am familiar with our main characters, Tricia Miles and her sister, Angelica, who are the co-presidents of the Stoneham Chamber of Commerce.
At the town meetings and around town some of the residents make it known they are very unhappy with non-bookish shops coming into town and taking prime spots on Main Street.
When a disgruntled bookshop employee is found dead Stoneham's new police chief has no problem trying to throw the book at one of the sisters.
There were some very surprising going On's and it had a sad ending that I was hoping would have had a different outcome.
I'm looking forward to many more books in this series.

Pub Date 07 Jun 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

[Pria Alston · Rating 2 out of 5]

The latest book in this series had less mystery and a whole lot more character development. I was interesting to finally get Pixie’s full back story. There seems to be more to the situation with Mr. E than was told to the reader. Overall I wanted more mystery it felt like a lot of mundane details; lots of details about happy hour and lunch. Tricia is still a very annoying protagonist. In this book she get very preachy about gun ownership. It felt out of place and didn’t add to the story. Overall the book felt disjointed.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tricia gets pulled into another murder investigation. She didn’t find the body this time but the person who did was hesitant to get involved. When the new police chief arrives on the scene Tricia is surprised it’s someone from her past. Could this be a positive change in her life? However Tricia is not the only one with a few surprises in store this time around.

Author Lorna Barrett does it again, she weaves together the main mystery with the secondary seamlessly. I always enjoy visiting Tricia and her family in Booktown. The characters are complex, realistic, and relatable. The mystery is full of surprises and the secondary story is a emotional roller coaster. This one one of my favorites in the series. I look forward to the next in the series.

All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way have I been influenced by anyone.

[Cozybooklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love visiting Booktown and catching up with the residents who have become part of my fictional book family.
Tricia and Angelica are co presidents of the chamber of commerce and are met with resistance from a couple of members.
Tricia runs into an acquaintance from a cruise and is surprised to find out he's the new local chief of police.
I enjoyed this book and have found this series to take a dark turn sometimes which intrigues me.
The ending left me wondering and the secondary stories with the characters was well done.
#ClauseofDeath #NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.

[Sherri · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Must we spoil the evening by talking politics?” (Tricia asks—-ironically I must add.)

As a loyal fan of this series, this book was nearly ruined by all the talk about gun politics. I didn’t care for it and almost stopped reading this book. I don’t read cozy mysteries to get embroiled in hot-button topics.

Partly because of this gun focus, I didn’t really care for Tricia in this story. Not only was she irritating, but also unkind—to those she supposedly holds close. Plus, did the author really have to embarrass Mr. E like that?

It’s simply my love for the series as a whole that resulted in three stars instead of two.

[Liana M. Wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't sure I was going to like this one because of the way things were going in the last books. I really enjoyed this one and thought it was one of the better books in the series.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really looking forward to this installment of the Booktown Mystery series because the last few books have been page turners. However, I was a bit let down. I enjoyed being back with Tricia and her family and friends. I also really enjoyed that the new police chief is a character that we have previously met. Some of the dialogue and plot felt disjointed and forced, including tangents about gun control that came across as more preachy and less productive, and the conversation surrounding it never went anywhere. It is just dropped. It felt like there was a lot of filler content with mundane details and talk about happy hour and lunch. The resolution of the murder felt very abrupt. There wasn't a lot of investigating in this one as there is in other books in this series. The best part of the book was learning about Pixie's backstory, and it made me appreciate her even more. Even though I was disappointed with this book, I still plan to continue with the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stoneham, NH, like Cabot Cove, ME, is in danger of becoming depopulated. Tricia Miles, one of the many bookstore owners in what's also known as Booktown, has dated so many men who've been murdered or convicted for murdering others that she's almost happy that her social life has been reduced to having dinner with her entrepreneurial sister Angelica. Then another bookstore owner is murdered, and information about his earlier life shocks the entire village. Enter the new police chief: a former acquaintance who is also an eligible man. But is Tricia interested in taking a risk again? At the same time, Tricia's invaluable assistant manager Pixie fears she's being stalked by a homeless man who hitchhikes over each day from nearby Nashua.

[Robyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

CLAUSE OF DEATH
Lorna Barrett

The book is a series about Tricia Miles and her sister, Angelica who both live in Stoneham. It is a rather typical cozy murder series and all I really know is that I am glad I don't live in Stoneham because the last line of this book indicates that another murder has just happened.

This city does have a new police chief who I thought Tricia was going to date, however, it doesn't seem to be on the radar. I liked the plot quite a bit. I thought it was interesting, but some of the dialogue was not my favorite. I don't know if I will come back to read another, but time will tell.

3 stars

Happy Reading!

[Cris (The Biblio Blonde) · Rating 3 out of 5]

After the last book in series, I wasn’t sure I planned to continue. But I decided to try again.

Tricia is still insufferable at several points in the story, but toned down from the last installment. There were a couple of interesting side plots here, one sort of tragic and one just… odd and somewhat sad. The resolution of the murder felt a little abrupt and off somehow.

But much of the story was good. The new police chief could be an interesting twist, and I couldn’t help but grow to like one of the newer characters. A quick read… we’ll see where the series goes from here!

[Miranda Symons · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of my favorite mystery series and this book just fell kind of flat for me. Tricia feels to have more of a holier-than-thou-complex in this book than normal. Even though we finally get more backstory on Pixie, a serious side character for several books now but consistently down played as a "previous lady of the night", it was not convincing.
The new police chief and the continued plot of will they wont they with Tricia, it feels tired. I want so much for this character to get some growth!
I love this series and really hope the #17 book is better.

[Michael Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

Our main character is becoming less and less likeable. Her original standoffish, self centered, I don't like anybody and I am better than you personna has resurfaced.

[Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

CLAUSE OF DEATH, the 16th book in author Lorna Barrett's Booktown series finds mystery bookstore owner Tricia Miles dealing with life changing in Stoneham, New Hampshire. With the influx of new non-book business to town, the old guard bookstore owners are complaining and trying to stop these new businesses from changing the town's reputation.

One of the biggest complainers is Eli Meier, the owner of the religious bookstore Inner Light. But Eli's changed a lot recently. His store has gone downhill, the books are now conspiracy theory related and Eli is alienating everyone he encounters with his brusque manner and harassing behavior.

All that changes when Tricia once again ends up involved in a murder investigation when Eli turns up dead. However, Tricia has to deal not only with the victim and all the revelations and questions that come up from his death, but a new chief of police as well. Ian McDonald, who Tricia met on a cruise when he was the ship security director, has moved to town and taken up the post. The more things change, the more they stay the same because he's not exactly welcoming of her trying to investigate the murder. And with Tricia's sister Angelica an initial potential suspect, even a disapproving new chief won't stop her.

Speaking of family, a lot of CLAUSE OF DEATH's subplots revolve around Tricia's extended family. Angelica is dealing with business issues, Ginny is pregnant and then there's the matter of her store staff Pixie and Mr. Everett. And that's where things get really interesting.

You see, the main murder plot was fine. But the victim wasn't the least little bit sympathetic. Not just for being a jerk in the present but when his past is revealed, you are left thinking "Good riddance to bad rubbish". But the storylines with Pixie and Mr. Everett are where the book really shines.

Mr. Everett has to deal with a sudden but temporary loss of independence that a proud and reserved man would find practically unbearable. And with all the people in his life trying to help, it only serves to further his embarrassment in needing help. This particular plot goes a long way towards demonstrating that time is moving forward.

As for Pixie, a run-in with an angry young man leaves her shaken. And when he keeps turning up it leads to more trouble and heartache. Tricia ends up getting involved and it leads to a rift between the two women that leaves Tricia particularly troubled. Pixie's past plays a big role in her part of this book's narrative and it plays a huge role in the overall story as well.

The long-running Booktown series continues to entertain with each new installment. As I said, the main plot of CLAUSE OF DEATH was a bit less interesting to me because of the unsympathetic victim but that was more than made up for by the incredible subplots threaded throughout the book. I can't wait to see where Lorna Barrett takes readers next with Tricia Miles and company!

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the thought of a town full of bookstores. This is a comfort read for me. The series is easy to return to because of the setting and some of the characters. Tricia and Angelica have never been my favorites but they’ve grown on me and I’ve gotten used to them. The mystery was interesting but was overshadowed with a lot of chatter. I liked getting to know Pixie’s story but wanted more investigating and less eating (all they do is EAT!). I also find it funny that all of Tricia’s boyfriends have been killed off so they had to import a new one.

[Mary Corso · Rating 3 out of 5]

typical

Typical storyline for this author and everyone acted in typical ways include their stupid behavior. New police chief just like the old one and one obnoxious guy gets killed off and another one steps in. They may have new names, but they are the same old characters. And Tricia never learns to keep her mouth shut.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought the ending was predictable. But still enjoyed this book.

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounded up

Not all of the members of Stoneham's Chamber of Commerce are happy with the new, non book-related businesses, setting up shop on Main Street. When one of the most vocal of the disgruntled shopkeepers is killed, and the new police chief puts Angelica at the top of his list as possible murderers, Tricia is determined to clear her sister's name.

This series has been a bit up and down for me, with some books being more enjoyable than others, but after reading 15 books already, I can't help but read the next one that comes along. Luckily, this book was more up than down, although some characters' behavior were annoying.

I would love to spend time browsing the shops of Booktown, even those that are not specifically devoted to books. Most of the recurring characters seem like people I'd like to get to know, and it's been interesting watching the dynamics of the town change from one book to the next. The introduction of a new police chief raises a lot of possible interactions in future books in the series. I was not able to identify the killer until just before it was revealed in the book, even though the motive, when presented, made sense after I read it. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tricia and company are back with another murder to solve in Stoneham aka Booktown. This time, the local conspiracy theorist has been murdered and since no one likes him, everyone's a suspect. But there's also a new police chief in town...one that many of the residents find very familiar. Hold on to your reading glasses as you follow Tricia and the regular cast of characters as they find out who the culprit is this time.

Sad sack Tricia is back. I remember finding how about how old Tricia was a few books ago and it was WAY younger than she presents herself. This continues here and she comes across as elderly. This time, we get a lecture on gun ownership that never ends up going anywhere. Look, I happen to agree with the stance presented and I don't even mind issues like that in my books, even the ones that are just fluffy and fun, but this comes across as super preachy. And in the end, the subject is just dropped after we hear Tricia moan about it for a while. I mostly enjoy reading the stories in these books, but I maintain that Tricia is just the worst.

[Angela (Kentuckybooklover) Brocato-Skaggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series since it is centered around a town of bookstores. While this one was not my favorite of the series it was a very enjoyable read. I feel sorry for Tricia as she had the worst luck in romances and sometimes friends. You feel that in this installment. It affected her judgment on a few things with her family and close friends. It made her feel like a real person.

In this book a local bookseller and conspiracy theorist is found dead and Tricia’s sister, Angelica, is a possible suspect. His conspiracy theories was alienating him and a few of the other booksellers. He just didn’t know when to quit. But upon his death we find out there was more to Eli than met the eye. Will the new police chief keep Tricia safe or will he be investigating her murder next?

[Mary Hartman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love this series, but just like some other authors the stories are become very “political”. I do not need this agenda in cozies. Do they not realize they are writing murder mysteries and then want to talk gun control? LOL. Trisha is starting to go from a strong woman to rather clueless. I hope the next one gets back on track.

[Nicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enough with the gun control talk. I read to escape, not have someone else’s agenda pushed on me. The story was just ok, the reason for murder was weak. Oh and Tricia has gotten back on her high horse. There was hope for her in the last couple of books, but even Angelica is becoming annoying and hard to like.

[Star · Rating 1 out of 5]

A terrible disappointment. The whole story was an excuse to comment on a hot button issue. I don't want politics in my entertainment.

[Cozy Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite cozy series . I loved this new release that was compelling to completion and one of my favorite of the series. Tricia and Angelica have their businessess to run and are co chairs of the chamber of commerce. With all their properties and activities with family they keep busy but as sisters are the closest they have ever been. Both have successful businessess in Booktown and Angelica owns a significent amount of properties. When another shopkeeper finds a body of a contensious man that was disliked Tricia cannot help but be involved in the investigation. A new police chief has arrived and all our favorite charcters have returned.

This was a exciting sleuth that kept me guessing to conclusion. I loved revisiting Booktown, Tricia and her sister Angelica. Pixie enters strongly into this story and we find out her background finally after many mysterious years of working for Tricia. Tricia has become a more compasionate person and is more involved with her employees and her family. This series is always a fun read with great charcters and a fun sleuth. Well done to the author.

[J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tricia and her sister Angelica are co-chairs of the Chamber of Commerce, which wouldn’t be so hard if one of the members wasn’t a conspiracy nut and very unlikable. One bright spot for Tricia is running into Ian, the attractive Scotsman she met on the ocean cruise several town members went on. When another store owner finds a body in the alley, Tricia is the one to call it in. To her surprise, Ian shows up as he has been hired as the new police chief. That may throw a kink in any possible relationship between Ian and Tricia. Pixie and Mr. Everett each have their own problems to deal with, but the strength of family and friendships holds everything together for this unique group. I’m always curious about what is happening in Booktown, and the mystery was complicated, with personal reasons and political reasons, past and present, clouding the picture.
Thanks to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for this ARC.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is # 16 in this series, "A Booktown Mystery." And I've read them all. They are of particular interest to me because I live in the real NH town mentioned as a neighbor to the fictitious town of Stoneham. That makes it kinda fun! The author follows the "formula" for this genre of fiction, cozies. The independent main character who, in this case, owns a vintage book store, gets involved in a murder, helps solve the crime, and usually gets herself into a dangerous situation. Along the way, we revisit many familiar characters, such as Tricia's sister and employees, as well as some new ones. Will any of the new characters become part of future Booktown Mysteries? Very likely. One new thing I noticed this time is that Lorna Barrett has woven into the story line some of the issues that our current world is facing, such as climate change, conspiracy theories, and gun control. Her stance on these issues becomes quite clear. I enjoyed that element. If there is to be a #17, I'll get in the library line to get it!

[Petula Darling · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had basically sworn off this series because the most recent books were so utterly unbelievably ridiculous, but I was craving a cozy read and decided to embrace the ridiculousness as comedy. I'm now wondering if the author was aware of all the eyerolls, because it turns out this one was a return to the run-of-the-mill unbelievability that we sign up for when we pick up any cozy mystery. On top of that, the main character has become so much less abrasive that she's behaving kind of like a warm, empathetic human being. What is happening?
The secondary and tertiary characters still behave oddly and have a lot of bizarre exchanges, but that's a common issue for the genre. Overall this is a big improvement.

[Jennifer Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tricia and Angelica are back and with them comes another murder mystery to solve. They don't find the body, but they get dragged into the case one way or another. I liked that the whole crew was back. This author does like to kill people and I was thinking that one of the mains were going in this one. Glad it didn't go that way! Instead, their lives are just drama filled. I actually did like the way the author went with Pixie's story. I had wondered how that would work out with a newbie in her life. Even with all the murder, I'd still love to visit this book themed town! And with this books ending, seems like there's another murder for another book!