Hatpins, Literature, and Mystery

Well, the big Sweet 16 bash came off without a hitch!!! :) I'll be back next week with lots of pictures and maybe even some mushy words! For now, it's Saturday and I have a book to tell you about!

"Death by the Book"  will have you following Drew Farthering through the summer of 1932 in the small English village where he ends up in the middle of an investigation involving multiple murders.

Drew is so easy to like. He is honorable in how he treats the people around him. He seems to have every reason to be full of himself and uses his charm on a few occasions, but mostly, he remains easy going and humble.

Throughout the pages of this book you will find interesting characters such as Mr. Llewellyn who flies around the village on his bicycle and delights in sharing his knowledge of the American war between the states. Those readers who enjoy books that reference other books will be right at home here. Deering references other authors and places a literary quote at the scene of each murder.

The mystery is a good one, the characters are interesting, and Drew Farthering makes a great focal point. As with so many books these days, there is an element of romance to "Death by the Book". Drew is trying to convince his newly found friend Madeline Parker to marry him. I appreciated the presence of Madeline's Aunt Ruth who was constantly stepping in and reminding the two young people to keep their heads and not be led by the fickleness of feelings.

This book is second in the Drew Farthering series. The author, Julianna Deering, is also known as DeAnna Julie Dodson. Due to the ease with which she references the work of Dorothy Sayers and the British way of speaking and interacting, I was shocked to find out that Deering/Dodson is actually a Texan!

Click HERE to pick up a copy of this book and give a shot at figuring out whodunit before Drew Farthering and the police in his village! I'm excited to read the book again to see what clues I missed the first time around.


* I was provided a review copy of this book by Bethany House. All thoughts are my honest opinion.