Judith Flanders’ follow-up to A Murder of Magpies takes the reader back into the British publishing world, this time focusing on intrigue in the art world, as well. The main character, Samantha Claire, cautiously settled in with her detective boyfriend from the previous novel, finds herself in the middle of a suicide investigation that is more than it seems. She is caught between an old friend who owns an art gallery and her boyfriend, Detective Inspector Jake Field, who is investigating the suspicious death. The author provides amusing details of the publishing and art worlds as the plot meanders along like stroll through a museum. The obscure Colophon, which was a new publishing concept to me, is a fascinating plot point, and the suspenseful denouement is satisfying. The author is an assured writer, but this second entry into the series didn’t quite capture this reader’s attention as much as A Murder of Magpies did. However, I enjoy the main characters and the setting quite a bit, so will look forward to the next title, if one comes.
 
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Sam Clair is back and as fun as ever. She is meeting with an ex for lunch and discovers that his business partner has been killed and he needs help. Of course, current beau Jake is investigating the murder. I liked the mix of mystery and publishing life and sort of wish for more of the latter. It was one of the best parts of her first book. Still, a fun read and great for book lovers ( )

Every so slightly weak at the end, but so minor I still thoroughly enjoyed this one. I eagerly anticipate book three :) ( )

I think I would still classify this as a cozy mystery, but it's one of the best I've ever read. I would absolutely read a book about the main character's life, even without the mystery.

The book is written in the first person, which isn't always my favorite, but it felt very natural here. Our narrator is Sam, a woman who works in publishing for a small publishing house in London. She's normal and mildly sarcastic, three-dimensional without any forced quirkiness.

I drink three very large cups of coffee first thing in the morning, and sometimes, if I'm feeling I need to make a special gesture toward nutrition and health, I eat a banana. Jake does cereal-ish things which I refuse to get involved in.

In other words, I get this woman, and am pretty sure we would be friends in real life.
There are plenty of British-isms (toast soldiers!), which was a bonus for me, especially as they felt natural in the character's voice. There's also a fair amount of realistic background about art and publishing, which lent the whole book an authentic tone. In fact, the whole story seemed more realistic than most mysteries; it seemed entirely plausible that she might inadvertently stumble into this situation that might or might not present, well, a murder mystery.

Pick this up if you're a book nerd who likes mysteries. It's that simple. ( )