Tricia Miles has returned to Stoneham from a vacation she took with her BF Marshall Cambridge (he was working as a tour guide) so she didn't really get to spend a great deal of time with him. It got her thinking about their relationship. Before she has barely settled in, her store manager, Pixie, discovers a body in their dumpster and Tricia sets out to make sure that none of her friends are blamed.

Not really one of the best in the series but I still do love the characters. ( )

Tricia Miles has just returned from a vacation in Ireland with her boyfriend, Marshall Cambridge. But it wasn't wonderful, nor even much fun, when Marshall spent all of his time with all the other passengers on the tour group, since he was their guide. Now she hopes she's back to her old life when her assistant manager, Pixie, discovers a body in the dumpster behind Tricia's bookshop, and things are looking less than good when Pixie is sure she'll be the person taking the fall for the murder. Determined to not see that happen, Tricia does what she does best -- asks questions to find out who had a reason to want the woman dead.

But all is not well in Stoneham, as some of its inhabitants have their own problems, and Tricia also becomes involved in those as well. Then she hears some surprising news about police chief Grant Baker which sends her reeling, and now she's questioning her own life. Before she can fix it, she has to figure out who killed Susan -- as long as she can stay under the radar on this one, she might live to tell the tale...

This is the fourteenth book in the series, and I have not read them all. But from the tone of it, I'm not missing anything. First off, the blurb is misleading: Pixie is not a serious contender for murder, so I don't understand why Tricia is involving herself in this one. Secondly, there's nothing that states a "career woman" can't have a life with a husband -- or even children, for that matter. Career women do this every day and thrive. So that made me roll my eyes. Also, why do these women drink so much? If they drank this much in real life, I'd expect them to have dry skin and health problems. (Why is it when I read a book that takes place on the East Coast, everyone can't go one meal without drinking? Please don't take offense, East Coasters -- it's just what I've observed from reading).

All Anjelica and Tricia do is drink and snipe at each other. I guess I figured that because Tricia wasn't wanted, she'd be the one who thrived and survived, but it's the golden sister, Anjelica, who has that role; everything she touches is golden, so it just makes me wonder why Tricia doesn't resent her in any way? Neither sister has a relationship (although Angelica has had several) but if Tricia can't manage one, then why are they getting in the way of the mysteries? She's almost a 'senior sleuth' and even wears sweater twinsets. I thought those went out in the sixties. (Sorry, feeling snarky after reading this book). I also don't care for the fact that while the sisters have pets, they don't allow them on their furniture. Aren't the pets family members? Would you tell your brother or children they have to stay on the floor? I guess I love my cat more than Tricia loves hers.

I've also noticed that many of the men in this town are not nice, with the exception of the people the sisters' hire. So there's that, and it's not a pleasant thought. In the end, the reason for the murder didn't even make sense, and the ending wasn't as satisfactory as I'd hoped it would be. Sorry. ( )

Hooray for Booktown! I love this series; Lorna has written another great book! ( )

Yeah, this one left me wondering quite a few things. Have we seen the last of Nikki (I doubt it), what is it with Tricia and all these bodies, and why of why did the author end the book that way? Most of all, why is it that all long cozy mysteries series seem to go off the rails? This one didn't even try to make it about the mystery in favor of Tricia's man problems and do-gooding. What's worse, I'm going to have to read at least the start of the next one to see how the cliffhanger resolves itself, a fact I find annoying.

( )

After a trip to Ireland, Tricia Miles thinks the only problem she has is trying to figure out what to do with her relationship with Marshall Cambridge. But when a body is found in the dumpster behind her store and her Assistant Manager Pixie Poe is one of the main suspects, Tricia finds herself involved in yet another murder investigation.

“Handbook for Homicide” is the nicely done fourteenth book in Lorna Barrett’s Booktown cozy mystery series. The characters, particularly Tricia and her sister Angelica, have continually grown and changed throughout this series and this book is no exception as Tricia ponders her relationship with Marshall. With other authors, this situation might overwhelm the murder mystery but not in Barrett’s deft hands- their relationship is an important part of the plot but it never overwhelms the mystery. And the mystery is well done and quick moving as Barrett delves into some of the issues that the homeless have. This is poignant and shows a softer side to Tricia. The identity of the killer came as a surprise to me and certainly opens up room for future plot lines in the series. Finally, this book ends on quite a cliffhanger that will leave readers eagerly looking forward to the next book in the series.

“Handbook for Homicide” is a nicely done cozy mystery. ( )