ARC Review: To Kill a Mocking Girl by Harper Kincaid

To Kill A Mocking Girl
Author: Harper Kincaid
Series: A Bookbinding Mystery (Book 1)
Publication: Crooked Lane Books (June 9, 2020)

Description: Bookbinder Quinn finds herself in trouble when her ex's fiance turns up dead and if she's not careful, her days might be numbered in this debut series perfect for fans of Kate Carlisle and Eva Gates.

Quinn Victoria Caine is back in her quirky town of Vienna, Virginia, starting her new life as a bookbinder in her family-owned, charm-for-days bookshop, Prose & Scones. With her trusty German Shephard RBG-'Ruff Barker' Ginsburg by her side, what can go wrong? Okay, sure, bumping into her ex, Scott, or her former high school nemesis, Tricia, is a drag. It certainly doesn't help they have acquired the new hobby of shoving their recent engagement in her face every chance they get. But that doesn't mean Quinn wanted to find Tricia dead in the road. So why does half the town think she may have done it?

Quinn is determined to find Tricia's killer, even if it means partnering with her cousin-turned-nun, Sister Daria, and Detective Aiden Harrington, her older brother's too-movie-star-handsome-for-his-own good, best friend. They believe she's innocent, but of course that doesn't influence the police, who peg her as their prime suspect. Or, at least until she's poisoned.

But there is no way Quinn is going to stop now. Vienna is her town and-for better or worse-Tricia was one of their own. Someone may have killed the mocking girl, but no one's going to stop the notorious QVC.

My Thoughts: Quinn Caine is back in Vienna, Virginia, after traveling around the world as an English teacher. She is also a bookbinder working in the bookstore her family owns. She is eager to fit back in now that her wandering days are done. Her brother Bash is also back from his wandering working at the fire department.

There have been some changes. Her best friend/cousin/sister/partner-in-crime Daria is now a novice nun in an abbey that breeds and trains dogs. Things would be just perfect if her brother's best friend Aiden would just realize that Quinn has grown up. Quinn has had a crush on him since she was quite young.

Meanwhile, the local mean girl Tricia has become engaged to a guy Quinn dated and dropped before she left for overseas. Tricia feels like she has to seek Quinn out to show off her engagement ring and remind Quinn that Scott is hers now. Quinn is of the opinion that the two of them deserve each other.

But when she is out walking her German shepherd RBG (Ruff Barker Ginsburg) the next evening, she is one who discovers Tricia's body and hears a car drive off after dumping her. She and Daria are the ones who find Tricia's cellphone while they are looking over the crime scene the next day.

Her crush Aiden is now a police detective for Vienna and he encourages Quinn and Daria to back off and let him do his job. But Quinn and Daria decide to keep investigating. They must be getting close to something because the next thing you know someone poisons RBG and almost kills the dog. Quinn picked up the poisoned treats and finds herself possibly poisoned too.

Aiden decides to become Quinn's shadow which is both good and bad for Quinn. She loves being with Quinn but doesn't love that he seems to be treating her like a little sister.

I enjoyed this mystery which also had great relationships between the characters. The plot was engaging and Quinn was an engaging detective.

Favorite Quote:

Forget  Bat-Signals. The Cousin Secret Handshake signald the beginning of a new era: the end to either of them residing in their comfort zones. The last time they'd enacted "the shake," they had both landed in jail for a night, but Quinn brushed that thought aside. That was high school. They were grown women now. How much trouble could they possibly get into?

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.