Book Review: A Treacherous Tale by Elizabeth Penney

A Treacherous Tale
Author: Elizabeth Penney
Series: A Cambridge Bookshop Mystery (Book 2)
Publication: St. Martin's Paperbacks (August 23, 2022)

Description: A Treacherous Tale is the second in a charming new cozy series from Elizabeth Penney, set in an English bookshop and following Molly Kimball, who has a habit of bookmarking trouble...

“A cozy mystery that will delight your booklover’s heart and satisfy your hunger for intrigue—and crumpets!” —Paige Shelton, New York Times bestselling author of the Scottish Bookshop series on Chapter and Curse

Lately, Molly has been feeling that she might have fallen into a fairy tale: she's reinvigorated the family bookshop Thomas Marlowe—Manuscripts and Folios, made friends in her new home of Cambridge, England, and is even developing a bit of a romance with the handsome Kieran—a bike shop owner with a somewhat intimidating family pedigree.

Having recently discovered The Strawberry Girls, a classic children's tale, Molly is thrilled to learn the author, Iona York, lives nearby. But while visiting the famous author at her lovely cottage in nearby Hazelhurst, an old acquaintance of Iona's tumbles off her roof to his death.

Then, when one of Iona’s daughters—an inspiration for the original Strawberry Girls—goes missing, Molly begins to worry this story might be more Brothers Grimm than happily-ever-after. Especially after Molly learns about the mysterious long-ago death of Iona’s husband and co-author of The Strawberry Girls…could past and present crimes be linked? Molly must put the clues together before someone turns this sweet tale sour.

My Thoughts: Molly Kimble is settling in well at Thomas Marlowe--Manuscripts and Folios in Cambridge. She's making friends and helping revitalize the bookstore. Her latest plan is to host another author event. Iona York is coming out with a new edition of The Strawberry Girls which was a childhood favorite of Molly's. 

When she and her Aunt Violet go to confirm the details at Iona's lovely country cottage, they weren't expecting to find a body in the garden. Robin Jones, an old friend of Iona's, wasn't supposed to be there and certainly shouldn't have fallen from the roof which is being re-thatched by Molly's Uncle Chris.

To find out who wanted Robin dead and to clear the names of both her uncle and Iona, Molly decides to look into things. She discovers a web of interrelationships that might have started with the death of Iona's husband perhaps coincidentally similar to the death of Robin. 

Her search leads to an archaeological dig on nearby land which may lead to Saxon treasure. Iona's daughter, one of the original Strawberry girls, is working on the dig but disappears which adds another thread to the mystery Molly has to solve.

I enjoyed the setting. I also liked Molly's love of literature and especially her love for a favorite childhood book. I enjoyed the way the original story was woven into the mystery. I liked Molly and her family and friends. 

Favorite Quote:

"I'm really excited about the reading," Iona said as she poured steaming water into a teapot. "Haven't done one for years." She laughed. "Typical introvert, all hidden away with my pencils and paints."

"Nothing wrong with that," Aunt Violet said. "Hard to create in a crowd."

I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.