Author: Katie Tietjen
Series: A Maple Bishop Mystery (Book 2)
Publication: Crooked Lane Books (September 23, 2025)
Description: The second installment in the Maple Bishop historical mysteries continues the adventures of intrepid amateur sleuth Maple Bishop.
Inspired by the real-life mother of forensic science, Frances Glessner Lee, this smartly plotted series will appeal to fans of Rhys Bowen.
In post-WWII Vermont, Maple Bishop has a thriving dollhouse business and a new career as a crime scene consultant for the local sheriff's office. On the surface, she seems to be doing well, but deep down Maple is still reeling from the death of her husband. When the body of an aspiring firefighter–who was close childhood friends with Kenny, the sheriff’s deputy and Maple’s confidante–is discovered in the charred remains of a burned cabin, Maple is called in to help determine whether the fire was an accident or a case of murder by arson.
Realizing there’s more to the crime than meets the eye, she sets out to unearth the discrepancies from the scene by re-creating the cabin in miniature. The investigation leads them to Maple’s old Boston neighborhood, forcing her to confront the past she’s desperately trying to forget.
As Maple and Kenny sift through clues, they uncover dark secrets that hit close to home, unraveling in unexpected ways—and putting their lives in danger.
My Thoughts: The second Maple Bishop mystery has her doll house business flourishing and a new consultant gig with the local police. She's called in by the Chief of Police to investigate the death of a young firefighter in a cabin. She's eager to do something out of the ordinary but sad at the death of her friend Kenny's childhood friend.
She is determined to make four nutshells to recreate the crime scene to figure out the timing and accelerant used. She also goes back to Boston with Kenny to try to locate the victim's mother and inform her of the death. Going back to Boston encourages her to see if she can find some answers to her brother's death too.
Maple has some decisions to make too. She's offered a position in the Boston prosecutor's office which would let her use her unused law degree. But it would mean leaving the life and friends she has made in Vermont.
This was an engaging historical mystery set in 1950. I liked that Maple has gotten her first television but isn't sure that she will enjoy having it. I also like her growing circle of friends.
I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.
I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.
I really enjoyed this mystery, I need to go back and read the first.
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