A couple of hours ago, I finished the novel A Treacherous Tale by Elizabeth Penney (published over here under the title The Risky Plot), the second book in her Cambridge Bookshop Series of cozy mysteries.
In the story we follow the further adventures of Molly, a young former librarian from Vermont, who has moved to England with her mother to help her aunt with the old family bookshop in Cambridge. While visiting the popular author of a beloved children’s book in a nearby village, Molly and her mother become witnesses to a murder at her property. Soon, the author’s daughter, an inspiration for one of the characters in her book disappears without a trace, complicating the mystery even more.
Like the first book, this one was also very cozy and nicely written. It has a vibe from the stories of the Golden Age of detective fiction. Once again Molly, her boyfriend Kiran and her relatives, are investigating the complicated mystery, trying to save the author’s reputation and family. There are certainly more stakes than in the first book, and you can tell the author feels surer about her characters and plotlines. We also get the chance to read the fictional book surrounding the case, as its narrative is intertwined with the main story, a book within a book.
We also follow the growth in the relationship between Molly and Kiran, as the latter wants to introduce Molly to his aristocratic parents.
I believe this is a perfect sequel to an already great book. It’s a very classic detective story, and an amazing treat to all bookworms out there, since again the references to books, authors and bookstores run abound. I cannot but recommend it!
by A_Guy195