A Body In The Bookshop by Helen Cox

‘A Body In The Bookshop’ is the second book in ‘The Kitt Hartley Yorkshire Mysteries’ by Helen Cox.

When DS Charlotte Banks is suspended from the police on suspicion of assaulting a suspect in the burglary of a local bookshop, librarian Kitt Harley and her friend Evie Bowes refuse to believe she is guilty. But why is she being framed? With Charlotte’s boss DI Malcolm Halloran unable to help, Evie decides to take matters into her own hands. Kitt takes little persuading to get involved too – after all, as well as Charlotte’s career to save, there are missing books to be found! From the tightknit community of York’s booksellers, to the most gossipy bus route in the country, Kitt and Evie leave no stone unturned to get at the truth behind the burglary. Then the discovery of a body raises the stakes even higher. For Evie, and now Kitt, this case is as personal as it gets. Can they catch the murderer in time to turn a bleak midwinter into something merry and bright?

Kitt and Evie are back with another dramatic story as the investigative duo look into the burglary of a local bookshop. With their inquisitive nature and knowledge of books, the pair delve into the case of murder and burglary whilst putting their lives in danger for a second time.

I really enjoy the Kitt Hartley Yorkshire Mystery books, they’re not terribly gruesome like other books and they are the type of story that the reader can just sink into. They’re filled with charm and warmth, set in a small bustling village against the backdrop of books, so it’s hard not to be carried away by the story.

Kitt and her best friend Evie are two great characters, they’re a bit like the Cagney and Lacey of the book world, unable to stop at something unless they’ve solved. Their friendship and banter with each other makes for lighthearted and entertaining reading. Kitt’s boyfriend DI Halloran adds an injection of charisma into the story as he battles with being professional with his job as well as helping Kitt with her own unofficial investigation.

A captivating story from start to finish, ‘A Body in the Bookshop’ is a fantastic follow up book to the debut in the series. Atmospheric and suspenseful, this murder mystery book is a must for Agatha Christie fans.

You can buy ‘A Body In The Bookshop’ from Amazon and is available to buy from good bookshops.