This book was just OK. It was a quick read, but I did not love any of the characters. There are quite a few suspects and I did not guess the killer, but I thought that the motive was not explained well enough.
Fatal Fiction is the first in the Book Barn mystery series featuring Charli Rae "Princess" Warren. Charli is currently working as a school teacher in Denver, CO but has come back to her hometown of Hazel Rock, TX to sign the papers necessary to sell her family business, The Book Barn.
Charli fled her hometown right after high school when classmates, friends and townspeople starting spreading vicious rumors about her. Charli was most upset that even her own father, Bobby Ray seemed to believe the gossip and hadn't stuck up for his daughter, resulting in Charli having not spoken to him in over a decade.
Charli returns to town as the request of realtor Marlene Duncan who has contacted her claiming her father is bankrupt and needs to sell the Book Barn. Upon her arrival, Charli discovers Marlene's dead body in one of the Book Barn rows and soon learns that the realtor was her Dad's girlfriend and he has disappeared, making him the number one suspect in her death.
Despite her misgivings to spend more than the weekend in Hazel Rock, Charli vows to locate her Dad and clear his name. Investigating along with fellow classmate Scarlet Jenkins, now the owner of the local beauty salon, ex boyfriend and town Mayor, Cade Calloway and Sheriff Mateo Espinosa she soon discovers not everything in the tiny Texas town is as it seems.
A fast paced storyline, with likeable characters, just the right touch of romance, a true sense of community and forgiveness and a quirky pet Armadillo, Princess. You'll soon find yourself wishing you could visit the Book Barn.
Charli fled her hometown right after high school when classmates, friends and townspeople starting spreading vicious rumors about her. Charli was most upset that even her own father, Bobby Ray seemed to believe the gossip and hadn't stuck up for his daughter, resulting in Charli having not spoken to him in over a decade.
Charli returns to town as the request of realtor Marlene Duncan who has contacted her claiming her father is bankrupt and needs to sell the Book Barn. Upon her arrival, Charli discovers Marlene's dead body in one of the Book Barn rows and soon learns that the realtor was her Dad's girlfriend and he has disappeared, making him the number one suspect in her death.
Despite her misgivings to spend more than the weekend in Hazel Rock, Charli vows to locate her Dad and clear his name. Investigating along with fellow classmate Scarlet Jenkins, now the owner of the local beauty salon, ex boyfriend and town Mayor, Cade Calloway and Sheriff Mateo Espinosa she soon discovers not everything in the tiny Texas town is as it seems.
A fast paced storyline, with likeable characters, just the right touch of romance, a true sense of community and forgiveness and a quirky pet Armadillo, Princess. You'll soon find yourself wishing you could visit the Book Barn.
Fatal Fiction by Kym Roberts is the first book in A Book Barn Mystery series. Charli Rae Warren is returning home to Hazel Rock, Texas after having left over twelve years ago at age seventeen. Charlie Rae received a call from Marlene Duncan, a realtor. Marlene needs Charlie Rae's signature in order to sell The Book Barn (families bookstore). Charlie Rae is surprised by the appearance of the bookstore. It is bright fuchsia (outside) and called The Book Barn Princess. The inside of the store is also pink (which happens to be Charlie Rae's favorite color) and contains tacky princess items (which Charlie Rae liked when she was a teenager). This is her father's attempt at making amends (the reason Charlie Rae left town at 17). Charlie Rae enters the store calling out for her father, Bobby Ray. Charlie Rae parts the curtain to the backroom and finds Marlene dead on the floor with a sparkly pink belt around her neck. Charlie Rae wants to leave town and head back to Denver, but she is broke (and Sheriff Espinosa insists she stay put). Bobby Ray ends up at the top of the suspect list (of course). It does not help that no one has been able to reach him or find him. Charlie Rae with help from her old high school beau, the football coach and his team, and the beauty shop owner revamps the shop to turn it back into a profitable enterprise. Charlie Rae also starts nosing around asking questions so she can clear her father's name, and he can return home (and she can go home). But someone does not like Charlie Rae asking questions. Why was Marlene killed? Will Charlie Rae be able to find the culprit?
Fatal Fiction is easy to read, but the humor is not the type I enjoy. Charlie Rae is a hard character to like or relate to (at least for me). She is either overreacting, acting idiotic, or admiring some man's physique (or thinking about his kisses, touching him, etc.). Charlie Rae acted like an escaped psychiatric patient off her meds (especially after she finds the body). Charlie Rae is a college graduate and in her early 30s. I just expect more intelligence and adult behavior from her. I felt that there was too much quirkiness in the book. There is the pink armadillo (shop mascot), Charlie Rae's uncooperative hair (mentioned more than once), Scarlet Jenkins who is always perfectly turned out and lives in an airstream behind her shop, the bouquets for Marlene that block the entrance to the store (and she feels she cannot move them aside so she can open the doors), Charlie Rae's lack of clothing to wear while in town, and let us not forget Mr. Perfect--Cade. I only provided a few examples (I could go on). I give Fatal Fiction 2.5 out of 5 stars (I did not like it). The mystery was the best part of the book (and the only reason I kept reading). Many readers will not be able to figure out who killed Marlene. The mystery plays out over the course of the book (there is no real investigation and few clues). I liked that the book setting is a bookstore, but I just felt that Ms. Roberts needed to dial back the eccentric and silliness (at least for me).
Fatal Fiction is easy to read, but the humor is not the type I enjoy. Charlie Rae is a hard character to like or relate to (at least for me). She is either overreacting, acting idiotic, or admiring some man's physique (or thinking about his kisses, touching him, etc.). Charlie Rae acted like an escaped psychiatric patient off her meds (especially after she finds the body). Charlie Rae is a college graduate and in her early 30s. I just expect more intelligence and adult behavior from her. I felt that there was too much quirkiness in the book. There is the pink armadillo (shop mascot), Charlie Rae's uncooperative hair (mentioned more than once), Scarlet Jenkins who is always perfectly turned out and lives in an airstream behind her shop, the bouquets for Marlene that block the entrance to the store (and she feels she cannot move them aside so she can open the doors), Charlie Rae's lack of clothing to wear while in town, and let us not forget Mr. Perfect--Cade. I only provided a few examples (I could go on). I give Fatal Fiction 2.5 out of 5 stars (I did not like it). The mystery was the best part of the book (and the only reason I kept reading). Many readers will not be able to figure out who killed Marlene. The mystery plays out over the course of the book (there is no real investigation and few clues). I liked that the book setting is a bookstore, but I just felt that Ms. Roberts needed to dial back the eccentric and silliness (at least for me).
