Book 50, 2018

[chez_jae]

Twice Told Tail by Ali Brandon





Over the course of Wednesday and Thursday, I read Twice Told Tail by Ali Brandon. It's the sixth installment in her "Black Cat Bookshop" mystery series, and her author's note indicated it's also the last book in the series. Needless to say, I am disappoint.

Darla Pettisone is busy preparing for the upcoming holiday shopping season at her bookstore/coffee shop, and she's also been roped into helping her friend's fiancee find the perfect wedding dress. Darla wouldn't mind so much, but Connie can be a bit of a Bridezilla, and Darla went out on a few dates with Reese, which makes putting on a happy face somewhat difficult. In the meantime, her assistant, James, is confounded by the bid he's received on a set of antique books--it's far higher than the set is worth. Unfortunately, book selling is the last thing on Darla's mind when Connie stumbles across a dead body as they're visiting an antique store in search of her "something old".

Detective Reese is on the case, but Darla is dismayed when his list of suspects includes her elderly neighbor. She sets out to prove the woman is innocent, and with Hamlet's help, she may just succeed.

Well, there was a lot going on in the book, from the mysterious book buyer to the mysterious black cat that was lurking around, to Jake's mysterious romantic interest. It was all quite mysterious! However, one dropped clue gave away the identity of the murderer. I suppose if one had taken a week or more to read the book, it might have gone unnoticed, but I picked up on it immediately.


♦ First of all, that it's the LAST book in the series. I enjoy this series, damn it!
♦ Second, it seemed that everyone except Darla got their HEA. Her ex was texting her throughout this story. Am I to surmise she got back together with him? We'll never know, since it's the LAST BOOK IN THE SERIES. Yeah, still bitter.
♦ Third, Reese didn't get his HEA, because Connie flounced out of their engagement party. Really? The author had to do that? Darla had come to accept that Reese wasn't the guy for her, so why couldn't he have had a happy marriage to Connie?
♦ What became of Ophelia?
♦ Why did the author have to kill off a regular? I mean, sure, he was just a fringe character, but he was always on the fringes...until he was murdered.

Meh

Favorite line: "I daresay we have all left an angry soul or two in our path at some point and not even realized it."

The story was good, moving along at a fast pace, and with excellent characterizations. Giving it four stars:

****