Murder by the Book
(2022)(The sixth book in the Birchwood Academy Files series)
A novel by Jade Astor
Darian is once again forced to postpone moving in with Argo when Rufus Baine, a descendent of the controversial nineteenth-century poet he’s been researching, invites the two of them for a visit. At the estate, Darian finds a library full of intriguing documents that will enable him to write a groundbreaking biography. Unfortunately, he also finds the family on the brink of bankruptcy thanks to a recent swindle and a mysterious disappearance. For this reason, not every member of the household is thrilled to have Darian and Argo on the premises, poking around and exposing their long-guarded secrets.
Soon another guest shows up: Jereth Starr, a celebrity psychic seeking material for his popular podcast. When he conducts a late-night ghost hunt despite Rufus’s outraged objections, it’s not just Darian’s plans for a quiet weekend that go out the window. It’s Jereth himself.
Though the psychic’s death seems to be a tragic accident, Argo can’t help feeling it has some connection with the earlier embezzlement. Then there’s an unsolved murder from 1895, which many blame on Wilfred Baine, the poet Darian is studying. Thanks to a toxic combination of bickering siblings, an obstinate lawyer, and possibly a vengeful ghost, his hopes for a career-advancing book will go up in a puff of ectoplasm if he and Argo can’t crack all three cases before someone else ends up dead.
Note: this story contains scenes of male/male romance, though there is no explicit language or description.
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Soon another guest shows up: Jereth Starr, a celebrity psychic seeking material for his popular podcast. When he conducts a late-night ghost hunt despite Rufus’s outraged objections, it’s not just Darian’s plans for a quiet weekend that go out the window. It’s Jereth himself.
Though the psychic’s death seems to be a tragic accident, Argo can’t help feeling it has some connection with the earlier embezzlement. Then there’s an unsolved murder from 1895, which many blame on Wilfred Baine, the poet Darian is studying. Thanks to a toxic combination of bickering siblings, an obstinate lawyer, and possibly a vengeful ghost, his hopes for a career-advancing book will go up in a puff of ectoplasm if he and Argo can’t crack all three cases before someone else ends up dead.
Note: this story contains scenes of male/male romance, though there is no explicit language or description.
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Used availability for Jade Astor's Murder by the Book