The Bookmark Killer
(2026)(The third book in the Pages to Die For Mystery series)
A novel by Hailey Hartley
When an elegantly dressed stranger collapses in the classic literature aisle of The Literary Nook clutching one of Claire Anderson's custom bookmarks, the bookstore owner thinks it's a tragic medical emergency. But within hours, the woman is identified as Madeline Crawford, a renowned rare manuscript dealer, and the autopsy reveals murder by poison. The bookmark Madeline died holding contains cryptic literary references and hastily scribbled notes that appear to be a coded message, and Detective Blake's investi gation suggests the killing is connected to a sophisticated forgery ring that's been operating for over fifteen years. With her cat Holmes sensing danger at every turn and the detective warning her to stay out of it, Claire can't resist using her knowledge of classic mysteries to decode Madeline's puzzle before the killer realizes she's following the same trail that got Madeline killed.
As Claire deciphers quotes from Poe, Christie, and Doyle hidden in the margins of books throughout her store, she uncovers a web of betrayal that connects several of her regular customers to Madeline's past. There's Charlotte Reeves, Madeline's estranged sister drowning in debt who stands to inherit millions, Nathan Cross, the charming rare book dealer whose appointment with Madeline was mysteriously cancelled, Wesley Hart, the literature professor with a ruined reputation and a secret connection to the victim, Diana Flemming, the ambitious library director who met with Madeline just before her death, and Iris Montgomery, a former colleague who spent two years in prison for crimes she claims Madeline helped cover up. Each has motive, each appears in Madeline's cryptic clues, and each is hiding dangerous secrets. When Claire discovers that Madeline was working to expose not just a forgery ring but a fifteen-year-old frame-up that destroyed innocent lives, she realizes the killer isn't just protecting a criminal operation but guarding a truth that powerful people will kill to keep buried.
Settle in with the third installment of the Pages to Die For series, where literary clues lead to deadly truths and a bookstore owner must solve the ultimate mystery novel before she becomes the next chapter in a killer's story. Perfect for fans of clever sleuthing, literary references, and cats who know more than they're letting on, The Bookmark Killer delivers all the charm and suspense of classic cozy mysteries with a fresh twist that will keep you guessing until the very last page. Claire Anderson may sell mysteries for a living, but can she solve one before the final page turns on her own story?
Genre: Cozy Mystery
As Claire deciphers quotes from Poe, Christie, and Doyle hidden in the margins of books throughout her store, she uncovers a web of betrayal that connects several of her regular customers to Madeline's past. There's Charlotte Reeves, Madeline's estranged sister drowning in debt who stands to inherit millions, Nathan Cross, the charming rare book dealer whose appointment with Madeline was mysteriously cancelled, Wesley Hart, the literature professor with a ruined reputation and a secret connection to the victim, Diana Flemming, the ambitious library director who met with Madeline just before her death, and Iris Montgomery, a former colleague who spent two years in prison for crimes she claims Madeline helped cover up. Each has motive, each appears in Madeline's cryptic clues, and each is hiding dangerous secrets. When Claire discovers that Madeline was working to expose not just a forgery ring but a fifteen-year-old frame-up that destroyed innocent lives, she realizes the killer isn't just protecting a criminal operation but guarding a truth that powerful people will kill to keep buried.
Settle in with the third installment of the Pages to Die For series, where literary clues lead to deadly truths and a bookstore owner must solve the ultimate mystery novel before she becomes the next chapter in a killer's story. Perfect for fans of clever sleuthing, literary references, and cats who know more than they're letting on, The Bookmark Killer delivers all the charm and suspense of classic cozy mysteries with a fresh twist that will keep you guessing until the very last page. Claire Anderson may sell mysteries for a living, but can she solve one before the final page turns on her own story?
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Used availability for Hailey Hartley's The Bookmark Killer