Between a Book and a Hard Place (A Devereaux Dime Store Mystery #5) by Denise Swanson

I can't even recall the last time I was in a dime store. I miss dime stores! They were great places to find a new book. As it happens they also make great settings for a story. Between a Book and a Hard Place (A Devereaux Dime Store Mystery #5) by Denise Swanson, had such a charming setting. Pull up a chair and let me tell you about it. 

From the back of the book:

The New York Times bestselling author of Dying for a Cupcake returns with a new mystery filled with lost family, hidden treasure, and long-buried secrets...

Five-and-dime store owner Devereaux “Dev” Sinclair moved to Shadow Bend for her family. But when her long-lost mother shows up in town, she realizes too much kin can be killer...

Shadow Bend’s library closed years ago because of budgetary problems, so when a wealthy benefactor offers to reopen it, everyone, including Dev, is thrilled. But Dev’s excitement wanes when she realizes the mysterious donor is actually her runaway mother Yvette’s latest husband, Jett Benedict.

Dev suspects that Yvette and Jett’s intentions aren’t as noble as they appear, but before she can discover what they’re really up to, Jett turns up dead—and all clues point to Yvette as the prime suspect.

Even though Dev has no loyalty to Yvette, she’s in a bind. Setting the record straight could prove her mother is a killer. But doing nothing might get her mother booked for a crime she didn’t commit.

My thoughts:

There sure is a lot going on here. In addition to a murder mystery there is also some family drama, and romance tossed in to spice things up. There were some really fun characters as well. I loved Dev and while she had my sympathy with her mother, I kind of liked her too. I also like how all of the friends stick together. As far as the romance goes it is a very interesting and unique set up. I will be looking for the next part so I can see how that plays out.

The mystery was pretty easy to figure out as the suspects where not as numerous as they often are and the clues were plentiful. I got the impression this was more about characters with a mystery as the backdrop. While you can jump in the series here as I did, it took me a few chapters to find myplace with characters and their history.

I will likely be seeking out earlier parts to this series and I recommend you do the same. 

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Disclosure: I may receive products in exchange for an honest review. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I personally believe will be good for my readers.