If Books Could Kill
Daisy Swanson's daughter Jazzi has moved away to the lakeside town of Belltower Landing, but the apple doesn't fall from the tree. Much like Daisy, she's running a tea bar and bookshop—and has a knack for getting into hot water . . . Town librarian Mathilda has a troublesome new employee, and...
- Pages
- 333
- Audiobook
- 9 hr 15 min
- First published
- March 31, 2026
- Language
- English
- Edition
- Audiobook
Shelved by 1 Litcadian
Reviews
Started March 18, 2026 · Finished March 19, 2026
Thank you to my local bookstore for allowing me to read and review a book from your ARC shelf! ——— IF BOOKS COULD KILL is the third installment of the Tomes and Tea mystery series, and the first book I have read by this author. As someone who didn’t realize this was a continuation of something else, there was a lot of information given that required context that I did not have. Additionally, the book is full of infodumps and the need to justify every detail given. Our protagonist, Jazzi, is an inquisitive young woman and a co-owner of a successful bookstore alongside her roommate, Dawn. While she is described to be 25 years old, she is not written that way. I am 25, and to me, she reads as someone who has been written by someone much older—which is true. This surfaces especially while she is interacting with others. She’s also REALLY bad at keeping secrets. I did enjoy certain aspects of this book. I love the New England states, so this book’s lakeside small-town setting was perfect for me. I loved Jazzi and Dawn’s friendship, the positive messages spread about community, and the adorable kittens inside the girls’ apartment. Also, there was great “will they/won’t they” dynamic happening between Jazzi and her love interest, Oliver. In terms of the murder mystery aspect, I clocked the killer pretty early on. But I enjoyed reading the book nonetheless. If you’re into cozy bookstores and libraries, tea, and mysteries with that scenic, small-town feel, this book may be for you!