Chaos at the Lazy Bones Bookshop

The first in this Pacific Northwest-set Halloween cozy mystery series inspired by the real "Halloweentown!"

When Bailey Briggs takes over her grandfather's bookshop, Lazy Bones Books, she accidentally discovers her beloved Oregon Halloween-themed town's secret dark side...

Normally, spooky season is Bailey Briggs' favorite time of year, and her Halloween-themed small town's time to shine. But between managing Lazy Bones Books, working on her graphic novel-in-progress, and running the Spooky Season Literary Festival, Bailey hardly has a moment to enjoy Elyan Hollow's spot-on seasonal vibes. Not to mention, at every turn she seems to be tripping over the contentious crew of Gone Ghouls, a ghost-hunting reality TV show currently filming around town. Bailey tries to stay focused on the Lit Festival, which is supposed to kick off Elyan Hollow's annual Halloween Fair; instead, this year's festival begins with a murder . . .

It's bad enough Bailey discovered the victim, but now, as a lead suspect with some (admittedly) damning evidence pointing her way, she's got to clear her name! With the help of her librarian friend, Colby, and Jack Skeleton, her world-class bookshop dog (and the absolute bestest boy ever), Bailey sets out to solve a murder . . .

As her investigation weaves through family secrets, professional rivalries, and town feuds, the list of suspects is growing fast . . . and unfortunately, so is the list of victims. It's up to Bailey to keep Elyan Hollow's haunted reputation from getting too real in this charming Halloween cozy mystery, perfect for curling up with this spooky season.

Author: Emmeline Duncan
Publisher: Kensington Cozies
Published: 07/23/2024
Pages: 256
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.52lbs
Size: 8.27h x 5.61w x 0.66d
ISBN: 9781496746146


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 06/15/2024
Booklist 07/01/2024 pg. 29
BookPage 07/01/2024

About the Author
Emmeline Duncan is the Portland, Oregon-based author of the Ground Rules Mystery Series, as well as YA novels written under the name Kelly Garrett. She is a 2020 Oregon Literary Fellow, a board member of the Northwest Chapter of the Mystery Writers of America, and co-organizer of the Friends of Mystery's Bloody Thursday lecture series. She's also a member of Sisters-In-Crime, Willamette Writers, and SCBWI. Visit her online at EmmelineDuncan.com, on Instagram and Facebook as @writeremmelineduncan, and on twitter as @duncanemmeline.