All My Bones

An Old Juniper Bookshop Mystery, Book 2

By: P. J. Nelson

Narrated by: Hallie Bee Bard

Madeline Brimley, new owner of a bookstore in a small Georgia town, finds herself playing sleuth when a friend is charged with the murder of a much-disliked woman.

Madeline Brimley recently inherited a bookstore in Enigma, Georgia, is embarking on her second career, after her first one (acting) founders upon the metaphorical rocks. Settling in, Madeline recruits her friend Gloria Coleman, the local Episcopal priest, to help her plant azaleas in the front yard of the old Victorian that houses the bookstore. Turning the soil, however, uncovers the body of one Beatrice Glassie, a troublesome woman who has been missing for the past six months.

When her friend Gloria is arrested for the murder, Madeline is determined to prove her innocence and, as she quickly finds out, there aren't many people in town who hadn't wanted to kill Bea Glassie at one point or another. And the very expensive and rare first edition of a particular volume of Grimm's Fairy Tales—ordered by the victim and her sister is somehow tied to the grim death. With the help of her not-quite-boyfriend, a local lawman, and her deceased aunt's best friend, Madeline plans to set a trap to catch the real murderer—before she becomes the next victim.

©2025 P. J. Nelson (P)2025 Dreamscape Media

Good, but not as good as the first book

This sequel was less exciting than the first book in the series, but I still enjoyed it because of the amazing narrator and this author's ability to be a little ridiculous and hilarious with some of her dialogue. But the narrator really shines. Her ability to portray various characters from the same small town in a way that makes them sound unique and recognizable is wonderful.

5 stars

All My Bones is a well written and entertaining cozy mystery. I look forward to the next book.