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The Bookshop Detectives

Dead Girl Gone
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( 1,712 ratings, 254 reviews)
Brief Description
Two small-town booksellers (and their cowardly dog) solve a decades-old murder-mystery in this witty debut novel, full of literary clues, sparkling dialogue, and comedic insights into the world of bookshops. "When we opened Sherlock Tomes people warned us that we'd made a terrible mistake. People warned... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Two small-town booksellers (and their cowardly dog) solve a decades-old murder-mystery in this witty debut novel, full of literary clues, sparkling dialogue, and comedic insights into the world of bookshops.

"When we opened Sherlock Tomes people warned us that we'd made a terrible mistake. People warned us that e-readers were taking over. People warned us that we'd never compete with Amazon. The one thing they didn't warn us about was the murders..."

Β Introducing...the Bookshop Detectives! When a mystery parcel arrives at Sherlock Tomes bookshop in small-town Havelock North, New Zealand, husband-and-wife owners Garth and Eloise (and their petrified pooch, Stevie) are drawn into the baffling case of a decades-old missing schoolgirl. Intrigued by the puzzling, bookish clues the two ex-cops are soon tangled in a web of crime, drugs, and floral decapitations, while endeavouring to pull off the international celebrity book launch of the century.

With their beloved shop on the chopping block and the sinister suspect who forced them to run away from Blighty reemerging from the shadows, have Garth and Eloise Sherlock finally met their Moriarty?

For once, the cover copy is no exaggeration- Diary of a Bookseller really does meet Thursday Murder Club meets Bookseller at the End of the World in this witty debut novel, full of literary clues, comedic insights and the kinds of Kiwis you only ever meet in bookshops.

'A page-turning joy, bursting with intrigue, fun and humanity.' - Charity Norman

'Fun and twisty. -the only two crime writers I know who have actually solved murders.' - Michael Bennett

'At last! A book that kept me guessing until the end, and in the perfect setting. How could I, or anyone who loves bookshops, resist?' - Ruth Shaw

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781776951000

Publisher: Penguin Group (NZ)

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 23 July 2024

Country: New Zealand

Imprint: Penguin Books (NZ)

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 25.0mm

Width: 154.0mm

Height: 234.0mm

Weight: 442g

Pages: 336

About the Author

Gareth and Louise Ward are the real-life owners of independent bookshop Wardini Books, with stores in Havelock North and Napier, New Zealand. Louise is known among the staff as Fearless Leader and Gareth as a bit of a dick; he is, however, the author of the Tarquin the Honest and The Rise of the Remarkables book series, as well as being the bestselling and award-winning author of The Traitor and the Thief and The Clockill and the Thief. Gareth and Louise met at police training college in the UK and are both ex-coppers. Louise has one murder arrest to her name, is an English Literature Graduate and as an ex-teacher inflicted Shakespeare on inner-city twelve-year-olds. She regularly reviews books on RNZ. Both are obsessed with their rescue dog Stevie, avoid housework and gardening, and live in the cultural centre of the universe that is Hawke's Bay, Aotearoa New Zealand. The Bookshop Detectives is Gareth and Louise's first book together.

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  • The Bookshop Detectives 1: Dead Girl Gone
    Two small-town booksellers (and their cowardly dog) solve a decades-old murder mystery in this witty debut novel, full of literary clues, sparkling dialogue, and comedic insights into the world of bookshops. "When we opened Sherlock Tomes, people warned us that we'd made a terrible mistake. People warned us that e-readers were taking over. People warned us that we'd never compete...
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