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 with Amazon. The one thing they didn't warn us about was the murders..."

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, all 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 Bennet

'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

'Eloise and Garth are the book-selling, tea-drinking, crime-fighting duo that I didn't know I needed in my life! The Bookshop Detectives is a real treat for bibliophiles of all stripes.' - Jack Heath

'Warm-hearted, filled with wry humour, spiced up with suspense... captivating Kiwi cozy crime!' - Nicky Pellegrino