To Kill A Mocking Girl
Series: An Bookbinding Mystery Book #1
Author: Harper Kincaid
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Page Count: 352
My Rating:
Book Summary
Bookbinder Quinn finds herself in trouble when her ex’s fiance turns up dead and if she’s not careful, her days might be numbered.
Quinn Victoria Caine is back in her quirky town of Vienna, Virginia, starting her new life as a bookbinder in her family-owned, charm-for-days bookshop, Prose & Scones. With her trusty German Shephard RBG-‘Ruff Barker’ Ginsburg by her side, what can go wrong? Okay, sure, bumping into her ex, Scott, or her former high school nemesis, Tricia, is a drag. It certainly doesn’t help they have acquired the new hobby of shoving their recent engagement in her face every chance they get. But that doesn’t mean Quinn wanted to find Tricia dead in the road. So why does half the town think she may have done it?
Quinn is determined to find Tricia’s killer, even if it means partnering with her cousin-turned-nun, Sister Daria, and Detective Aiden Harrington, her older brother’s too-movie-star-handsome-for-his-own good, best friend. They believe she’s innocent, but of course that doesn’t influence the police, who peg her as their prime suspect. Or, at least until she’s poisoned.
But there is no way Quinn is going to stop now. Vienna is her town and-for better or worse-Tricia was one of their own. Someone may have killed the mocking girl, but no one’s going to stop the notorious QVC.
More Facts for Readers about our Sleuth & Setting:
Main Sleuth: Quinn Victoria Caine
Best friend/ Sidekick: Her cousin Elizabeth a.k.a. Sister Daria
Physical Description: White female, active, light eyes, auburn hair
Age: 24
Location: Vienna, Virginia
Business: Book Binder at her parent’s bookshop Prose & Scones
Time of Year: April-May
Pet: “Ruff Barker” Ginsburg (RBG), a german shepard dog
Love Interest: Detective Aiden Harrington
Family: Mom, Dad, older Brother, Cousin, Aunt and Uncle
Diversity? Sort of. There are definitely characters of color from Latin, Black, Greek, and Jewish cultures throughout the book who are mentioned and who have dialogue. There are even alternative characters. So while the main character and her family are white and Angelican/Catholic it is a very liberal environment where all are included.
My Review
I LOVED ‘To Kill A Mocking Girl’, Book 1 in the Bookbinding Mystery series by Harper Kincaid. Main sleuth Quinn is back in town after traveling in the peace corps for 3 years. She’s welcomed by her family and practically cornered by her ex’s new fiance Tricia flaunting an engagement ring. When Tricia turns up dead in an alley and Quinn finds her body at 1am, well, things don’t look to good for Quinn. Enter a host of interesting characters in the form of family, friends, towns folks, and detectives to help solve what really happened, who do it, and why.
Before I started reading this cozy I saw a mean-spirited review of only 2 stars because this book appeared to be targeting “millennial Americans” and right then and there I knew I just had to represent my generation and country and read this book. Yes, time marches on, new authors emerge, younger generations become a target audience – live and let live! And better yet, open your mind and try on someone else’s shoes for once. That being said –
I LOVED reading this book! So many fun references to pop culture, TV, Film, other books, public figures, etc. Not to mention there’s inclusion and diversity – yes please! There’s even a dose of religious perspectives in a non-stuffy, modern display. As someone not really in that realm, I thought it was very enlightening. Plus there’s actually an openly stated love interest (a hunky sounding guy) that might actually get somewhere in the next book without taking a 10 books to get to, so yay! I love the way he was written (makes me want to read some of the author’s romance novels). I thoroughly cannot wait for the 2nd book. I’m so glad I got to read this and I definitely recommend – looking at you millennial Americans 🙂
I received a free copy of this book as part of a promotional giveaway.
Meredith, thank you so much for giving my book a chance! I am thrilled you got what I was trying to do-and this Generation Xer happens to adore Millennials and thinks they need to be in more cozies. Can’t wait to share book two with you!