By: Samara Yew
Series: California Bookshop Mystery
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release Date: October 17, 2023
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Perfect for fans of Jenn McKinlay and Ellery Adams, Scarlett Gardner’s dream was to open a bookshop in Southern California, but it soon becomes a nightmare when she finds the dead body of a customer—and becomes the prime suspect.
Southern California is where dreams come true—or so Scarlett Gardner thought. When she moved there and opened the Palm Trees and Page Turners bookshop, she thought her boyfriend and business partner would be part of the story. When he leaves her for a better job, Scarlett finds herself struggling to keep her new business afloat. That’s not the only thing she has to worry about—she discovers something underneath the pier by her bookshop that she didn’t outline for her life’s story: the dead body of a book-buying customer.
After Scarlett gives a statement to the police, she thinks her life can go back to business as usual. But when a lawyer, representing someone named Lorelai Knight, tells Scarlett that she now stands to inherit a small fortune, she’s left with more questions than answers. Before she can make sense of any of it, the police bring her in for questioning; the body she found was Lorelai Knight. And the evidence they have against Scarlett doesn’t look good. Business is booming as Scarlett returns to Palm Trees and Page Turners, but for all the wrong reasons – curious tourists don’t want books, they want a glimpse of the Bookshop Killer.
Who could really be behind all of this? And why frame Scarlett? To clear her name, she’s going to have get creative—and hope she can remain one page ahead of the killer.
I’m a bit nervous to tell you the truth. I haven’t done a lot of interviews before, but thank you for having me! I am excited to be here; it’s more like a nervous-excited than a nervous-nervous. Okay, yes, I’m good. I’m ready.
Lol. I’m sure you’ll do just fine. Before we get started, can you please introduce yourself to readers?
Hi! My name is Scarlett Gardner. I’m in my late twenties, and I own the Palm Trees and Page Turners Bookshop. It’s located right on the beach in Southern California because reading and the ocean are my two favorite things. I live with my roommate/BFF, Lucia, in our cute townhouse (cute is another word for small in the real estate world, but we love it.) I’m currently single and happy about that, I might add, after my ex-boyfriend, Connor, turned out to be such a… um, is this a family-friendly blog? Let’s go with Slime King. That’s what Lucia calls him.
It’s okay. You can call him whatever you like. You recently opened Palm Trees and Page Turners. Tell me about it.
Oh my gosh, it’s perfect! After a few bumps in the road, it turned out to be exactly like I dreamed it would be. Picture this: You’re lounging on a sandy, golden beach after having just gone for a walk along the nearby pier, inhaling the salty, sweet breeze. You had a bite from the snack stand and took a dip in the ocean, but now, you are ready to relax with… what’s this? You forgot your latest book at home? But right there on the beach is a shop’s sign featuring two palm trees with a hammock strung between them. In the hammock is a woman reading a book. It welcomes you to Palm Trees and Page Turners, where you and your perfect beach read will soon meet.
Oh. It definitely sounds inviting. As a bookstore owner, what’s your favorite genre to read?
I actually don’t have a favorite. Definitely fiction over non-fiction. I guess I gravitate toward fantasy and romance, but I’m not sure if I could pick between the two. Please just give me a book with magic and kissing. Swoon!
I can totally understand that. Can you please tell us about some of the people we’ll meet in your story?
I already told you a bit about Lucia and Connor. I don’t really want to talk much more about him, but unfortunately, you will meet him in the story. There’s also my sister, Olivia, and my employee, Evelyn. They help get me through some tough times. My friends, Jules and Hiroki, also show up throughout the story to offer support. Then there are some not-so-supportive people like Martin the lawyer or Viviana the owner of the Second Chance Treasures thrift shop.
Sounds like an interesting mix of people. Tell me about a defining moment in your life.
A lawyer showed up at my bookshop the other day and told me I had inherited a fortune from a complete stranger! I was even more shocked to discover that the stranger had been the mysterious woman I’d found dead underneath the pier a few days prior. That moment sent my life in a totally new direction.
I can only imagine. What’s your most prized possession?
Can an entire building be a prized possession? Because then it would be Palm Trees and Page Turners. But if not, then a photo album I have of my sister and me when we were kids. It highlights many of our vacations to the beach when we stayed in an old seaside hotel and built sandcastles all day. It was a magical time, and I’m so glad my mom put together these albums for us.
What can you tell me about Lorelai Knight?
All I know is that she was the mysterious woman I had found underneath the pier. She had come into Palm Trees and Page Turners the day before, bought a copy of Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey and left. That was the only contact I had ever had with her.
That’s definitely sound mysterious. When you found out you were a murder suspect what was your first reaction? Did you immediately know you were going to look for the actual killer?
I felt like I was having an out-of-body experience. I still can’t believe that innocent me was put in a holding cell! It was so cold and lonely in there. And you bet I knew I was going to find the actual killer to clear my name.
What do you think about your creator Samara Yew?
I think she’s a little bit jealous that I work in a bookshop on the beach. She keeps saying she wants to visit, which would be a lot of fun if it happened! Maybe we could even co-write another California Bookshop Mystery together! Then I could make certain there are no more holding cells in my future.
What’s next for you?
With my mysterious inheritance, I’m going to use some of it to expand Palm Trees and Page Turners. I thought a little café where customers can relax with their new books would be a fantastic addition to the bookshop. I’ve already started with the plans for construction and, perhaps even more exciting, the plans for the delicious menu of drinks and goodies we will sell. Readers can learn more about it in the next California Bookshop Mystery.
Scarlett, thank you so much for your time.
Thank you for having me! I hope you enjoy Murder by the Seashore!
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Sounds like a book I will enjoy.
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