"Murder on the Books" By T.C. LoTempio: Review/Giveraway

Review by Sarah Erwin

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a $15 Amazon gift card and a link to purchase the book. 

Murder on the Books is a great start to T.C. LoTempio’s new “Cozy Bookshop Mystery” series.

Thirty-year-old Charlotte (Charley) James is burnt out and needs to take a break from writing her popular Steve Sheppard mystery series – a series she writes under the pen name C.J. Barrett. Leaving New York City, she moves back to her hometown of Austin, Pennsylvania to wind down, recuperate, and maybe come up with some new ideas for her books. And no one here knows she’s C.J. Barrett. It’s a true chance to breathe.

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Charley reunites with her long-term friend and baker Zane, who is in the process of opening a charming double storefront of a bakery and bookstore. Unfortunately Zane’s business partner Sheila unexpectedly departs town, bailing on the bookshop and leaving nothing but a note behind. Charley, though, is more than happy to take over – this is just what she needs. But Charley’s joy doesn’t last long when she finds Sheila’s body in a chest in the store’s basement. The police question Zane and Charley is determined to solve this crime to protect her friend and their new business.

What follows is a fast paced mystery with lots of twists and turns. This story certainly has cozy details and is set in a small town full of interesting characters, but it also has a little bit of thriller vibes as readers race with Charley to find the killer before they strike again. I found my heart beating faster as I tore through the pages. 

It was fun to see Charley use what she’s learned as a mystery writer to solve this crime. She takes some scary risks, despite warnings from the handsome Detective Grant. I adored Poe, the stray cat she rescued. And seeing Zane and Charley reunite was charming – they have a strong friendship that picked up as though no time had passed. Secret codes play a part in this mystery, and while I can never figure codes out, I do enjoy the hunt for the reveal.

The town of Austin was a great setting for the mystery. Charley spent time reintroducing herself to the shops and characters of Austin and truly settling in.

It’s so much fun to get in on the beginning of a strong new cozy mystery series, and I look forward to reading more about Charley and her adventures. 

To enter to win a $15 Amazon gift card, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line "on the books,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen July 26, 2025. US residents only and you must be 18 or older to enter. If entering via comment please include your email address so we can contact you. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section in Kings River Life and in our mystery category here on KRL News & Reviews. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. And check out our new mystery podcast which features mystery short stories and first chapters read by local actors! 

You can click here to purchase this book.

Sarah Erwin started her career as a children’s librarian, later becoming a public library director and now she’s a stay at home mom. While her career might have changed, her love of reading has been a constant since 4th grade and she reads over 200 books a year. Read along with her on her blog Sarah Can’t Stop Reading or on Instagram. Sarah lives in St. Louis, MO with her two kids, her husband and a family dog and cat.

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.