When Eloise Anderson, the owner of an antiquarian bookshop, arrives at the grand Aircroft estate to ask retired librarian Jane Hunter and eccentric collector Cameron Clewe for help, Jane and Cam expect a bookish inquiry. But the bookseller has a different sort of assistance in mind—clearing her mother’s name of a murder Eloise is convinced she didn’t commit.
Eloise’s mother has just died after spending many years in prison for allegedly killing Eloise’s father. Armed with new information found in her mother’s effects, the bookseller is determined to uncover the true killer so her mother can rest in peace, even though the case is now colder than ice. When Jane tracks down the original detective from the investigation and discovers him stabbed to death in Eloise’s bookshop, Jane and Cam are sure this murder is connected to the cold case. They think it’s the same killer, but the police unfortunately have their own prime suspect, and this time around it’s Eloise.
Cam and Jane’s cold-case sleuthing turns urgent—find who committed the murders or watch another innocent woman rot in jail as a cold-blooded killer walks free.
I enjoy the fact that Cameron Clewe is trying to correct parts of his behavior without compromising who he is. I enjoy the fact that he allows Jane freedom to tell him whatever she is thinking, but that she does not take advantage of it.
The continuation of their investigation of Cameron’s father is still present in the novel. However, it is not the immediate mystery. It is the theme that connects the series and I will always appreciate a continued theme. The present mystery, however, is very similar as that it is considered a closed but cold case that is brought screeching to the present.
While I did not expect the new clues for Cameron’s personal life, I did figure out the killer rather quickly. There was a single discovery that I did not know, and I will admit made me angry on Cameron’s behalf.
Overall, I rate this novel 5 out of 5 stars.
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