The Fatal Folio by Elizabeth Penney

Title: The Fatal Folio

Series: The Cambridge Bookshop Series #3
Author: Elizabeth Penney
Source/Format: NetGalley; eARC
More Details: Cozy Mystery
Publisher/Publication Date: St. Martin's Paperbacks; October 24, 2023

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

In the third in Elizabeth Penney's delightful Cambridge Bookshop series, The Fatal Folio, Molly Kimball is learning that every killer has a story…

After moving to Cambridge, England, Molly Kimball has found a lot to love, including—of course—her family’s ancestral bookshop, Thomas Marlowe-Manuscripts and Folios. And though she’s not quite ready to use the “L” word when it comes to her boyfriend Kieran, she’s definitely fallen for his intimidating family’s library. His family is paying her handsomely for an updated catalog when Molly discovers the original manuscript of a Gothic novel, A Fatal Folio by the pseudonymous Selwyn Scott. Kieran’s cousin Oliver, a professor specializing in Gothic literature, is eager to publish a paper on the mystery—especially because a troublesome student, Thad, is threatening to file a complaint against him and prevent his long-awaited promotion. On Guy Fawkes Night, Molly, Kieran, and her friends set out to enjoy the costumes, fireworks, and fun—at least until a stray firework starts a panic, and the group stumbles upon a prone body, their face covered by a mask. It’s Thad, and he’s been stabbed to death. It soon becomes clear Oliver isn’t the only one with a motive, and Molly must once again put on a few masks of her own to sleuth out Thad’s killer, prove Oliver’s innocence, and discover what Selwyn’s novel might have to do with this most atmospheric mystery…

Some of my favorite cozy mysteries lately are from Elizabeth Penney’s The Cambridge Bookshop series. With a wonderful cast, plenty of literary themes (I mean a large part of the setting is in a bookshop after all), adorable cats, and a story-within-a-story, this series has always had plenty to offer. The same goes for the latest installment called The Fatal Folio.

I had a great time delving into this latest adventure with Molly, her family, her friends, and the new characters as well.

The mystery gets off to a running start with the death of a student from a nearby college. There were plenty of suspects, and each of them had a legitimate motive and the potential means to commit the crime. The set up was pretty solid, and I liked the steady progression of the mystery as it happened alongside a series of gothic literature themed events.

There was some progression with the relationships in the series. There were some steps backward, but it was offset by communication, especially between Molly and Kieran.

The build up to the reveals was quite detailed. It took its time getting there, but I honestly didn’t mind it. Part of the reason was The Fatal Folio, the titular book featured prominently in this mystery. There were plenty of pages dedicated to recounting its story in full, and, honestly, those were some of my favorite scenes in the book. So I was pretty invested in Molly’s sleuthing as well as the story she was reading. However, my only little disappointment was how quickly everything was wrapped up. Other than that, the ultimate explanation was a relatively good conclusion to all that had happened.

Overall, this was another good addition to the series. If you’ve read Chapter and Curse and its sequel, A Treacherous Tale, then I highly recommend The Fatal Folio too.

About the author....

Elizabeth Penney lives in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, where she pens novels and tries to grow things. Elements that often appear in her novels include vintage summer cottages, past/present mysteries, and the arts. After spending early years in England and France, she grew up in Maine, settings that are reflected in her books. Elizabeth is the author of the Apron Shop Series and Cambridge Bookshop Series from St. Martin's as well as over twenty novels, short stories, and hundreds of business articles. A former consultant and nonprofit executive, she holds a BS and an MBA. She's also written screenplays with her musician husband. She loves walking in the woods, kayaking on quiet ponds, trying new recipes, and feeding family and friends.

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Disclaimer: this copy of the book was provided by the publisher (St. Martin's Paperbacks) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, thank you!