Thistlewood Star Cozy Mystery Series
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Helvetica Bold might be found in these print blocks image courtesy of pixabay.com |
Late last week, I finished A Murder in Helvetica Bold. Today, I'll be offering you a review of the first book in this Cozy Mystery Series written by Jessa Archer another Indie Author.
The series is called Thistlewood Star Mysteries and currently has three books published. Each title includes a different typeface from the old fashioned way of printing a newspaper. Of course with the advent of computers those old machines aren't used any longer and we don't refer to them as typeface but fonts. Still, the typeface or font titles intrigued my curiosity.
They mystery in book one takes place in a small town in Tennessee. Ruth Townsend has moved back to her hometown after her marriage ended abruptly. As a young girl she worked for the local newspaper and learned the art of producing a newspaper with an old printing press. Her former boss and the owner of the Thistlewood Star passed away several years ago and the newspaper office sat neglected. Ruth buys the building and the paper in hopes of reviving the little paper. Currently it has about 12 subscribers but Ruth wants to change that.
While visiting her best friend, Wren, for lunch one day they hear a scream from outside. A elderly neighbor has been found dead at the bottom of the stairs in her home. Ruth and Wren can tell by the position of the body and the look of surprise on Edith Morton's face that it most likely was not an accidental fall.
Ruth had been a reporter for a newspaper in Nashville before returning home to Thistlewood and Wren is the town's only mortician. Both women have experience with dead bodies and this one doesn't look right to either of them. How will they be able to convince the local sheriff that it wasn't an accident? He does seem inclined to just brush it aside and close the case.
My Recommendation for A Murder in Helvetica Bold
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and plan to read the other books in the series. The characters were interesting and diverse. The plot flowed nicely and there were a few twists along the way. I'll give a little spoiler that won't tell you anything about the solving of the mystery. The use of the typeface names is really kind of clever on the author's part. The tradition of the newspaper's former owner was to do each obituary in a different lettering. He kept records of each one used in the past. Ruth uses Helvetica Bold for Edith Morton's to keep up the tradition.
There were some funny scenes in the book and a little suspense. Overall, I loved the book and think you will, too. I did see a review that I found interesting. The reviewer had taken offense in the author's descriptions of some of the older characters. The reviewer called it a case of ageism. Being a not so very young chicken myself, I wasn't insulted. I thought her observations of senior citizens was sometimes amusing and also realistic but not insulting. Anyway, I loved the premise and the book. It is well written and kept my interest until the end. The author also surprised me as to who "did it". If you love Cozy Mysteries, I think you will enjoy this book.
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Having studied journalism (in college) and worked for a newspaper twice, I am already convinced I will enjoy this cozy mystery. Interesting the author used the name of a typeface in the title. :)
ReplyDeleteBTW, Beverly, I think it is terrific of you to review books by Indie authors such as yourself. Lots of people write book reviews about famous/well known authors, but little hidden gems such as this one are often overlooked. Glad you are seeking them out and bringing them to our attention.
Sounds like another great book that I will enjoy reading! I really do appreciate you, and a few of the other contributors on Review This, introducing me to the cozy mystery genre. I have come to really love this genre and appreciate the mystery without the grotesque.
ReplyDeleteBev, I also appreciate your introducing us to new indie authors and trust your opinions of their work. I much prefer cozy mysteries to more graphic, edge-of-your-seat thrillers. Thanks for a new one to add to my (way-too-long) reading list!
ReplyDeleteAnother book to add to the list. Sounds quite interesting.
ReplyDeleteI think you are going to convert me yet to the cozy mystery genre. I can very much appreciate the lack of gore. I'm glad you presented your perspective on the ageism criticism of another reviewer. It's always good to lay out different opinions, as everyone experiences a book through a unique lens or filter.
ReplyDeleteI'm always on the look out for some easy reading, and still good stories. Summertime does that to me! I hate overworking my brain keeping track of millions of characters. Give me just a few with a good story and I'm sold. Thanks Bev Owens for your review. Another added to my growing list.
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