For Whom the Book Tolls

by Philip Eliot | Jun 2, 2026 | Cozy Mystery | 0 comments

“A small Southern town, a spirited sleuth, and a cozy bookshop add up to a fast-paced” cozy mystery series debut that “book-loving readers will cheer for” (Elizabeth Craig, bestselling author of the Southern Quilting mysteries).   When Jenna Quinn finds her uncle murdered in his antique bookstore, she not only becomes the primary beneficiary of his estate—but the prime suspect of the investigation. Trouble follows Jenna Quinn wherever she goes. Fleeing some unsavory doings in her hometown of Charlotte, Jenna accepts her uncle’s gracious invitation to stay with him in small-town Hokes Folly, NC. In exchange, she’ll help him out in his antiquarian bookstore. But soon after she arrives, Jenna finds her uncle’s body crumpled at the base of the staircase between his apartment and the bookstore. Before the tragedy even sinks in, Jenna learns that she’s inherited almost everything her uncle owned: the store and apartment, as well as his not-so-meager savings and the payout from a life insurance policy…which adds up to more than a million dollars. This is all news to Jenna—bad news, once the police get wind of her windfall. An ill wind, indeed, as a second murder cements Jenna’s status as the prime suspect in both deaths. Jenna can hit the road again, taking her chances that she can elude trouble along the way. Or she can stick it out in Hokes Folly, take over the bookstore, and try to sleuth out her uncle’s killer. On the one hand, she’s made some wonderful new friends, and she feels she can thrive in the genial small-town environment. On the other hand, trouble knows her address—and so does the killer, who is determined to write the final page of Jenna’s story.

Review Praise for For Whom the Book Tolls:“An appealing debut peopled with believable characters and a well-ordered mystery.”—Kirkus“[A] promising debut and series launch.”—Publishers Weekly“Full of delightful characters and enough twists and turns to keep readers guessing.”—Manhattan Book Review“Details of small town life in a colorful locale add to the color and piquancy of this cozy mystery.”—Midwest Book Review “The mystery is solid, the characters interesting, the new friendships and relationships are intriguing, and I look forward to the next book in the series.”—MyShelf.com“An enjoyable premise, small-town charm, and memorable secondary characters.”—Fresh Fiction “This cozy mystery has unexpected layers of intrigue and interest. You’ll love all the characters, and the mystery will keep you guessing. You won’t want to miss this one.”—Paige Shelton, New York Times bestselling author of the Scottish Bookshop mysteries“A small Southern town, a spirited sleuth, and a cozy bookshop add up to a fast-paced mystery book-loving readers will cheer for.”—Elizabeth Craig, bestselling author of the Southern Quilting mysteries“Laura Gail Black’s Jenna Quinn stands out in the ranks of cozy sleuths…A first-rate addition to the genre.”—Kaitlyn Dunnett, author of A Fatal Fiction, a Deadly Edits mystery “A small town, a bookstore, a body, a spunky heiress with a controversial past, and a secret treasure hunt: all these elements make for a very fun cozy read!”—Julia Buckley, author of the Writer’s Apprentice mysteries “Prepare to be charmed!”—Connie Berry, author of the Kate Hamilton mysteries About the Author Laura Gail Black writes cozy mysteries on the beautiful shores of Lake Marion in South Carolina, where she lives with her husband and four rescue dogs. She began collecting antique books when she worked in a used antique bookstore in college. Today, Laura’s bookshelves contain many antique books, some of which are close to 200 years old. When not writing or playing with her dogs, Laura creates her own jewelry, crochets, cross-stitches, spends time on the water with her husband, and enjoys all things tea.