Mystery Bookshop — by V.M. Burns

• 

  The Plot Is Murder
  

  • Dec-2017
  • 

  Book - 1
  

  The small town of North Harbor on the shores of Lake Michigan is about to have a new mystery bookstore. But before the first customer can browse its shelves, the store's owner is suspected of her own murder plot... Samantha Washington has dreame...

---

• 

  Read Herring Hunt
  

  • Apr-2018
  • 

  Book - 2
  

  Mystery bookstore owner Samantha Washington is about to find out it's not so easy to play Monday morning quarterback when it comes to murder... To the town of North Harbor, Michigan, MISU quarterback Dawson Alexander is a local hero. To Samantha...

---

• 

  The Novel Art of Murder
  

  • Nov-2018
  • 

  Book - 3
  

  Mystery bookstore owner Samantha Washington is trying to keep her grandmother from spending her golden years in an orange jumpsuit... The small town of North Harbor, Michigan, is just not big enough for the two of them: flamboyant phony Maria Ro...

---

• 

  Wed, Read & Dead
  

  • Apr-2019
  • 

  Book - 4
  

  Bookstore owner Samantha Washington sells and solves mysteries in North Harbor, Michigan -- including the murder of her mother's wedding planner . . . Sam's mother can't wait to wed her wealthy beau, Harold Robertson. The big mystery ...

---

• 

  Bookmarked for Murder
  

  • Nov-2019
  • 

  Book - 5
  

  Amateur sleuth Samantha Washington's shopping trip to Chicago takes a deadly detour when a man is murdered on her bus . . . After some post-Christmas retail therapy in the Windy City, mystery bookshop owner and historical whodunit novelist Sam Wa...

---

• 

  A Tourist's Guide to Murder
  

  • Feb-2021
  • 

  Book - 6
  

  While visiting the land of Miss Marple and Sherlock Holmes, bookstore owner and amateur sleuth Samantha Washington finds herself on a tragical mystery tour . . .  Sam joins Nana Jo and her Shady Acres Retirement Village friends Irma, Dorothy, an...

---

• 

  Killer Words
  

  • Dec-2021
  • 

  Book - 7
  

  Bookstore owner and mystery writer Samantha Washington comes to the aid of the cop who once arrested her own grandmother . . .  Sam and Nana Jo are back in sleepy North Harbor, Michigan, where Sam is eagerly awaiting the publication of her first...

---

• 

  Bookclubbed to Death
  

  • Jan-2023
  • 

  Book - 8
  

  V.M. Burns returns with the latest book in her popular Mystery Bookstore mysteries set in a Michigan bookshop specializing in selling murder mysteries!When the bookshop she owns becomes a crime scene, mystery writer Samantha Washington discovers ther...

---

• 

  Murder on Tour
  

  • Nov-2023
  • 

  Book - 9
  

  Bookstore owner and Michigander Samantha Washington is thrilled to see her debut historical mystery finally on the shelves, but a killer seems determined to steal away the spotlight . . .   While Sam wraps up her first whirlwind book tour, Nana ...

---

• 
  

  
  

---

• 

  The Next Deadly Chapter
  

  • Feb-2025
  • 

  Book - 10
  

  Michigan bookshop owner and mystery writer Samantha Washington is engaged to be married -- but she may have to step over a few bodies before she walks down the aisle . . . All Sam wanted was to make a good impression on her fiancé Frank's mother, th...

---

• 

  Murder from A to Z
  

  • Jan-2026
  • 

  Book - 11
  

  When Michigan bookshop owner and mystery writer Samantha Washington and her sister, Jenna, agreed to host a class for seniors on estate planning, they didn't plan on discovering shady doings at Shady Acres Retirement Village . . . Nana Jo has volunte...

---

---

Series Premise

Sam runs the Mystery Bookshop in the quaint town of North Harbor, Michigan, where she hosts book clubs, author events, and daily life among mystery fans—until murders begin occurring with eerie parallels to classic whodunits, pulling her into amateur sleuthing. With her loyal circle of friends and a knack for spotting clues others miss, she investigates the crimes while keeping her beloved shop afloat and protecting the people she cares about.

The series can be read in any order. Each book features a self-contained mystery with its own crime, suspects, investigation, and satisfying resolution. While Sam’s personal life (friendships, budding romance, shop developments) evolves gradually and there are occasional light references to prior events, there is no overarching plot or major cliffhanger continuity that requires sequential reading—order doesn’t matter significantly, and readers can start with any title without confusion or missing essential context.

Mystery Bookshop Series Characters

Samantha “Sam” Washington — The protagonist, a smart, passionate mystery lover who owns the Mystery Bookshop after a life change. Observant, kind-hearted, and quick-witted, she can’t resist solving puzzles and often finds herself in the middle of real crimes.

- Nana Jo — Sam’s feisty, sharp-tongued grandmother, a retired teacher who is fearless, outspoken, and surprisingly adept at investigation. She provides humor, wisdom, and occasional reckless bravery.

- The Book Club members — A colorful group of loyal friends who meet regularly at the shop: Nana Jo’s friends (including the irrepressible Dorothy, the practical Irma, and others) who offer gossip, support, and amateur sleuthing help.

- Frank — A kind, steady police detective and Sam’s love interest, who is initially skeptical of her involvement but grows to respect (and eventually love) her sharp mind and determination.

- Supporting townspeople — Local residents, shop owners, and friends who add texture, humor, and small-town authenticity while serving as suspects, witnesses, or allies.

Setting of the Mystery Bookshop Series

The series is set in the fictional small town of North Harbor on the shores of Lake Michigan, a picturesque community with a historic downtown, charming shops, a bookstore café, cozy homes, and the ever-present lake and surrounding woods. The Mystery Bookshop itself is the central hub—a cozy, book-filled space with mystery sections, reading nooks, a resident cat named Oreo, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere that draws locals and tourists alike. Mysteries often unfold in familiar places: book club meetings, community events, the local library, the beach, or nearby historic sites, creating an intimate, small-town backdrop where everyone is connected and secrets don’t stay hidden for long.

Tone & Themes of the Mystery Bookshop Series

The tone is warm, witty, and gently humorous, with a classic cozy mystery feel that emphasizes clever puzzle-solving, friendship, and community over darkness or violence. The stories are suspenseful but never scary or graphic—crimes are treated seriously yet handled with compassion, and the focus remains on human motivations, clever deduction, and light-hearted banter. Humor comes from Sam’s dry observations, eccentric book club members, small-town quirks, and the absurdity of murder in such a peaceful place. The overall mood is cozy, optimistic, and comforting: justice prevails, friendships endure, and even the most baffling cases end with hope and laughter.

V.M. Burns’s Mystery Bookshop series offers delightful, cozy mysteries that celebrate the joy of books, the comfort of friendship, and the quiet thrill of solving puzzles in a charming small town. Through Sam’s clever sleuthing and the unwavering support of her book club family, the books explore community, loyalty, curiosity, and the simple truth that even in the most peaceful places, a good mystery—and good friends—can make everything right. The series remains a warm, engaging favorite—perfect for readers who love traditional whodunits with humor, heart, and a strong literary theme. It leaves the happy assurance that no matter how tangled the clues, love of books and loyalty to friends will always lead to the truth.