Hysteria at the Historical Society - (A Halloween Bookshop Mystery) by Emmeline Duncan (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Celebrating spookiness is a year-round affair in the Halloween-themed town of Elyan Hollow, Oregon, but Christmas is a close second, and for Bailey Briggs' Lazy Bones Bookshop, it's extra hectic--especially when holiday festivities turn fatal . . .

When it comes to adding a touch of Halloween to Christmas, Elyan Hollow is in peak form. Downtown sports Nightmare Before Christmas decorations, and activities include a "Santa Claws" sasquatch game. And this year, there's something else to celebrate: The Elyan Hollow Historical Society has just received a Historical Preservation grant to map out the town's tunnel systems. Jude, their director, is thrilled. But Graham, the leader of the competing historical society, not so much . . .

At the Society's winter holiday reception, Jude argues loudly with Graham and Graham's second in command, Walter, a local attorney. As the pair is "escorted" out, Walter threatens ruinous revenge. Their arguing continues a few days later at a party in an escape room. But this time, there's no escape for Walter, who collapses . . . dead.

Jude is the obvious suspect, but Bailey soon realizes that despite his lawyerly good deeds, there were others on the outs with Walter--and there are other targets as well. Fortunately, Bailey can use several upcoming Christmas parties as fact-finding missions. Because she'll have to map a trail to a killer--before she's history . . .

Review Quotes

Praise for the Halloween Bookshop Mysteries:

"The lovingly described, charming, Halloween-themed town that embraces the holiday year-round, the well-drawn characters, including Bailey's Great Pyrenees dog, Jack, and details of running a bookstore add up to a satisfying cozy." --Booklist on Mayhem at a Halloween Wedding

"You'll be delighted, too, when you read the 2nd scream-out from the author's Halloween Bookshop Mystery series. I guarantee you a haunted good time!" --Auntie's Books on Mayhem at a Halloween Wedding

"Overflows with seasonal charm...Fans looking for a lighthearted cozy to get them in the Halloween spirit won't be disappointed with Chaos at the Lazy Bones Bookshop." --BookPage

"Details of running a bookstore and literary festival and the whimsical, small-town, Halloween-themed setting frame this satisfying series starter, narrated by Bailey and peopled by a well-delineated cast including Bailey's Great Pyrenees dog, Jack Skeleton." --Booklist on Chaos at the Lazy Bones Bookshop

"An exciting mystery whose answers lie deep in the past of the complex characters." --Kirkus Reviews on Chaos at the Lazy Bones Bookshop

About the Author

Emmeline Duncan is the Portland, Oregon-based author of the Ground Rules Mystery Series, as well as YA novels written under the name Kelly Garrett. She is a 2020 Oregon Literary Fellow, a board member of the Northwest Chapter of the Mystery Writers of America, and co-organizer of the Friends of Mystery's Bloody Thursday lecture series. She's also a member of Sisters-In-Crime, Willamette Writers, and SCBWI. Visit her online at EmmelineDuncan.com, on Instagram and Facebook as @writeremmelineduncan, and on twitter as @duncanemmeline.