THE POISONED PEN

Four authors arrive at a literary festival. Only two will leave alive. When bestselling romance author Penelope Hartwick is found poisoned in the library during Everwood Hollow's Annual Literary Festival, bookshop owner Elara Thorne recognizes the staged crime scene immediately: it's a perfect recreation of an Agatha Christie murder. Within hours, thriller writer Marcus Webb is discovered stabbed with an ornamental letter opener, and Elara realizes a serial killer is turning classic mystery novels into deadly reality. With Detective Inspector Chen overwhelmed and the festival continuing despite the murders, Elara must use her encyclopedic knowledge of classic mysteries to decode the killer's pattern before they strike again. Alongside handsome rare book dealer Julian Blackwood and her judgmental tabby cat Pemberley, she uncovers a decades-old contest scandal, stolen manuscripts, and a twisted crusade for "literary justice" that threatens everyone connected to Everwood Hollow's literary past. But this killer isn't just recreating famous murders. They're settling scores from a contest that destroyed careers, ruined lives, and created enemies willing to kill. As Elara races to identify the murderer before the festival's closing gala, she discovers that some writers will do anything for recognition—including murder. And when she becomes the killer's next target, she'll need more than book smarts to survive. Perfect for fans of British cozy mysteries who love bookish settings, clever amateur sleuths, and fair-play whodunits where all the clues are hidden in plain sight. If you enjoy Agatha Christie's clever plotting, Ellery Adams' bibliophile mysteries, or the charm of small-town England, you'll devour this page-turning literary mystery. The second novel in the Curious Cases Mystery series. Each book is a complete standalone mystery featuring the same beloved characters. Scroll up and one-click to start reading this clever cozy mystery today!