May Featured Cozy Mystery

Stacked in Suspicion

Book One in the Cape Fear Bookshop Mysteries

Stacked in Suspicion

Simone Stier
Cape Fear Bookshop Mysteries
Paperback, ebook, audiobook

Amazon

Audible

Stacked in Suspicion is the first book in the Cape Fear Bookshop Mysteries by Simone Stier. The amateur sleuth is Libby Page, a former book editor turned cozy book shop owner.

After her husband's unexpected death, Libby trades skyscrapers for salt air and second chances. She moves back home to the picturesque coastal town of Southport, North Carolina, and opens a cozy bookshop across the street from her best friend's bakery. The grand opening garden party is everything Libby hoped it would be until a local resident dies in the garden, turning her fresh start into a front-page scandal.

Gossip and wild theories spread quickly through the small town, and Libby realizes that she needs to solve the mystery if she wants to save her beloved bookshop. She teams up with her sharp-witted (and very mysterious) assistant, Gracie Jean, and her opinionated calico kitten, Cali, and begins sleuthing.

Reasons to Read Stacked in Suspicion

Stacked in Suspicion is an exceptionally cozy bookshop mystery that perfectly balances suspense and charm. Right from the start, it feels like a series you'll want to settle in and stick with.

The coastal town of Southport, North Carolina is richly described, and Page’s Bookshop feels like a space that you could curl up in and spend the entire day reading.

The characters are also delightful. It’s easy to connect with and root for Libby as she tries to make a fresh start in a familiar place. The bookshop’s mysterious assistant, Gracie Jean, is a firecracker with a nose for mystery. She makes the perfect sidekick. The other main characters in the book, including the 1980s-obsessed baker Meredith and the adorable rescue cat Cali, are highly entertaining.

As good as all of this is, the real star of the show is the mystery. Author Simone Stier did an amazing job of peppering the clues in all of the right places and providing enough red herrings to keep you guessing right up to the final reveal. But the best part is that the Cape Fear Bookshop Series features an overarching mystery, making the books feel like addictive reads. As soon as you finish Stacked in Suspicion, you immediately want to pick up book two, Drafted in Deceit.

Stacked in Suspicion is available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook. The paperback is 264 pages, and the audiobook (narrated by Cassandra Campbell) is 7 hours and 30 minutes.

What Readers Say About Stacked in Suspicion

“Simone Stier paints such vivid settings; I could almost smell the lemon tarts from Sugar, the 80s-themed bakery owned by Meredith. The sensory details really brought the story to life, and Cali the kitten was a furry delight throughout. ”

— Goodreads Review

“I loved the characters and the mystery! The setting is beautiful as is the old home that the bookstore is housed in. I can’t wait to see what this fun group of quirky characters gets up to next!”

— Amazon Review

“I loved this satisfying read. Such a great cozy mystery with a bookshop in a lovely small town. I enjoyed trying to solve the murder along with the wonderful characters.”

— BookBub Review

“The pacing was spot-on, with just enough clues to keep me guessing, though I must admit, the big reveal caught me by surprise. The red herrings and suspects kept me glued to the pages, eagerly flipping to find out what happened next. ”

— Amazon Review

Stacked in Suspicion Reading Kit

If you're in a book club or if you just want to have some fun beyond the book, check out this free Stacked in Suspicion Reading Kit. It contains reader questions, a recipe card for Meredith’s Famous Lemon Tarts, a Stacked in Suspicion coloring page, a murder board to help you solve your next cozy mystery, a book-inspired activity, and an interview with author Simone Stier.

Cape Fear Bookshop Mysteries in Order

The Cape Fear Bookshop Mysteries in order are:

Cape Fear Bookshop Mysteries

Interview with Simone Stier

Read a Cozy Crime Reads interview with Simone Stier, the author of the Cape Fear Bookshop Mysteries. Learn why she chose to write cozy mysteries, how she creates the cozy elements in her books, and what advice she offers to aspiring cozy mystery writers. Read more about Simone Stier’s books, sign up for her newsletter, and get news, recipes, and more on her website, www.simonestier.com.

Simone Stier Cozy Mystery Bookshelf

Use the arrows on either side of the images below to see Simone Stier’s cozy mysteries. Click on the book cover to see a book description, reader reviews, and a book excerpt on Amazon.