The Bookshop Detectives: Dead Girl Gone - Gareth Ward & Louise Ward

Published by Penguin Books/Penguin Random House New Zealand: New Zealand, 2024.

This is kind of an odd book, with a bit more language in it than I would usually read. It is, however, also quite quirky in one particular way.

The book, written by husband and wife duo Gareth and Louise, follow a married couple who run a bookshop in Havelock North. The couple previously used to be detectives in England, and over the course of the book, get embroiled in a mystery in New Zealand. The name of the couple: Garth and Eloise.

If you think the names of the main characters bear a striking resemblance to the names of the authors, you should also note that Gareth and Louise also run a bookshop in Havelock North, and also have a background as detectives in England, although it remains to be determined whether Gareth and Louise have also helped solve mysteries in New Zealand! Garth and Eloise also, like Gareth and Louise, have a large rescue dog that they love, and have a number of eccentric employees which (according to the hints drops in the acknowledgements) have some parallels with the real-life employees of the authors. At one point in the story, Garth recommends a book written by Gareth Ward to a customer, telling them that "if I had written a book, it would have been this one."

A little bit over-the-top, but funny.

Okay, though, what about the book as a whole?

It's fun. The bookshop element includes various customers coming and going, which feel possibly based on real-life customer interactions. Many of these characters are one-off appearances, but a few end up having greater relevance to the plot. There is also an upcoming book launch to be organised, which promises to be a big deal for the bookshop. 

The mystery is based around a cold case, in which a high school girl went missing years earlier. Garth and Eloise get involved by receiving a mysterious package that inspires their investigation, and eventually have the help of a local police officer, who wants to investigate but is not able to do so himself. 

All of the plot threads eventually come together for a relatively satisfying ending.

Decent.

Completed 5 September 2024.

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