Read With Me - Hometown Hardware Mysteries

When I'm reading a book and there are other books mentioned in the text, I'll make a note and often go look up those mentioned books later. If a character is reading a book I already know and love, it gives me a deeper connection to that character. "Aww. I loved that book, too!"

In my cozy mysteries, there are quite a few other books mentioned, because Dawna, my main character, is an avid reader. Recently, I was invited to an in-person book club. They had read Hammers and Homicide, and a few of the members had read all of my books published so far. (Squeee!) One of the members asked about all the books mentioned between the pages of the Hometown Hardware Mysteries. "Are most of the books you mention real books? Are the authors people you know?"

Yes, they are all real books. Some of them are books that I've read and loved, though I don't know the authors, but others are shoutouts to author friends and their books, (which I've read and loved, as well!)

The conversation made me realize there should be a list of those books, so without further ado, here it is!

Books Mentioned in Hammers and Homicide

• And Then There Were None, by Agatha Christie (in chapter 7, Dawna considers buying this one at the local bookstore, Literally)

• Town in a Wild Moose Chase, by B. B. Haywood (not mentioned by title, but is the book Dawna is reading in chapter 11)

• Catcher in the Rye, by J. D. Salinger (found in a victim's room in chapter 18)

• Clive Cussler books (titles not mentioned, but found in a victim's room in chapter 18)

• A Short History of Nearly Everything, by Bill Bryson (same as above - found in a victim's room in chapter 18)

• The Night Circus, by Erin Morgenstern (April is reading this one in chapter 23)

Books Mentioned in Axe Me No Questions

• *Mayhem in Circulation, by Leah Dobrinska (Dawna is reading this one in chapter 9)

• The Lorax, by Dr. Suess (in chapter 13, Literally, the local bookstore, is reading this one aloud for storytime at the Timber Festival)

• The Drowning Sea, by Sarah Stewart Taylor (in chapter 21, this book is next up on Dawna's nightstand)

Books Mentioned in A Zappy Little Christmas

• *Deck the Halls with Homicide, by Christina Romeril (Dawna is reading this one in chapter 9)

Books Mentioned in Awl Shook Up

• *Snow Time to Die, by Annie McEwen (Dawna is reading this one in chapter 25)

• The Mouse and the Motorcycle, by Beverly Cleary (in chapter 27, mentioned as Dawna's son's favorite childhood book)

*books written by friends

I hope you've found some books here to love, or that you already love. Happy reading!