RoachwouldratherbelisteningtothelatestepisodeofherfavoritetruecrimepodcastthanassistingtheboringandpredictablecustomersatherlocalbranchofthebookstoreSpines,whereshe’sworkedherentireadultlife.Aserioustruecrimejunkie,Roachlooksdownhernoseatthepumpkin-spice-latte-drinkingcasualfanswhoonlybecameinterestedinthegenreonceitgottrendy.ButwhenLaura,aprettyandcharismaticchildren’sbookseller,arrivestohelprejuvenatethestrugglingbookstorebranch,Roachrecognizesinheranunexpectedkindredspirit.Despitetheircommoninterestintruecrime,LaurakeepsherdistancefromRoach,resistingtheotherwoman’soverturesoffriendship.Undeterred,Roachlearnseverythingshecanabouthernewcolleague,eventuallyuncoveringLaura’straumaticfamilyhistory.WhenRoachrealizesthatshemayhavecomeacrossherveryowntruecrimestory,interestswiftlybloomsintoadangerousobsession.Adarklyfunnysuspensenovel,DeathofaBooksellerraisesethicalquestionsaboutthefervorfortruecrimeandhowwehandlestoriesthatdon’tbelongtous.
