Publishable By Death

Written by ACF Bookens

Narrated by Sarah Pesek

Change is hard in a small Southern town, especially when it brings a side of murder.

All Harvey Beckett wants to do is help the residents of St. Marin's find the perfect book for that moment, snuggle with her hound dog Mayhem, and be ignored by her cat Aslan. But when the small, waterside town's newest resident discovers the body of the community's persnickety reporter in her bookshop storeroom just before her grand opening, Harvey can't help trying to solve the crime, even when it might cost her business and her life. The more questions Harvey asks, the more secrets she uncovers.

Will Harvey and her friends be able to solve the murder of the town reporter without her becoming a victim herself?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bryant Street Publishing
• Release date: May 11, 2021
• ISBN: 9781094417912

ACF Bookens

ACF Bookens lives in the Southwest Mountains of Virginia, where she enjoys gardening and cross-stitching when she's not using her body as a human airbag for her toddler son. She and her son live with two old cats and an old dog in an antebellum farmhouse with stream nearby. Find her at bookens.andilit.com.

Reviews for Publishable By Death

[deahanneb · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved it. Especially the humor and I think the narrator did a pretty good job. Well done. And thank you

[James Martin · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I’ve only started the book and already I’ve had to endure several sanctimonious mini-lectures. The virtue-signalling is jarring and gratuitous. I downloaded the book hoping for an enjoyable new series, not to be scolded by someone who thinks her role is to morally school the rest of us. I’ll keep going for a bit in the hopes that she’s got it out of her system and can get back to actually writing her story rather than attempting to play our moral better.

[Shirley Sparks · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this book very much
Very well written thank you

[Karen Chandler · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is another great book to relax to. You have great interesting characters that maintain the storyline.

[Cilica · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Story was fine. Many cliches with 'nice happy' shallow character development.

lowered my opinion of the story. The narrator did a decent recording only I found her voice young for a 44ish protagonist.

[Elizabeth Lewandowski · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A charming cozy mystery full of intelligent characters whose reading lists I envy!

[Mari Melting · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this cozy mystery. Some reviewers did not enjoy the narration but I thought it was fine and fitted the main character.

[Paula Gann Weaver · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The story was captivating and entertaining. Recommend the series if you like mystery stories.

[Nicole Marie · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Easy fun and enjoyable book. Good enthusiasm in the narrative.

[Diane Cairnes · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Fantastic story with wonderful characters. A must read for cozy mystery lovers

[dspau002 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved this read and author . I want another

[Christina Pina Arpin · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I need more of these books please!!!!! Light hearted and positive. In a mystery. I listened to this one after all the others so it was great to find the first, it I was sad there are no more for now. I’ll be on the look out for more.

[ms ramble · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A character I can relate to…she’s a nerdy goofball like myself minus the crying spells but I understand her crying. The author captures all the fun things about a small town and yet is sensitive enough to write the hard truths about a “small” town’s past. Ms. Bookens ability to make the past (present) transgressions in American history not about politics & about facts is refreshing. We cannot & should not be afraid to admit what transpired in our American history. We have to teach the children so they can lead the way better. What happened; happened. Now, if a white woman in a book can understand it and explain it…well dang maybe she should lead a Ted Talk. I have no answers about CRT but what I know one thing for sure is these 2 things: 1. This book ROCKS! 2. This story made me feel as if I was finally seen on that day forty years ago on the infamous Jamestown trip all Tidewater kids take when I asked, “ Where did my people sleep?” The dressed-up colonial tour guide looked flustered and pointing off in the distance stated, “over there somewhere.” All of us matter and reading about the beautiful rich history of the Eastern Shore is refreshing and well worth reading this book. I further appreciate the author detailing what race every character is and her explanation for it is heartwarming. You are sure to enjoy Harvey and her friends. Harvey’s bestie is the bomb! The pets are so adorable as well. The narrator did decent on the voices but Daniel’s voice needs some work. It's accurate just slightly over the top as is Harvey's at times but it lends to her goofiness and her sensitivity. A great listen and I look forward to the second book.

[kara acre · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I like the characters, and the plot. I identified the killer early on, then began to have second doubts! Good job on that part! The narrator was okay, but I would not choose a book because she narrated. It leans a bit left for my tastes. I will read another.

[Alaina Lockhart · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Meh Naration is not my tea!
I liked the characters, but wow, did I really dislike the narrator giving everyone elderly voices. Like Daniel isn't 89 why is she giving him that voice. Anyways the story was sweet but very scooby doo, no shock or twist. Very predictable. Also description of people by race alone was annoying. Why not write what they actually look like instead. A tall blonde with blue eyes and fair skin or a short stout man with skin the color of coffee black with wide dark eyes & hair cut cropped to the head. Going to try the next one and just hope its better. Cozy mysteries doesn't mean it cant be good. It should be light funny & still engage a reader. This made me feel like (probably from narator) i was locked in an old folks home.

[Lesley Matthew · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

The narrator was too sugary and enthusiastic. It jarred when listening. The heroine was a very irritating character !

[Susan Wadel · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I'm in chapter 2 so far and trying really hard to like it. I think I could be entertained by the story. But the narrator really just... Seems to be overintonating everything. She sounds like she's be really successful and effective in advertising, or maybe even children's stories, but I would really prefer something much more calm for an adult audiobook narrator. If the writing can't interest me then overenthusiastic narration won't help it, and if the writing is good, then overenthusiastic narration detracts from it.I'm going to keep going and try to give it a real chance, and if I come to change my mind I'll come back and change this review.

[Amelia Holloway · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

The book was ok but the virtue signaling is exhausting

[Suslyn · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Didn't work for me. I was prepared to like the protagonist as promised and enjoy the story. Neither happened.

[Tiffanie Mettayer · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

So annoying can’t get past chapter too. The characters are so basic.

[Laurel Girard · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I have never, in all the 4,000-5,000 books I’ve read in my lifetime, have read a book where the author says the “color” or “race” of every single character in the book. It was very disconcerting to read “ and the white woman with red hair…”, and the “black young man…”. I mean to use it once or twice is not unusual if used in a descriptive way, especially in a mystery where race & or color are important to identification. But this wasn’t for that purpose. It just rubbed me wrong. I kept thinking after I read the character descriptions wondering if it really mattered.

[account44801 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Horrible narrator enhancing the even worse writing. No go here.

[Greg Ponder · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The book was fun, cozy, but the audiobook narrator distracted from the characters by giving almost everyone a southern accent that would have been more at home in Georgia or South Carolina.
Many times, it felt like the author was trying to create a mythical, port town in New England that somehow also existed in the south, but the colorful descriptions and easy to follow plot makes this a good background book to listen to during a work day.