Despite her brief moment of internet fame after catching a killer at a crime writing festival in A Novel Murder (2025), Jane is without an agent or publisher, and suffering from writer’s block. Still, she has journeyed from Cumbria to London’s Willow Tree Books to celebrate the publication of a debut thriller by her new friend, Natasha Martez. Joining Jane at the festive literary party is Daniel Thurston, now a publicity assistant at Polar Bear Publishing, Natasha’s publisher. But once again, murder finds the strikingly tall but socially awkward writer when she stumbles upon not one but two locked-room crimes. In the bookstore’s storeroom, she discovers the body of Daisy Olsson, assistant to noted editor Hugo Strauss. Then Jane finds Hugo dead in his secret study. Besides their work association, is there another connection between the two victims? As before, Jane teams up with Natasha and Daniel to identify the culprit while irritating the local police detective. This meandering second outing by a former publishing professional lacks the lively spark and comic spirit that made the first book so enjoyable. Flatly drawn characters and a plotline that drags every which way make for a sometimes-tiresome read. But Jane remains a compelling protagonist as she tries to rebuild her life and resurrect her writing career.