Arlo Stanley moved to small town Sugar Springs, Mississippi when she was sixteen and tired of her parents' hippie lifestyle. Since then, she's put down roots and opened a bookstore and coffee bar with her best friend, Chloe. She's tried to put her past behind her and live in the present, but it's not easy with two ex-boyfriends muddying the water.

The bookstore hosts the Friday Night Book Club, which has more or less turned into the Anytime They Feel Like It Book Club, with three elderly friends, Fern, Camille, and the woman who cared for her until she grew up and moved out on her own, Helen. These three had some success a few months ago when they solved the murder of author Wally Harrison, a local boy who moved away and became a successful author. They've decided to read his book, Missing Girl, and have come to the conclusion that the book is about a fifty-year-old mystery itself: that of Mary Kennedy, who went missing after leaving the wealthy Lillyfield estate and was presumed murdered.

But now they want to investigate the murder to see if they can come up with clues as to who did the deed. Their way in is Arlo, who has been asked to come to the estate for a book donation, but she emphatically refuses until they wear her down. While there, a young woman falls from a second story balcony, and they think it's an accident, until the police chief lets it slip that it was a murder. Now they want to know who killed the young woman and why.

But with no access to the estate, the mystery of Mary Kennedy still looming around them, and Camille's disappearances to meet a new beau, the women have a lot on their plate, and Arlo has her hands full trying to keep them in line. Will they find a killer or will someone get away with murder?

This is the second book in the series and I found it just as delightful as the first. I found only one thing that bothered me, which is in a spoiler at the bottom, so if you haven't read the book, please don't read the spoiler.

While Arlo is trying her best to rein in the three ladies, they're having none of it and of course she's dragged along on their escapades, hoping to keep them out of jail and/or danger; none of it is doing much good anyway. They have their own minds, and it's no help that the book store's upstairs tenant, private detective and Arlo's ex-boyfriend Sam Tucker, seems to encourage them to do what they want.

The estate's owner is disabled by a stroke, so she can't help them, so the ladies just investigate on their own, coming up with what they consider clues, and go on their merry way. It's an hysterical ride as we listen to their conversations and are grateful that we aren't part of any of it. These women just rattle on, making their case to Arlo, and she really doesn't have any say in the matter, even if she does want to leave it all up to the police. Never gonna happen with these three.

When the ending comes, the climax is done very well and it all comes together nicely tied up in an interesting package. This is where my question comes in, so this is why you will have to read the book first. But never fear -- there are no cliffhangers, and while I was fairly sure who the murderer was early on, I was glad to see that I was not disappointed in my supposition. All in all, it was definitely satisfactory, and it also gives a teaser to look forward to in the next book. Highly recommended.

To see the spoiler, please see it here: https://joannesbooks.blogspot.com/2021/10/a-murder-between-pages-main-street-boo... ( )

While I enjoyed the first book in the Main Street Book Club Mysteries, Can’t Judge a Book by Its Murder, I have to say that Amy Lillard did even better with the second book, A Murder Between the Pages.

In my review for Can’t Judge a Book by Its Murder, I had mentioned it didn’t flow as smoothly as other cozies and Arlo and Chloe spent a lot of time at the beginning of the book rehashing everything. Lillard seemed to have tightened up the editing with book two! The flow was much better and I didn’t feel like the information was repeated quite as much…. although there were still times.

And while Arlo may be the protagonist, Fern, Camille, and Helen steal the show for me. They all have such unique personalities and I really enjoyed the love interest for Camille. Arlo still has a love triangle going on, but it’s not annoying me yet, so that’s always a plus. And how could I forget the parrot?!? Love all of his comments that he makes during the conversation bits.

I did know the murderer very early on, but the twist that Lillard wrote still made for an interesting ending and I didn’t see half of it coming. I’ll be back for book three, A Murder Like No Author, which comes out the end of November 2021, to read more about the Friday (now everyday) Book Club members and to see what they get up to next. ( )

This is everything that a cozy mystery should be. There are fun, eccentric characters, a small-town setting, and mysterious occurrences needing to be explained. Author Amy Lillard has included all of these in A Murder Between the Pages and she offers ample clues to help us solve the mystery. I loved that the main characters belong to a book club and while they are sometimes overly eager to find out what is going on, they are very capable in doing just that! Arlo, the bookstore owner, certainly has her hands full trying to keep these grandmothers with absolutely no filters under control!

If you are looking for a fun, entertaining mystery that will keep you guessing until the end, you will want to read this book. It is the second book in Lillard's Main Street Book Club Mysteries series but I didn't feel like I was left out by not having read the first.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book. There was no requirement for a positive review and no monetary compensation was given. These are my own thoughts. ( )

I loved being back with this book club, and of course, Fletcher!
In the first book these lovely ladies solved the murder of Wally Harrison, and now they are at it again. They are convinced they know whom his book is about, and they are going to prove it, but then, another body!
You are going to want to join this Friday Night Book club, they sure are a hoot, and you know what, listen to what they have to say. I would love to hang around with these ladies!
As the book progresses surprising facts are revealed, and keep reading there are bombshells that are dropped right up to the last page.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Poisoned Pen Press, and was not required to give a positive review. ( )