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Isabella Muir
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The Tapestry Bag: Sleuthing amid the highs and lows of 1960s England... (A Janie Juke Mystery Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Isabella Muir (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.0 out of 5 stars 70 ratings

Sussex 1969. Young people are experiencing all the highs and lows of Britain’s swinging sixties – experimental fashion, ground-breaking music, illegal drugs and cheap alcohol.

All setting the scene for a young librarian with a passion for Agatha Christie to try to solve a murder...

Joel is killed in a hit and run accident. Twelve months later his girlfriend, Zara, goes missing. Is Zara in danger? Is she still alive? What really happened to Joel and who is to blame?

Time is ticking, as Janie finds out something about Zara’s past that makes the amateur sleuth fear for her friend’s life.

Janie fears her friend Zara may be mixed up with drugs, alcohol, or worse. As Janie explores the strange circumstances of Zara’s disappearance, she starts to question the truth about Joel’s death.
The police are doing nothing to find Zara, so it falls to librarian, Janie Juke, to untangle the web of lies and uncover the truth. As she looks for clues Janie comes across some unsavoury characters who each have a reason for wanting Joel dead.

Pick up this first book in the popular Sussex Crime Mystery series – perfect for everyone who loves a classic Agatha Christie whodunnit - and meet the characters who have readers hooked from the first to the last page…
What readers are saying…
***** I was pulled into this story from the very first page by the author's easy-to-read and entertaining writing style.
**** A real page turner. I've already bought the next book in the series and… hoping there will be many more to come.
***** Once started you can't put it down!

Find out what happens to Janie by moving on to Books 2 and 3 of the series - Lost Property and The Invisible Case.

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  1. Book 1 of 4
    A Janie Juke Mystery
  2. Print length
    239 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    October 29, 2017
  6. File size
    4.6 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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There are 4 books in this series.

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From the Publisher

A hit and run accident results in a death
Turning a quiet seaside town into a place of fear and suspicion...
Can librarian Janie Juke untangle the web of lies and find out the truth?

Editorial Reviews

Review

'This was a great find. A librarian turns to sleuthing in 1960's England looking for her missing friend. Janie Juke, an Agatha Christie enthusiast, is a very likeable protagonist. A real page turner. I've already bought the next book in the series and... hoping there will be many more to come.'

'I got straight into the story ... I really like the way the author depicted the 60s ...I felt as if I was there!'

'Intrigued with quotes from Agatha Christie that made me want to read on...'

'Intriguing detective story with lovely period setting and interesting characters. I'm looking forward to seeing what Janie Juke solves next.'

'Loved every page and didn't want to put it down. Can't wait until the next one in the series.'

'Thoroughly enjoyable book. Kept me interested till the end. Looking forward to the next one.'

About the Author

Isabella is never happier than when she is immersing herselfin the sights, sounds and experiences of the 1960s. Researching all aspects offamily life back then formed the perfect launch pad for her works of fiction.Isabella rediscovered her love of writing fiction during two happy yearsworking on and completing her MA in Professional Writing and since then hasgone to publish five novels, two novellas and a short story collection.

Her first Sussex Crime Mystery series features younglibrarian and amateur sleuth, Janie Juke. Set in the late 1960s, in thefictional seaside town of Tamarisk Bay, we meet Janie, who looks after themobile library. She is an avid lover of Agatha Christie stories - in particularHercule Poirot - using all she has learned from the Queen of Crime to helpsolve crimes and mysteries. As well as three novels, there are three novellasin the series, which explore some of the back story to the Tamarisk Baycharacters.

Her latest novel, Crossing the Line, is the first ofa new series of Sussex Crimes, featuring retired Italian detective,Giuseppe Bianchi who arrives in the quiet seaside town of Bexhill-on-Sea, EastSussex, to find a dead body on the beach and so the story begins...

Isabella's standalone novel, The Forgotten Children,deals with the emotive subject of the child migrants who were sent to Australia- again focusing on family life in the 1960s, when the child migrant policy wasstill in force.

For more about forthcoming titles, visit: isabellamuir.com

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B074DX6Y2Y
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Outset Publishing Ltd - for Sussex Crime and Mysteries
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 29, 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4.6 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 239 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 4 ‏ : ‎ A Janie Juke Mystery
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 out of 5 stars 70 ratings

About the author

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Isabella Muir

Isabella Muir

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Isabella Muir has a fascination for the past – exploring what it was like for families living through the decades from the 1930s through to the 1960s and beyond. She is the author of two crime mystery series, both set in Sussex, in the iconic eras of the 1960s and 1970s, as well several novellas set during the Second World War.

Researching all aspects of family life in past decades formed the perfect launch pad for her works of fiction. Isabella rediscovered her love of writing fiction during two happy years working on and completing her MA in Professional Writing and since then has gone to publish seven novels, six novellas and two short story collections.

Her love of Italy shines through all her work and, as she is half-Italian, she has enjoyed bringing all her crime novels to an Italian audience with Italian translations, which are very well received.

A Notable Omission is the fourth novel in Isabella’s Sussex Crime Mystery series featuring young librarian and amateur sleuth, Janie Juke. Set in the late 1960s and early 1970s, in the fictional seaside town of Tamarisk Bay, we meet Janie, who looks after the mobile library. She is an avid lover of Agatha Christie stories – in particular Hercule Poirot – using all she has learned from the Queen of Crime to help solve crimes and mysteries. As well as four novels, there are six novellas in the series, which explore some of the back story to the Tamarisk Bay characters.

Her second series of Sussex Crimes features retired Italian detective, Giuseppe Bianchi. The first Giuseppe Bianchi mystery - Crossing the Line - introduces us to Giuseppe on the day he arrives in the quiet seaside town of Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, to find a dead body on the beach and so the story begins. In the second novel in the series, After the Storm, we find Giuseppe helping to sift through the devastation and piecing together the tragic events left behind in the storm’s wake.

Isabella’s standalone novel, The Forgotten Children, deals with the emotive subject of the child migrants who were sent to Australia – again focusing on family life in the 1960s, when the child migrant policy was still in force.

Isabella posts regularly on her website: www.isabellamuir.com where you will also find free stories to download, as well as the chance to buy all her books direct from the author.

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
70 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book's mystery engaging, with one review highlighting its human elements set in 1960s England. Moreover, the protagonist receives positive feedback for being very likeable, and customers appreciate the book's readability.

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SuspensefulCharacter developmentReadability
4 customers mention "Suspenseful"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book suspenseful, with one mentioning it's a human mystery set in the 1960s, while another appreciates the focus on relationships rather than ruffians.

"...Personalities rather than pugilistics, relationships rather than ruffians, and a literate story of friendship, loyalty and sleuthing make this a..." Read more

"...It's a really cute crime story and as I said the ending took me by surprise but to me it just went on and on and on about certain back ground stuff..." Read more

"...And this was really good. Well written, exciting; the mystery was captivating. It wasn’t necessarily cozy, but it wasn’t a thriller either...." Read more

"...I really enjoyed the relationship she has with her blind ex-policeman father, as well as with her husband, Greg. A real page-turner...." Read more

3 customers mention "Character development"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, particularly noting the very likeable protagonist.

"...Personalities rather than pugilistics, relationships rather than ruffians, and a literate story of friendship, loyalty and sleuthing make this a..." Read more

"...The characters in the story are true to life where the narration is told by the person,Janie telling the story...." Read more

"...Janie Juke, an Agatha Christie enthusiast, is a very likeable protagonist...." Read more

3 customers mention "Readability"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book readable, with one describing it as a delightful read.

"...a literate story of friendship, loyalty and sleuthing make this a delightful read. This is the first book from Isabella Muir I’ve read...." Read more

"...And this was really good. Well written, exciting; the mystery was captivating. It wasn’t necessarily cozy, but it wasn’t a thriller either...." Read more

"This was a great find. A librarian turns to sleuthing in 1960's England looking for her missing friend...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Mary Beth Magee
    5.0 out of 5 stars Like a visit with an Agatha Christie novel
    Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2024
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Christie fans will enjoy this very human mystery set in the 1960s. Personalities rather than pugilistics, relationships rather than ruffians, and a literate story of friendship, loyalty and sleuthing make this a delightful read. This is the first book from Isabella Muir I’ve read. It won’t be my last.
    Helpful
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  • Claudete Takahashi
    4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful description of a region and of a period of time in the UK
    Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2020
    Format: Kindle
    The Tapestry Bag is the first book that I read by Isabella Muir and also the first in a series. She makes a beautiful description of persons, clothes, homes, places and the reader can perfectly imagine the scene she is talking about without getting bored. It's a mystery novel that happens in a time that there was much more innocence, companionship and belief in the human being. Friendships were really treasured and people did connect. Maybe its a romantic view by it's also a beautiful picture of a time full of hardship. I've already started to read the next book in the series.
    I received a copy of this book from the author/BookFunnel in exchange for an honest review.
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  • TRICK
    5.0 out of 5 stars Stubborn Loyality
    Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2020
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Isabella Muir has written this crime story and it takes place where Miss Isabella is from,in fact in this book at the beginning she has the town paid out for you in a map so when you are reading the story and certain places are mentioned you know where that building is of where that person is going. This is a really good story where this is a really a true crime. The characters in the story are true to life where the narration is told by the person,Janie telling the story. I did enjoy the suspense of the hunt,the clues that were given and I think almost to the end I kinda had it figured out but wasn't quit sure and what the reason being was for the reason,the real reason and when I found out,all said and done the ending really threw me wasn't actually expecting the reason why. You have all the ingredients in this story to make it really exciting,the who,what when but the why comes so much later. This is a series of Janie Jinks aka..daughter,wife,librarian,friend and expecting mom solving this missing person riddle. I know when you start out on a book any book to give back ground information but in this one it just seem like it took forever to tell this girl's life and she's like only in her twenties or I just didn't have the patience . It's a really cute crime story and as I said the ending took me by surprise but to me it just went on and on and on about certain back ground stuff that could have been told in a shorter version,but hey,I'm not the writer and the one with the famous name behind her books. You will enjoy the main characters,those are the ones in her family. Off to book two,we will see what kind of trouble Janie Jinks will get herself into now being a "new investigator. ..
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  • TrixieB
    5.0 out of 5 stars I loved this!
    Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2024
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I’m always on the lookout for a good mystery to read. Every Friday night is reading date. Usually we just read lackluster mysteries because it’s hard to find books that are exciting that also aren’t racist sexist for example. And this was really good. Well written, exciting; the mystery was captivating. It wasn’t necessarily cozy, but it wasn’t a thriller either. Intriguing and delightful. Although if her husband is the next one to die, I won’t be sad about it. 😉
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  • CJ
    5.0 out of 5 stars Sleuthing librarian
    Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2017
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This was a great find. A librarian turns to sleuthing in 1960's England looking for her missing friend. Janie Juke, an Agatha Christie enthusiast, is a very likeable protagonist. I really enjoyed the relationship she has with her blind ex-policeman father, as well as with her husband, Greg. A real page-turner. I've already bought the next book in the series and looking forward to being able to start on it. And hoping there will be many more to come.
    One person found this helpful
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  • mockingbird
    2.0 out of 5 stars Grammar counts
    Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2024
    Format: Kindle
    The story and setting were just okay, but the number of grammatical errors was unacceptable, especially from an author who claims to have studied professional writing!
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  • Garden Reader
    5.0 out of 5 stars Librarians seek answers
    Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Janie Juke ,librarian, needs to solve the mystery of her missing friend. Her love of Agatha Christie helps guide her research. Her friend Zara is overcome with grief due to the death of her husband. One day Zara just disappears. Janie uses her skills to find out what has happened to her. The setting and characterization are excellent. Looking forward to reading about Jamie's next case.
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Malu
    1.0 out of 5 stars Evitabile
    Reviewed in Italy on August 25, 2023
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Storia noiosa fino agli ultimi 2 capitoli. Troppe inutili, minuziose descrizioni. Scritto in un inglese discutibile.
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  • Ladybird
    5.0 out of 5 stars An intriguing story with great characters
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 1, 2018
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I was pulled into this story from the very first page by the author's easy-to-read and entertaining writing style. Janie is a well-drawn character who becomes a sleuth after her friend Zara disappears following a traumatic event. I was intrigued to find out what had happened to Zara and the story unfolded at a great pace which kept me turning the pages. Everything is set up for the next in the series which I look forward to reading. A great book!
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  • EllaNoel
    4.0 out of 5 stars An enquiring mind and a love of Agatha Christie novels
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 1, 2018
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This was a light and easy read where I got straight into the story. I really like the way the author depicted the 60s since I am too young enough to remember this era... but it is peppered with all sorts of nostalgia, the Beatles, the Vietnam War, not to mention colourful images of Woodstock and the hippie movement. I felt as if I was there!

    The plot moves along at a steady pace with the main character, Janie agonising for her friend, Zara, who has gone missing under the strangest circumstances. I would describe this as more a family drama than a gripping thriller but what comes across is how deeply she cares for her friend. With an enquiring mind and a love of Agatha Christie novels, Janie will not rest until she knows what has happened to her, even if others have given up on her, including her own family. There was enough suspense to keep me turning the pages and I enjoyed it.
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  • CJ
    5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable read with plenty going on in Tamarisk Bay
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 8, 2017
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    An enjoyable read based in the fictive English town of Tidehaven. I enjoyed this cosy mystery. There's plenty going on, and Janie Juke clears up lots of small problems in her search for Zara.
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  • rosie pither
    4.0 out of 5 stars review
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 20, 2018
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This isn't my usual type of book that I read hence 4 stars. Kept you guessing. I only read it because we are going to the authors caravan site next week. I would recommend it .
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