Dead Between the Lines by Denise Swanson is the third book in the “Devereaux’s Dime Store” mystery series. Publisher: Obsidian, March 2014

Opening an old-fashioned five-and-dime shop in her small Missouri hometown has been a great change for Devereaux “Dev” Sinclair. But when she hosts a reading group there, she learns that bad writing can mean life or death.

To keep her new business in the black, Dev opens up her shop to local clubs. But in the first meeting of the Stepping Out Book Club, the speaker storms out after members attack his poetry’s sexism and scorn for small towns. Later that night, the poet’s body is found outside Dev’s store.

Dev can’t afford for the murder to close her down, so she does a little stepping out of her own to investigate, with help from her two sexy suitors, Dr. Noah Underwood and Deputy U.S. Marshal Jake Del Vecchio. But when the killer threatens Dev, they will have to use every trick in the book to solve the case before she becomes the final chapter in this murder mystery.

This was a good read that was hard to put down. A dead body, two suitors, and a murder investigation is what you’ll find in between the pages of this fabulous book. How will it end? You’ll have to pick up a copy of this fast-paced and action filled light whodunit. The author does a great job of pulling you into every nook and cranny of this well-written drama. Dev is at her best trying to solve this mystery and I was taken by surprise with the revelation of the killer, which I did not see coming. Another fine job by the author and I do hope that Dev makes her decision soon (Jake!). With a great cast of quirky residents and good conversations, I can’t wait to see what lies ahead for Dev and the possibilities in the next book in this fabulous series.

previously posted on the Cozy Chicks blog