Nestled on a cozy, cobblestone street, Bartholomew's Books was the last place anyone expected a crime. When the shop's notoriously disagreeable owner is found dead, the police rule it a tragic accident. But part-time bookseller Elara knows better. She discovers a series of seemingly innocent notes left in the margins of classic mystery novels—a secret code her boss used to communicate with his most discreet clients. As Elara deciphers the clues, she uncovers a web of blackmail, forbidden manuscripts, and long-buried secrets that several upstanding members of the community would kill to keep hidden. Now, she must read between the lines before the killer closes the book on her for good.