Murder of the Bride

Suspects abound when a bride-to-be is murdered at her bachelorette party in this cozy mystery, perfect for fans of The Marlow Murder Club.

Bookstore and short-term rental host Stephanie “Stevie” Cummings-King is in for quite a shock when her high school bully throws her bachelorette party at Stevie’s penthouse suite. To make matters even weirder, the bride apologizes profusely for her past misgivings and invites Stevie to join in on the festivities.

Perplexed but willing to put the past behind, Stevie agrees to meet the bridal party for a schedule packed-tight with events. Among the group is the maid of honor, the groom’s sister and mother, a few other friends, and the bride’s stepmother. And the bachelor party guests are staying in a rental next door. So when the bride is found bludgeoned with a champagne bottle the morning after a party in the penthouse, there’s no shortage of suspects.

With the investigating officer in close proximity, staying in the suites above the art gallery in the building next door to Stevie’s—a building that is owned by her short-term rental nemesis, Sinclair—Stevie finds herself at the center of the hub. And when her finger prints are found on the murder weapon, Stevie finds herself named suspect number one.

With the help of her best friend Ginny and her cat Church, Stevie takes matters into her own hands to find the real killer.

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
• Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

• Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
• Collect 6-12 issues typically
• Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
• Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

• Softcover collections
• Standard comic book size
• Usually collect 4-6 issues
• Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
• Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
• Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs