New Year, New Murder

When a restaurant rivalry turns deadly in her coastal California town, Coffee, Books, and More owner Jill Gardner King must solve the murder before she can celebrate the New Year . . .

Turns out Jill will not be ringing in the New Year with her new husband, Greg, on a relaxing getaway in Mexico. Instead, an accident involving her store’s manager keeps her in South Cove, where she finds a competition heating up—to a deadly degree—for a local restaurant to win a float appearance at the New Year’s Parade.

Lille Stanley, the not-so-beloved proprietor of the town’s beloved diner, Diamond Lille’s, is going head-to-head with a hot new soup shop. But when its owner’s husband is found dead, clutching a secret recipe from Diamond Lille’s, the diner diva finds herself deep in the soup. Now it’s up to Jill to make sure justice is ladled out to the real killer—before Lille goes from behind the counter to behind bars . . .

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