Silver, Daphne [The Rare Books Cozy Mystery Series #1], ( Crime and Parchment [pb, Level Best Boks, 2023] 978-1685125080 [Last year, Juniper Blume saw the 1,200-year-old Book of Kells in Ireland. She learned how their bejeweled covers were stolen centuries ago, never to be seen again. So how could they have ended up in Rose Mallow, a small Chesapeake Bay town? Being Jewish, the Book of Kells might not be her sacred text, but as a rare books librarian, the ancient book is still sacred to her, making it important to find out the truth. Rose Mallow is the same place where Juniper used to summer with her sister Azalea and their grandmother Zinnia, known as Nana Z. Ever since Nana Z passed away, Juniper’s avoided returning, but her curiosity is greater than her grief, so she heads down. She discovers that her sister Azalea has transformed their grandmother’s Queen Anne style mansion into the Wildflower Inn, backing up to the Chesapeake Bay. Although Juniper isn’t much of a cook, Azalea has kept their grandmother’s legacy alive, filling the house with the smells of East European Jewish treats, like sweet kugels and tzimmes cake. Will coming back here feel like returning home or fill Juniper with a deeper sorrow? Can she apologize to her sister for not being there when she was needed most? – Amazon]
United States · Fiction author
Daphne Silver
Daphne Silver (est. birth 1980, in Baltimore, MD) –has over 20 years of experience in the cultural arts and nonprofit sectors. She has held leadership roles at Historic London Town and Gardens as deputy director and recently accepted a position as Chief Advancement Officer for the Friends of the National Arboretum in Washington, D.C..Her books in the Rare Books Cozy Mystery Series often align with the Jewish calendar. For example, the second book, The Tell-Tale Homicide, takes place as Rosh Hashana approaches. The author has also expressed interest in setting future installments during Chanukah. The next (4th) book in the series in due in November, 2026. The stories frequently feature traditional Eastern European Jewish treats. Specifically mentioned items include: Sweet Lokshen Kugel (Noodle Pudding), Tzimmes (Sweet Carrot) Cake and Lekach (Honey Cake). Daphne Silver also writes historical nonfiction under her legal name, +Lauren R. Silberman, including books titled The Jewish Community of Baltimore (Arcadia, 2008) and Wild Women of Maryland (History Press, 2015). - Google/AI]
Silver, Daphne [The Rare Books Cozy Mystery Series #2], (The Tell-Tale Homicide [pb, Level Best Books, 2024] 978-1685127947 [Rare books librarian Juniper Blume lands her dream job: creating a new museum in her Chesapeake Bay town of Rose Mallow, Maryland. But on her very first week, she makes a shocking discovery-a dead man clutching a book by Edgar Allan Poe, stolen from the collections! As Juniper gets closer to cracking the coded message hidden inside the book, she realizes someone is desperate to keep its literary secrets buried...even if that means burying her, too. Dressed in her signature vintage style with rescue pup Clover by her side, the fearless bookworm must hunt down the culprit before becoming the next victim. But can she solve the case without jeopardizing a budding romance with her boss, the dashing Leo Calverton? And can she help her sister Azalea perfect their grandmother’s legendary blintz recipe before the Rose Mallow Festival? – Amazon]
Silver, Daphne [The Rare Books Cozy Mystery Series #3], (Poison and Prejudice [pb, Level Best Books, 2025]) 979-8898201197 [When a simple storage unit auction turns deadly, librarian Juniper Blume finds herself unpacking more than she bargained for... Rare books librarian Juniper Blume has settled into life at her sister’s Wildflower Inn in the charming Chesapeake Bay town of Rose Mallow, Maryland. But when curiosity draws her to a local storage unit auction, Juniper’s winning bid comes with a shocking bonus - a dead body hidden among meticulously organized museum-quality boxes. As Rosh Hashanah approaches, Juniper must navigate a web of secrets, a town full of suspects, and valuable collectibles-including letters from Jane Austen. Can Juniper solve the mystery before the killer strikes again? Her librarian’s curiosity and attention to detail might be her greatest strengths-or put her directly in harm’s way. - Amazon]