Murder in the Reading Room - Amiss Merrill and Aunt Violet - Mystery

Aug 2, 2026

Upload by Liam

A suspenseful mystery set in the bookshop world, where Hannah manages daily routines amid the strain of post-war life and the lingering Spanish influenza. As Armistice Day fades and Christmas approaches, anxiety about Archie’s demobilisation sharpens tensions between Hannah and the practical Penny. Aunt Violet brings accounts, political convictions, and uneasy reflections on a “Christmas of Peace” overshadowed by infection, strict safety measures, and symbolic suffrage affiliations.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryStory & Novel

FormatPDF

Pages222

Reading Time5 h 42 min

AccessFree to download

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Historical Note

Acknowledgements

MURDER IN THE READING ROOM AMISS MERRILL AND AUNT VIOLET MYSTERY ANITA DAVISON [OceanofPDF.com](OceanofPDF.com) To my family. For their understanding of a writer ’s solitude, forgiving my neglect, and for supporting me through every distracted hour. [OceanofPDF.com](OceanofPDF.com) CONTENTS Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Historical Note Acknowledgements Thank you! More from Anita Davison About the Author Also by Anita Davison Poison & Pens About Boldwood Books [OceanofPDF.com](OceanofPDF.com) 1 Hannah sat at her desk on a raised platform that gave a view of the entire ground floor of the bookshop. The warm glow of sulphur-yellow electric lights created soft halos above the towering rows of bookshelves, the air thick with the comforting scents of new paper, beeswax polish, and overstewed tea. Her eyes were gritty from peering at lines of print that dissolved into an incomprehensible blur, the bookshop now devoid of customers so near closing time, save for an elderly lady ensconced in a plush armchair in a corner engrossed in an Austen novel. Armistice Day was less than a month before but now felt like a distant memory; the euphoria of peace overwhelmed by lingering food shortagesand the lethal spread of Spanish influenza. Four years of brutal war had worn the city down and with Christmas near, no one seemed eager for celebrations with everyone’s minds heavy with thoughts of the those who would never come home. From halfway up a library ladder, Penny, the seventeen-year-old shop assistant, sighed loudly for what must have been the tenth time in an hour. ‘Stop fretting, Penny,’ Hannah said, summoning patience. ‘I’ve filled in all the forms for Archie’s demobilisation. All we can do now is wait. I’m sure he’ll be home any day now.’ Penny, ever practical but annoyingly single-minded, turned to face her, one hand braced on the ladder, a book in her other hand.‘You don’t think those forms got lost in the post?’ ‘No, Penny, I don’t.’ Hannah suppressed a sigh, though the temptation was strong. ‘Archie has only been in Belgium for a few months. Think about all those men who have been away from their families for much longer. Years, some of them.’ ‘I know I’m being selfish,’ Penny murmured, turning back to the shelves, her shoulders sagged, her voice tight. ‘I just thought…’ She trailed off, letting out a heavy sigh. ‘Moping won’t make the time pass any faster.’ Hannah twisted to face her, one elbow propped on the back of her chair.‘The best thing you can do is keep busy. And be careful on that ladder. We don’t want you to fall off and hurt yourself.’ Hannah redirected her attention to her own task, complicated further by Bartleby, the bookshop cat. He jumped onto her lap and made himself comfortable, showing no intention of leaving. Occasionally, he would raise his head, his striking lapis lazuli eyes silently pleading for a gentle stroke. ‘I’ve never known a cat who demands as much fuss as you, Bartleby,’she murmured, ruffling his fur. ‘I thought cats were supposed to be aloof and independent.’ Undeterred, his deep, contented purr vibrated gently beneath her fingers. ‘Don’t be snappy with Penny,’ Aunt Violet said, appearing beside Hannah’s desk, her arms full of accounts ledgers.‘She’s a bundle of nerves as it is. It must be hard for her to watch all those soldiers flowing through Charing Cross in the mornings and with no sign of Archie.’ ‘I’m not unsympathetic,’ Hannah said, a flicker of guilt stirring. ‘I want Archie back as much as anyone, but I cannot help thinking of all those husbands and sweethearts who will never return.’ Aunt Violet leaned closer, sending the ledgers sliding before catching them at the last se

FAQs

Where does the story take place at the beginning of the novel?

Hannah works at a bookshop on a raised desk platform, with views over the entire ground floor, and the shop is closing time with only a few remaining customers.

What historical context shapes the characters’ concerns?

The narrative follows the aftermath of a brutal war, with food shortages and the lethal spread of Spanish influenza influencing everyday life and expectations for Christmas.

What conflict drives tension between Hannah, Penny, and Aunt Violet?

Penny worries about Archie’s demobilisation forms and fears they may be lost, while Aunt Violet highlights the broader misery caused by the virus; Hannah tries to keep everyone focused and cautious.

Aug 2, 2026

Upload by Liam