From out of left field

 No sooner had I finished the (ick) pass pages (I still prefer "galley proofs") for Chapter & Hearse, when I get a note from my editor with the back cover copy for A Crafty Killing.  (Did I tell you they'd changed the title of the first Victoria Square book?  I'm getting used to it.  Nuff said.)

Here's what I've been saying about the book:

Young widow Katie Bonner discovers the body of Ezra Hilton, who ran the local artisan cooperative like his own fiefdom.  Katie has little reason to mourn Ezra, who convinced her late husband to invest in the Artisans’ Alley before he was killed. Ezra's will makes Katie the controlling partner in the enterprise--much to the chagrin of his nephew, who comes to town hell-bent on collecting money as quickly as possible...and barely arrives before one of the vendors also ends up dead.  The entire co-op is in a disgruntled uproar, and it seems like the detective in charge of the investigation does everything except investigate the murder. Everyone from the village’s lawyer to the quilt shop owner had motive to want Ezra dead, and it’s up to Katie to find out who’s responsible before more of her vendors die.

Here's what the Berkley Marketing Department came up with:

The last thing Katie Bonner wanted was to become the manager of Artisans Alley. But when her business partner, Ezra Hilton, is found lying at the bottom of a staircase, bludgeoned to death, she has no other choice. A collection of booths for artisans and craft sellers in a renovated applesauce factory building, Artisans Alley is the main attraction in the quaint Victoria Square shopping area. But business under Ezra had been faltering—enough to provoke someone to murder?

Katie has had more than her share of death—her late husband (and Ezra’s former partner) Chad died in a car accident six months ago. But as she digs deeper into Ezra’s murder, her husband’s death starts to look suspicious. While the cops are proceeding by the book, Katie is investigating by the booths—for the answer to the killer’s identity lies in the hidden secrets of Artisans Alley itself.

Which do you like more?

Even better -- I'm supposed to see the cover either today or early next week.  I'll share as soon as they let me!

Comments

[Debbie D]

I'd have to say that I like yours, as it seems to be a bit more on target such as she wasn't Hilton's partner and so on. At the same time, the back cover from the editor is very good too and I like the play on words "proceeding by the book; investigating by the booth."

I'm not much help, am I? :)

[Lynn]

I'm a new fan - love the Booktown series. Sorry, I have to say I like the publisher's version better. It brings in the Victoria Square name and I also like the play on words with "by the book" and "by the booth."
Either way, can't wait to read it!