High summer. Loud music. A killer hiding in plain sight. When a rock star plummets to his death during a festival encore, Gemma and the Bookworm crew must uncover a killer hiding behind the music.

Belper’s favourite booksellers are taking a rare weekend off as Gemma, David, and Mavis head to the local Meadowfire Festival to see their friend Jack and his band play. The atmosphere is buzzing; the drinks are cold, and the main-stage headliners, rock legends Static Avenue, are about to deliver the encore everyone’s been waiting for.

During the climactic finale of their hit song, Summer Never Ends, the band’s frontman ascends skyward in a dramatic harness stunt. But when a rigging bolt snaps, he plunges to his death in front of thousands of fans. Was it a tragic accident or a deliberate act of sabotage? Gemma is determined to find out as she peels back the layers of festival chaos to uncover a band in turmoil. Behind the fame and screaming fans lies a toxic mix of grudges, jealousy, and long-held secrets.

Set in the charming Derbyshire town of Belper, The Bookshop Mysteries: A Fatal Encore is perfect for fans of Richard Osman and M.C. Beaton. This gripping new mystery in The Bookshop Mysteries series delivers sharp wit, layered characters, and a twist you won’t see coming.