Tag: Storm Publishing

The Body in the Bookstore (A Secret Bookcase Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – California
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Storm Publishing (June 3, 2024)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1805084097
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1805084099
Kindle ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0D4RV4P8V
Audiobook ASIN B0D64CW59W

An addictively cozy and gripping murder mystery introducing a brand-new amateur sleuth and lovable heroine to the crime scene…

Welcome to The Secret Bookcase, a quirky bookstore in a grand, converted manor house, where the selection of crime fiction is dangerously good. The store has been bookseller and events manager Annie Murray’s sanctuary ever since her dreams of starting a detective agency with her best friend died, literally, when Scarlet was murdered.

Annie has never stopped trying to solve the mystery of her friend’s death, but her quiet life in leafy Redwood Grove, with its warm community of likeminded local business-owners and book-lovers, has provided the solace she needed. Until now.

When a body is discovered in the bookstore during the town’s inaugural Mystery Fest, Anne finds herself catapulted to the centre of a real-life whodunit. Dusting off her criminology degree, Annie is determined to put her sleuthing skills to good use and catch the killer – before it’s too late.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

In this first Secret Bookcase Mystery, we meet Annie Murray. She and her best friend Scarlet planned to start a detective agency after graduation with their criminal justice degrees. Then Scarlet was murdered. Annie has spent the better part of a decade trying to find her killer. Whenever she opens her laptop and brings up her spreadsheets of information and theories she thinks it will be the day something will jump out at her to move the case forward.

Annie is working at The Secret Bookcase as a bookseller and events manager. The bookstore is a unique shop in a converted manor house with a thrilling crime fiction selection. Business has been slow and she knows to keep the place open it is going to take a major event. She comes up with the idea of a 3-day Mystery Fest that could involve all the local businesses and bring people from far and wide. The town is excited about the festival and most business owners are happy to be involved.

Mystery Fest was off to a great start until a body was discovered in the bookstore. Some customers think it’s fake and a prop for the festival, but Annie knows that is not the case. Soon she finds herself in the middle of another murder investigation. Can her criminology degree help her book the killer this time? or will it turn into another ice-cold case?

I love the theme of this new series from Ellie Alexander. A manor home repurposed into a really cool bookstore complete with themed rooms and a secret bookcase. The author’s descriptions made it easy to envision every room and nook. I want to go there now, please.

Annie Murray is a strong, smart, creative protagonist who has found her place in Redwood Grove. The quiet community gives her peace even though Scarlet’s death is always on her mind. The bookstore is a huge part of her life and it needed a boost to keep the doors open. She had a great idea and was able to run with it. She is an excellent multitasker and able to juggle everything thrown at her. I love that she adopted Scarlet’s tabby cat, Professor Plum. I had a very easy time getting invested in her life.

We also meet her co-worker Fletcher, shop owner Hal, and Annie’s friend Priya. Fletcher has “extensive knowledge and adoration” of Sherlock Holmes and has quite a knack for matching the right reader with the right canon followed by a dissertation on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Hal curated the store into a mystery lover’s paradise but lately, book signing events were not bringing in people and foot traffic had been way down. Hal is a total Luddite though.  He can barely turn on his phone so he needs help to save his store. Priya is a good friend and is there for Annie no matter what. I enjoyed how all the characters evolved throughout the book leaving room for growth as the series continues.

I found the mysteries in this book very captivating. I found it interesting that Annie’s (and Scarlet’s) former criminology professor, Dr. Caldwell was the detective in charge of the investigation. She knew Annie would be an excellent person to help her solve the case. Annie was happy to help, as was Pri. There were plenty of clues to follow and a growing list of suspects to investigate. I enjoyed the way everyone worked together to catch the killer.

Scarlet’s case is fluid again at the end of this story and the first two chapters of book two, Murder at the Movies are included at the end of the book. They may have enlightened me but I didn’t read them. I would never be able to stop at just two chapters. I hope to read and review the whole book soon.

The Body in the Bookstore has given this series a marvelous start. Diverse and engaging characters, wonderful world-building, and an enticing mystery come together for an entertaining escape.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

About the Author

Also by Ellie Alexander 
Coming August 20, 2024

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”“As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.”