Murder by the Book by Lauren Elliott

I've been working to expand my bookish horizons for my library patrons, so I jumped into this cozy mystery looking forward to learning why it's such a beloved genre! I loved the literary themes, and I was intrigued at first, but the Addie is a very stupid heroine. She has no clue what's going on. Ever. The dialogue was pretty cringey and cheesy. I did really love the bookstore, and I was intrigued enough to learn how the mystery played out but I don't think I'm going to continue with this series.

I enjoyed reading this book. The crimes were intriguing. My favorite characters are Marc the police chief and Paige Stringer.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review.

First book in Lauren Elliott's series. Addy is a pretty great heroine and amateur sleuth, and I'm looking forward to more of her adventures in the series. Serena makes an awesome sidekick, and I love that she's the little sister of Hank, local police officer and Addy's love interest. Now all that is needed is an animal of some sort to make the series complete. I know Martha, fellow local business owner, is going to be a recurrent pain in the ass for Serena and Addy, and I'm looking forward to seeing more of her antics as well.

I am a sucker for any cozy mysteries set in a library or bookstore. I really enjoyed reading this and look forward to more books in this new series!

RATING: 3.5 STARS
2018; Kensington Books

Murder by the book is a cute mystery that involves a bookstore! Addie Greyborne, worked at Boston Library dealing with rare books. After she loses both her father and her fiancé, she also loses a great aunt. Her great aunt leaves her an inheritance which includes her home. For a living she opens a bookstore, with the books she also inherited. She is not there for too long before strange things start to happen. With the help of her friend they start their own investigation. Murder by the book was a promising start to this cozy series, and I look forward to reading more.

***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***

Definitely felt like the first book in a series. It was a little too on the nose for a cozy mystery. I think it was more aimed a younger audience. I might pick up the next book in the series but it would have to get a lot of stong reviews.

A good book. Well written with great characters and a good plot. The storyline flows and the mystery is enjoyable. I highly recommend.,

This is the first book in the beyond a page bookstore mysteries. I was excited to read the first in this new series by Lauren Elliot features a catchy title, an interesting premise and an lots of characters and who doesn't love a bookstore setting.

I had a hard time getting into this book in the beginning, The main character, Addie Greyborne, former rare books librarian at the Boston Public Library. After an unexpected inheritance from an aunt she never knew and the murder of her fiance, Addie moves to the small New England town that her family founded. Among the things left to her by her aunt was Greyborne Manor and a huge collection of books, many of them first editions, which prompts her to open an used book store. From opening day of business at "Beyond the Page-Books & Curios," Addie has break-ins at both the shop and home. When a murder occurs and her new best friend is the prime suspect, Addie knows the murder and break-ins are tied together.

Once I got into the book I enjoyed it but it was not my favorite. I recommend giving it a read!

Several tragedies lead Boston Librarian Addie Greyborne to move to the small New England coastal town of Greyborne Harbor. She has inherited her previously unknown great aunt’s estate including a large house and rare book collection. Addie decides to set up her own second-hand and rare books, book-shop, called ‘Beyond the Page’.

Addie has barely opened her new store when things begin to happen including nearly being run-over, a feud with her business neighbour from one side of her shop, a new friendship with her neighbour from the other side of her shop, Serena of SerenaTEA, and a burglary almost under her nose.

The action doesn’t stop there with Addie being persistently targetted at home and at work with actual and attempted break-ins. Fortunately her new friend Serena’s [handsome] brother is the chief of police…

When her friend is arrested for murder Addie decides to clear her friend’s name with or without the police’s help.

This is the first in a new series and the author’s debut. It is quite busy, with never a dull moment. The fairly complicated plot revolves around books and offers some insight into rare-book dealing. It does take a while for the main characters to catchup with the reader regarding why Addie is suffering all these events but it is an enjoyable read overall, if a little frustrating at times.

If you like crime books that don’t contain any or much swearing, mostly off the page violence and a dash of romance with the mystery then this could be for you.

I find this series addictive and varied enough that I was able to read the first three in a rush without stopping! The subject matter of each book is interesting and the small town has lots going on.

This is a joint review for the first three books in this series. I actually read paperbacks I got at the library, but I apparently purchased book 1, Murder by the Book, at no cost from Amazon AND I got books 1 and 2 from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. Well, I guess that shows that the blurbs really interested me.

The mystery aspect (what crimes happen and why) was fairly interesting and different in all three. What isn't good and makes me give the set of three a 2.5 star rating (just shy of a solid OK) are the characters, specifically Addie and her two beaus. This is a mystery series, there shouldn't be so much focus on her relationships (or lack thereof). The three of them are like middle schoolers instead of professionals in their 30's (though Simon seems the most mature). Addie's issues with the men play way too big a role in the books taking away from the mystery.

I read cozies because of the likable and relatable main characters and sidekicks. This is the second series I've read recently with not so likable characters.

Even some of the mystery elements are off, especially Addie's dealings with her almost father in law in the third book, Murder in the First Edition, are strange.

Any cozy mystery with a plot that involves a bookstore plus an old mansion are my favorite combination. Why then did I have trouble getting past the first chapter? I literally started this book three times and each time found the story line flat and the characters irritating. The main character, Addie, just opened a rare bookstore and one neighboring business owner immediately hates her and the other becomes her instant best friend. What? Addie confides in her new best friend that her fiance was murdered a year ago, her dad died in a mysterious car accident after that and her recently deceased aunt left her an old mansion in a town named after her. Wait, what? Too much, too soon. Where's the grief? Someone then tries to vandalize her store then breaks into her house. She calls 911 and the cops show up without their sirens so Addie doesn't even know they are there. Addie hears the getaway car leave but the cops don't. Really? The cops search the house while Addie is still in it..."clear, clear, clear." Reads like a first draft and with some editing this could turn into something enjoyable. As is, it was too excruciating and I couldn't make it past the 10% mark.

This was a fun, cute cozy mystery! I love the theme throughout, and I will definitely be continuing with the series.

Great way to start off this series. I will start by saying, I love books about books, mysteries, new friendships and budding romance. Yes, you guessed it, this book has it all.

Addie loved her job at the Boston Public Library, where she did some biblio-sleuthing by tracking down old and rare books. This was something that was in her blood as she soon finds out.

After receiving an unexpected inheritance from a great aunt, Addie leaves the big city and painful memories behind when she moves to a small seaside town in New England. Moving into Greyborne Manor, her family's home, she finds that her aunt also left her countless first editions and other treasures—providing an inventory to start her own store.

When Addie's store is broken into as well as her home, she starts to wonder if her tragic past, aunt's death, and the current situations are all connected somehow. With the help of hunky detective Marc and his sister Serena, Addie's new bff, will they be able to put this mystery together before its too late?

I have this book in both digital (NetGalley) and audio versions. The narrator, Karen White, does an amazing job.

This has a lot going for it in setting (both physical and a bookstore!), but Addie just didn't do it for me. Sometimes the set up for these cozies becomes too laborious to be believable.

A fun start to a new cozy mystery series. This is an interesting book that would be great for some popcorn style entertainment where you are wanting to escape into an easy world, which is sometimes exactly what I want to read. I always enjoy when the main character has a day job involving books, and am looking forward to how the characters develop as the series continues.

The premise of the book was intriguing, but I feel that more editing of the scenes needed to be done. Addie constantly bit her lips, made coffee, and put her hair behind her ears. I felt that I was reading a romance instead of a cozy mystery. My real issue is that I like to be able to solve the mystery along with the amateur detective and that was impossible in this case. Reads like a Nancy Drew mystery where Nancy is 30, not 18. Just as unbelievable a plot.

Addison Greyborne (Addie) worked at the Boston Public Library when her life fell apart. Her fiance was murdered and her father died in an accident. While still reeling from the deaths, a relative died and left her money and a house in Greyborne Harbor. Addie was also a rare book expert who had worked in London assisting with cataloguing many old and rare books. When she moves to Greyborne Harbor, she opens a shop, Beyond the Page Books & Curios, and starts to rebuild her life. She meets a new friend, Serena, and tries to become part of the small town. Unfortunately, someone seems determined to put a damper on her plans. Her shop and home are broken into and she feels like she is being followed. Her new friend is arrested for killing another local merchant and Addie is determined to clear Serena's name and discover who is behind the break-ins and other bad happenings in Greyborne Harbor. Working with Serena's brother, the police chief, not only do they investigate the goings on in Greyborne Harbor, but her father's death as well.

This is the first book in a new series so the characters, the setting and backstories had to be introduced and set up. This story was a bit formulaic, but still very enjoyable. Addie and Serena strike up a friendship pretty quickly, but that is small town stuff. I liked that even though Addie is an amateur sleuth, she has some investigative skills shared by her father who was an antiquities investigator and her skills she developed while researching and validating rare books. Who would have thought being a handwriting expert would come in handy as a bookstore owner. Of course the romance angle is there with Addie and Police Chief Marc Chandler, who also happens to be her new BFF's brother. The story was fun and well-paced and the various crimes that eventually come together, were interesting. I liked the conclusion and reveal of the culprit, especially as I had not figured it out. I will check out the next book in this series and see what adventures Addie, Serena and Marc have.

I'm sometimes hesitant to read first books in a series as I find that many are so busy 'explaining' the characters that the book seems a bit dry.

I loved this book and liked how it kept my interest. I was reading it on a flight and was a bit irritated that I was interrupted when it was time to change planes.

The characters, as well as the mystery, are interesting and I'm looking forward to see how their characters and relationships grow.

Anyone that loves bookstores and small-towns will appreciate this one!

Thank you very much for allowing me the opportunity to read this book! I appreciate the kindness. <3