I enjoyed this book and love the addition of Simon, although I'm not fond of love triangles. I like the characters and town. Addie is an independent woman who is very supportive of her friends. Addie is still having some issues with some of her neighbors, who have an issue with her since she is a Greyborne, but in this book we find out why.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review. I'm looking forward to more in this series.

Loved this story. The character Addie , the bookstore owner is always into the murders. She loves to help Marc investigate and most of the time he tells her to stay out of it but does she? This time there seems to be a little more romance in it another guy, the new doctor Simon. I definitely recommend that you read this book to find out what goes on as I am not one to write spoilers.

3.5 Stars
Prologue to Murder is the second book in Lauren Elliott’s Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery series and is an entertaining read. The mystery is interesting, and the cast of characters is well developed. I enjoyed the book and the reveal surprised me.

Addison “Addie” Greyborne owns and operates Beyond the Page, a book and curio shop, in Greyborne Harbor in New England. Addison is looking forward to the upcoming Founder’s Day celebration. Serena Chandler, her best friend and the owner of SerenaTEAS, a tea merchant, and is casually dating Serena’s brother, Marc Chandler, Greyborne Harbor’s Chief of Police. Lacey Davenport, Marc’s ex-fiancée, recently moved back to town and when Marc starts spending time with her, Addie is hurt and jealous. When June Winslow, the librarian who is a much-loved and respected member of the community, fails to return home from a book club meeting, a new columnist, Miss Newsy, publishes articles in the gossip column of the local newspaper implying Addison is responsible for her mysterious disappearance. When June Winslow’s body is found in a utility shed that serves as an entrance to the underground tunnels that allow access to the water, utility, and communication lines for the police station, hospital, and library, Miss Newsy implies Addie is responsible for her death. Addie believes June’s death may be linked to a book she authored, Ghosts and Mysteries of Greyborne Harbor, which is a historical account, with a blend of local legend, myths, and facts and/or the possibility that there is pirate treasure hidden in the tunnels. Marc asks Addie to leave the investigation to the professionals, but she is determined to clear her name and accepts the offer of help from Dr. Simon Emerson, the new emergency room trauma surgeon and part-time forensic pathologist, who is attracted to her.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

I received a free copy of PROLOGUE TO MURDER (Book 2 of the Beyond the Page Bookstore Mysteries) by Lauren Elliott, through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. Addie Greyborne feels like she’s finally settling in and making connections in her town. However, a gossip columnist, “Miss Newsy,” soon disrupts her new rapport with the town. Miss Newsy begins a campaign to have Addie blamed for the disappearance and murder of local librarian June Winslow. Also, just as Addie’s relationship with the police chief seems to be intensifying, his ex-fiancée, Lacey Davenport, arrives in town and causes a rift between Addie, the chief, and his sister, who is a HUGE fan of Lacey’s. The alienation of Addie has begun. Will Addie be able to reclaim her reputation? Will Addie be able to save her business? What longterm effects will the relationship rifts have? Already convicted in the court of public opinion, can Addie find the killer before she’s actually charged with the murder?

I liked this book. Though I haven’t read Book 1: MURDER BY THE BOOK, I now intend to. I recommend this book to fans of MURDER BY THE BOOK, cozy mysteries with a bookshop theme, and pirate/treasure hunting enthusiasts.

#PrologueToMurder #NetGalley

This was an enjoyable cozy mystery with interesting characters, a lovely small town setting, secret tunnels, old maps and possible buried treasure. Addie Greyborne's life is finally settling down after her involvement in a prior murder when the gossip column of the local newspaper starts (whose new reporter is the former girlfriend of Addie's boyfriend, the police chief Marc)attacking her and accusing her of responsibility for the disappearance of beloved local librarian June Winslow. When June's body is found inside a utility tunnel, the heat on Addie is turned up and she feels the need to investigate June's death in order to clear her reputation. The plot carried me along with Addie on her adventure and kept me interested all the way through.

A tad too much romance for me in this mystery, however, overall I enjoyed this intriguing story with hidden treasure, curses, feuds, and more. Well written with a few twists to keep the reader guessing.

This is the second book in a new cozy series. I thought the first was a good start and this book is even better. The characters are starting to flesh out and become even more interesting. Addison Greyborne moved to town several months ago opening a new bookstore, and making new friends, particularly the chief of police Mark, and his sister Serenity. After being cleared of wrongdoing in a murder case she’s ready for smooth sailing, but of course that’s not the case. Lacey, Mark’s ex fiancée and all around troublemaker has moved back to town, maligning Addy in her newspaper column, because Lacey wants Mark back. When a local author/ historian is killed, Lacey does her best to make sure the town thinks Addy is behind it, and no one comes to the bookstore, even with founders day around the corner.
Filled with the history of pirates on the east coast, it’s an interesting story, and a good murder mystery.

I was not super impressed with this read. It had too much romance for what I like my mysteries to have.

But it was well written and enjoyable considering it was about murder. It reminded of the Aurora Teagarden movies from Hallmark. (Yes I know there are books too, but I haven't read them)

The best thing was, I didn't know who the murder was until right before I read it. So on that note...the book was great.

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to review this book.

I loved the first book in this series, and I was excited to get to read this one!

Addie has opened a bookstore after receiving an inheritance from a previously unknown aunt. She’s in a good place after the resolution in book one, with a close friend in her shop neighbor, Serena, and the potential of something more with Serena’s brother, Marc. But all that changes overnight when Serena’s friend and Marc’s former fiancée, Lacey, returns to town , and an anonymous gossip reporter known only as Miss Newsy starts printing pointed articles suggesting that Addie may again be involved in a murder.

The characters in this series are so much fun - and this one had the added benefit of pirates and hidden tunnels. The only thing that struck an incongruous chord was the inconsistent behavior of Marc and Serena. I didn’t feel that a few of those scenes really lived up to their characters. But on the whole, this was an entertaining read, and I’m looking forward to the next book in the series!

When Addie Greybourne, proprietor of a bookstore in Greybourne Harbor, learns that town librarian, June, has been murdered, there are some shady insinuations about Addie's possible involvement by a mysterious columnist who is referred to as "Miss Newsy." Did June find out something about the town's legendary tunnels, and hidden pirate treasure? Who would want her silenced? I don't think I'd want to reside in Greybourne Harbor, where the police get a search warrant based only on an anonymous tip, someone gets away with stealing money from a local business and no one reports it, and a gossipy local newspaper freely libels a resident.

Just when Addie Greyborne thought the locals were beginning to accept her and business would go on, she becomes the target of the local gossip column who hints that may be responsible for the disappearance of the local librarian. No one knows who Miss Newsy is, but she sure has it in for Addie.

To make matters worse, Marc’s ex fiance is back in town and trying to reclaim her place by his side, driving a deep wedge between Addie and Marc. But then again, a handsome doctor has arrived and he stirs something inside Addie too.

When the missing librarian is found dead, Addie begins sleuthing and finds her hands full with more insinuations from Miss Newsy and two men who have an effect on her. Can they protect Addie from herself and the killer, or will she get too close to the truth and be the next victim?

A strong second entry to this series and I’m loving it. Tying into the local history in Massachusetts brings the story to life. Who doesn’t love a good pirate and buried treasure story? Looking forward to the next entry in this series and seeing where Addie’s heart and sleuthing lead her.

Prologue to Murder by Lauren Elliott is the second book in this new cozy series and it definitely hit all the right notes for a fun afternoon read.

Addie Greyborne is a very likable character and I admire her independence and persistence in helping the police to track down the person who murdered the town librarian. Her research skills and eye for details brings a lot of clues to the case for the police chief to consider. Historic family feuds, pirate treasure, and a lost original manuscript are only some of the research Addie has to do in this well woven mystery. The plot is smoothly paced with clues, red herrings and several suspects to be considered while reading the book. Unfortunately, there does seem to be a possibility of a "romantic triangle" in Addie's future which I am not a fan of in cozy mysteries.