Can't Judge a Book by Its Murder, the first book in the ‘Main Street Book Club Mysteries’ series by Amy Lillard follows Arlo as she prepares for a book-signing event for the town’s well-loved author, Wally Harrison. All things seem to be going well when the infamous author is found dead outside of Arlo’s front door and the leading suspect in the case is Arlo’s best friend Chloe.

With the ladies of Arlo’s book club sleuthing around, and the secrets of the supposedly sleepy town that starting to unravel, it is up to Arlo to get Chloe off the top of the suspect list and figure out who murdered Wally Harrington before it happens again.

This book is my first introduction to Amy Lillard’s work and I must say I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The overall plot is well crafted and thoroughly planned out- leaving no holes or gaps in between scenes for questions that haven’t been answered. The mystery itself was very engaging and I did enjoy the gradual revelation of the clues that kept the readers guessing all throughout the book.

Characters in the book are given a great but limited introduction, like most first books in a series, and are a well tied into the plotline. Plus, the overly enthusiastic elderly ladies make it seem like there is never a dull moment in Arlo’s Friday Night Book Club.

This combination of a small town setting, a bookshop keeper as the main character, and a mysterious murder landing right in the middle of this charming town is the perfect recipe for any cozy mystery lover.

4 stars.

If anyone needs me, I’ll be here waiting for the next book in this series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for giving me an advanced reader's copy of 'Can't Judge a Book By Its Murder' by Amy Lillard.

No matter the genre, Amy Lillard NEVER disappoints! She tells a story in a way that draws you into it and keeps you reading. You’ll find yourself wanting to help the book club ladies try to solve the crime so they can get their friend out of jail. Even though this is a murder mystery, those little old ladies of the book club had me chuckling at their antics.

Lillard is definitely on my must-read list! When you read one of her books, she’ll be on yours too!

This was an okay debut. The mystery was good and I liked the characters, but for whatever reason the story didn't "grab" me. It took me four days to read because I could set it down and not feel like I had to devour it. There is nothing horrid in the story, it just didn't fully hook me for whatever reason. I will try another in the set down the road, maybe this was just a slow start for me.

I received this book from NetGalley and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

A fairly quintessential small town cozy but with some older characters and a strong, well developed plot line. Engaging all the way through and a solid start to a series.

This is the first of what I hope to be a long series. Book store/coffee shop owner Arlo Stanley must was planning on selling some extra books when a hometown hero/author returns for a multi-class high school reunion. Arlo didn't plan on him jumping out of her third story window after meeting with Chloe Carter for coffee. Chloe is Arlo's best friend and business partner as well as the mother of Jaden, the jumper's son, whom he gave up rights to before Jaden was even born 9 years prior. Wally, the bad dad and best sellers' list writer had a big ego, perhaps too big to have taken his own life and now Chloe is suspect #1 and is stuck in jail until Arlo and her book club mavens. Arlo is a very personable character and you can't help but like the way she works so hard on behalf of her friend Chloe. The book Club mavens are a hoot, between their fully accessorized fashions to their perfectly colored and coiffed hair. It's not only Chloe's past love that comes into town, Arlo deals with the memory of her high school sweet heart whom she pushed away to protect herself from his dreams of leaving small town to head to college and a football career only to come back as the local law enforcement. The reunion brings another blast from the past as Arlo's other beau, the boy who broke her heart when he left to go to college, Sam Carter, who has decided to rent her third floor office space and stick around to care for his sick Mom. Arlo is a great character, the idea that the child of hippie parents would decide at a young age to stay put and set down roots. Her relationship with the book club ladies is a nice aspect of the story as well. I see a triangle on the horizon that should prove entertaining for many mysteries to come.

When murder doesn't stay on the printed page...

I've read quite a few of author Amy Lillard's Amish romances as well as her Amish cozy mystery series, all of which I enjoyed, so when I discovered Can't Judge A Book By It's Murder both the author and that catchy title caught my eye.

Can't Judge A Book By It's Murder is everything a cozy mystery should be. And it has all of the required elements; a business owner who knows more about murder mysteries than policework, a loyal friend, law enforcement who would prefer to do their job without amateurs endangering themselves, a crazy pet, some quirky older ladies, some possible love interests, more suspects than you can shake a stick at, and, of course, a body.

Amy Lillard has a fun mystery story that could easily be a Hallmark movie. Trust me, I love those movies! It's a fairly light read and enjoyable. Perfect for a summer day at the beach or curling up under a fuzzy blanket in the winter. You'll like trying to sort through the suspects and guessing the killer's identity just as I did.

This book was what most would term a clean read but if you are super strict there are a few words and activities that may bother you a little.

If you are a cozy mystery fan or love southern fiction, check out Can't Judge A Book By Its Murder from Amy Lillard. It's the best of both genres...

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)

I thought this was a fun and interesting cozy mystery. I enjoyed the characters and the storyline. It held my attention from the first page until the last.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor.

A great and interesting mystery . I enjoyed it very much and loved the plot , the people were interesting and of course the mystery was first rate I believe others will enjoy it also . Can't wait for next mystery

Can't Judge a Book By Its Murder is the first book in the Main Street Book Club Mystery series. In Sugar Springs, Mississippi, Arlo Stanley and her best friend Chloe are the owners of Books & More. Books & More has finally had a great opportunity come up, Wally Harrison now a well known author but once town member of Sugar Springs has agreed to hold a book singing in the store. Everything was set to go according to plan, until the dead body of Wally Harrison ends up on the sidewalk outside of the bookstore.

What first appears as suicide is quickly determined to be murder, and Chloe is quickly brought into custody as she seems the most likely suspect of the murder.

What follows is the attempt by Arlo and her close friends to try to prove Chloe is innocent.

I am torn on how I feel about this book. I genuinely wanted to love it. The beginning of a series is always such a treat. I had a lot of issues with this title however. The book takes place in the Southern United States. What is interesting is the way in which the author doesn't just create a bucolic small town. She does show a lot of the flaws that might exist in a small Southern town. However, I am not sure how much of this is stereotyping or a legitimate portrayal of life in a Southern town. (I am Canadian, so I may be way off the mark on that)

There is also the potential for a future love triangle. If you love this trope then sticking with the series will bring you some joy. I am still on the fence if this is a trope I enjoy or not.

I think I will stick with this series to see if the writing and character development continues in future books.

Can't Judge a Book by its Murder by Amy Lillard is your typical small southern town cozy mystery. Complete with a smalltown bookshop. That has a book club in which the main attendants are three elderly ladies.
A murder leaves bookstore owner Arlo determined to clear her friend's name as the prime suspect whatever it takes. While I didn't enjoy this cozy as well as I have enjoyed others in the past I would still recommend it to other readers of cozies. I guess to me this book's small southern town setting was too stereotypical for my taste. I'm not saying that small town and the south don't have the stereotypical moments but for multiple stereotypes to end up in the same book it's a little much for me and I spent many summers in a small southern town.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

A mix of mystery and a little romance in this novel set in a small town in Mississippi. Bookstore owner Arlo and her best friend Chloe deal with the murder of Chloe's son's father outside their bookstore. Members of a book club help with the search for the killer. Meanwhile, Arlo struggles with her feelings about the town sheriff and a former boyfriend who's also returned to town and is participating in the book club. An interesting plot, but it was a bit too loose for my liking. The women who were part of the book club seemed to be one-dimensional, with little substance. I'd like to see supporting characters with a bit more pizzazz.

I am usually hesitant about the 'first' book in a series but I shouldn't have any qualms about reading this one. I thought the characters were interesting, the mystery will-written and loved reading a book set in my home state. I thought that I knew the guilty person but I had to keep reading just to make sure. I'm looking forward to watching the characters further develop relationship as this series progresses..

The action starts right on page when bookshop owner Arlo Stanley finds a dead body right outside her shop! Turns out, it's Wally Harrison, a former resident of Sugar Springs and now a popular author. When Arlo's business partner Chloe becomes the main suspect in Wally's murder, Arlo knows that she must do everything she can to prove Chloe's innocence.

I was so excited to get in on the start of this new series and the story did not disappoint me. As much as I enjoyed Arlo, I thought the three members of the store's book club where hysterical. And for a few extra funnies, the store has a resident parrot named Faulkner who likes to squawk out his own thoughts on what's going in.

I thought this was smartly written and very entertaining. Not one dull moment!

My thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for this ARC.

Can't Judge a Book By Its Murder
(Main Street Book Club Mysteries #1)
by Amy Lillard

Mass Market Paperback, 320 pages
Published October 29th 2019 by Poisoned Pen Press



Goodreads synopsis:
Not every murder is by the book…

As Sugar Springs gears up for its all-class high school reunion, Mississippi bookstore owner Arlo Stanley prepares to launch her largest event: a book-signing with the town’s legendary alum and bestselling author, Wally Harrison. That’s when Wally is discovered dead outside of Arlo’s front door and her best friend is questioned for the crime.

When the elderly ladies of Arlo’s Friday Night Book Club start to investigate, Arlo has no choice but to follow behind to keep them out of trouble. Yet with Wally’s reputation, the suspect list only grows longer—his betrayed wife, his disgruntled assistant, even the local man who holds a grudge from a long-ago accident.

Between running interference with the book club and otherwise keeping it all together, Arlo anxiously works to get Chloe out of jail. And amidst it all, her one-time boyfriend-turned-private-eye returns to town, just another distraction while she digs to uncover the truth around Wally’s death and just what Sugar Springs secret could have led to his murder.

***

4.5 Stars

Great start to a new series! I was hooked from the very beginning. I am excited to learn more about the Main Street Book Club and all its member as we dive into new books in the future.

The murder of the local author happened a good stretch into the book and Arlo’s best friend, Chloe is put into jail. It is up to Arlo and the Main Street Book Club to get her out and prove her innocence. AT first the suspect list seems nil. Then as they dig into Wally’s past they realize that some of their own have a few secrets they don’t want to get out and are willing to kill to keep quiet.

I was enthralled the entire way through. Although, I need more of the town and people. I want to feel like I lived there and knew everyone. I kinda felt like I was just there to solve a crime. I need it to make me feel more like I am home. And that request is just a niggle in the larger scheme of things. I just dig this setting and cast. I am ready for book 2!

If you love a good cozy mystery, definitely check this one out!

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

This book was ok. I liked the plot and some of the characters. The problem I had is the writing style. There is too much filler. The author tends to ramble on about things that do not further the story at all. If you cut all of that out it would be about half the book. Sorry that is just a pet peeve of mine.

Not a bad first entry in a series but not my favorite. I could take or leave Arlo, but I really liked all the book club characters, shenanigans and all. The actual mystery was alright, I do like that we hit the ground running with the plot but sometimes the time line was difficult to nail down. I would definitely read the next book in the series.

Arlo Stanley has been juggling preparations for her high school reunion with a book-signing event for a famous local writer. However, her plans are derailed when the bestselling author, Wally Harrison, is found dead in front of her bookstore. The police suspect foul play and all evidence points to one person: Arlo’s best friend and coworker, Chloe. But Arlo knows better and soon she and the other members of the Friday Night Book Club are off on their own investigation to unmask the real killer.

A small town practically oozing charm. Quirky denizens around every corner. A book club hellbent on solving a murder. What could be better?

Author Amy Lillard has crafted a powerful first book in a new cozy mystery series, and much of this success rests on bookshop proprietor, Arlo. Lillard opens on just another day in the world of book selling, with Arlo ready to tackle a book signing. Unfortunately, as is the curse of all cozy protagonist, she immediately stumbles across a dead body and tumbles into sleuth-mode to track down a murderer. Fortunately, she’s more than capable—smart, funny, and inquisitive without making overly rash decisions, she remains grounded enough to think the complete puzzle through.

This results in a mystery that takes some time to ramp up. It’s a slow burn, carefully building a case until the last few pulse-pounding chapters. Arlo does have a compelling reason to become involved. After all, the police suspect her best friend, which doesn’t mesh with her view of Chloe. And there’s already plenty of tension between her and the local sheriff and a private investigator. But there’s a deep satisfaction in her commitment not to unnecessarily rush into things. Rather, after some light discovery and general gossip, the temptation is too great and she knows she has something to add to the case.

However, that’s not to suggest there’s ever a dull moment. Sugar Springs, Mississippi is packed with great characters who populate Arlo’s bookstore, primarily the members of the Friday Night Book Club. An eclectic group, they add some wacky but realistic levity while also adding to the overall mystery—including their own unorthodox investigation methods. Lillard expertly ties every plotline back to the overall mystery, so even the mild side romances and club discussions propel the plot forward. No words are wasted, making every moment worthwhile.

Funny with a solid mystery, Can’t Judge a Book By Its Murder sets off Lillard’s newest series to a solid start.

I loved this Cozy Mystery!! I am so happy to have a new cozy series! I love cozies and is glad this one did not disappoint!

Oh, boy. I wanted to like this one, I really, really did. But, boy. This was not the book for me. The characters were unlikeable and unrealistic and the plot was forced.

This was a fabulous beginning to a brand new series!

Mississippi bookstore owner Arlo Stanley has an upcoming high school reunion to organise and is preparing to launch her largest event: a book-signing with the town’s legendary bestselling author, Wally Harrison. Early one morning, Arlo is called down to the bookshop by the police: a body had been found at the front door of Arlo’s bookshop -Books and More- and her best friend and co-worker Chloe has been arrested as the main suspect. The victim is none other than Wally Harrison. When the elderly ladies of Arlo’s Friday Night Book Club start to investigate, Arlo has no choice but to involve herself as well, to keep them out of trouble. As Arlo works to get Chloe out of jail, her boyfriend-turned-private-eye returns to the small town of Sugar Springs.

As is usual in a new series, this first book sets up the recurring characters and the small-town setting. Amy Lillard’s descriptions of the setting were impressive and the pacing was spot on. There was always plenty going on and there was certainly never a dull moment!

Amy Lillard, a seasoned romance writer, clearly knows how to write a story that is compelling, entertaining and fun, with characters that I grew to love. Although it was a wee bit slow in the beginning, the author’s characterisation was brilliant. I really enjoyed Arlo and the Friday Night Book Club members' shenanigans. Arlo was feisty and fearless and Arlo's ex, Sam, provided vibrancy and zest. All of the characters had a great part to play, whether or not they were likeable and all had plenty of audacity and spirit.

The plot was brilliantly executed and I was desperate to find out what was going to happen next. With Wally’s reputation, the suspect list was a long one; his betrayed wife; his disgruntled assistant; even a local who held a grudge from a long-ago accident. The combination of description and dialogue was great and I had plenty of opportunities to play armchair detective as the story progressed. I was definitely surprised with the final denouement.

All in all, I loved this fascinating mystery and I highly recommend this humorous, easy to read cozy. I am already looking forward to reading the next book in the series. A well-deserved five stars!

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley at my request and this review is my own unbiased opinion.