Excellent cozy mystery! It definitely kept me guessing. I mean, I thought I had things figured out but...yeah, I was not even close. And then you add in the wonderful cast of characters. So good.

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

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

This is one of my favorite “bookish” cozy mystery series, with each one being better than the preceding. The characters are so well-defined that they pop from the pages, I love the gorgeous New England setting, and the mystery kept me guessing. It was a bonus to be reminded of the Fire and Ice festival of the prior year (Murder in the First Edition). The addition of the sweet pup Addie dog sits for added a touch of sweetness and fun.

Greyborne Harbor is preparing for the post-Christmas Fire and Ice festival that tourists and locals love. The fire is a huge bonfire held the last night of the festival in which all used Christmas trees are burned on the beach, and the ice is the huge ice sculpture competition that is gaining national attention.

While preparing for the festival, Addie’s friend Gloria fell off her ladder and needed hip replacement surgery. Martha, one of Gloria’s best friends, volunteered Addie to take care of her pup, Pippi. She has never had a pet before, so she is very concerned about doing the right thing. When Martha took her to Gloria’s to pick up the pup’s food and toys, they saw a book on the bedside that Paige, Martha’s daughter and Addie’s assistant manager, loaned her. Addie recognized it as a first edition, and in the present condition, it was worth about twenty-five thousand dollars. When Gloria was ready to read it, Addie went to her house to pick it up, and it was gone.

Addie had invited her cousin, Kalea, to stay with her in the home she inherited from her great aunt. She gave her a job at the bookstore to help her get on her feet. Kalea decides she doesn’t have to work to get a paycheck when she meets and spends time with a mystery man. She even tells the guy that the house belongs to her, and he had been looking at some of the rare, valuable books that were part of the collection that Addie’s great aunt had. She even told her new boyfriend that Addie was the one who needed a hand up to get back on a stable footing!

One morning when going into the bookstore, Addie finds a body in the alley behind Martha’s bakery. It is Paige’s ex-boyfriend, the father of her daughter. He had brought his latest girlfriend to Greyborne Harbor to meet Paige’s daughter…and to demand custody of her. The police have their eye on three people as prime suspects – Paige, her father Ken, in town for a few days, and Martha. Martha once disliked Addie, and they have since become friends, especially sharing one of their frustration relievers, gingerbread men. Despite their rocky introduction, Addie doesn’t believe Martha would kill anybody, nor would Paige. Could Addie go back to sleuthing to help get Martha out of jail before she is railroaded into murder? Do the missing book and murder have anything to do with each other?

The author designs her characters thoroughly, introducing and defining them as necessary for their roles. It amazes me how Addie and Martha have become good enough friends for Addie to be willing to go the distance to help get her out of jail. Martha is quite a personable lady once she likes someone, and having her daughter and granddaughter living with her has helped.

What a delicious mystery! If only I had some gingerbread men while enjoying this book! Watching Addie prepare her white board with facts and suspects, it was easy to see how the police lined up the clues to point to Martha, so Addie had her hands full trying to figure it out. Even with the help of her boyfriend Simon, the local surgeon and coroner, it was quite the challenge. I am happy to say that after chasing an excellent red herring, I did figure out who the killer was, with an idea what the motive was. The end was very satisfying, with all loose ends tied up. I highly recommend A Page Marked for Murder and this series!

Cleverly written story. If you are into mystery books then this book won’t disappoint you at all. You’ll enjoy it. It is a one time read but trust me you won’t be disappointed.
The review is my own.

A Page Marked for Murder by Lauren Elliott is the 5th A Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery. This cozy mystery can be read as a standalone if you are new to the series or if you have missed a book or two. Addie Greystone owns Beyond the Page, a bookstore and curio shop in Greystone Harbor. She is fortunate to have Paige Stringer as her shop assistant (she is also referenced as store manager). Without Paige, Addie would not be able to run around town solving crimes (I am curious as to how she can afford two employees). I had mixed feelings about A Page Marked for Murder. There are some parts that I liked and other parts that I could have done without. I love the descriptions of the bookstore, the book references, Gloria’s adorable dog, and Addie’s Victorian home. The death of Brett Palmer has misdirection and a handful of suspects. I liked that the murder weapon was a curiosity. I wish it had been as challenging to identify the guilty party. I could have done with less speculation and time spent rehashing the case details. The story could have used action to liven things up (would have helped the with the pacing as well). I appreciated that the whodunit was wrapped up without leaving any lingering questions. I do think it is time for Marc Chandler, the chief of police, to get past his issues with Addie. Addie takes care of Gloria McBride’s Yorkipoo, Pippi who sounds adorable. I am beginning to think, however, that I am the only person to leave my dogs at home (or without a babysitter) when I go out to run errands. I thought it was sweet that Pippi needed her teddy bear, Baxter to sleep peacefully. Dr. Simon Emerson and Addie’s relationship is developing and going in a positive direction. Kalea Hudson, Addie’s cousin, is still living with Addie and sort of working at the bookstore. Kalea is up to something and neglecting her duties. Addie needs bite the bullet and to talk to Kalea. I am hoping that we will see less of Kalea in the next book. I do not like Kalea or her attitude. I keep hoping Kalea will learn a lesson, but I do not see that happening. While A Page Marked for Murder was not a home run for me, I am looking forward to reading Under the Cover of Murder when it comes out in the spring. A Page Marked for Murder is a curious cozy mystery with a bear named Baxter, a cutie of a canine, a mystifying murder weapon, a valuable volume, a prisoned parent, and one stumped sleuth.

This is the first book of Lauren Elliott's that I have read and I really enjoyed it. It didn't take long for me to get into the story and to figure out who all the characters were and what they do in the book. Right from the word go, there was action and it didn't stop until the end of the book. And I really appreciated how the second of the two mysteries was also cleared up before the end of the book. I seriously hate cliff hangers.

The plot was really clever and I thought the murder weapon itself was ingenious. From the beginning, you could see everything start to come together. You could see all of the puzzle pieces just not where they went.

I loved how even the animals had a role in the story. It just seems to make the characters more human. Addie seems like a really sweet person. Loved Martha and Paige. Could NOT stand Addie's cousin. If I had family pull what she pulled oh my gosh she would probably be in the hospital and I would probably be in jail lol. Lord Have Mercy.

I really liked Simon and I even liked Marc. I have to say though, you can still tell that Marc has feelings for Addie even after their relationship ended. They might still be bittersweet, but they're there.

Lots of emotions to this mystery. A lot of times, I was filled with a desire to punch a few people. I didn't feel sorry at all for the character that killed...honestly good riddance. I felt more sympathy for who killed him. I seriously hope they don't end up in prison in the next book. I can't wait to see how everything works out.

I did admittedly, get a tad confused towards the ending when everything kind of came swirling in all at once. However, everything worked out the way I thought it should except for how Addie dealt with her Cousin. It did make her come off as a bit weak. No, I don't think forgiving someone is weak. I think letting them get away with what they're doing to you is weak. I didn't care how it seemed like she could continue lying and still get away with it even after the truth was revealed. However, I am hoping that the author will have something to play out in the next book because of it.

Overall, a wonderful read. I will be reading more of Lauren Elliott's books. I really did enjoy this one quite a bit.

I received this ARC through NetGalley to be read and reviewed. Any opinions are mine and mine alone.

A very well written cozy mystery. Good plot and character dynamics. Fans of mysteries will not be disappointed. I received an ebook from the publisher and Netgalley. This is my unbiased review.

Thanks to Kensington Books & NetGalley for a digital advance reader's copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own.

This was #5 in the series but the first one for me and it can be read as a standalone. Taking place right after Christmas, there is still snow and a celebratory "Fire and Ice Festival" to cap the holidays (ice carvings and Christmas tree burning)! Addie is the amateur sleuth and bookstore owner who tries to find the true murderer when long-time town resident Martha is arrested as the only suspect in the murder of her ex-son-in-law, whose body is found behind Martha's bakery. Lots of characters to keep track of, a little romance between Addie and her new boyfriend Simon (the town's coroner), several suspicious characters, and a sweet Yorkipoo puppy named Pippi.

A quick and easy read, this was a believable, clue-filled mystery with a satisfying ending.

4.5 stars

A visit to Greybourne Harbor is like a visit home. When I open a book in this series I feel as if I am falling into comfort and am guaranteed for the next few hours I can escape. Elliott does the most wonderful job of describing the atmosphere in the town. My favorite time visiting is in the winter. The beauty of the snow...aah.

This is the fifth book in the series and we get to know more about Paige and her mother Martha. If you have followed the series you know Martha is pretty grouchy. In this installment, you will come to understand her more and by the end I really liked Martha. We learn how strong family bonds are and what happens when those bonds are threatened.

Even though the author does an excellent job of giving background on who is who I heavily suggest reading this series in order. If this is your thought of delving into the series what other perfect time than now to treat yourself to the entire series. The covers alone are beautiful. I would love to make wall art out of them for my library.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Kensington Books, through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.

For shop owner and amateur sleuth Addie, it's, find a body, solve a crime. Isn't that the way all bookstore keepers react? A Page Marked For Murder is a compelling story filled with beguiling characters, eloquent descriptions, and evidence that will add up, eventually, as well as a mystery for the ages. Is there anything more poignant than a suspect who doesn't have an alibi but has every reason to commit a crime? This isn't Addie's first murder. She was hoping that she would never again experience the fear, pain, and curiosity that an investigation into the untimely death of a human can bring. But here she is, back on the trail of a killer.

The main suspects are all viable; each has a legitimate motive. Even though it seems that all of the suspects have alibi's, except one, is this really the case? As an amateur sleuth, Addie faces issues; namely, she can't ask the questions a detective can or force people to give her answers. With a bookstore to run, friends being accused of murder, and a slew of interruptions and distractions, it isn't easy to get to the bottom of the case. But as she has in the past, Addie finds a way to get the information she needs to catch the killer and prove her friend innocent.

A Page Marked For Murder is a calm, easy to read book that will hold the reader's attention. The plot moves swiftly, conversations are tantalizing and, in many cases, heartwarming. There is enough backstory to keep readers informed and eager to learn more without the need to go back and read the other books in the series. Addie is a caring person who is willing to use her amateur sleuthing to work if it means helping a friend. This makes her a warm, generous, and appealing heroine that readers will love. The bookstore is described so that you can visualize it while reading and desire to spend a few hours pursuing the shelves.

This is a wonderful cozy mystery from A Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery Series. Addy is a very inquisitive bookstore owner who wants to find out why her employee's ex-husband was murdered and why. Addy also knows that the main suspect is innocent and tries to prove it by getting information from a witness that doesn't want to get involved with the police. The murder revolves around the book "The Secret Garden" worth $25,000 so Addy naturally wants to find out why it is important to the case. The tension between Addy, the amateur sleuth, and the detective in charge of the case adds a dimension of intrigue to the story. There were so many red herrings in this story that I was completely surprised at the end to find out whodunnit and why. I enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading more of the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

A fast paced, who done it, centered around a special book and difficult family dynamics. When the body is discovered behind the local shop, a fellow shop owner is suspect and Addie needs to work on proving her innocence. There is always a well developed mystery story that unravels in each of the Beyond the Page Bookstore mysteries and this one is no different. I enjoy getting to know the characters better with each story and being entertained until the last page! This is another story not to be missed!

When I read the first "Beyond the Page" book, I was not very impressed. However, as the series has progressed, I've found that the story development and character development has improved significantly. Much more complexity in the characters and also somewhat better story lines. This episode features a missing valuable book, a murder, along with conflicts between Addie (the main character) and her cousin who is clearly still getting her act together. Also included is the continuing romance of Addie and her doctor boyfriend. All set in a winter scene in New England. A very enjoyable read!

Review Addie Greyborne is hard at work sleuthing again in Lauren Elliott's fifth book of the Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery series!

Greyborne Harbor is celebrating the Fire and Ice festival, known for its large scale celebrations involving a fireworks display and ice carving competition. Addie's friend, Gloria, takes a large tumble from a ladder while setting up the festival, causing Addie to have to dog-sit Gloria's adorable miniature Yorkipoo, Pippi. While helping Gloria, Addie notices a highly valuable copy of The Secret Garden at Gloria's house. Upon a further visit, Addie notices it missing and begins to question whether her friend really had an accident after all.

As readers of the previous books will know, Martha is the unshakable owner of the bakery next door to Addie's bookstore... unshakeable, that is, until a body is discovered behind the bakery and our dear Martha has no solid alibi. Addie quickly jumps on the case, wanting to help not only Martha but her daughter, Paige, Addie's dependable employee and store manager. Can Addie help find the evidence needed to release Martha from police suspicion or is this case too much for our ardent amateur sleuth?

Readers will delight in Elliott's character stories and arcs as she brings new layers to old friends. I particularly enjoy the time Elliott takes to craft backstories for each character, making it seem like we, the reader, are just as much a part of the small town of Greyborne Harbor as they are. In doing so, Elliott evoked emotion from me as the story progressed, often sharing the same frustrations or empathetic feelings as our protagonist.

This fifth installment of the series is my favorite to-date with the mysteries presented and the character dialogue and interactions. Elliott introduced one of my new favorite townspeople of Greyborne Harbor, Bill, and continues to write Addie's cousin, Kalea, so well that I cannot help but love hating her.

A Page Marked for Murder is a very fun read, laced with emotional highs and lows. Keeping this review very spoiler free, I cannot wait to see where the next book takes our citizens of Greyborne Harbor. If you've read and loved Elliott's previous novels and adore her characters as much as I do this is surely one you cannot miss!

A Page Marked for Murder by Lauren Elliott was a joy to read for me as her heroine and super sleuth, Addie, is a wholesome, hardworking book shop owner whose instincts are solid. I love that she is kind, clever and firm all at the same time. The story unfolds at the town ice-carving competition when a friend falls off a ladder and she winds up caring for the friend's dog. She discovers a dead body behind the shop next door and the owner, her assistant's mother, is taken in for questioning and lands in jail. The characters are vibrant with her boyfriend, Simon, her bookstore assistant, Paige, and the town homeless guy, Bob. If you are looking for an intriguing cozy mystery full of all the right stuff, this one is for you. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to preview this book for my review.

I am really enjoying this series about Addie Greyborne who owns a bookstore and thanks to all those mystery books she loves to read, she has discovered a knack for solving mysteries in her New England hometown. This is a fun series with a lot of great characters. This particular mystery had me stumped and I look forward to reading more books by this author.

Lauren Elliott unfolds A Page Marked for Murder in another Beyond the Page Bookstore murder. Addy Greyborne, owner of the bookstore is searching for a missing First Edition and dog sitting for a friend while another family friend is arrested for murder. Disfunctional families, a cousin who is malingering on the job and rotten weather, all in the mix as Addy follows the clues. Read and enjoy.

Cozy mystery series often have a pleasing formula and the Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery series is no exception. The key elements are murder paired with a missing and/or stolen literary artifact that would interest antiquarians. In A Page Marked for Murder a first edition of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s perennially popular children’s book, The Secret Garden, disappears.

The convoluted plot requires many moving pieces to set up the story. Heroine Addie Greyborne’s older friend Gloria takes a tumble from a ladder and ends up in the hospital. Addie volunteers—or should I say “is volunteered”—to babysit Gloria’s precious baby Pippi, an intelligent and lovable dog. Addie and Martha, another friend of Gloria’s, go to her house to gather Pippi’s favorite necessities. Addie spots The Secret Garden on Gloria’s bedside table: she’s an expert at evaluating old books and one look at the title page confirms her suspicion that it’s very valuable. Martha says the book belongs to her daughter Paige Stringer, the assistant manager at Addie’s Beyond the Page bookstore.

“Does Paige know it’s a 1911 first edition?”



“I don’t know. It’s just some old book her useless father left her when he ran away from us when she was about three.”



“Martha”—Addie snapped her mouth shut and stared at the woman—“this old book is worth about twenty-five thousand dollars.”



“What?” Martha’s hand flew to her chest.



Addie feared the older woman would keel over right then and there.

Two deadbeat dads connected to Martha and Paige are in Greyborne Harbor ostensibly to attend the popular Fire and Ice Festival. Brett Palmer, “Emma’s no-good father,” is in the house (Emma is Paige’s young daughter) as is Ken Stringer, Martha’s ex, the father of her five daughters. Emma’s father, Brett, is found dead in the snow behind Martha’s bakery.

Martha, the bakery owner, has no alibi—and has been seen in a heated argument with the victim. And the next thing Addie knows, that first edition has gone missing. Is there a connection between the body and the treasured tome?

Martha, Paige’s prickly and protective mother, is arrested for Brett’s murder. Addie is sure Martha is innocent and sets to work to find the real killer. Addie’s methods of crime-solving are old school—masking tape and brown paper—but they work for her.

This very paper had come in handy in the past, and it didn’t take her long to fix a sheet by all four corners to the wall on the left side of her fireplace. After a quick search through the top drawer of her aunt’s antique desk, she found a black felt-tipped marker and was ready to roll.

She sets up two columns, one headed by Murder and the other Book. It’s a stream-of-consciousness delineation of the crime (i.e. Victim involved in two very public family disagreements—Brett, Martha, Ken Stringer) but it’s a method that has proven successful, so she runs with it. As is often the case, Addie’s crime-solving skills are not always appreciated by the police, particularly her former beau, Greyborne Harbor’s Chief of Police Marc Chandler. The tension between a gifted amateur detective and the local police is reminiscent of the long-running Aurora Teagarden Hallmark Mystery series starring Candace Cameron Bure. Aurora is a librarian, not a bookseller, but close enough.

“Imagine my surprise at discovering you at yet another scene that involves a dead body,” Marc said, planting his hands on his hips. “Tell me, Addie, is this all part of your magnetic personality or do you go looking for bodies?”



She rubbed the top of her throbbing head but didn’t know what to say. He was right, not so much about the magnetic personality bit, but about her having been at the scene of most every dead body discovered in Greyborne Harbor during the past two years.

Who would think a quaint New England town would be such a magnet for murder. Unless Addie’s the magnet? A bookstore owner with her fingers on the pulse of the community is not unknown in cozy mysteries but Addie has a rather chequered past. Her fiancé was murdered, as was her father. Addie also had a relationship with the chief of police although she is now happily involved with Simon, a trauma surgeon and the local coroner. In other words, Addie is a typical thirty-something, blessed with a career, close friends, and a delightful boyfriend. She also has a professional background that lends itself to solving mysteries.

However, she smiled to herself as she hopped over a snowbank by the library parking lot. He never said she shouldn’t use her wicked research skills on the computer, did he? She had the Earth mapping app, and she had an online catalogue of ancient weaponry from when she worked at the Boston Library and the British Museum. She put her head down and forged through the park. It was time to go twenty-first-century sleuthing.

It’s the mixture of “twenty-first-century sleuthing” and old-fashioned methods that make Lauren Elliott’s Beyond the Page Bookstore mysteries shine. Addie comes up with the perfect metaphor to describe the intertwining of murder and a valuable book: “It was though she had the puzzle pieces from two different boxes dumped on a table and mixed together.” Readers, enjoy the challenge of determining which clever clues go “with the book mystery puzzle or the murder puzzle,” because the solution is quite opaque.

A Page Marked for Murder by Lauren Elliott is the fifth in the Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery series. This is one of my favorite series.
Elliott gives plenty of plot twists in this easy to read Cozy mystery. There are two mysteries in the story as well as romance, friendship, humor, and family. I love most of the characters and the setting. The new female detective, a former FBI agent is annoying though. That being said, this latest in the series will have you guessing to the end. I am already waiting for the next in the series.
I was given an ARC by Kensington and NetGalley for an honest review.

A Page Marked For Murder is the fifth book in Beyond the Page Bookstore Mysteries. I have not read the other books in the series, but that didn’t deter me from enjoying this book.

The author introduces the characters in such a way that not having read the books that came before didn’t matter. Immediately a reader is attuned to the quirks and personalities of the residents of Grayborne Harbor. I must admit my heart fell in love with Pippi, the small dog that is dropped straight into this mystery right away. I could resonate with Addy, the main character, and her apprehension of taking on her friend Gloria’s small pet, after Gloria’s supposed accident, for even a short time. Adding this little pup was icing on the cake to the story.

I must admit I wasn’t sure while reading the first couple of chapters, though interesting, if it would hold my attention. However, soon I was forgetting about time and the world outside. The author draws you into the book and its mystery with her smooth writing style.

I found myself rooting for Bill, the homeless man, and wanting to help Addy give her cousin Kalea her comeuppance. The romantic relationship between Addy and Simon works, as does the never-wavering friendship between Paige and Addy.  It is a treat to read because of a solid cast of characters that keep you guessing as to who brought murder to this small community. The beautiful cover enticed me to pick it up, the characters invited me to stay, and the mystery left me wanting more in this series.

In this instalment, Addie has to help clear Martha (a neighbour that has never liked Addie) from being murder suspect number one when a dead body shows up on Martha’s doorstep. The victim just happens to be Martha's daughter's ex-boyfriend and he was seen arguing with Martha, so she has lots of motive for wanting him dead.

I really enjoyed the murder mystery in this story. The solution was a bit unexpected and the “reveal” was quite different than most cozy mysteries, which was a nice surprise.

Alongside the murder, the rare copy of The Secret Garden that Paige owns is worth around $25,000 and it’s now missing. The search for the book and it’s possible relevancy to the murder case plays nicely alongside the murder. The solution to the missing book mystery also had a surprising ending and was also solved in a very satisfying way.

However, there are a couple of characters that have been added to the series that have proven to be extremely annoying. First is Addie’s cousin, Kalea. This freeloading moocher is beyond annoying and I just really need Addie to put her foot down and kick her out. I knew she was trouble when she first came into Addie’s life and she’s definitely proving to be as much trouble as I expected.

However, Kalea is nothing compared to Police Chief Marc (Addie’s ex-boyfriend) and his new “relationship.” The “retired’ FBI agent, Ryley Brookes, who is now a police detective, is ten times more annoying than Kalea. When she was introduced in the last book, I that I thought it might be a conflict of interest that she was working with Marc and romancing him at the same time. I guess things like this are overlooked in a small town. I’m extra annoyed when the police officer is a woman and her main (or only) reason to be rude to the main character is that she’s jealous (yes, it comes up a lot in these books). And this is exactly what seems to be happening here. I absolutely can’t stand Ryley Brookes.

To balance out my annoyance, Addie continues to be one of my favourite amateur cozy sleuths. I also really like Addie’s boyfriend, Simon. Simon is a solid, supporting influence on her and I really like them as a couple. Overall, Kalea and Ryle couldn't take away my enjoyment of Addie's sleuthing skills and the rest of the characters in the story. I'm looking forward to the next one in the series.

*** Thank you to the publisher, Kensington Books, for providing me with an advanced e-copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.