I recently discovered the genre of cozy murder mysteries and this just hit the spot. It was a quick read, finished in one setting. I enjoyed the writing style and will definitely be picking up more from this author in the future.

Addie is getting ready for her best friend's wedding, which will occur on a yacht. There's lots of conflict between the bride and her future mother-in-law, who wants to run the show. And, just before the big day, a man's body is found on the beach, and it threatens to ruin the entire event.

I'm having trouble keeping track of the changing relationships in this series. It seems like some characters (e.g., Addie's cousin) are "good guys" in this book, but were not so good in the past. It seemed like we were asked to just accept that without much of an explanation. And, I still don't really see a lot of romance between Addie and her doctor boyfriend. It was a lot more interesting when she was dating the police chief.

I've always felt this series was a bit lukewarm, but there is potential there. Some of the books have shown promise in that direction, but I think this one was not very impressive.

It's wedding time for Addie's best friend, Serena, and love is in the air. Unfortunately, so is murder. Addie must try and solve the murder at the same time as attending to the bride. Can she do it?

I am not ashamed to admit that the first book in the series had me going "eh, I'm just not sure". Now I am like hurry up with the next one. The sixth installment was a fast and entertaining read. I did not want to stop reading. The ending has me on the edge of my seat for the next one. I can't say much as I don't want to give anything away.

I enjoy how I learn so much about old books, the care for them, and the history behind them. It has made me appreciate some more that I may have never given a second look.

This is definitely a cozy mystery series but it is meatier than some. The covers are always phenomenal and I am seriously thinking about how to make them artwork in my library.

I suggest you read in order for the background of each character. Clean reads.

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

Another excellent edition to a wonderful series! Full of twists and turns that leaves you wanting more and enjoying each moment until the end when the killer is caught!

Hasn't enough gone wrong? Addie Greyborne's best friend, Serena, is getting married today on a sumptuous yacht. Even though her imperious MIL-to-be has changed nearly all of her cherished plans for a dream wedding, Serena cherishes her fiancé more, and looks forward to a honeymoon amongst the tea shops in London.

Addie has taken time off from her beloved store, Beyond The Page Books and Curios, to attend to her friend and attend the wedding. Although she has twisted her ankle and wrenched her neck in the course of saving a dress from roadway ruin, she hopes to have time o luxuriate in the huge library on the yacht, which appears to be stuffed with the kind of rare books that are both her area of expertise and her passion.

Well, one of her passions. Serena's brother, police chief Marc Chandler, is another. But why is he interrupting the pre-wedding tasks and summoning Addie to the police station now? Did he catch her ... jaywalking?

No. There's this matter of an unidentified dead man washing up on shore, dressed in a uniform that's not-quite the same as the ones the staff wear on the yacht. The only clue to his identity is a torn-off corner from a book. Marc hopes that Addie can identify the age and provenance of that shred of paper, given her bibliographic expertise.

However, Addie's attention to the paper and the library will be split amongst all the other issues and characters who populate these pages. For example, is this death related to the sudden, subsequent disappearance of Marc's former girlfriend - (His very annoying former girlfriend) - who is also found dead?

If you think that cozy mysteries are simplistic and easy to solve, this delightful cozy will disabuse you of those notions. These are complex characters with some distressingly-messy backstories, chefs and clients whose relationships may be more tangled than ramen, determined reporters whose snooping may have uncovered long and pedigreed greed amongst the library's book covers, and descriptions of food that will nearly distract you from the deadly tale.

Readers who have followed this series may pout a bit at the lack of scenes in the bookstore and tea shop. (I did.) I hope that the next episode will yield new tea treats! Until then, enjoy this one.

(p.s. Kudos to the fictional designer of the fancy dresses in this wedding that include pockets! And, I'm off to get some of that Toasted Nut Brûlée oolong tea from Plum Deluxe!)

Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read an early copy of this book to review.

Under the Cover of Murder by Lauren Elliott is book 6 in the A Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery series. This series is one of my favorites.
This time Addie is the maid of honor at Serena's wedding. The wedding is taking place on a huge yacht owned by the grooms family with a large guest list. The day of the wedding, a body washes ashore with a piece of page from a rare book. Addie is asked to investigate the book. Luckily, the wedding goes off with no problems and the bride and groom are off on their honeymoon. The next morning before the guests can leave the yacht, another body is found in the water. The yacht is now on lock down while the police investigate.
There are plenty of suspects and plot twists. The main characters are likeable. There is romance and friendship.
I could not put it down.
I was given an ARC by Kingsington via NetGalley for an honest review.

Under the Cover of Murder, the sixth book in Lauren Elliott’s Beyond the Page Bookstore cozy mystery series, is a smart, fun novel that pays homage to Agatha Christie’s locked room mystery trope.

Addie Greyborne’s best friend Serena is getting married aboard her fiance’s family yacht. With such a picturesque setting, what could go wrong? Before the ceremony can occur, a body washes ashore, putting a damper on the festivities. And following the nuptials, a second body, that of one of the wedding guests, is discovered. The police quickly lock down the yacht, forcing the wedding goers to remain in place while the investigation is conducted. Are the murders connected? Addie enlists her friends Catherine and Paige to help her find out.

Surprisingly, in a story centered on a wedding, the nuptials of Serena and Zach are decidedly downplayed. In my opinion, this is a good thing, as that is the only part of the story that drags. The mystery itself is superb, with so many intertwining suspects and clues, that it really keeps you thinking. And with Serena off on her honeymoon, Addie’s reliance on Catherine and Paige was a pleasant surprise. Catherine, especially, brings a fresh and interesting viewpoint to the story.

All told, Under the Cover of Murder is well-crafted, intriguing, puzzle of a mystery that will keep you turning pages until the satisfying conclusion.

Note: I received an ARC of Under the Cover of Murder from NetGalley and Kensington Books. The above is my honest review.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
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Title: Under The Cover For Murder
Author: Lauren Elliot
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What would you do if you discovered a dead body on the day of your best friend's wedding? Would you stay as far as possible from it or would you pull a Nancy Drew and look for the killer? Addie Greyborne decides to do some sleuthing when the body of an unfamiliar man washes up on the shore of the wedding venue. However, the situation gets tense when another body of a guest is discovered the very next day. All guests are forced to stay on the yacht so Addie channels her inner Poirot and goes on a hunt for clues.

A locked door type of mystery, this sixth installment in the Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery promises some exciting and delicious mystery waiting to be solved. "Killer can be anyone, forced to stay inside" mysteries just have a charm of their own. The frightening fact that the killer is within those people doubles the action— the kind that creeps up on you and refuses to leave until the mystery is solved.
This book was an exciting read for me. I mean there were two murders— more the merrier, right? Wrong! Stakes have risen and a dangerous atmosphere permeates. But I have to admit, the edge in the situation makes you feel reckless while you're reading.

Even though there seem to be no direct connections to the mysteries in all the installments, I think it's the one where reading the previous ones introduces you to characters and relationships. I struggled a little on that aspect while reading and found it a little difficult to connect with the characters.
Some moments seemed a little unrealistic, like when Addie eavesdropping to find clues. It seemed as if Addie only got lucky most of the time. And I also found it a little hard to digest how the mystery was solved at the end.
Though the numerous characters (meaning, more suspects~), interconnected relationships, twist, and turns were a plus to the read. It was fun catching up with all of it.
The book ends on a positive note and would recommend it if you're looking for an exciting mystery, a bunch of suspicious characters, and apprehensive sleuthing with a sigh-happy ending.

This is the sixth book in the Beyond the page Bookstore mystery series.

Addie's best friend Serena and her fiancé Zach’s big day has finally arrived!! They are getting married on his family's luxury yacht, currently moored in the town's harbor. A few hours before the wedding, the body of a man who no one recognizes washes up on the beach. The wedding proceeds as planned but, the next day, the body of a guest is found on the beach. While the murders are being investigated, the wedding guests are forced to stay on the yacht for a few days, and Addie decides to do some sleuthing on her own.

I enjoyed the characters and the storyline. This is a cute cozy mystery series!

Addie Greybourne is what one might refer to as a busybody but can she really help it if she finds herself in the wrong place at the right time? Stuck on a yacht with some questionable people and without Simon, Addie must #1 solve a crime #2 solve a murder #3 not get herself hurt in the process. Serena's big day goes off with a few hitches, namely a pushy Stepmom in Law with a highly questionable background, fancy title or not. If you are not familiar with this series, let me start by saying that Addie is like a pit bull, a very cute, very smart, pit bull. She knows her stuff, which the local law needs to remember...and she has a very inquisitive mind. You cannot help but to be enthralled with her rare book knowledge or to "heavy sigh" about her relationship with Simon. Yep, team Simon all the way, and looking forward to when Addie can say those words that we are all wanting to hear including Simon LOL. So, we have a crew of questionable characters, and some of them are actually members of the crew. So many sneaky people on this boat that you begin to wonder who isn't up to no good. Loads of clues and just as many red herrings! Good thing that Serena was off on her honeymoon or I am sure she would have lost it even more.

Best in the series so far. Under the Cover of Murder, sixth in the series, takes place on a yacht. I've been reading this series from the beginning and was so pleased with this book. The others (well, books 2 through 5) just weren't as good, to me anyway. This one keeps things "cozy." Addie is much calmer in this book, not always flying off the handle arguing with people and acting like a child. The team of Addie, Catherine, and Paige was much more enjoyable than her sleuthing with others (such as Serena). Finally, Addie is becoming likeable. I've enjoyed her interaction with Officer Jerry. Hopefully we learn more about him. I'm happy to see Marc relaxing some (and getting rid of the ex-FBI lady). I've been a fan of the Marc character since the beginning and would like to see him continuing to work with Addie. They both are maturing individually; they seem to be finally understanding where the other is coming from (he's understanding her personal issues and she's understanding his position as Chief and how that shapes his behavior). I'm glad to see that Pippi will be in future installments. Good job, Ms. Elliott for getting this ship on course (pun intended).

This was a little different than the previous books in the series, but I liked it. The setting where no one could leave. The killer was a surprise at the end. Can't wait to read more!

Under the Cover of Murder by Lauren Elliott is the 6th A Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery. This is not a standalone novel. A new reader will not know the various characters and their relationships. While I enjoy the setting of Greyborne Harbor, you can only have so many murders in one small town. I like that we get a change of venue in this book plus it is a good way to keep all the parties in one place. I enjoyed the vivid descriptions of the opulent yacht plus the clothing of the wedding party and the fantastic library. The whodunit was interesting with multiple suspects and misdirection. I like how books were incorporated into the whodunit. I was, though, able to identify the killer before the wedding took place (my mother says that I have read too many mysteries). The why took longer to find out. I must admit that I was happy to see the second victim get offed (I found this character to be annoying). Unfortunately, we are still stuck with Addie’s cousin, Kalea. You must extend your disbelief a little with Addie’s investigating. Addie does things she would not get away with in the real world, but it works in the story. I like how Catherine and Paige help Addie with the investigation as well as the murder board. The ladies uncover some surprising information. There is repetition of the case details when Addie shares with friends and police plus with Addie rehashing the information in her head (she gets to reviewing the case details in her head and forgets the world around her). I did not enjoy the amount of romance in the book plus I am not a fan of Addie’s relationship with Simon. Their relationship feels syrupy (best word I can think of to use). I prefer Addie with Marc. They seem to have a better connection. It seems that Marc understands Addie and he definitely cares for her. Readers of the series will enjoy this new addition. Under the Cover of Murder is a cute cozy mystery with wedding woes, shoe suffering, a difficult detective, surprising secrets, luxurious lodgings, and curious clues.

I think I would like to be trapped on a boat like Addie and her friends were, but without the murder. I would love to see a boat that big so I could really imagine what it was like to be a part of it as there was so much going on as they continued their time on the boat along with trying to solve what was going on. It felt like they were on a mini cruise boat. While the book took place outside of the normal setting it still worked. Look forward to more.

I loved this book. This is a great series, and Under the Cover of Murder is an intriguing addition to the series.
When Addie’s best friend gets married, the last thing Addie wants to do is solve a murder; but that’s exactly what she does when two bodies turn up, and everyone aboard the luxurious yacht is a suspect.
I was on pins and needles reading this story because there was so much going on. I was left guessing until the end with this book, which always pleases me. ant wait till next one.

Identifying a dead body was not an activity Addie Greyborne expected to be doing on her friend Serena Chandler’s wedding day. But Serena’s brother, Police Chief Marc Chandler, asked for Addie’s help. Marc thought Addie might recognize the man as a staff member from the super-yacht of Serena’s future in-laws. Addie had spent time the past week attending pre-wedding teas and cocktail parties on the yacht, but she doesn’t recognize the man.
Addie does recognize the uninvited guest crashing the reception. Lacey Davenport is a former employee of Serena’s and no longer lives in town. But here she is, at the reception, drinking champaign and antagonizing guests. Lacey’s behavior doesn’t improve during the evening. The last time Addie sees Lacey, she is arguing with another guest.
Lacey doesn’t appear at breakfast the next morning, but the police chief and members of the police department are at breakfast. They are there to question the wedding guests. Lacey’s body was found by a fisherman. Her head is gashed, and the police want to determine if the gash happened before or after she fell into the water.
Because they are all potential suspects in a murder, the guests are forbidden to leave the yacht. Addie, along with several friends and with time on their hands, undertake an
investigation of their own. Addie discovers the killer, but he or she may silence Addie before she can alert the authorities.
Recommendation
I’ve enjoyed reading all the books in this series. I really liked the change of setting for this book-a super yacht in Greyborne Harbor. All the plot lines kept my head spinning, but the threads are all neatly tied up in the end. Read this book as well as others in the series.

In UNDER THE COVER OF MURDER, the wonderful sixth entry in the Beyond the Page Bookstore series, Addie gets caught up in her friend Serena’s wedding, two murders, and a mystery involving rare books. This delightful locked-room style mystery is sure to please any cozy reader.

The story takes place almost exclusively on the groom Zach’s family yacht in Greyborne Harbor. Though I missed the series’ normal bookstore setting, the boat provides a luxurious change of venue, helping keep the series fresh. The characters are well developed, and I really like Addie and the recurring supporting cast. They feel like friends at this point. I appreciate Marc’s change of attitude about Addie’s involvement in investigating and think he experiences a great deal of growth within this book’s pages. I do, however, wish Simon had been featured more. Addie does do a great deal of investigating here, but she comes across most of the clues by chance and by eavesdropping. I thought I had it all figured out but was surprised by the big reveal.

Author Elliott’s gift of storytelling shines here as she weaves the various mysteries together to make a cohesive, satisfying read. I eagerly await the next series installment. Highly recommended.

I gratefully received an advance copy of this title courtesy of the author and voluntarily shared my thoughts here.

Just when you think a series can't possibly get better, it manages to do that thanks to a talented writer. Addie has grown and changed so much over the series, but her same annoyingly endearing snooping hasn't changed, or the police would be in trouble without her insight, lol. I seem to really be liking her a lot better now that she's with Simon. Maybe they just go together better than she and Marc did, since all they ever did was bicker.

This was one mystery that I had no clue whodunit, so I just read and cruised along on the yacht (well it didn't actually cruise-it was docked for Serena's wedding and reception...and an unexpected murder.) I loved how Catherine and Paige were Addie's sleuth buddies this time. They really got into using the makeshift murder board that Addie came up with. There were literally tons of suspects and great red herrings. I knew who I wanted to be guilty, but unfortunately that didn't happen.

Secrets were everywhere and changes were in store for some of the staff, guests and even law enforcement. But the absolute sweetest thing happened toward the end after the cruise was finished, and everything was explained/wrapped up. You'll just have to read the book to find out, but I have to say I couldn't have agreed more with the outcome! I'm just happy to only have to wait until October for the next book!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

DRW

5.0 out of 5 stars

A fantastic read with familiar characters

Reviewed in Canada on April 2, 2021

Once again the gang from Beyond the Pages bookstore are in the middle of a murder. Confined to the yacht with the murderer and the wedding party, Addie must find the murderer while making sure she performs her maid of honor duties. A book that is had to put down with twists. A fantastic read

Posted on Amazon.ca

I have loved all of the books in this series and this one is no different! One of my favorite aspects of this book is that it reminded me a lot of Agatha Christie, in that all of the suspects are on a yacht and one of them is the murderer. One of Agatha Christie's books is even involved in the murder.

This is one of my favorite cozy mystery series when ever I need something light to read. I would highly recommend this book!