I enjoyed this promising bookstore-themed book (in what I hope is the Starlit Bookshop Mystery series). I love a good series set in a bookstore as this one is. Even better, with a great bunch of characters, such as sisters Emma and Lucy and their aunt, Nora, who's also a college professor at the college in this Colorado town.

Book readings, Halloween, and even the financial difficulties facing the bookstore (which means that Emma is trying to develop the bookstore's business as to holding literary events). Lots to enjoy.

One thing I did not like was the over the top attacks by wealthy (and extremely annoying) Tabitha.. That could've been drastically toned down.

All in all, though, I enjoyed this one and hope that there are more to come. I've even picked up the first book in the author's other series, an academic mystery called The Semester of Our Discontent.

This solid mystery is certainly a book I'd recommend to cozy fans.

Emma Starrs, recently minted Ph.D. in English, is back at her home in Colorado helping her sister run the family bookstore which has hit hard times since their parents' deaths. When a former classmate comes into the store for a prop for her upcoming murder mystery dinner and complains that the organizer has backed out, Emma volunteers to step in and run the mystery part of the evening.

Things do well despite the bad relationship between Emma and Tabitha Baxter until the body of Tabitha's husband Tip is discovered to have been strangled. Since Emma's aunt Nora was seen arguing with Tip earlier in the evening, she is considered a suspect. Emma becomes a suspect because Tabitha keeps blaming her.

In order to clear their names and preserve their bookstore. Emma has to turn amateur sleuth. She has to delve into English Department politics since both Nora and Tip were engaged in a discussion there. She also has to look into other possible suspects including Tabitha and her cronies. Meantime, she is also planning a book launch event for Calliope Nightfall who is another very eccentric member of the English Department.

There were lots of great characters in this story. There were also a number of clues and red herrings for everyone to try to solve. It was a fast-paced cozy and the beginning of a new series.

The author did a great job with presenting this story. A solid mystery that catered to what I look for in a cozy – a likeable cast of characters, a bookstore setting, a small-town atmosphere, engaging dialogue, and visually descriptive narrative that put me in the middle of all the action. The mystery was nicely executed, and I liked how the suspects were front and center with clues here and there with a few surprises along the way that kept me guessing. When I thought I had a handle of the killer, the author changed directions, all to enhance my reading pleasure. The camaraderie between Emma, Lucy, and Nora really made this story stand-out especially their interactions with the other characters. This was a great read and I look forward to the next book in this charming series.

A good, solid start to a new cozy mystery series. There's quite a few characters and sub-plots to keep up with, but it mostly comes together at the end.

Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.

How to Book A Murder is the debut book in the Starlit Mystery series. Emma and her sister, Lucy, and their Aunt Nora own Starlit Bookshop, which is struggling financially. Emma is looking for ways to add income and was looking into adding events at the bookstore. Emma's high school nemesis, Tabitha needs. A party planner at the last minute so Emma volunteers. Unfortunately Tabitha's husband, Tip, ends up dead. Tabitha blames Emma and Nora so they need to figure out who did it to clear their names. The main characters were likable and the mystery was interesting. It got a little slow in the middle but the ending was good. The blurb compares it to Kate Carlisle's and Jenn McKinlay's books all of which I have read and although this book was good, it isn't in their league. It was enjoyable and I plan to read the next book. #NetGalley #HowToBookAMurder #CrookedLaneBooks

Thank you NetGalley, Cynthia Kuhn and Crooked Lane Books for the book How to Book a Murder. This is my personal review.
The book is set in a bookstore setting which is a good place to start a new series. The story centers around the bookstore hosting a murder mystery dinner party. The party does not go the way it was planned when someone is murdered.
I enjoyed the book, but it was not one of the best debut cozy mystery series books I have read.

I really wanted to like this book. I love cozy mysteries, I obviously like bookstores, and a murder mystery party where someone actually gets murdered? Sounds delightful! Unfortunately I think the author tried to do too much and ended up falling short.

First, the things I liked:
• The trio of Emma, Lucy, and Nora. A great family of strong women. However, I found myself liking Emma, our main character, the least of the three.
• Calliope Nightfall – an absolutely delightful, quirky character. She should definitely have her own book.
• The murder mystery party setting. A great setting for an actual murder.

The things I was not so fond of:
• Way too many characters. I understand that this is the first book in a new series, and that all of these characters were probably brought in to set up future books, but it became tedious to try and keep track of all of them.
• Too many subplots. Yes, they mostly came together at the end, but I didn't find most of them to be all that interesting.
• Too much exposition when the killer and motive were revealed. It took several pages to explain how all of those plot threads came together, and I feel like if you have to explain it that much, maybe you should have made it a little more straightforward.

Overall, it was a good effort for a new series, and I will be curious to see what the next installments bring.

3.5 stars

Series debut featuring Emma Starrs and her sister Lucy and Aunt Nora. They run the struggling family bookstore in Colorado and Emma is trying to bring in some revenue by staging events. An old high school enemy shows up and needs last-minute help and Emma puts aside her personal animosity in order to make some money for the shop. But the event is a disaster when Emma stumbles over a dead body.

The family is nicely characterized and likable and it's an interesting setting. And there's some humor along the way which helps readability. The plot doesn't always make sense and it feels like there are a few too many characters to track, but it is the first in the series. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this start to a new a new cozy series. The cast, setting, old animosity and mystery were all fantastic and equally captivating.

Emma was a wonderful, intellectual lead. I adored Starlit, the family owned and incredibly charming bookstore! The fact that she runs it with her sister and is starting up as a literary event planner was a great combo that could potentially lead to numerous storylines. The supporting characters are perfectly quirky. My fav was Calliope, the eccentric and mystical local author. Goodness, I wonder what nickname she would bestow on me.

Emma is tasked with creating a Poe themed reading party for the author and she is definitely going to have her hands full with this client and her over the top requests. I enjoyed that the story took place around Halloween too. There are plenty of decorations and one heck of a haunted house visit, making this a perfect seasonal story.

The case kicks off with a murder mystery dinner party, which concludes with a real victim. Brace yourself for meeting snooty Tabitha. Not only is she the leader of the mean, popular girls from Emma’s past, but she is here to tarnish her reputation and livelihood. I was left guessing through the entire book because there was plenty of shade and likely suspects.

Definitely add this one to your list. I know I will be on the lookout for a sequel!!

This was a good solid start to a new series. I enjoyed the characters and the mystery was engaging.
I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

A great cosy debut and a fun book to read. I plowed through this on a cool rainy day.

Emma , the main character along with others like Lucy, Nora, Calliope and Tabitha all have such personalities. They give the story a bit of depth and a bit of fun. The murder and impending investigation had many twists and turns, many a laughs and no swearing or sex, just a good fun story.

A great debut book, a great setting, a great story.

Emma Starrs moves home after college to help her sister and aunt revive their failing bookshop. In an effort to build business she begins by organizing a murder mystery for Tabitha, one of her former high school bullies. You guessed it- the murder mystery turns into a real murder scene when Tabitha's husband turns up smothered in a lounge chair.

This is a cleverly written book, with more substance than many cosy mysteries I have read. Cynthia Kuhn is a good writer and avoids a few of the more irritating cosy tropes. Tabitha's character made an excellent villain and many characters were introduced that I look forward to getting to know in upcoming installments in the series.

I definitely recommend this for fans of cosy mysteries.

How to Book a Murder by Cynthia Kuhn is the 1st book in the Starlit Bookshop mystery series, and it's off to a great start. I enjoy Ms. Kuhn's other series, Lila Maclean Academic Mystery Series, and was excited to read this book. I also live in Colorado, which is another plus for me. Emma Starrs is a small town bookseller and a literary planner. Emma is determined to help save her family's bookstore, Starlit, by planning a mystery themed dinner party, for the wealthy. Unfortunately when the host is found murdered, Emma and her aunt become suspects. I really enjoyed this book and I'm looking forward for the next book in the series. If you enjoy cozy mysteries, I highly recommend this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

3.5 *stars*

I'm always seeking for more! I picked this one because of the book cover.

My thoughts:
I love stories that are based in the library, the bookshop or any other place that involves dealing with books. This is that kind of book. It makes the whole book so cozy for me.
I enjoyed the family relationship. Emma, Lucy and Nora were so lovely.
I liked the plot twist, wasn't expecting that at all. I'm always guessing who is the killer and I never guess it right just like in this one.

Thank you!
#HowtoBookaMurder #NetGalley

What a good cozy mystery book to read by the fire. Two sisters, along with their aunt, own and operate Starlit Bookshop, which has become more and more financially unstable. Emma, one of the sisters, returns home after earning her PhD to try and help save the bookshop. She offers to handle events for the bookshop, and when she runs into Tabitha Baxter, and old high school nemesis, who is planning a murder mystery party, she offers to help her out, both out of the kindness of her heart and the promise of a significant payday. What Emma does not expect is for one of the guests at the event to end up dead! Through a series of fortunate and unfortunate events, Emma pulls it all together and reveals the murderer in all the glory it deserves. I can’t wait to read the next books in the series! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

After earning her doctorate in English, Emma Starrs returns to her hometown in Colorado to help her aunt Nora and sister Lucy try to save their financially strapped family bookstore. To help bring in money, Emma decides to try her hand at operating a literary event production business out of the bookshop. Her first event involves taking on the thankless task of producing a murder mystery theme party for her high school nemesis Tabitha Baxter, who having given new meaning to the term Mean Girl in her youth is now a wealthy society matron who is so dictatorial and nasty that she makes the notorious Euripides villain Medea seem akin to Martha Teresa.

At the party, someone murders Tabitha’s husband Tip, chairman of the woefully dysfunctional English Department at Silvercrest College, at which Nora is an English professor. Suspects abound among the assembled guests, including the entire English Department faculty who are all in attendance at the party alongside business associates of Tip as well as Tabitha’s backbiting BFFs and their overgrown frat-boy husbands.

Even after all these years, Tabitha’s favorite hobby remains torturing Emma, so she immediately begins spreading false and vicious rumors accusing Emma and Nora of murdering Tip. Kuhn ably unfurls the well-paced plot while treating readers to making the acquaintance of what are in my humble opinion the most colorful, eccentric, interesting, suspicion-worthy, and well-developed characters ever to populate a cozy mystery novel. Really - the characters are that good.

The penultimate event is Silvercrest College’s resident Poe expert Professor Calliope Nightfall’s Halloween book release event at the Starrs family’s bookshop, which leads to Emma solving the crime. Kuhn outdoes herself in detailing Professor Nightfall’s er, “unique,” character and the description of Emma’s attempts to carry out Calliope’s, er, “unique,” vision of what she wants her book event to encompass, and I guarantee it will make you laugh out loud.

Kuhn is also the author of the Lila Maclean academic mystery series. I eagerly look forward to reading those books as well as next book in the Starlit Bookshop Mystery series.

This is a debut of the new "Starlight Bookshop Mystery Series" by author Cynthia Kuhn. This is a charming cozy series with a enticing bookstore at the heart of the series. I loved the setting, the charcters and the sleuth. Thank you to Net Galley and to the publisher for the opportunity for review. My review opinions are my own.

We are introduced to PHd Emma who has come home to her family bookstore in a small town in Colorado . Emma agrees to host a costume mystery theme night at the bookstore for a wealthy friend. When her friends husband is murdered at the event Emma and her Aunt are prime suspects. While being accused Emma must try to save the bookstore reputation by continuing to host theme events and search for the true suspect. Emma has a savvy insight to clues and soon suspects abound as Emma struggles to save the bookstore while saving herself and her Aunt.

I enjoyed the charcters and bookstore theme. This is a wonderful cozy series. I look forward to the next in series. Very well done to the author.

Emma has returned home to Silvercrest, Colorado, after earning her PhD. Instead of accepting a tenure-track teaching position, she’s planning events for the Starlit bookstore owned by three generations of her family. Unfortunately her new career is off to a brutal start when the host of her first event turns up smothered to death on his own patio.

The book got off to a rough start for me. I felt like it was trying too hard to be intellectual and it came off a bit pompous. After a few chapters the edge became more smooth, flowing from the intellectual characters and letting the story feel much more natural. I did struggle throughout to keep track of the characters, there were several unrelated groups which were each quite large and there were several times a character would appear and I’d have to backtrack to remind myself who they were.

I love the bookstore setting and Emma and her sister Lucy and aunt Nora (just Nora, thank you very much) were a great team, not only in investigations but in life in general. I definitely look forward to following this series!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

For me, this was a take it or leave it book. There is nothing wrong with it, it just didn't do anything for me. It sounds like it may be the beginning of a series, maybe the next one will be a little better since all the characters are now introduced...and there were a lot of people!

This book is the perfect autumn read. It has everything to get me in the spirit, Halloween, murders and a bookstore. The characters were amazing to read and even though Tabitha did come across as a cartoon villain at times she was fun to read about. The twist at the end was unexpected but great to read. Overall this was a fun cosy mystery that I think everyone should read this Autumn.