This is the 1st book of the new Starlit Bookshop Mysteries, by author Cynthia Kuhn.
Ms. Kuhn is also the author of the Lila Maclean Academic Mystery series.
This is my first book by Ms. Kuhn.
3***

Main characters are sisters Lucy & Emma Starrs, aunt Nora, nemesis Tabitha "rich brat" Baxter, Tip (Tabitha's spouse) & Felicity. These are by no means all of the important or even pivotal characters in this story. Just a few that you should carefully consider as you read the mystery.

Emma Starr returns to Colorado to work with her older sister Lucy at the family book store. She learns the store is in financial trouble! She quickly accepts an events job from her high school nemesis Tabitha, to plan a mystery dinner using Edgar Allan Poe’s detective C. Auguste Dupin, for her husband Tip.

At parts this book had me thinking I was reading a Christie novel "The ABC Murders". As much as I enjoy a well planned and executed mystery, I wish this could have been a bit of an easier read. It started out seemingly simple enough. It quickly progressed into an intense old style mystery that requires "the little gray cells" to be working!
I enjoyed this first installment of the Starlit Bookshop series. I give it a solid 3 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley, publisher, and author for the ARC.

I have read all of Ms. Kuhn's books, so was excited to see this one and couldn't wait to read it. I must tell you that I was not disappointed.

Emma Starrs has returned home to Colorado after her parents died in a tragic accident to help her older sister Lucy run the family's struggling bookstore. She's also trying to figure out ways to make money to help, when an old school nemesis named Tabitha Baxter enters the store, looking for a book on Edgar Allan Poe for her husband to read, due to an upcoming event they are hosting at their home which will be a murder mystery based on Poe. When Emma hears her complain that her events planner quit, she offers to step in -- and Tabitha hires her, but has plenty of instructions, which is no surprise to Emma.

When she arrives at the function, she discovers her aunt Nora is attending. Nora is an English professor at the local college, and on a committee that has been arguing steadily. All the members are in attendance, along with Tabitha's friends. But suddenly there is a change in plans -- after cocktails, Tabitha's husband Tip is found murdered, and Tabitha immediately points the finger at Nora.

Knowing that it is done in spite because Tabitha hates her, Emma is determined to find the killer before she or her aunt are jailed for the crime. But with Tabitha spouting to anyone that they are murderers, it doesn't make it easy. On top of that, one of Nora's colleagues, Calliope Nightfall, is an author who is charmed by Emma and wants to hold the latest launch of her newest book at the bookstore, but insists that Emma turn it also into a Poe-themed event.

With two problems on her plate -- neither one easy to handle, is she going to be able to solve the murder? Will she be able to pull off the book event? And more importantly, will she be able to figure everything out before the killer puts her next on the list?

Edgar Allan Poe is my favorite author. So when I found that this book centers around his works and murder, I knew I couldn't resist. I love Ms. Kuhn's writing; it is eloquent, descriptive, and wonderfully imaginative. She has a way of easily pulling you into the story and becoming part of it. I instantly detested Tabitha and her friends; but this, I hope, is the feel that Ms. Kuhn was going for.

The book has many things going on at the same time, and this is not a bad thing, since you are getting to see what Emma's life is like, and it's definitely busy. More busy than I would like my own life to be, and I don't know that I would be able to remain calm with all the demands upon her time (and I am a fairly patient person). Emma has not only stamina, she has the determination of a woman who wants to help her aunt and save the bookstore. It's a touching combination. Her ideas are inventive, and I wish I could have been at Calliope's launch. I also loved Calliope's character. Full of wit and oddness, she seems like someone I would still like to know.

As we get closer to figuring out who the murderer might be, there is another occurrence that might change everything altogether. Emma is trying to connect everything and come up with answers, which are eluding her. But when the ending comes and Emma starts to put it all together herself, we see the many threads that are woven have finally united into a taut tapestry that shows us everything. It is a surprise ending, and one that makes it all worthwhile.

This is a wonderful mystery, and I look forward to the next in the series. Highly recommended.

I received an advance copy from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.

4.5/ 5 stars
I was sold when I saw that this was perfect for fan of Jenn McKinlay and that it takes place in Colorado. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I cannot wait for the next installment.. I usually have a knack for figuring out whodunit, but the author kept me on my toes and I was really surprised at the end of it all. The only drawback were some of the characters were a bit juvenile and acted kind of like bullies but the Starr sisters really stole the show along with their aunt Nora. Thank you to NetGalley for an e-ARC of this novel,. all opinions expressed in my review are my own.

Wonderful start to a new series.

After completing her PhD in English, Emma Starrs returns home to help her sister
Lucy operate the family owned Starlit Bookshop. To help the bottom line, Emma
offers to step in as an event planner for Tabitha Saxton for a mystery themed
party being thrown by Tabitha's husband, the head of the English Department at
the local college.
When the husband is murdered during the party, Emma's Aunt Nora, a member
the English Department, is considered a suspect. Emma investigates as to
whether the disagreement within the department regarding its location is the
reason for the murder. In addition, the relationships between the department
members and Tabitha's circle of friends provides more areas for investigation.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy.

This is a good first book in a series. Emma gave up her life to help her sister with the struggling family bookstore. Unfortunately she runs into an old nemesis that she thinks might be able to help generate money for the store. Little did she know it would only lead to murder. This was an ok book. I did not find it especially fast paced or interesting. The characters could use for lack of a better word more character.

This was a cute and sweet little cozy mystery that I very much enjoyed from a new to me author. Love, love any mystery with a bookshop element!

Tried to read this book. But unfortunately there are to many typos to understand it. I will check it out it gets released

Kuhn the author of the award winning Lila Maclean Academic Mystery Series, has begun a new series, also featuring an academic. Emma Starr, with her just earned Ph.D. has turned down a prestige position to return to her to Silvercrest, her home town. She hopes to help her sister, Lucy, salvage a family book store that is on it's last legs. Into the shop strolls Emma's and the books main antagonist. Tabitha Baxter. Tabitha is a mean girl, now mean woman. She is written with such skillful venom, the page almost sizzles when she speaks.

Emma hoping to earn needed dollars, Emma has agreed to plan a mystery dinner party for Tabitha.
All goes well until Tabitha's husband's body is found. Desserts and dead people were not in the plans. Harassed by Tabitha and her entourage, Emma is still able to focus on creating an author event for Calliope Nightfall. Nightfall is a satiric character that embodies everything eccentric about English professors with a certain world view. Both A and B plots merge together in delightful well plotted read. I look forward to reading more about Emma and the citizens of Silvercrest.

Highly recommended for both young adult and other readers of mysteries. A good book club selection.

I appreciate the publisher allowing me to read this book. A good mystery that keeps you interested until the end. I can't wait to read more.

Emma Starrs returns home to help her sister Lucy save the family’s bookstore. To that end, she agrees to plan a mystery-themed dinner party for Tabitha Baxter, a former high school classmate. At the end of the event, Tabitha's husband is found dead. For some reason Emma and her aunt Nora are suspects in the murder. (I personally didn't find them viable suspects.) Her aunt's friend and colleague Calliope Nightfall hires Emma to create a Poe-themed launch event for her latest book to help them against the suspicions swirling around them.

I enjoyed the main characters of Emma, Lucy, Nora, Ryan, and Jake. I liked how Emma is reconnecting to Jake and they are resolving her issues with him from her past. I liked the budding romance between Lucy and Ryan. I can't wait to see how they keep the Starlit Bookstore afloat in the future.

The thing that kept me from really enjoying this book and giving it a better rating was the annoying character of Tabitha. Most books have a character that is slightly annoying to be the foil for the main character, but her mean girl persona from high school almost 20 years ago is a bit much. Especially with her keeping her pack of girlfriends copying her just like they were still back in high school. I will read the next book in the series to see if Tabitha tones down or is less of a character in the book.

Ms. Kuhn's ending in unveiling the killer was great. I certainly did not see it coming and I love when that happens in a book. There were certainly a lot of people to choose from as a killer.

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I like the set-up a lot: sisters, a bookstore, a murder. I love the academic world mixing with the retail world, and the family connections. But I give this title a 3-1/2 out of 5. To me, there are a lot of very similar characters and some very convoluted business and misheard clues and such that make the resolution not feel altogether satisfying to me. I like the main characters, though, and I'm hopeful the series will only get better in the next book.

Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

👩 Emma Starrs moves back to her hometown in Colorado to help her sister save the family bookstore. They want to bring more people to the shop thanks to book readings, signing and literary parties. Emma's first job is to help an old classmate with a murder mystery dinner party. The evening goes incredibly well until her classmate's husband is found dead, and Emma and her aunt Nora are accused of the murder.

❤️ I liked:
📚 The literary references. This book was written by a person that really loves books and reading. The setting is a (lovely) bookstore, there are a lot of references to Edgar Allan Poe, and the main characters organizes literary events and murder mystery dinner parties... what an amazing job!
👩 Emma and her family. They are all lovely. Emma is witty and full of resources. Her aunt Nora is quirky, strong and a famous mystery writer. Her sister is sweet and caring. They really look like the perfect family.
✍️ The writing group. Emma not only is a literary event planner, but she also wants to be a writer. To do so, she joins a group of wannabe writers: they meet at the bookstore and exchange feedbacks on what they are writing.
🔍 The whodunit. The story is quite elaborate, and the murderer is definitely not who I was expecting. So well done to the author.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5 A lovely cosy mystery, with plenty or Edgar Allan Poe references... the perfect read for Halloween! Thanks to #netgalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for the ARC.

I LOVED this new start to what I hope will be lots cozy mysteries starring Emma Starrs! It was funny and so easy to follow. The characters were GREAT! Not only the main characters, Emma, her sister Lucy and their aunt Nora, but all the supporting characters too with their quirky personalities. I'm a lover of mystery novels and how much did I love that they are mystery novelists!! Cannot wait for more books in this series!!

How to Book a Murder is a ferociously witty tale perfect for fans of Agatha Christie.

The first thing that I loved about this book was the extremely well thought out storyline; There wasn’t a single point that I was confused or scrambling to remember information and that’s due largely in part to Emma Starrs as a character. Emma was witty and loveable and a character who absolutely came alive off of the page. I found myself drawn to the cozy Colorado small town; Kuhn does a fantastic job of truly immersing you in the story so that you feel as though you’re a beloved member of the town.

This is truly a great romp of a read. 5/5 stars!

This is the first book that I have read by Cynthia Kuhn. I really enjoyed it. The characters were well developed and the story line flowed smoothly. I enjoyed getting to know Emma, her sister Lucy and their aunt Nora. Emma moves back to her hometown in Colorado to help her sister try to save the family bookstore. Emma decides to start party planning to earn extra income. She envisions book readings, signing, and other book related parties to draw people to the bookstore. Her first job is to help an old classmate from high school with a murder mystery dinner party. When her classmates husband is found dead at the party, Emma and Nora are accused of the murder. Can Emma find the real killer while planning a book reading at the bookstore for a local author? The story was engaging from the beginning and the characters were believable and relatable. I can't wait for the next book to get to know Emma, Lucy, Nora and the rest of the characters more.

I received this book for free for an honest review from netgalley #netgalley

I love the Edgar Allan Poe references. The characters are quirky and fun and the setting is absolutely magical.

I select this book for the cover and omg it was a big surprise. A history with a clever plot twist and an interesting characther selection. This books feel like a clue game, and I was so invested in try to solve the mistery that I read all the book in a blink of an eye. Is like Agatha Christie’s history but in a bookshop.

Defenitly I wanna read againm the autor.

Thanks Netgalley for the copy.

I loved this book. It had a clever plot that kept me guessing until the very last unexpected twist. I also loved the characters. Not only the main characters, Emma, Lucy and Nora from the bookshop, but most of the supporting characters as well like the very entertaining, "bigger than life" Calliope.
If it is the first book of a series I will definitely look out for the next parts. I can recommend it to everyone who likes good cosy mysteries.

This was a light, fun, cozy mystery. A bookstore, a murder mystery theme dinner party in which the host is murdered and the main suspects are Emma, the owner of the bookstore and the one who planned the murder mystery and her aunt Nora.
The wife of the victim, Tabitha, is Emma's former classmate and a total bully, doing everything she can to malign her and sabotage the bookstore. She is the quintessential irritating 'villain' but ends up creating situations that provide comic relief too.
I don't read too many books in this genre but this one held my attention.

Dr Emma Starrs saw her future as one experienced within the hallowed world of academia, with students congregating in her book filled offices, instead she put all that aside to help save her family bookstore. With sister Lucy and author aunt, Nora she is trying to come up with ideas to ensure they can stay open after the forthcoming Halloween celebrations.

When a classmate from high school needs a hasty replacement party planner for her murder mystery gathering Emma volunteers even though her history with Tabitha Baxter is troubled to say the least. While the evening is a success everything changes when a body is discovered and Nora and Emma find themselves cast as the main suspects. Tabitha launches herself into a campaign to blacken their names with gusto and the Starlit Bookshop and its owners find themselves under suspicion at every turn.

This is the first book in a new series and so everything is new but I struggled to engage with some of the main characters. There were sections which went on too long some of which could have been shorter and still worked. The actual killer and their motives weren't obvious for a good while and there was a certain amount of jeopardy for all concerned which created an exciting atmosphere. Unfortunately this wasn't enough to save this story for me but I would read a second book as I usually enjoy bookshop mysteries.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. This didn't quite deliver but there are some good parts which promise more as the series continues.