A Chapter on Murder by Sue Minix is an engrossing cozy mystery that will captivate fans of bookish whodunits. Set in the quaint English village of Spindle, the story follows amateur sleuth and bookstore owner, Pippin Lane Hawthorne, as she stumbles upon a murder during a local book club meeting. With an eclectic cast of characters, sharp dialogue, and plenty of literary references, Minix masterfully blends humor with suspense. The twists keep coming, and just when you think you’ve solved the case, another surprise pops up. Pippin’s cleverness and determination make her an endearing protagonist, and the charming village setting adds to the appeal. Perfect for mystery lovers who enjoy a cozy, small-town vibe with plenty of intrigue!

Listening to the first book in the series on audio and enjoying it made me want to dip back into this one and see how Jen’s writing life was going!

So really, I inhaled the last eighty pages this morning after reading the rest a while ago. 🤷🏻‍♀️

This was another fun read. There’s a lot more about relationships in this one than the first, but otherwise I enjoyed this one just as much. Jen’s self-berating over her writing deadlines is very relatable.

Three word review: seasonal bookstore sleuthing.

An enjoyable cozy crime. Definitely one to read at Christmas time. It read well as a stand alone despite being part of a series.

A Chapter on Murder by Sue Minix

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

I loved writing murder mysteries, until I was thrust into the centre of one… It’s Christmas in Riddleton and crime novelist turned amateur sleuth, Jen , is in desperate need of a cozy festive season running the town's local bookstore. But, between trying to drum up business for Ravenous Readers and attempting to finish her latest novel, Jen is totally run off her feet. Matters get worse, however, when a man's body is found outside the bookstore, along with a scrap of paper in his pocket with none other than Jen's address on it! To solve the murder – and clear her own name – Jen must, once again, become Riddleton's best detective. The stakes have never been higher and the pressure is on – but with the help of her best friend, Brittany , and trusty dog, Savannah , can Jen catch the killer, finish her novel and save Ravenous Readers before time runs out?

My Opinion

I am not sure how but this is the first book I have read in this series. Jen is trying to write the next book in her series whilst also trying to get customers to return to her store. Jen is being framed for a murder following the discovery of a body behind her bookshop. Whilst she is asked not to interfere with the investigation, is she able to keep away? This was an enjoyable mystery and whilst set around Christmas it was not overly festive so could work at any time of year.

Rating 4/5

Jen is trying to finish her book and not let her bookstore go under. Now she has to explain to the police why a dead man at the back of her shop has her contact information in his pocket. This series gets better with each book. I feel like Jen is stronger in this particular book, and the mystery kept me guessing.

At first I didn't like this mystery series. But by this third one I'm actually enjoying it quite well. Mainly because its's a series that I don't solve the mystery before the characters do.

Princess Fuzzypants here: Jen’s second novel, over which she was agonizing in the previous book, will be published in April. Now she needs to figure out what will be the story of the third installment. The way she charges into investigations, helter skelter, she is her own best source of material. She is still struggling to take the bookshop she was bequeathed into the black as well as trying to figure out how she feels about her boyfriend, detective, Eric.

Eric, in spite of being frustrated by Jen’s penchant for getting herself into dangerous situations, is ready to move forward. Jen, having been burned by love before, is trying to apply the brakes. Their rift is not getting any narrower when Jen is convinced the man Eric and his partner have arrested for murder did not do the deed. The cops, on the other hand, see no reason to look into anything Jen brings to them. Stalemate.

While there are times when the reader may want to shake Jen, she does get into some exciting situations that are written to keep the reader on the edge of the seat. You cannot fault a book that does that. And the plot for her third novel sounds very promising. Four purrs and two paws up.

This was a DNF for me.

Chosen because it was a festive read, I found the writing style to be amateur - it is very badly written and the storyline was nonsensical. Life is too short, and my TBR list is too long, to finish this book.

This enjoyable cosy series improves with each new instalment and this was the best so fare. Festive, entertaining, a solid mystery that kept me guessi.g
I was glad to catch up the characters and see what was going on in their life
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This was such a cosy read, i enjoyed it a lot and loved the writing. Enjoyed the characters and the plot a lot.

A small town, cosy crime story. Can't say I warmed to it though.
I found the characters a bit stereotyped. The English character refers to everyone as 'luv' and the guy who works in the bookshop wears outlandish clothes.
The story was a bit convoluted too.

Although I missed the second book in this series and I thought the first book was okay I must say I enjoyed this, the third book a bit better. I think as the series goes on it has gotten better and I look forward to the next one.

The characters have grown and developed as has the story and I am enjoying them as well. I like Jen and her dog, love the bookshop and Riddleton is the perfect setting for this book and all the of the series. So when a body is found outside the bookshop what will Jen do. This is a cosy mystery that is easy to read, not too long and is quite entertaining.

I'd give this one 3 1/2 stars and hoping to see an even better story in the next book.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books UK for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Sue Minix gives us Christmas in Riddleton with A Chapter on Murder where a corpse lands behind the back door of Ravenous Readers and thrusts Jen the owner and successful writer into sleuthing again. Police and her boyfriend want her to stay safe but a good friend is arrested. Great cozy with cute dog and danger. Just right for holiday season.

I am completely obsessed with this book series. Each book gets better and better. I adore Jen and her dog Savannah. I love her best friend Brittany who helps Jen solve murders. And as cozy mysteries go this has it all, a dog, a best friend, she is a crime writer, bookstore owner and mystery solver!! 5 star read!
I just reviewed A Chapter on Murder by Sue Minix. #NetGalley
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Book Review of "A Chapter on Murder" by Sue Minix

Overall Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars.

"A Chapter on Murder" by Sue Minix is a cozy murder mystery novel set in the charming town of Riddleton during the holiday season. The story follows Jen, a crime novelist turned amateur sleuth, who finds herself caught up in a murder investigation when a man's body is discovered outside her bookstore with a note bearing her address.

First and foremost, I must say that the cover of "A Chapter on Murder" is absolutely delightful and captures the festive spirit perfectly. However, I was slightly disappointed that the actual story did not live up to the festive atmosphere that the cover implies. While the setting takes place during Christmas time, I found the lack of holiday cheer throughout the narrative to be a missed opportunity.

Furthermore, after reading three books in this series, including "A Chapter on Murder," I have come to the realization that it might be time to bid farewell. The main character, Jen, as a protagonist, unfortunately falls flat for me. I found her to be an unlikable character, which made it difficult for me to fully engage with the story. It is crucial for readers to connect with the protagonist, and in this case, I struggled to sympathize or root for Jen.

Despite these shortcomings, the novel does have its redeeming qualities. The mystery itself is well-crafted and keeps readers guessing until the end. The author skillfully weaves together clues and red herrings, creating an intriguing puzzle for readers to solve alongside Jen. Additionally, the dynamic between Jen and her best friend, Brittany, adds a touch of humor and camaraderie to the story.

The pacing of the book is generally steady, although there were a few instances where it felt slightly sluggish. However, Minix's writing style is engaging and easy to follow, making it an enjoyable read overall. The inclusion of Jen's trusty dog, Savannah, as a sidekick adds a charming element to the narrative and enhances the bond between Jen and her furry companion.

In conclusion, "A Chapter on Murder" by Sue Minix offers an entertaining cozy mystery experience with a well-crafted plot and enjoyable writing style. However, the lack of festive ambiance and an unlikable protagonist detract from its overall appeal. While it may not be the best installment in the series, fans of cozy mysteries who can overlook these drawbacks may still find enjoyment in this book.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

Not a good read for me unfortunately as I found it a bit slow and disjointed, with obvious clues being missed by Jen, the main character in the story. I hadn't read the previous books in the series so I didn't already know Jen's character, although it is a stand alone read,

Not my cup of tea. I had a hard time getting invested in the characters, and the premise of the story wasn’t developed enough. I wanted to like the book, but I just couldn’t get into it. It wasn’t clear why Jennifer was so intent on solving the mystery - she didn’t know the man who was murdered, and she didn’t have a strong relationship with the accused. Also, the constant indecision about her relationship with her “boyfriend” was very distracting. I think that the series has promise, but the story needs to be tighter with more emphasis on the logical connection of the elements and some depth to show why we should care about the characters.

A Chapter on Murder
by Sue Minix

Perfect read for those who love bookshop and cozy murder story!

A Chapter on Murder is the book 3 in the series but this can be read alone.

Jen, who was the owner of the bookstore in Riddleton. One day she found a dead body outside her bookstore. Jen was shocked, not only she found the body. It’s because her address was written on the paper.

Now Jen had to solve the mystery in order to clear the suspicion and bring her reputation back.

The story was full of twists and it entertainingly kept my guessing until the right to the end. The characters were likable, especially Jen’s dog, Savannah. I enjoyed reading the interaction between Jen and Savannah, also how Savannah helped to catch the killer!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic copy to read in exchange for an honest review.

This is third book in the series. Jen gets caught up in another murder. We see some regular characters again. It was a good read and a fun mystery series. I'll be looking out for book 4.

A Chapter on Murder by Sue Minix the 3rd instalment in the "A Bookstore Mystery" series. I enjoyed this book and look forward to book 4. I loved writing murder mysteries, until I was thrust into the centre of one …

To solve the murder – and clear her own name – Jen must, once again, become Riddleton's best detective.
The stakes have never been higher and the pressure is on – but with the help of her best friend, Brittany, and trusty dog, Savannah, can Jen catch the killer, finish her novel and save Ravenous Readers before time runs out?

I really enjoyed visiting Riddleton again and love Savannah the German shepherd puppy and all her antics. Jen and Eric are trying to figure out their relationship and I hope things work out.

It was entertaining, full of twists and turns and I did guess whodunnit but that did not distract from the story.

I recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends!

I requested and received an advanced readers copy from Harper Collins/Avon and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.