While Sam wraps up her first whirlwind book tour, Nana Jo has kept Market Street Mysteries running smoothly. The last stop is a prestigious book festival in Sam’s hometown of North Harbor, Michigan. But not everyone thinks the guest of honor, bestselling author Judith Hunter, deserves stellar reviews. Sam witnesses nasty arguments between Judith and two different authors—who accuse her of plagiarism and sabotage . When a publicist is poisoned during a cocktail reception, Sam wonders if the killer missed the intended target. It’s a twist that echoes the plot of Sam’s mystery, Murder at Wickfield Lodge. But fact can be stranger—and deadlier—than fiction. How much collateral damage is the killer willing to risk? With feisty Nana Jo and the girls from Shady Acres Retirement Village lending a hand, Sam tries to solve the case before the festival delivers another fatality .

I got hooked on this series and have read every one. I especially enjoy the "mystery within a mystery". Writing two mysteries at once has got to be hard, but the author does a good job on both, developing the characters over time within both mysteries. I also love Nana Jo and the girls from Shady Acres who are always funny and adds a lighter tone to the books. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting my request for this book.

I cannot say enough good things about this series. It is definitely in my top five. The growth of the main character and the top notch writing make this a must read cozy!
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

Murder on Tour is the ninth cozy mystery in the Mystery Bookshop series. Sam Washington, author and mystery bookshop owner, is asked to sit on a panel at a writers convention in town. This honor sounds great until Sam comes face to face with the drama between her other panelists. When one of the attendees of the conference ends up poised, Sam and her clan of elderly sleuths are on the case.

I have read every book in this series and always love revisiting Sam and her friends. This latest mystery was another great addition to this series. The characters in this series are humorous and fun to follow around and Sam’s deduction skills are on point. I have always enjoyed the way the authors ties two different stories together in this series to make one book. There is always the main, current day, mystery and the mystery set in the past in England that Sam is working on for her next book. This approach is very creative and does wonders for this series.

I always look forward to seeing what’s going to come next I’m this series and I think this was one of my favorite mysteries in this series so far. If you are a cozy mystery fan, give this a try! I can’t wait to see what comes next for Sam and the gang!

Thanks for NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book!

Author crafts a cozy in a cozy
Ms. Burns crafts a tale of a new cozy author trying to write a new book while promoting her last...and trying to solve a murder that occurred in front of her. The clues don't add up...but the body count does. Great cozy. I recommend it highly.
I requested and received a NetGalley Arc to peruse gratis and offer my opinion in the same

"While Sam wraps up her first whirlwind book tour, Nana Jo has kept Market Street Mysteries running smoothly. The last stop is a prestigious book festival in Sam’s hometown of North Harbor, Michigan. But not everyone thinks the guest of honor, bestselling author Judith Hunter, deserves stellar reviews. Sam witnesses nasty arguments between Judith and two different authors—who accuse her of plagiarism and sabotage."
There is a killer among them. Who is it? I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book..

I love the Mystery Bookshop series and Murder on Tour just adds one more mystery to love. Sam is home in North Harbor after touring for the release of her first book. MISU is holding a book festival and Sam has been asked to participate. Many of the authors at the event are well known and have big egos.
When a publicist dies, Sam and friends have until the book festival ends to solve the crime. The story was a pretty interesting look into what might happen in the book industry.
I’ve met some authors and they are the nicest people. I’m very glad none were like those described here.
With the Mystery Bookshop series, the reader gets two mysteries - one in the present of the book and one Sam is writing, a historical mystery. These mysteries give us more characters to love. Sam, Nana Jo, Ruby, Dorothy, Frank and the nephews. Lady Elizabeth Marsh and family in Sam’s fictional world.
This is a series that I think you’ll love anyway you take it - stand-alone or series. My recommendation is the whole series in order.
Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington for the opportunity to read this book.

The latest in a series that gives you two novels in one - the cozy and the cozy Sam is writing (has written). Sam's book has been published and she's at a book festival- yay! Only problem, a number of the other authors seem to loathe each other and one of them - Judith- is accused of plagiarism. Yowsa. And then, at the gala dinner, one of Sam's dining companions takes a glass of champagne from Judith and dies- poisoned! Sam, her fiance Frank, and the ever fun Nana Jo and the Shady Acres Retirement crew have a case on their hands. There are more characters than usual in this installment (but it's not hard to keep them straight) and the mystery has good red herrings. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I'm a fan who likes both stories.

VM Burns delivers a complex and twisty mystery, the best in this series so far.
There's a light satire of the world of mystery writer with its rites and events, there's a sharp portrait of the world of writers with the rivalry and scandals
This is not a book that will change the world, those who can change the world are also a bit dangerous if read by the wrong people, but it's an entertaining, compelling, and well plotted story that kept me reading and guessing.
I was surprised by the final twist and thoroughly enjoyed how Samantha dealt with her new role as published writer.
Nana Jo and her friends are as lovely as usual.
I appreciated the character development and the excellent storytelling.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Murder on Tour is the 9th book in the Mystery Bookshop series by V.M. Burns. The setting is North Harbor, Michigan.

Samantha Marie Washington, is the owner of a successful independent bookstore, a newly published mystery author, and a panelist at the local book festival.

The other authors discount her as a writer but little do they know. At the dinner, a publicist dies and it appears not due to natural causes. Sam and Frank take immediate action to secure the scene until Detective Pitt and team arrived.

The characters are well-developed, the plot well-crafted, and the descriptions are deep. I enjoyed the story along with the twists, turns, and clues that led to the reveal. Nana Jo and crew always provide entertaining bits of wisdom and commentary. Can’t wait for the next episode.

I was given an advanced e-copy by Netgalley and am not required to leave a positive review.

This was another good book in this series.
Sam is particapting in the local book festival and is sort of enjoying it. There are 3 other female authors who are really bitchy to each other and about each other. One in particular is accusing one of the others of stealing her book.
On the night of the awards gala someone who has a connection with the 3 ladies dies. Sam's faince Frank realises that there is foul play and gets Sam to call Decective Pitt. He is none too happy about being called out and tells Sam that she is to solve this one.
With the help of Nana Jo and the gang Sam sets out to catch the killer in 3 days before the festival ends.
I love seeing how the gang go about working things out, how they reach their conclusions and help each other. I also like how we get snippets of the latest book Sam is writing intersperst with the main plotline.
If you are looking for a good cosy mystery then try this series out. The books are best read in order.

I haven't read this author's work before, but was pleasantly surprised by the delightful characters. Being a mystery writer, the plot drew me in with the similar appeal to a Jessica Fletcher type mystery. Amateur sleuth Samantha Washington is a local writer, while her grandmother owns a book shop. Michigan Harbor North's Book Festival is the perfect place for murder, namely the publicist of Judith Hunter, a bestselling author. Since Judith tends to be brash and boisterous, Samantha wonders if the poison could have been meant for her.

With an easy writing style, V.M. Burns lets the reader solve the mystery along with the sleuth. Enjoyable read for the cold winter days ahead.

In the beginning pages, I happened to notice that V.M. Burns also writes the Dog Club Mysteries, which sound quite intriguing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for an ARC of this book.

Samantha Washington has become a published author! She's been invited to participate in an event at the local college with several other published authors, all a bit more well-recognized than she. As soon as the event starts the claws come out and Sam discovers that the participants have a shared past and it's not pretty. When they start dropping, it's anyone's guess who went beyond just wanting them dead to actually making it happen.

Overall I enjoy this series, I love how the older women are portrayed as strong and active and intelligent and sexy. I love Samantha, she's smart and strong and independent and has great relationships with the people in her life (apart perhaps from her mother). It's probably a testament to how well-written the series is that I continue to read and enjoy the books despite some issues.

I had a hard time getting into this series initially because the timeline of the characters didn't work and then began to change from book to book (Sam has gotten younger, her previous marriage has shortened, and Nana Jo has gotten older). It's finally gotten to the point where it makes more sense but unfortunately as I've been able to get past that, I've become very much lost in the story-within-the-story. In the first few books the characters were fewer and their relationships were very simple so it was easy to follow. Then for a few books I couldn't really follow it but I could still get the gist of things so it was fine. Now they've all married and there are friends factoring into the stories, so many characters and several of them have the same names (Jim and James?) I struggle to make heads or tails of it which turns it into a snoozefest. In one of the recent books I just skipped reading the story-within-the-story and that worked out nicely. I really wish the author would just ditch the stories, or at least shorten them significantly, and focus on the main characters and plotline, which is infinitely more interesting and entertaining.

This is maybe not a series I would be quick to recommend but it's not one I would turn someone away from and I will definitely continue to read it as new books come out.

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is book nine in one of my favorite cozy series "Mystery Bookshop Series" by the very talented cozy author V.M. Burns. I have enjoyed this entire series and this is a series I recommend to all cozy readers for your reading enjoyment. Thank you to the publisher, the author and Net Galley for the opportunity . My review opinions are my own

This book includes every fun element cozy readers love. We have the wonderful protagnist Samantha on a book tour promoting her debut mystery novel. When she is invited to a elegant book festival she finds a publicist and author arguing in a heated fasion. When the publicist is murdered the crime is done to reflect the murder in Samantha's book. Soon Samantha and others are under suspicion and Samantha must clear her own name and find the rightful suspect.

This is a fun sleuth that kept this reader guessing from beginning to end. The characters are rich and all add to thre fun. Samantha has excellent investigative skills and is a interesting fun sleuth to follow. I look forward to the next in series. Well done to the author.

If you like a high-drama version of what writers' lives are like, this mystery is for you! It's a fun puzzle. And I think in some books in this series that Nana Jo's over-the-top "quirkiness" has been way too much for me. But in this installment, at least, Nana Jo feels funny and snarky in just the right amount. The plotting is strong--but the unbearable heavy-handed stupidity of Detective Pitt brings this book down to three stars for me.

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

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of MURDER ON TOUR (Book 9 of the Mystery Bookshop Mysteries) by V.M. Burns in exchange for an honest review. At the conclusion, of her first book tour, Sam is honored to participate as a panel member at a local book festival in her hometown. However, the headliner’s contentious relationship with the other panel authors is making the experience less pleasant than expected. The festival atmosphere takes another downturn when someone is poisoned at a cocktail reception. With accusations of plagiarism and sabotage to be resolved and with a murder to be solved, it looks like Sam, Nana Jo, and the Shady Acres crew have another case to investigate.

I liked this book and enjoy the series. I recommend the series to fans of cozy mysteries featuring murder, bookshops, authors, WWII intrigues, loyal canine friends, and feisty elderly relatives (real and honorary).

#MurderonTour #NetGalley

Murder on Tour is the 9th book in the Mystery Book Series. it takes place in the town of North Harbor, Michigan. Samantha (Sam) Washington is the main character who owns a bookstore, Market Street Mysteries. She has written her first book, Murder at Wickfield Lodge. She is going to speak about her book along with some well known authors at the North Harbor Festival. Before the program starts she goes into a closet to meditate and overhears the other authors, Judith Hunter, Nora Cooper and Scarlet MacDonald having words with Nora accusing Judith of stealing her manuscript for Judith's book Corpse Danced at Midnight. The authors all hate each other. Clark Cunningham is Judith's publishist. Sam is found in the closet after hearing everything. The authors are fighting so loud that they can be heard in the other room. Mrs. Graves, the librarian, comes in to speak to them. As Judith is the main attraction and refuses to go on stage with Nora. she is escorted out. Sam's grandmother, Nana Jo, her sister, Jenna Rutherford and Nana Jo's friends from the Shady Acres Retirement Village are all there to support Sam.

That night, Sam and her fiance, Frank Patterson who owns a restaurant go to the banquet. While there they meet another author and his wife, Paul and Olivia West. He is there to accept an award. He has too much to drink and has words with Judith and is escorted out. Clark spills his drink and Judith gives him hers. After drinking his champagne he falls to the floor in spasms and later dies on the way to the hospital from poison. Was the drink meant for Judith? 911 is called and Detective Bradley Pitt from the Special Crimes Unit arrives. After hearing what happened he tells Sam that she can help him by finding out who poisoned Clark. Sam's grandmother and her friends at the retirement home, Rudy Mae Stevenson, Irma Stanczewski, Dorothy Clark and Josephine will help Sam investigate.

There is so much that goes on in the story that I will leave it to the reader to enjoy to the exciting ending. There are two parts to this story. One is the story itself as well as you get another story within the story of the book she is writing.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing Corp. for this ARC.

I enjoyed the good guy characters, especially the older women in this book, but didn’t really like the authors. I hope that real authors aren’t anything like these The plot is very convoluted and I thought hard to follow. I did suspect who the killer tuned out to be. #MurderonTour #NetGalley

Murder on Tour, the 9th novel in V.M. Burns's Mystery Bookshop series, maintains the high level of humor and intrigue that Ms. Burns brings to every book she writes.
Being invited to participate in a local book festival seems like the perfect end to her first book tour, but things quickly turn shaky when Samantha Washington overhears a conversation filled with threats and accusations. Being the low man on the totem pole as the writer of a historical cozy mystery among suspense authors, including one with a high successful release and a snobby attitude, is daunting enough but having an "in" to their secrets makes her position even more tenuous and that is before the murder. The big question isn't just who did the evil dead, but whether the victim was the person who was supposed to die.
Once again Sam's next historical mystery parallels the main mystery as she uses her writing to work through the twists and turns of the one in her real life.
I adore Sam and Frank as a couple and sure would love for them to get more time together but between his work with his restaurant and the time she spends at the bookstore, on her writing, and as an amateur detective, their time together is greatly limited. She loves that not only is he patient with her investigations, he is more than willing to offer his many assets in supporting her endeavors.
#NetGalley #KensingtonBooks #KensingtonCozies #VMBurns #MysteryBookshop #MurderonTour

While I always enjoy catching up with Samantha Washington, her grandmother, Nana Jo, and Nana Jo’s friends, I have to admit my favorite part of V.M. Burns’ mysteries is the parallel historical mystery in each of them. In Murder on Tour, Samantha’s debut historical cozy mystery, Murder at Wickfield Lodge, has been published. While she copes with a weekend book event and a murder investigation, Samantha always finds answers while writing about her characters from 1939.

Samantha is a last minute addition to the North Harbor Book Festival, where she suffers from imposter syndrome. She doesn’t feel as important as Judith Hunter, a bestselling author, Nora Cooper, or Scarlet McDunkin. She’s in awe of those authors, but shocked to discover the others hate Judith Hunter, and don’t hesitate to attack her. When Judith’s publicist is poisoned during a cocktail reception, Samantha suspects he might not have been the actual target. Was Judith intended to die?

By the time Detective Bradley Pitt from the Special Crimes Unit arrives, Nana Jo already suspects cyanide poisoning. Pitt resents the success of Samantha and Nana Jo’s investigations, and he’s willing to throw the case at them so they’ll find the killer. They seem to have inside information about the writers and possible motives.

As Samantha puzzles out the crime, she uses her downtime to work on the sequel to Murder at Wickfield Lodge. It’s 1939, and England is preparing for possible war with Germany. Although Lord William and Lady Elizabeth Marsh originally turn down plans to host the village fete on their grounds, their niece’s husband asks them to do it. Lord Browning is part of MI5, and he’s interested in the guest speaker, Colonel Basil Livingston, an author who has aroused attention, and then dislike by writing a tell-all book promising to reveal secrets from inside the British military. But, it’s Colonel Livingston’s secretary who dies during the fete.

It’s always a treat to return to Burns’ regular cast of characters, in both timelines. Burns wrote about competent senior sleuths long before the current interest in them in mysteries. Her seniors are well-connected through family, adept at self-defense, and intelligent people with interesting backgrounds. In fact, Samantha might suffer from imposter syndrome, but Nana Jo and her friends are well-aware of their abilities.

I always enjoy the Mystery Bookshop cozies. I would suggest you start with The Plot is Murder so you can meet the cast. You can enjoy a contemporary mystery set in Michigan, and a historical cozy in England. Two for the price of one! It’s worth it.

I love the characters in this book, especially Nana Jo and friends. Sam is a stable bookstore owner and author who truly loves and respects her grandmother and her friends from the retirement home. One of my favorite parts about these books are the novel within a novel as we see Sam’s book written. In Murder on Tour Sam wraps up her book tour close to home and is involved in solving the mystery of the death of one of the authors. I look forward to reading the first several books in this series.