The Fatal Folio is the third Cambridge Bookshop cozy by Elizabeth Penney. Released 24th Oct 2023 by Macmillan on their St. Martin's Press imprint, it's 288 pages and is available in mass market paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links.

This is a fun and engaging bookstore cozy set in Cambridge (the one in the UK). This installment follows on from the previous books with MC Molly back again to help untangle an academic adjacent murder and a previously undiscovered Gothic manuscript in her boyfriend's family's ancestral library..

The book is admittedly formulaic, but it is very well written and fun and full of the whimsical amateur cozy vibe which keeps readers of the genre ticking over the pages. I liked Molly's enthusiasm and honesty. There's some romance, but it doesn't overpower the plot. There were a few twists on the way, and the ending is satisfying and complete. The language is squeaky clean without on page violence.

Four stars, entertaining and full of whimsy. With three books extant in the series and a fourth due out in late fourth quarter 2024, it would make a good choice for a series binge or buddy read. With a popular, prolific, competent author and a mainstream publisher, it will likely already be on the acquisition lists for most public libraries and would be worth a search for fans of shopfront light whimsical cozies.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Molly and her friends help to solve another murder in Cambridge, that she happened to walk into too. There are many suspects but only one can be the killer.
I was really enthralled with trying to figure out who the killer was. I really didn't figure it out until the last minute. This is a cute cozy mystery series. I look forward to the next book in this this series.

Thank you to Netgally, the publishers, and Elizabeth Penney

When I requested this book I was unaware that it was apart of a series, one that requires you to read the previous books for this one to make sense. I am unable to read all the previous books along with this one before the publish date. Therefore, I will rate this a fair 3/5 stars and will adjust the rating and review when I am able to read all the books in the series along with this one.

A book, within a book, within a book. The latest edition to the Cambridge Bookshop series by Elizabeth Penney. Set in Cambridge, England, among the historical colleges, Molly Kimball, a bookshop owner, stumbles upon a Gothic manuscript and opens the door to murder and a long-buried secret.

The author weaves together mystery, family legacies, and murder while drawing the reader into the dark atmosphere and showing how the multiple storylines weave in a journey to uncover the truth behind the ancient folio.

I simply cannot get enough of this series! I love this! I adore Molly and Kieran. There was twists I didn't see coming and I was totally absorbed into this story. I love it!!! I can't wait to read the next book to see what all they get into next.
I just reviewed The Fatal Folio by Elizabeth Penney. #NetGalley
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Book three of the series does not disappoint and in fact it educates. I have seen the V Mask but never knew it was the Guy Fawkes mask or that it was tied to a British historic event. In addition to the new knowledge I was also entertained by two stories and multiple mysteries. While we are reading the cozy Fatal Folio, main character Molly reads the Fatal Folio penned by one Selwyn Scott ancestor to Molly’s boyfriend, Kieran, which is also about a book that killed its owners entitled The Ramblings of a Monk. The story starts with Molly being hired to catalog Kieran’s family library. No need to have read books 1 and/or 2 to learn that Kieran is the son of Lord and Lady Scott so yes they are somewhat like aristocracy. Thankfully Kieran prefers the quite life of a bike store owner and tends to downplay the upper crust aspects of his family life. The first mystery involves Kieran’s cousin Oliver an instructor at St. Aelred, a Cambridge college, as a suspect in the knife and run death of a student. The only clues are a pair of orange trainers (shoes) that several people own, and a very popular biking jacket with reflective trim (again very popular and unisex). The knife came from a collection housed at the school. Shortly after the murder, the original manuscript for the Fatal Folio is stolen. Molly is already so busy with the cataloging project but cannot help her curious nature and needs to find out who killed the arrogant Thad Devine and who stole the priceless original family heirloom manuscript. Molly’s curiosity is contagious because I could not put the book down. The clues were well laid as were the misdirects. The additional story that you read along with Molly draws you in every bit as much as the mystery involving Molly.

*I received a free copy of this novel from NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Minotaur Books for my honest review.*

Third in the series, but a great standalone book as I haven't read anything else by Penney. Molly is living in Cambridge and working at a bookshop. As a librarian, she has been hired to inventory the library at the local manor that is her boyfriend's family home. He shows her an original manuscript called the Fatal Folio that was written by one of his ancestors and they vow to figure out who the author was since he/she was hiding behind a pen name. And then the manuscript is stolen.

Great little village and gothic festival of sorts. It was nice to hear about the walking tour and other aspects of the little college where a murder took place on Guy Fawkes night. The characters were well balanced and quite interesting although there wasn't a lot of police "interference" like there usually is in a cozy mystery.

I would definitely continue with the series.

This third in the Cambridge Bookshop series finds transplanted Molly Kimball in Cambridge, England, working in the family book store Thomas Marlowe—Manuscripts and Folios. Boyfriend Kieran is definitely capturing her heart and when she’s invited to catalogue his aristocratic family’s amazing library, she jumps at the chance and the extra money.

But it’s not long before the mysteries start piling up. On their way to a Guy Fawkes Night celebration to meet up with Kieran’s cousin Oliver, a professor at the university, Molly and friends discover a body near the uni, mask in place. It turns out to be a student named Thad, who has been a pain in Oliver’s side, threatening to file a complaint against Oliver.

Then, while cataloguing the extensive collection, she discovers an original Gothic manuscript -- A Fatal Folio by an author using the pen name Selwyn Scott. But who was Selwyn Scott? Why is his manuscript in Kieran’s family’s library? Was Selwyn a family member? And then the rare manuscript is stolen!

The characters in this book, even secondary ones, are well developed and the author makes each fit well within the story. Molly is smart, determined and well suited to being the protagonist!

This is an interesting mystery and has a story within the story as you read A Fatal Folio along with Molly.

There are twists and turns and plenty of suspects for both the murder and the theft, so the reader will be kept guessing.

This mystery novel with gothic overtones is set in fascinating Cambridge, England. Molly Kimball lives in Cambridge with her mom and her aunt, and together they manage the Thomas Marlowe bookshop. Molly jumps at the chance to use her library skills to catalog the library at the stately mansion of her boyfriend Kieran. When a murder occurs and a rare manuscript is stolen, Molly gets more than she bargained for as she becomes part of a gothic story herself.

This novel contains a story within a story that adds interest to the main plot. Readers who enjoy a cozy mystery with twists and turns will enjoy the Cambridge university setting with its many bookshops and quirky characters. This novel is part of a series but can be read as a standalone.

I received this novel from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

The Fatal Folio by Elizabeth Penney is a charming addition to the Cambridge Bookshop series. Set against the backdrop of Cambridge, England, the story follows Molly Kimball as she uncovers a mysterious Gothic novel manuscript and becomes entangled in a murder investigation. Penney skillfully weaves together elements of love, family, and intrigue, creating a tale that keeps readers turning the pages. (I received an advance reader copy of this book and all opinions are my own.) Although a bit slow at times, this book has a well-crafted plot and captivating characters, and will check the boxes for those who enjoy atmospheric mysteries.

This was an interesting read, but not a favourite. I struggled a little with the pacing, especially the interspersal of the story within a story, as I found it drew me out of the main story and made it difficult for me to reengage in the main story. This is the third book in the series, but I don't think you would need to read the other two to figure out who the characters are, as they are pretty generic for a book of this kind.
Probably the biggest issue I have with this series is that there are a lot of little comments about things that are different or unique about english culture as if the author feels they need to explain every little detail that an American audience might find different to their life. I find these comments make me feel like the author is dismissing the intelligence of her readers. The story would flow better if these expositional statements were not included.
I did find the mystery elements to be interesting, but the flow and overall enjoyment of the story was reduced by the above mentioned issues.

I received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

The mystery kept me guessing. I do love visiting with the characters in this series.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Molly Kimball is an American ex-pat living in Cambridge with her mom and Great-Aunt. They run the family's ancestral bookshop called Thomas Marlowe-Manuscripts and Folios. Molly has been hired by her boyfriend Kiernan Scott's family to update their family's library catalog. In addition to that, she's taken on the task of uncovering the true identity of the author behind an original manuscript of a Gothic novel called A Fatal Folio. It is especially of interest to Kiernan's cousin, Oliver, a professor at one of the local colleges, who plans to write a book about the manuscript and its author.

While on their way to meet Oliver one night, Molly and her friends stumble upon a man who has been stabbed. It turns out he wasn't a very well liked person, and Oliver is among the top suspects. It isn't long before Molly finds herself in the middle of trying to figure out who committed the murder and if and how it might be tied to the old manuscript.

Although this is the third book in the Cambridge Bookshop mystery series, it was my first. I imagine there is some background information about the regular characters I may have been missing jumping into the series here, but I never felt lost and still felt like I got a good sense of who everyone was. I love the setting--Cambridge and the bookstore. I especially love the library at the Scott's estate. So much history in the books on the shelves and tucked in the nooks and crannies there!

Within the novel, is another story, written as if we are reading A Fatal Folio right alongside Molly. It's an intriguing Gothic tale, and I found myself just as interested in finding out what happened to the characters of that story as I did to the main mystery. It complemented the main storyline and in no way overshadowed it.

Molly is smart and relatable. She has a good relationship with the local law enforcement officials, which I think worked to everyone's advantage. I would enjoy going back and reading the first two books in the series, perhaps seeing how Kiernan and Molly meet and reading about her first impressions of her new life in Cambridge. There are adorable bookstore cats who make multiple appearances. The Fatal Folio is just the kind of cozy mystery I love to cuddle up with.

After moving to Cambridge, England, Molly Kimball discovers an original manuscript of a Gothic novel. When a murder occurs, Molly must uncover the truth and its connection to the mysterious novel.

This is the third book in the series and I hope it isn't the last. I love this series. I love the characters.


Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers in exchange for my honest reviews.

While this one is not my favorite series. I do still enjoy diving into this series to see what the characters are up to. And do enjoy the mysteries in each one.

Really fun third book in the series, and I loved the book within a book on this one. Interesting story and clever clues that kept me guessing. Hope this series continues!

The Fatal Folio is book three in Elizabeth Penney’s Cambridge Bookshop Series. I have read all the books in this series and enjoyed them all and especially loved their Cambridge England setting. This book begins with Molly and her boyfriend Kieran as they celebrate her 1st Guy Fawkes Night since moving from Vermont. Molly has also just taken a job helping Keiran's mother Lady Asha catalogue her estates massive library. There is a murder during the Guy Fawkes fireworks and a rare library book gets stolen. Those two events are just two of the mysteries Molly helps to uncover in this book. There's also a book with a book, as Molly "reads" the fatel folio during the events of the story. Lots to keep you interested and guessing.
I really enjoyed the book!

Molly and her mother have left their life in Vermont to hop over the pond to live in England. They've settled in nicely, helping in the family bookstore with Aunt Vivian.
Molly is working for her boyfriends family, cataloging their incredible library and hoping to find the real author of The Fatal Folio, A book written by a family member ages ago.
I liked the story, but I did find myself struggling with some parts.
This is a good series and I'm happy to recommend it to other readers.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of the book.

Princess Fuzzypants here: Atmospheric. That would be a good word to describe how I feel when reading this series. Not only in the gothic novel that is at the heart of the story but in the every day goings on in historic Cambridge as American ex=pat Molly learns more about England. She has great guides in her friends and family and especially in her boyfriend Kieran who has introduced her into a world she could scarcely have imagined.

The Fatal Folio is a book written by one of his ancestors but which one is a big question since it was done under a pseudonym. Then there is a murder that may or may not have been committed by his cousin and oh yes, the rare manuscript is stolen. Molly has a lot of mysteries that need solving. She does have some good contacts both in the local constabulary and in the world of spies and illegal trade in antiquities. The characters are all very British and engaging. The story will entertain with the various intrigues. And there are two charming book store kitties to add a little feline fun.

It may not be a trip to Cambridge but it is a lovely way to spend several hours. Five purrs and two paws up.

It's another enjoyable entry in the Cambridge Bookshop series. The mystery plotting is good, and the imagery of all the Guy Fawkes masks is suitably spooky. I like that Molly's cataloging her boyfriend's parents' library and that we're exploring a new space and new people without totally taking Molly out of her regular life. The story within a story works well, too. It's handled deftly and sparingly, so it never confuses or overtakes the main story.

I'm looking forward to going back to Cambridge again with the next book!

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