"Sentenced to Murder (the Bookstore Mystery #5)" by Sue Minix was a bit cold case, modern case and a bit Valentine's Day. Jen, a murder mystery author and bookstore owner, is procrastinating her writers block by getting involved in figuring out the true mystery behind the disappearance of an inmate who was, possibly wrongfully, convicted of murdering his brother. This unravels into more and more unsolved cases needing to be solved. Are they connected? They just might be.

I had a couple of theories about the different mysteries going on. I had a little bit right in each of my theories. All I'll say is that was one messed up family.

Jen writes mysteries for a living. But when Jaylon insists he’s no murderer, Jen decides to put her writing skills to the test and try to find out who the real murderer is. It’s a race against time as Jaylon is in dire need of a kidney transplant, which won’t happen if he ends up in prison. It’s a race against the clock and a murderer, but is it one Jen can win?

This was an enjoyable read and I enjoyed the folks in Riddleton. The mystery was rather well done and i recommend this book to any mystery lover!

Sentenced to Murder is the 5th book in the Bookish mysteries. Jen agrees to help a man she believes was wrongly convicted of murder and she needs to act quickly as he needs a kidney transplant to save his life. This book had a nice pace, great characters, plentiful red herrings, a little romance, and a cute dog named Savannah. I was hooked from page one and read this in one sitting. Well done!

This is book #5 in this cozy mystery series. Jen Dawson owns a bookshop and is an aspiring author. She is having problems getting her book off the ground so when her friend Marcus asks if she can help a friend who is in jail, she jumps at the chance to help, especially when he's been wrongfully imprisoned. As Jen investigates, another body is discovered so she has to race against time to solve the murder and to exonerate the wrongfully accused. The plotline was so interesting and entertaining. I love all the characters - esp Jen's chaotic life - which there is a never a dull moment.

I look forward to reading more of Jen's antics in her next book. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Jen is trying to write the next book in her mystery series, always mindful of her deadline. At the same time, she has responsibilities as co-owner of a bookshop, to her dog, Savannah, and to her boyfriend, Eric, a member of the local police department. Then there is the obnoxious developer who is aggressively trying to buy up local businesses so he can turn the town into an extension of the resort he's building. The last thing Jen needs is another project, but when a friend asks her to help one of his friends who is in prison for murdering his brother but protests his innocence, how can she refuse? She takes on the cold case.

I really enjoyed this cozy mystery. The characters are well drawn with fun quirks and the small town setting is delightful. Savannah is wonderful. Although dealing with a serious topic at the heart of the mystery, the book is funny, too, and made me laugh out loud in places. Jen's insecurities and the ways in which she deals with them, as well as her growing self-awareness, add depth to her character and the story. The friendship between her and her best friend from childhood is heartwarming. The cold case at the heart of this book provides a unique cozy mystery plot which I quite liked. Although there was a bit of repetition with some things--Jen seemed to be constantly stirring cream and sugar into her coffee and giving Savannah chew sticks, for example--the story moved along at just the right pace and kept me eagerly turning the pages. I'm looking forward to seeing what Jen and the crew get up to in the next book. This is a very good read, so settle in with your beverage of choice and enjoy!

Life in Riddleton has quietened down a little and author, bookshop owner, and amateur detective, Jen Dawson, is trying to get to grips with her latest crime novel. It's not flowing as well as she'd hoped so when her friend, Marcus, asks if she can help a friend of his who's been wrongly imprisoned for murder she's eager to help!

The tale Jaylon Barnes relates about his conviction and the life saving medical treatment he needs, which is unavailable while he’s incarcerated, leaves Jen feeling compelled to help. As she begins reinvestigating Jaylon’s case while trying to write a few more chapters of her book another body is discovered and the danger begins to move ever closer.

Book five in this much loved series provides the reader with another visit to Jen's slightly chaotic life as she tries to solve a murder and write her next, hopefully, best-selling novel. There is always an original take on this popular genre in Sue Minix's books and once again she surprised me. There are unresolved storylines here which I am looking forward to revisiting in book six.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Avon Books UK, but the opinions expressed are my own. This is a great series which comes highly recommended.

I've really grown to love this series by Sue Minx.
Jen is working on her next book, while learning how to adjust to having Lacey as a partner in the bookshop.
Jen is a great character, she has a fun personality, and freely admits to her faults, its refreshing to have a character that isn't always perfect.
Jen's habit of finding dead bodies has given her a reputation as an amateur sleuth and when she's asked to look into a possible wrongful conviction, things go bad at a rapid pace.

These books always keep me engaged and Sentenced to Murder did just that.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of the book.

This is a fun, entertaining read. Jen is an interesting, intriguing, complex, relatable, entertaining, fun characters. I loved the small-town vibes and quirky characters. The mystery was interesting and held me captive until the very end. All of the characters – including the animal ones – added to the fabric of the story and my enjoyment. I liked that the amateur sleuth worked with law enforcement to solve the crime and didn’t make them look like bumbling idiots.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.