Missed the mark.

I wanted to like this book- the title itself sounded so interesting! "Booked for Murder", with books on the cover! Unfortunately, the story was a little boring and I didn't care for any of the characters. Our main character Madeline was frustrating and unrelatable. The story itself had so much potential but the combination of the characters and the almost unorganized execution of the plot made it difficult to read.

Thank You to P. J. Nelson, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I fear I am not the target audience for this book because I unfortunately did not like it at all and ended up DNF'ing. The blurb for this book sounded great and I was looking forward to reading it but I just could not get into the story. I know there are many readers that will absolutely love this one, but it was not for me. I'll definitely check out future works by this author but this one missed the mark for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's press for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Cozy Mysteries might be my new favorite Genre. Within the first few pages you are always hit with the story followed by a surprising Murder!
This book was such a comfort for me, although it’s Murder!
Madeline’s Aunt who passed already was probably one of my favorite characters of the book. The Author did a fantastic job of painting who she was and how she cared about everyone in her life so well. You truly felt if you had walked into her bookshop she would have quickly offered you tea, advice, some jazz and friendship.
While Madeline try’s to uncover the murder that happens under her nose she continues to put herself in danger and the suspect list gets longer and longer and she doesn’t know who she can trust.

Madeline Brimley grew up in Enigma, Georgia, but moved away as soon as she was able to with plans never to return. But then her eccentric aunt Rose passes away and in her will she leaves her book shop in Enigma to Madeline. Baffled as to why her aunt would leave it to her, she returns to the book shop she spent so much of her youth in. Immediately it becomes obvious that she is now considered an outsider to her hometown and she is not welcome here.

The title of the book is absolutely brilliant! The main characters are filled with down home warmth and the familiar comforting feelings of home. But as the story progresses, I’m not sure if anyone can be trusted. There are so many twists and turns, revealing possible motives in everyone. The ending had me on the edge of my seat, with an unlikely character who saves the day.

Thank you St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this arc.

2 ⭐️

Synopsis: Madeline, an actress from Atlanta, inherits a bookstore in a small town from her aunt. Once she arrives in Enigma, it is clear that someone does not want Madeline to take over the store. Madeline, along with a few friends, work together to solve a local murder.

This book felt all over the place. The premise and characters had promise, but by the end of the book I still felt like I didn’t know or care about any characters or locations. I feel like a major edit is needed to incorporate character background and descriptions into the story in a more natural way. As it’s written, information about characters is dumped in random parts of the book. I found it to be distracting and, to be honest, parts that were easily skipped over.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this ebook.

Booked for Murder by P.J. Nelson is a fun, easy-to-read murder mystery. A touch of zaniness for the characters, multiple twists in the plot. Just when I thought, "Yep! That's the murderer", another twist and on to the next suspect. With a cliffhanger ending, book 2 is in my TBR pile!

Releases Dec. 10th. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

An enjoyable but complex mystery. Having returned to her hometown , Madeline discovers Her Aunt Rose had a plan for her. Running the bookstore for 6 monies before inheriting it. She meets Gloria, an Episcopal priest and her aunts best friend who decide to solve who is makingthreating phone calls. Tany, a young student is murdered in the bookstore. And the 3 begin to work the mystery.

As in any small town the news of events travels fast. Madeline soon finds herself in solving the murder as well as other events in town. The plot to the story takes some time to dvelop but the characters are solid and likeable.

A bookstore. A small town in the South. Secrets. And Murder.

Entertaining tale of Madelyn returning to her hometown. We get peeks into her backstory and that of the small town characters. Overall, I enjoyed the story and am waiting for book 2!


Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Booked for Murder was such a fun read and I absolutely love cozy mysteries! Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review!!

What a wonderful debut novel! A cozy mystery, in that the language is not explicit and there are no sex or gory scenes depicted. However, the character development was a step above most cozy novels and there was a bit of a bite to the story. I really liked that the characters were not starkly white or black, which made it a bit more true to life. I look forward to seeing what P.J. Nelson brings us in the future!

I enjoyed this little mystery. You would think inheriting a book store would be the best thing ever but night one strange things start happening! This booked was packed full of coffee drinking and small town drama!! I can’t wait to read more from this author!! Good reads says “mystery #1” im hoping there are more to come!! Thank you NetGalley for this arc!

(A big thank you to NetGalley for supplying a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!)

I enjoyed this book! Gloria is probably my favorite character, although I like the fact the main character (Madeline) isn't perfect. She's not the typical "can do no wrong" sleuth that cozies often feature. At the same time, the author has made sure to keep her likeable and realistic.

The Southern setting seems believable (as a North Carolinian, I'm always curious how "Southern" speech patterns are presented in books), and I appreciate the "progressive" elements that are included. I also like that the author has sprinkled in occasional literature and theatre references for a little flair every now and then.

Keep the books coming, please, P.J. Nelson!

An incredible book with wonderful characters and a beautiful setting. It will keep you guessing until the end.

This was such a fun and cozy mystery. It had me hooked instantly and I couldn't figure out the mystery on my own but I prefer it that way when I am reading a book with a mystery element. It had such fun small town vibes and I really, really enjoyed reading it. It would be the perfect fall/ winter book so I will be grabbing a copy in December when it comes out!!

I LOVED this book. Madeline returns to the small town of Enigma to a bookstore which her Aunt Rose had left her in her will. Enigma, which is properly named, is a small town in Georgia with a small college, and Madeline had grown up there with her Aunt Rose. Within a week of her arrival she experiences a threat on her life a fire, and a murder. I loved the mystery--which I did not solve by myself, I loved the writing and I loved the characters. It is a long time since I lived in a southern town, but the small town in this book seemed very real. No-one is quite what they seem nor do they all fit the stereotypes of small town people. I also loved all the literary references. I will probably buy a copy for myself, and will certainly be looking for any further books by this author. Thank you netgalley for providing this arc, and for no pressure for a positive review.

Biscuits, Gravy, Romance, and a Dead Body? It’s Cozy Murder—Southern Style

Actress Madeline Brimley is called home to Enigma, Georgia. Partly to sort out her life, and partly to claim an inheritance left to her by her favorite aunt, the timing couldn’t be more perfect. She’s at a crossroads and no longer certain of what she wants to do with her life. Acting no longer seems a viable option, but neither does running the Old Juniper Bookstore, her aunt’s store that is now hers. But what inheriting the business does do is provide a chance for Madeline to ‘set a spell’ and reconnect with old friends and an easy-peasy lifestyle. It also provides enough income for her to not to be pushed into making a bad decision. So she settles back, ready to enjoy the welcome break when an anonymous caller throws everything out of kilter. Before Madeline knows it, the raspy voice on the other end of the line threatens to burn the bookstore down with her in it if she doesn’t leave the town she was just getting reacquainted with. It isn’t long before the calls she hoped were a prank prove themselves genuine. And as promised, both arson and homicide are delivered, but with one major difference—the murder victim isn’t her.

Thus begins the very clever, very entertaining BOOKED FOR MURDER by P.J. Nelson. This was my first-time reading this author, and I’m finding there’s a lot to love! There’s a real richness to the writing, a texture that is likened to many of the dishes served up in this mystery. Coincidence? I think not! It’s entirely purposeful as is the touch of nostalgia running throughout the storyline. One of the smartest moves the author made was to allow Brimley space to “reconnect” with the past. Totally a great idea and one that leaves the door open for all sorts of discarded hopes, dreams, and romance to make their way into the present. But it doesn’t end there because there’s lots more to get excited about.

Like what? How about a solid plot that compels you to keep following the breadcrumbs. Then there’s the ‘twisteroonis’ (my newly-invented word for violent twists in a narrative) that keep us guessing as to the identity of the mastermind behind all the mayhem. Then there are the characters themselves. Okay, I definitely nominate the hot handyman as my favorite, but that’s just how I roll. And since we’re up to discussing characters, it’s here where things start getting tricky. Why? Because characters that run afoul of the law have to be nice enough for we readers to care about, but devious enough to have committed murder and arson. They also need to be suspicious, but not suspicious enough for them to not pass the sniff test the first-time around. The author nails this and more which leaves us guessing right up to the end.

So if you love cozy mysteries, Shakespearean quotes, and hot handymen (I know! I know! I’ll stop obsessing!), and a plot that is more like a jambalaya than a burger and fries, this might be for you. I’m giving this FIVE STARS and a mint julep to grow on!

Madeline Brimley comes back to Enigma, GA after her aunt leaves the house and bookstore in her will to Madeline. Soon after she returns, someone turns up dead in the bookstore and it’s up to Madeline to solve the case.

Or is it really up to Madeline? To be honest, she was super annoying and I’d even go so far as to say a menace to society. I’d probably be trying to burn her house down so she’d leave as well. At no point does she redeem her character. The author seems to conflate the independent attitude of a 16 year old with what it means to be a strong woman. She is childish, whiny and obstinate…doesn’t accept help when she needs it (that’s not strength in my book). I felt myself cringing through every interaction of Madeline’s with townsfolk.

I can’t stand when authors try to write all men as bumbling idiots. The only man that was written in a favorable light was David and he was so over the top that he lacked personality or a spine. When someone is throwing a tantrum and you say “you’re right” and then the person loves you? That sounds like the alternate universe my 11 year old lives in. Do society a favor and write a good, gentle, honest and strong man that maybe also respectfully keeps a woman from being her own worst enemy. I know plenty of them, so this isn’t a mythical creature, much as society wants us to believe.

The whole “Father Coleman” thing was ridiculous. If she had studied any theology, she would understand why the priests are male, hint: it has nothing to do with robbing women of their equality. There are roles in The Church for everyone but I digress. (Side note: I’m speaking from a Catholic perspective, maybe Episcopalians made up their own thing when they deviated)

Lastly, of course Philomena would be in a romantic relationship with Aunt Rose, because what modern book would be complete without misunderstanding the difference between high school friendship and a true friendship. Well, I must need to be with you sexually then, if we connect on all these levels.

2.5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin’s press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Very cute book!! I loved the chill vibes it presented. It reminded me of a Hallmark mystery movie. Would definitely recommend to anyone who is looking for a cute murder mystery.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Madeline inherited a book store from her aunt who she loved. Madeline hoped to make it as an actress, but it never happened. She is excited about the next chapter in her life. This book grabbed my attention from the beginning.

Thank #netgalley for the ARC and opportunity to read and review.
. MFC Madeline not only inherits her Aunt Rose’s creepy mansion/bookstore but also and enemy that wants her to leave town. Fans of cozy mysteries will definitely enjoy this fast paced and fun read.