I'm not sure this author did much research before they wrote the book. Lots of stereotypes of multiple types of people in here, meandering plot. The main character was not likeable, I would have preferred the book from Tandy's point of view.

I thought the concept of the book was really interesting and it was entertaining to read. I like that it gives us some background into who the characters are throughout the book. It is told in first person POV throughout. Although I feel like the beginning was a tad bit rushed, it did get better towards the middle of the book. The inly issue I had was that Madeline was just too confident and a little cocky at times to other characters. I am glad that she eventually found the culprit and got to have a happy ending.

3.5 stars, rated up

An entertaining first in a new cozy mystery series - Madeline has returned to Enigma, GA to claim an inheritance from her beloved aunt. Her first night back, within minutes of her arrival, a fire is set.

So starts the mystery.

With its wide array of characters, charming small town atmosphere, and a fledgling romance this was a likable first (first book - congratulations to debut author P.J. Nelson!) and the first title of the An Old Juniper Bookstore Mystery series.

I was pulled in right away, enjoyed my time reading, and will look forward to the next book by the author.


*In the first chapter, mention was made of “You Don’t Miss Your Water (Til Your Well Runs Dry)” - and this immediately made me think of my own forever favorite version of this song - Gram Parsons with the Byrds.



Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the DRC

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am a sucker for books about books, libraries, and bookstores, and I like a good cozy mystery. So, this book seemed like a perfect choice. I enjoyed the elements to do with the setting - the southern small town, the bookstore, the little college town - all worked to add to the atmosphere. The mystery was set up well, and I did not expect the victim to be who it was. I liked that the book showed different facets of what are sometimes "stock" characters. For example, the town priest being one of the members of the crew investigating the murder was a nice touch.

Beyond that, though, this fell into the mystery trope of characters doing extremely foolish things and stumbling into clues with no real skills or talent to help them solve crimes. The main character and her partners in crime solving are certain that virtually every named character in the book is the murderer at different points over the course of the book, to an extent that it started to feel ridiculous. (It reminded me of that old saying about a broken clock being right twice a day. If you accuse all the people in the vicinity of the crime, at some point you're going to be right, so I'm not so sure that's investigating as much as it is randomly accusing everyone that may have had the slightest motive.) It's tough when the main character of a mystery is just a normal person with no special skills or position to help them investigate. It's hard to make their investigation seem believable, and I don't feel like I was fully convinced of that here. At one point the main character goes around telling people that a particular character confessed to the murder when they hadn't really, which just seemed irresponsible and dangerous.

Overall, this was an ok cozy mystery, but it didn't drawn me in enough for me to continue with the series in the future.

This is an easy fast read. To me it was predictable and did not have any major twist. I think this will make a good series and yes I would read it..
Thank you NetGally and St Martins Press for the eARC.

3.5 star rating rounded up to 4. Cozy mystery novels aren’t always my favorite. The stories are fun and easy reads but don’t typically hold my attention long enough for me to get invested in characters. That’s different with Booked for Murder.

Madeline is from a small town in Georgia, with a college nearby and she always wanted to get out of that small town. She was raised by her aunt who owned the bookstore on Main Street and also lived above the bookshop.

Upon Madeline’s return arrival in Enigma, strange events happen, including a fire, threatening phone calls, and a murder. She bands together with her aunt’s long time best friend and the new-in-town female priest to find more information about the events happening.

I think a big reason why I enjoyed this book is because the small town feel was definitely something that hit close to home. It talked a lot about residents wanting to get out and make better lives for themselves and also residents that didn’t. There’s mention of drug sales and characters with traumatic childhoods and drinking problems. Plus a book store being central to the story was a fun setting as well!

This was a cute little murder mystery surrounded by a lovely old bookshop. The characters of enigma are not who you think they are and there’s a lot of secrets in this little southern town. Someone seems to have it out for those who don’t belong. I really enjoyed this book though I found it a little slow. I liked the characters and kept guessing at the mystery. I enjoyed the side stories for the most part as well. I think the main characters romantic interests could have either been left out or expanded on but I found myself wanting more. The biggest frustration is never getting the full story between her and a certain someone (no spoilers here). Overall I say 3.5/5 stars.

“Booked for Murder” was a decent mystery. There were some pretty good twists. The identity of the murderer was somewhat surprising. The book had an interesting cast of characters, especially the major characters (Madeline, Philomena, Gloria, David, Bo, and Billy). The most interesting character, in my opinion, is Delmar, who does not appear until near the end of the story (and what makes him so interesting is probably that the reader only gets a glimpse of him, but there is so much complexity in that brief glimpse).

I liked the Old Juniper Bookshop, with its location in an old house and the eclectic organizational scheme structured around the different rooms in the house.

What added to the amusement of the story is that Madeline escaped from the small town of Enigma, Georgia as soon as she could and did not expect to be back long-term. This changed when her aunt Rose died and left her the house and bookshop, with a proviso that she could not sell the house/store for six months. As a result, she has to re-adjust to small town life where everyone knows each other and their business. And she has to come to terms with the fact the police officer investigating the arson and later the murder on her property is someone she used to babysit. Even though she has been gone from Enigma for almost seventeen years, she is only in her mid-thirties, so having a kid she babysat now be grown up and in.a position of authority still seems surprising.

BOOK REPORT
Received a complimentary copy of Booked for Murder, by P.J. Nelson, from St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books/NetGalley, for which I am appreciative, in exchange for a fair and honest review. Scroll past the BOOK REPORT section for a cut-and-paste of the DESCRIPTION of it from them if you want to read my thoughts on the book in the context of that summary.

Yep, definitely a formulaic cozy.

But that’s OK, because I needed something not challenging because I have been vaguely headachy all day. Think I’m “tryin’ to get sick.”

I liked it enough—especially the Southern small town setting—that I wonder who P.J. Nelson (pseudonym) actually is in real life, and enough that I would (and will) happily read the next book/s in this series.

But what I am really looking forward when I’m feeling better is reading a book some friends sent me: May the Wolf Die, by Elizabeth Heider. Her author bio is FASCINATING. Go check it out: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

DESCRIPTION
In this atmospheric southern cozy debut, Madeline Brimley returns to the bookstore she inherited, discovering that small towns hold deadly secrets.

Madeline Brimley left small town Georgia many years ago to go to college and pursue her dreams on the stage. Her dramatic escapades are many but success has eluded her, leaving her at loose ends. But then she gets word that not only has her beloved, eccentric Aunt Rose passed, but she's left Madeline her equally eccentric bookstore housed in an old Victorian mansion in the small college town of Enigma. But when she arrives in her beat-up Fiat to claim The Old Juniper Bookstore, and restart her life, Madeline is faced with unexpected challenges. The gazebo in the back yard is set ablaze and a late night caller threatens to burn the whole store down if she doesn't leave immediately.

But Madeline Brimley, not one to be intimidated, ignores the threats and soldiers on. Until there's another fire and a murder in the store itself. Now with a cloud of suspicion falling over her, it's up to Madeline to untangle the skein of secrets and find the killer before she herself is the next victim.

This was a fun story with an interesting premise. I enjoyed this book. It was entertaining. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

This was a cute cozy mystery that I really enjoyed. It’s not often that I gravitate toward books in this genre so it was a lot of fun for me to read. I’d definitely recommend this one to family and friends.

If you could include every southern stereotype and add a too stupid to live lead character, this would be the book. Madeleine Brimley returns to Enigma, Georgia to takeover the bookstore she inherited from her aunt. When someone burns down the gazebo in her back yard, then Madeleine receives a threatening phone call, she decides to investigate, totally disregarding the young, trained police officer who tells her not to. I did not enjoy this book because of the TSTL character who did very dangerous interviews with suspects.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review the first book in the "Old Juniper Bookstore Mystery" series by P, J. Nelson.
Madeline Brimley has returned to the small town where she has inherited a bookstore/home from her aunt Rose; but seemingly almost the moment she's returned, the property is the victim of arson, and Madeline is threatened with imminent death if she doesn't get out.
Determined not to be forced into leaving her beloved bookstore, Madeline presses on ( and even attempts to investigate), but when another fire and a major crime are committed on the premises, she begins to realize that someone really has it in for her and wonders just who that might be - after all, she's barely just returned.
P. J. Nelson has crafted a good little mystery, with all of the hallmarks of the 'cozy' genre, and I look forward to seeing where this series might go.

I really enjoyed the premise, but the main character got a bit annoying at times. Some of her actions veered on Too Stupid To Live territory. I was pleased with the conclusion of the mystery.

I was 100% influenced to read this book by the cover alone. So pretty! The story was very cozy-ish in the small town way and loved the idea of living in a book store. However, the story was slow moving and I found myself wanting more. The outcome of the mystery I could guess fairly early on as well.

This was the perfect mystery book to get me out of a reading slump. It takes place in a bookshop in the fall. Could it be any cozier? The characters are lovable but flawed and I appreciate that. Think stars hollow but with crime!

Madeline inherits a bookstore after her Aunt Roses death in a small town in Georgia. Upon her takeover of bookstore, some arson and a murder happen in and near the books tore that leaves the small town rattled.

Madeline takes action to help to solve the crimes so she no longer feels threatened in her place of work

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

Thank you to P.J. Nelson and NetGalley for this arc.
The story follows former star, Madeline Brimely back to her hometown in Enigma, GA. She inherits her Aunt’s bookstore after her passing. Not too long after she arrives death threats, trouble, and mystery begin to follow her.
I loved the concept of Booked for Murder. Living in a small town in Georgia myself I think the author truly nails the depiction of small town life. Where everyone is always in everyone else’s business. Gossip truly does travel fast.
I enjoyed this book but there were some slower parts where I was expecting more to happen. Some parts were just a bit too predictable for me.

Overall, this was a good book that I would recommend this book if you like cozy mysteries.

I loved the idea of this book, but it fell a little flat for me. My biggest issue was that the main character, Madeline, is obnoxious. She's frequently rude, self-centered, abrupt and is a terrible amateur sleuth. Madeline and her friend, Philomena, frequently jump from one conclusion to the next about who the killer is with no evidence and become absolutely sure that person is the killer. Then, before long, they learn something else and are absolutely positive someone else is the killer. It was annoying. Philomena came off as very unstable for a psychology professor and I really didn't like her either. Gloria was fun though and I enjoyed her character a lot. I was annoyed that Gloria kept trying to tell a joke and Madeline interrupted her every time, so we never got to hear it. Another thing I didn't like is that the case isn't solved due to them finding clues and figuring it out. That made the whole investigation seem pointless. Overall, this wasn't a bad book but due to my distaste for the main character I won't be continuing the series.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

This review is my opinion and my opinion on,y. Thank you St Martin Press and Netgalley. P.J. Nelson is a new author for me. I’m sad to say I didn’t connect with the story. This book is not for me, but you might like it.