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

I loved this book. I will admit that it was slow at certain parts, but I loved the whodunit vibes. I had about 2 people on my suspect list... but it kept changing with all the new information we were getting. The ending was satisfying, and I know there's still so many questions, but I'm positive they'll all be answered in book 2. We just have to wait for a long while. 😩

2.5 stars rounded up to 3, just because the concept was neat and original.

What I liked:
- The concept as stated above
- The different turns and twists

What I didn’t like
- the ending, there were so many unfinished pieces (I thought we’d learn more about Rose and her “secrets”, the story of “Faye”, the firefighter? So many questions)
- it felt like so many things were introduced to never get closure (this might be redundant to my previous bullet point but it was really frustrating)
- the constant references to acting. We get it. She was an actor….
- the random interruptions, finally at the end we THINK we are going to learn about “Faye” and then an interruption about her car? I don’t understand or see the value it added to the story personally
- the main characters arrogance. At one point she’s Lists “lies” told her and one is literally the officer (Billy) has a “hidden” investigation?? He just didn’t tell her? He’s an officer, and there was a murder? Why should he report to her? It wasn’t hidden.
- the predictably; I predicted both “twists” pretty early on


Thank you to NetGalley and P.J. Nelson for this ARC!

📝 Quick Summary:
Madeline’s aunt has passed away, and she inherits her Victorian home that houses a bookstore. As she spent a lot of time there as a child, it almost felt like coming home, however, for the past few weeks, the store has been closed due to her passing. The old and dusty home doesn’t have electricity, and she thinks it’s a slip up due to her aunt not making payments. As she walks through the house, and looks through the empty cabinets and fridge, she has a sense of being watched. As a fire, threatening phone calls, and a murder take place in her home in the first two days she has moved back, she is determined to find out who this person is. As she finds two alliances to work with, they set off on securing her home, and her safety, while hunting down the mysterious caller.

💡 Thoughts and Feelings:
The first 20% of the book literally jumpstarts all the madness and I felt like I didn’t know many of the characters quite that well. I wish there was some more development on their relationships, so I could feel differently when things went down. Madeline has a lot of confidence for someone who should be terrified…. Or is it just me, thinking I would be absolutely terrified, if I was going through her ordeal? This mystery isn’t very thriller-ish, but more of a cozy, small town mystery vibe where the main character wants to solve the mystery herself and be a badass. She did have a lot of growth throughout the novel.

👍🏻or👎🏻: This was definitely a cozy mystery read, nothing too terrifying, but easy to read and get into. If you want a lighter, can probably determine the twists and turns, type of novel, this one’s for you! It’s the first in a series too, so I’m hopeful for the next one to become a little more deep.

⭐️ Overall Rating: 3.5 🌟

This arc was provided by the publisher, via Net Galley, in exchange for my honest review.

Having escaped the small town of Enigma, Georgia to pursue a career as an actress, Maddie finds herself right back where she started when her eccentric Aunt Rose dies leaving her the old house in which she lived and ran the local bookstore. Finding that acting jobs are drying up for women past a certain age, and having no real home of her own, Maddie takes over running the bookstore and meets all the small town characters that were involved in Aunt Rose's life. Unfortunately, one of those people wants her out of the house and attempts to burn the house down. With telephone threats, fires, and the murder of a young girl in the bookstore, Maddie is determined to figure out who is the murderer before the local police officer, (who she actually used to babysit) does.

With a cast of small town locals (who often have more knowledge then they present), author P.J. Nelson keeps the reader guessing which potential suspects had the right amount of motive to commit a murder. A chance or two at possible romance sneaks into the plot with both a handsome landscaper/builder and a hunky firefighter. Assuming there will be more books in the series, readers will have to wait to see how Maddie's romantic life develops in a place called Enigma.

Booked for Murder by P.J. Nelson This was a fun cozy mystery with well developed characters. The main character wasn’t as likable as I think she should be. But entertaining nevertheless. Thank you to NetGalley.

I reviewed this book for honest feedback.

This had a lot of potential. I felt like parts were very well done, and others felt more like incomplete thoughts. Some of the relationships between characters were choppy feeling. I honestly liked the idea behind this whole story, I just felt cheated at times.

3.5 stars

This was a fun read, good pacing and setting was well chosen. I always enjoy following characters returning to their hometowns after a long absence, especially when they have complex feelings about it. With a relatively minimal cast of characters, it still kept me guessing (and second-guessing) until the final reveal.

I do feel like some plot threads were dropped at times, but overall it's a satisfying, cozy read.

This was a cute book. I enjoyed the story, but it just wasn’t for me. I know some people who will really enjoy this. I say if it sounds interviewing take the plunge to read.

P. J. Nelson’s debut novel, Booked for Murder, is a story with suspense, mystery and surprises. Madelyn Brimley returns to her grass-roots southern Georgia hometown after 20 years of pursuing a career in stage acting. She has inherited her aunt’s home and book shop.

Within hours of having arrived, Madelyn immediately becomes aware of danger as someone has set fire in her backyard. After threatening phone calls, an attempt is made to burn her house down and a young college girl inside the house is killed. The mystery unfolds and takes several unexpected turns as Madelyn and 2 of her aunt’s friends attempt to figure out who would be threatening her life.

Things become more complicated as Madelyn realizes that every path she follows only provides partial proof of the truth. Could there be several culprits? During her investigation, several closely held secrets are revealed; hidden motives by unsuspected people are uncovered and there are several surprise suspects.

Nelson’s vivid, colorful descriptions and metaphors contribute to the richness of the story and the scenery lights up, placing the reader in the middle of the activity. There are no dull moments as Madelyn makes some risky decisions that not only jeopardize the investigation, but also subject her to immediate danger. However, she is determined to discover who would kill an innocent young girl in her home in the middle of the night. The reader will be engaged in this fast-moving excitement until the very end.

Madeline, a retired actress, has just been informed that after her Aunt Rose had passed, she was mentioned in the will to take over her aunt's house/bookshop. Madeline arrives in Enigma, Georgia to the house/bookshop and a fire occurs after just arriving. A few days after, one of the local girls, Tandy, stays in the house/bookshop with Madeline. That night a murder happens along with another house fire. It is then that Madeline, Philomena ( best friend of her Aunt Rose), and Gloria (also a newcomer into town, and pastor of the Episcopal church) take the investigation into their own hands to try and find the culprit of the arson fires and the murder.

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.

Madeline Brimley, a struggling actress, returns to her small hometown Enigma in Georgia to sort out her late aunt's affairs after her passing. Madeline assumes it will be easy and stress free, in fact she is looking forward to getting back to the house that hold her happiest memories. Unfortunately as soon as she arrives she starts receiving menacing phone calls threatening her life if she doesn't leave. Once the caller tried burning her house down and townsfolk start to mysteriously die, Madeline and her friends set out to figure out who is behind all of it.

This book is a great cozy mystery for those seeking a story that is intriguing and atmospheric without being graphic or frightening. I will say content warning for death as there is a few mentions of it. I enjoyed the variety of characters and the overall story. It was clear from the first few pages that this was a male author trying to write a woman (many women, actually) which isn't always a bad thing but it was just pretty noticeable and I couldn't see past it which ultimately impacted my reading experience. But overall I liked the story and I would recommend this book to those looking for a cozy mystery in the south.

**Spoiler Free Review of Booked for Murder out December 10th**

3.75⭐️

This cozy mystery had me pleasantly surprised with the mystery. Set in a small town, Madeline inherits a bookstore to run. However, when she gets to town and starts receiving threats, only coffee can help her get down to the bottom of a murder and an arsonist’s attack on her house.

This book is for those seeking a cozy setting, a mystery with different turns and unexpected outcomes, and for coffee and book lovers. This has much higher stakes than expected for a cozy mystery, and my jaw dropped within the first 50 pages.

The characters were quirky and lovable. The writing was solid. However, the thing I loved most was Madeline attempting, sometimes failing, to solve the mystery. It gave realism to the story. Overall, I really enjoyed this one and I can’t wait until it’s out in the world this December! It would be a perfect read on a snowy day or by the fire, with of course a cup of coffee in hand.

Thanks to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Publishing Group for the ARC!

Madeline Brimley is a bit of a rebel. Not just because she comes from rural Georgia. But because, like her precious Aunt Rose, she can't wait to get out. Like her aunt, she sets out to find the stage. But, after a semi-successful run, she feels the call to return to her roots. Her aunt has passed away and willed to Madeline her bookstore.

Returning to Georgia, she renews acquaintances with several friends including Philemon and the boy she used to babysit. He's now the local policeman. She also meets new people, including the new priest.

But not everyone welcomes her return. She begins receiving mysterious, threatening calls. Her Gazebo is burned down. Then, her volunteer worker is murdered and someone tries to burn down the whole bookstore. Madeline doesn't believe her former babysittee has what it takes to solve the crime. So, she sets out to do it for him.

By and large, I enjoyed this book. The characters are enjoyable and well-constructed. The pace of the book is good. I found the ending to be a bit predictable. But maybe that was just me. I would recommend this book for a good time!

Small town, murder, BOOKSTORE!
Booked For Murder is a cozy mystery. When Madeline's Aunt Rose dies, she inherits a bookstore in her small hometown. Not everyone is excited for Madeline to be there though. A fire at the gazebo, threatening phone calls. and then a death! But who was the intended target?
Madeline launches an investigation to sus out the murderer. With a cast of colorful characters, there are lots of suspects.
An enjoyable read.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an early copy for review.

Book Review:
Booked For Murder By P.J. Nelson
Genre: Mystery, Fiction, Cozy Mystery
Pub Date: December 10, 2024

Synopsis:
Maddie returns to her small town roots after leaving to pursue big dreams of being an actress. Now, the aunt who raised her has passed and left her the small town bookstore, Old Juniper Books, giving her an opportunity to restart her life.
However, life in her original small town does not start out easy as the gazebo in the store's back yard burns down the first night she is in town and soon she is receiving threatening messages urging her to get out of town.
Maddie has plenty of pluck however and is determined to stay the course but as things escalate and her young assistant is found murdered it appears highly unlikely that Maddie will he able to continue with her new found opportunity.
Thoughts:
Right from the start, this book evokes small-town charm and cozy mystery vibes. With a cast of quirky characters, you can't help but be caught up in the clean, small-town story. While it may be a little predictable, it was a really enjoyable read. Nelson is a descriptive author, and I found it very easy to visualize the bookshop and the settings she described, often feeling I was in the midst of the room with the characters.
Content Warnings:
Murder, cursing language in 2 spots

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

This was such a cute and cosy read! I love a good mystery especially when it's in a small town with gothic victorian vibes, plus a bookstore!

This was an easy 5 star read for me. I would 100% recommend this book to my friends and family and will most likely pic up the physical book to add to my shelf trophies!!

Thank you Netgalley

This was a cute cozy murder mystery by P.J. Nelson.

Full of colorful characters, in a spot-on southern small town.

The action begins immediately upon Miranda's return to town to the bookstore/home she inherited from her Grandmother.
Right away, someone is unhappy she is there.

We soon meet a woman she has know all of her life whom she considers to be an "aunt".
Philomena is a likeable, flamboyant character who comes to the rescue by introducing Miranda to David, the town handyman who will be rebuilding the gazebo the disgruntled mystery person set aflame.
Miranda soon learns that everyone has secrets of their own.

When the 2nd fire occurs inside the bookstore and a murder is discovered, Miranda sets out to learn more about the people in her new small southern town.
Personalities are introduced and suspected.
There is plenty of evidence against everyone, it seems, and Miranda changes her theory with each new encounter.
She is so convinced it is each person in turn that she begins to doubt her own judgement and ability to read people. (As she should, honestly.) She jumps to many conclusions rather than letting the local law enforcement sort it all out.

The story was fun.
The only thing that kept me from giving this one a higher rating is that there were a couple of characters that were introduced, tension described, but then fizzling out of the story for the most part.

Booked for Murder is obviously the first installment of an upcoming series, as there were strings left untied and dangling.
I would pick up next one in the series just to find out the answer to the biggest question that was hinted at, but never fully addressed.

My final opinion was that this was a quick, fun read that I would recommend to anyone wanting to just snuggle in on a rainy day for a light mystery.

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

After inheriting her Aunt's home and bookstore Madeline finds herself tangled up in arson and murder. The premise of this book seemed intriguing and felt that the author set the reader up for some dark secrets, and twisty plot lines. Unfortunately for me that didn't happen. I wished for deeper character development and felt there were several parts of the storyline that were either dropped or left unfinished.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for a free copy of the book to review.

Enjoyed this very much. If it becomes a series I would the rest. Only thing that slightly confused me was the location of the store. College students readily found it and used it as their main source, but it also seemed to be set away from the main area. Perhaps I misread it at some point.

I was reading another book at the same time, that had a similar writing style, which made me wonder if it was the same author. But, I realized the other author must live in MD, not Georgia. So, I guess I now have two authors to follow.

Even though life in a small Georgia town may seem to meander along, this book moves at great speed delivering a right off the bat murder, complete with lots of suspects. Maddy is a credible heroine who typically finds herself in precarious situations while trying to ferret out the truth and the murder isn’t the only problem she has to solve.