Your favorite Aunt who encouraged your acting career had passed and left you her book store: just in time as your career is in a slump.
Meet Madeline. Unsure if she really wants to return to life in this small town in Georgia, she's really baffled when there is a fire in the building and she receives phone threats. Someone wants her gone, but she just got there!
It's a fun murder mystery with characters you'll enjoy following. The descriptive setting of small town life, the smell of the bookstore, the possibility of romance, bumbling inexperienced detectives will all provide an afternoon of page turning.

Madeline returns to her Georgia hometown to run the bookstore left to her by her beloved Aunt Rose, looking for a fresh start to her stalled acting career. Before she spends one night in her inherited home, she is faced with a destructive fire and threatening phone calls warning her to "GET OUT." One catch: the will specifies that she must live in the home for six months before she considers selling it. Who is out to get her?

This cozy Gothic mystery had all the elements I was looking for: a quirky setting in a small Georgia town, a bookstore with a beloved, but recently deceased owner; a spunky heroine; two seasoned female sidekicks (a college professor and an Episcopal priest); a hunky handyman and a grumpy fire captain; and a cast of well-rounded supporting characters, from the local drug dealer to the homegrown police detective.

I especially loved the literary, theatrical, and musical details that the author deftly included throughout the book: from Shakespeare and poetry references, to classic midcentury American jazz. And the food--biscuits, fried chicken, and southern barbecue, French press coffee and sweet potato pie--made my mouth water as I was reading.

I enjoyed this book so much! The characters were engaging and the mystery was really complex. I couldn't figure out who committed the murder and lately I've been figuring them all out. The book takes place in a college town which gives it a nice mix of ages for the characters. The main characters are all out of college though, with the Madeline Brimley, the main character, being about 40.

Probably my favorite cozy series debut this year. I absolutely loved it!!

A fun and engaging mystery with some of the most superb characters I've seen in a debut cozy. Plus it's set in a bookstore--you can't beat that.

Here's hoping there are many more books to come in this series.

Highly recommended to cozy mystery fans.

This was a fun and quick read for me. It felt like a cozy murder mystery, and I loved it was set partially in a book shop.

]I wanted to love this book. Any time the synopsis reveals a cozy murder mystery set in a bookstore, I become excited. Sadly I didn't enjoy Madaline as a protagonist. She constantly made decisions that made no sense. Her emotional reactions were all over the place. And she often became emotionally connected to characters she had just met. Then Madaline would forget about them once the narrative shifted in a different direction. I give this book 2/5 stars. It just didn't work for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the opportunity to review Booked for Murder by P.J. Nelson. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and P.J. Nelson for an advance copy of Booked for Murder!

Madeline Brimley’s back in her home town in Enigma, Georgia and this cozy mystery quickly unfolds! Death threats, 🔥 fire(s), amateur sleuthing, and just some good ‘ol fashioned southern hospitality. Don’t read this book when hungry though—really had me craving some homemade biscuits.

Nelson did a great job of dropping you into this creepy little bookshop in the middle of a small town. Just enough secrets to keep you interested and not confused. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time trying to guess who it was, and I’m happy to say I didn’t have a real idea until just before the big reveal!

5 ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Loooved!

Cozy murder mystery that gave me Only Murders in the Building vibes. Madeline was entertaining with her dialogue but the story fell a little flat for me. I found myself ready for the ending and the big reveal on who the killer was. I did guess correctly, so wasn’t as big of a reveal as I was hoping for but it was still entertaining nonetheless.

This cozy mystery had a solid base and there's so much to like about the set-up and crazy cast of characters, but I found myself just wanting more...
- More background into Rose and Madeline's relationship
- More clues to the murder mystery
- More information into Madeline's past
- More interactions between Madeline and David and Mr. Firefighter
- More about the bookshop! This was much more theater-driven than book-driven.

Because I didn't have enough clues to theorize about the possible culprit, I found myself just going along for the ride - even though I knew Madeline was entirely off-base. So I wasn't invested enough when the culprit was finally revealed.

I think follow-ups to this have the potential to be more rewarding, but we will have to see if I feel like prioritizing them when they come around.

Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Minotaur Books for an e-ARC of this book.

Such a great read! Highly recommend this one.

Many thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

This is such a cozy mystery book I felt like I was visiting Cabot Cove and Jessica Fletcher loved this!

My Rating: 2/5
Story fell flat unfortunately. I usually love a cozy murder mystery and that's what I was hoping this would be but the main character was just so annoying it was no longer cozy.

Thank you to NetGalley and St.Martins Press for the ARC

Received an ARC copy of Booked for Murder by P.J. Nelson. Madeleine finds herself going back to the one place she never thought she would return to, Enigma, Georgia. Her aunt Rose passed away and she inherited her house and bookstore. With the murder of a new found friend and a couple of unlikely friendships, Madeleine sets out to find who the killer is and who is wanting to run her out of her home. Booked for Murder is a quick read with doses of laughter in a cozy mystery. I am hoping that since this is book 1, characters will develop more in book 2. Will definitely be on the lookout for book2. Thank you NetGalley.

I just finished reading *Booked for Murder*, the first in a new Southern cozy mystery series, and I’ve got some mixed feelings. The story follows Madeline Brimley, a former actress in her 30s (who's already going gray early) as she moves to the small town of Enigma, Georgia. She’s inherited her late Aunt Rose’s bookstore, which sounds like the perfect setup for a fresh start. But instead of peace and quiet, she walks straight into a mess—there’s an arson fire almost immediately after she arrives, and then a murder.

The bookstore is in a beautiful old Victorian house, which made for a great cozy setting. But that’s where the “cozy” stops. Someone clearly wants Madeline out of the picture, and things go from bad to worse pretty quickly. Fires, threats, and a dead body? Yep, she’s got her hands full. Thankfully, she’s not alone. She teams up with Philomena, her aunt’s longtime friend, and Gloria, a newcomer to the town who also happens to be the pastor at the Episcopal church. Together, the trio decides to take matters into their own hands and figure out who’s behind the chaos.

I liked Madeline as a main character. She’s confident and quick on her feet, but sometimes that confidence crosses the line into cockiness. There were a few moments where she came off as a bit too brash, especially when dealing with other characters. Still, her background as an actress adds a unique twist to her personality. Philomena and Gloria help balance things out, bringing their own quirks to the mix. I especially enjoyed Philomena’s eccentric vibe—she’s the kind of friend who always knows more than she’s letting on.

The mystery itself had some dark elements, including drugs and arson, which gave it a bit more depth than your average cozy. It kept me engaged, though I have to admit the pacing was a little off. The beginning felt rushed—Madeline arrives, and then, bam, fire, murder, everything. It’s like the book wanted to jump straight into the action without giving enough time to settle into the story. Things do slow down and develop more naturally in the middle, but the opening could’ve been a bit smoother.

One thing I noticed is that there’s a setup for some longer-term drama that could play out in future books. There’s potential for a love triangle, a mentor-mentee relationship, and even a deeper connection to the local college, which could lead to more mysteries down the road. I’m curious to see where the series will take these threads, though I hope the author keeps things from getting too over-the-top. For such a small town, Enigma sure has a lot going on!

The first-person narration was a nice touch since it gave us direct access to Madeline’s thoughts, but at times, her internal dialogue felt scattered. There were a few moments where her thoughts jumped around, and I wasn’t sure why certain things—like her past in Atlanta—weren’t explained more clearly. Also, some of the side characters could’ve used more fleshing out to make them stand out a bit more.

Overall, *Booked for Murder* is an entertaining start to a cozy mystery series, but it didn’t quite wow me. The setting is great, the mystery is solid, but the rushed pacing at the beginning and some underdeveloped characters held it back. If you’re looking for a cozy mystery with Southern charm and a slightly darker twist, this could be worth checking out—just don’t expect it to be a mind-blowing read.

**Verdict**: 3.5/5 – A decent start to a cozy mystery series with potential, but it didn’t completely hook me. Worth a read if you enjoy small-town mysteries and don’t mind a bit of drama!

Booked for Murder is a witty murder mystery set in a small town in South Georgia. When Madeline Brimley’s aunt Rose died, she left her home bookstore to Madeline. Abandoning a mediocre acting career in Atlanta, Madeline moves down to her aunt Rose’s shop and is met with an unfriendly welcome in the form of a fire in the backyard and a threatening phone call. Soon after, a murder occurs inside of the bookshop, and distrusting the abilities of small town Officer Billy Sanders, Madeline takes it upon herself to investigate and solve the murder. Madeline soon teams up with her aunt’s best friend,professor Philomena Waldrop, along with Gloria Coleman, a female Episcopal priest, to try to investigate the murder. As Madeline works to narrow down the suspects, she uncovers layers of town drama and realizes that everybody seems a bit guilty because in such a small town everybody has secrets, including her late aunt Rose.

Honestly, this was a real page turner! I genuinely enjoyed the writing and the dynamics between Madeline, Philomena, and Gloria. They were funny together and had a relationship that felt real. Once I started, I could hardly put it down and it kept a pretty steady pace for the first two thirds of the book (not going to lie, Madeline started to annoy me a little bit around that point). The only downside for me was that this book ended up being more about the journey than the destination, because the ending was a bit, well, lame. One of my pet peeves is books where it seems like almost anybody can be the killer and then somebody almost seems chosen at random from the suspect list. I would have liked some more clues leading up to the reveal or more of an “aha” moment. And the climax was kind of cliché, I’m sorry. BUT that wasn’t necessarily the point of the book, because the process of watching Madeline and Co. delve deeper into the web that made up the small town was really entertaining. I would definitely read more books with these same characters “investigating.” Also, I really want to know what happens when Jesus and Moses are playing golf.

This book was a pleasant surprise for me. I am a hard sell on the idea of most cozy mysteries because they can lean heavily on the cheese. This book had two things going for it right off the bat; it did not take place in a bakery or cafe, and the title was not based off of a baked good. The pacing in the novel was top rate, and I wasn’t bored or felt rushed at the end. The one issue I had was the main character, she was a bit flighty. She would go all over town accusing different people of the crime on no real solid evidence. I do like that the other characters would call her on it especially the priest Gloria. All in all a strong first book in a series and I will be continuing with the series.

Booked for Murder – Charming Cozy Mystery

P.J. Nelson’s, Booked for Murder, is an engaging and delightful cozy mystery that has all the right ingredients to hook its readers. The story introduces readers to Madeline Brimley, a former actress who, after years of struggling to make it big, returns to her small-town roots in Enigma, Georgia after she inherits her eccentric Aunt Rose's bookstore. The bookstore is as quirky and enchanting as Aunt Rose herself.

The bookstore is inside a charming Victorian mansion and it sets the stage for a series of unsettling events: arson, threats, and ultimately, a murder. Nelson masterfully crafts a narrative filled with intrigue and suspense, ensuring that the reader is kept guessing at every turn.

Booked for Murder is filled with a vibrant cast of small-town characters. The town of Enigma comes alive through its residents, each of whom adds a layer of complexity to the story. Madeline's interactions with these characters—all of which have their own secrets and hidden agendas—brings a depth to the plot and add richness to the setting.

The story does a good job focusing on the mystery without emphasizing the romantic aspect too heavily. This is a refreshing change from some cozy mysteries. There are subtle hints of potential romantic subplots involving the main characters that adds a layer of interest without overshadowing the central mystery.

I recommend Booked for Murder to fans of cozy mysteries and look forward to seeing how Madeline’s story and her potential romantic entanglements develop in future installments. A solid 4 stars for a mystery that combines suspense, charm, and a bit of whimsy.

Another mysterious, cozy read! I really enjoyed the characters and I kinda like how I was right 2/3 of the time for “who done it”.

But was kinda anti- climatic on when the killer was revealed. I kinda wanted there to be more drama behind it.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read and review this book

Booked for Murder is the first book in the Old Juniper Bookstore Mystery series by P.J. Nelson. The story follows failed actress Madeline Brimley, who left her small town in Georgia to pursue her dream of a career on stage. After inheriting the Old Juniper Bookstore from her recently deceased Aunt Rose, Madeline returns to her hometown.

The bookstore is in an old Victorian mansion in Enigma, Georgia. It's messy and eccentric, just like Madeline's beloved late aunt.

The book is infused with a unique Southern flair and attitude, setting it apart from other mysteries. The sleuth, Madeline, is strong-willed and determined. The action kicks off immediately when a fire is set to the gazebo behind the bookstore, followed by a chilling warning via phone call. But Madeline, with her Southern grit, refuses to be intimidated. The plot thickens with a murder and Madeline becomes more determined to find out what is going on.

I liked the tone of this book, which is darker than most cozies. I also appreciated the setting. The author does a good job of creating a genuine small-town vibe. I always enjoy a good bookstore mystery. Plus, there's a black cat. And who doesn't like that?

Thanks to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

An easy to read cozy mystery, secrets in a small town type of book. Most of it I loved, some of it I didn't, but overall it was a simple escape that "was good" but not necessarily memorable.