This was a delightfully fun cozy mystery — and a quick read to boot! Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me access to the arc of the audiobook and the digital version!

Ok, so I am a theatre kid who loves books…and that is the main character in a nutshell, which I was obsessed with. I got all her theatre world references and Shakespeare and English nerd references which made this a true delight!

And in a super fun cast of southern small town characters —capital C characters!—with a dash of mystery and murder in an old home turned bookshop…I was sold! You’ll definitely love these friendly characters and you’ll enjoy the journey the mystery takes you on and you just might learn something about yourself in the process!! Definitely recommend!

Literary Cozy Mystery that finds a Georgia actress's inheritance of her eccentric aunt's bookstore turns deadly after a fire, threats of more and then a college student's murder

1/5 stars: This is the first in Nelson's Old Juniper Bookstore Mystery series which is a Literary Cozy Mystery set in Georgia and features an actress who's inheritance of her eccentric aunt's equally eccentric bookstore housed in an old Victorian mansion in the small college town faces some unexpected challenges. On arrival, 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 she's not one to be intimidated and ignores the threats. That is until there's another fire and a young college student's murdered in the store. Now with a cloud of suspicion falling over her, it's up to her to untangle the town's deadly secrets and find the killer before she herself is the next victim. Nelson's writing and character work are nicely done. Unfortunately, this just wasn't a book for me; leading me to DNF it at 31%.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

This is a wonderful debut mystery with great characters and a intriquing mystery. The sleuth was very well crafted with many red herrings for the reader. The setting is a small Southern town in Georgia in a inherited charming old bookstore in a period style Victorian. The protagnist is savvy, smart and independent starting over with her inherited bookstore and home. She finds the small town not so inviting when she is threatened and refuses to give up. When a murder occurs she may be the prime suspect. She must work to find the true suspect to clear her name and save her business and her future. A enjoyable read. I look forward to the next in series. I loved the authors atomospheric descriptions of Southern culture in a small Georgia town.

Thank you to Net Galley , the publisher and the author for the opportunity. My review opinion is my own.

This was a fun whodunit with quirky characters and it was also just a weird book. I felt like it was all over the place and 10 pages later one of the characters described the main character as disconnected and tangential (quite on the nose to how I felt overall), we were repeatedly warned not to trust anyone and it proved to be true- basically a lot of the weird writing style seemed to be intentional... I think? I will definitely finish the series. Thanks NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the ARC!

This is the kind of book that I have found myself gravitating towards. Books that involve a story around owning a book store or working in a library are such good reads! This book is about Madeline who finds herself returning back to her hometown after her aunt Rose passes away. Her aunt Rose leaves the book store to Madeline but upon her return, mysterious things start to happen at the book store. This story has fires, murders and past secrets that come to light.
Overall the book was good. Madeline is a very strong character who definitely doesn't back down from a tough situation. This is the first book in the series and I'm looking forward to reading future books in the series.
Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press. All opinions are my own.

My thanks to Net Galley and St Martin s/Minotaur for allowing me to review this book.

Madeline Brinkley inherits a bookstore from her Aunt Rose that just passed away . Someone does not want her there and sabotages things to scare her away, but Maddie did not expect one of the things to be murder when a body was found in the store.

I enjoyed this book. A cute cozy easy read. You will enjoy.

3.5 stars. Cute start to a new cozy mystery series set in small-town. GA. Madeline Brimley moves back to Enigma, GA after her aunt dies. She has inherited her home/bookshop. But from the start, everything that can go wrong does. The 100-year-old historic gazebo is burned down on Madeline's first day there. She gets threatening phone calls. And to make matters even worse, the adorable college student Madeline hires to help out, is murdered on her first night in the bookshop. Madeline ends up putting on her Nancy Drew hat and investigating who on earth could have wanted to hurt Tandy.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this e-arc.*

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Booked for Murder, in exchange for an honest review.

Booked for Murder by PJ Nelson is a cozy mystery about Madeline Brimley, who left her small hometown in Georgia years ago to chase her dreams in acting. However, things haven’t gone as planned, and she finds herself stuck. When she learns that her quirky Aunt Rose has passed away and left her a bookstore in a Victorian mansion in the small town of Enigma, Madeline decides to go back and start over.

But when she arrives in her old, beat-up car to claim The Old Juniper Bookstore, things quickly take a dark turn. The gazebo in the backyard is set on fire, and a mysterious caller threatens to burn the whole bookstore down if she doesn’t leave. Despite the threats, Madeline doesn’t back down.

Things get even worse when there’s another fire, and this time, a murder happens inside the store. Now, with suspicion hanging over her, it’s up to Madeline to figure out the secrets behind the murder and find the killer before she becomes the next victim.

I truly enjoyed the cozy mystery vibes of this book! If you like suspenseful, mystery stories, this one is a great pick!
4 Stars!

Rated 3/5 stars. Average read, but i still enjoyed in nonetheless. I adore the cover of this book! I do feel that the book just fell flat more liking. I would read future books from this author. thank you for the opportunity!

cons: inconsistent characterizations of side characters, finger-pointing and accusations thrown at the slightest whiff of a motive or evidence, choppy dialogue, all tell and no show

pros: there was a cat

What a cozy little book this was. Does Hallmark make mysteries? Because I’ve got their next one right here.

This was the definition of a small town mystery. The MC Madeline had a fun balance of southern charm and grit, and she wasn’t afraid of adventure (which sometimes led to some poor decisions). The colorful cast of characters added so much to the story, and I especially liked Gloria and Phil. There was a lot of typical small town drama and dynamics between the characters, which often felt sassy and sweet.

This mystery didn’t feel super high stakes (which was fine for the coziness aspect), but I would’ve liked some more depth with both the characters and the story. There were a few inconsistencies here and there, and times where I wanted more to be going on.

That said, I was invested enough to see how everything turned out, and where certain plot lines led. The ending sets itself up nicely for a sequel, which I’d be interested in reading and seeing where it’d take these characters.

Madi returns to the bookshop that was left to her after her family member passes away. Initially she was planning on coming back and selling the shop but soon discovers that might not be possible due to the will. As she arrives she deals with a gazebo fire, attack and murder of a college student, and threats to her. Madi quickly realizes her life might be in danger and wants to find out what is going on. As she started to investigate she learns about what was really going on in the community.

I enjoyed the book and thought it was well written. It had a good mix of mystery and thrill and emotion in it. I felt for the characters and the challenges they had to face with the bookshop and the people in the town. I loved the description of the bookstore because it was one of those things that I want to own. I connected well with the successful young theater person having to come back to their hometown after being gone for long periods of time.

I got about halfway through this book and had to give up. I was forcing myself to read it when I couldn't get into it at all. I'm afraid it just wasn't for me. I didn't gel with the characters or the mystery.

Thank you for the free ebook MinotaurBooks @minotaur_books , Netgalley @netgalley , and P.J. Nelson.
“Booked for Murder”(Old Juniper Bookstore #1) by P.J. Nelson ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Genre: Cozy Mystery. Location: Enigma, a tiny college town in southern Georgia, USA. Time: October, present.

THE SERIES: Madeline Brimley left Georgia for college and the stage. As success eludes her, her beloved Aunt Rose dies. Madeline learns Rose left her The Old Juniper Bookstore in an old Victorian mansion in Enigma. It comes complete with Cannonball the black cat.

THIS BOOK: Madeline arrives in Enigma in Igor (her beat-up Fiat) to claim her bookstore, but faces challenges. Her backyard gazebo is set on fire, and a late-night caller threatens to burn the house down. Madeline ignores the threats, but there's another fire, and a murder in the store. Madeline and friends Philomena Waldrop (college professor) and Gloria Coleman (Episcopal priest) must find the killer before Madeline becomes the next victim.

Author Nelson has written a small town mystery story full of surprises. He cleverly inserts music, plays, and movie references (“Every door hinge played a different melody. All the floorboards sang their different parts…”), and combines them with colorful descriptions: (“What we could see of the landscape around us was drenched in October…”) Nelson adds closely held secrets, hidden motives, unsuspected suspects- and humor. If you’d like to read about a strong woman (who’s a bit of a Luddite when it comes to technology), and about big lies in a small Southern town, this might be just the book for you! It’s 4 stars from me🌵📚💁🏼‍♀️🎀 #bookedformurder #pjnelson

For those around me, it’s no secret that I love a cozy mystery! Those cozy mysteries are even better with a great atmosphere and this book had that! I loved the characters and the writing and wouldn’t mind checking out the next books in this series! The story was a little slow for me, but I’m hoping that will be shifted a bit in the upcoming installments. Overall, a great read if you’re into cozies!

This was a lovely cozy mystery. I felt like it dragged a little (and maybe had a few too many characters introduced?). That said, it looks like this is set to be a series and I'm excited to see where it goes!

I was attracted by the colourful, eye-catching cover and that it would be a cozy mystery set in a small southern town. I prefer complex mysteries that involve police procedurals, but I thought a charming, cozy mystery would be the break I needed. This was a darker read than I expected; the excitement arose at a slow pace, but overall, it was a quick, light read. Unfortunately, the small town had its secrets, and the townspeople and the southern atmosphere were not always shown in a positive light. The premise was intriguing, but the twists were predictable. Most characters were quirky, and I felt their personalities could be better developed.

Madeline Brimley returns to the small town of Enigma, Georgia, where she grew up and left at age seventeen to pursue an acting career. She was on the stage in Atlanta and NYC but never was a big-time success. Now in her mid-30s, Prospective acting roles are declining. She learns that she has inherited the Old Juniper Bookstore from her eccentric Aunt Rose back in her hometown. She has fond memories of visiting her aunt in the old Victorian mansion and enjoying the haphazard arrangement of books of every variety in each downstairs room. The living quarters were upstairs. Madeline feels this would be a great place to relax and plan her future.

As soon as Madeline arrives at the Enigma home, the gazebo in the backyard is set afire. Instead of calling the fire department, she tries to put it out herself. She receives a threatening phone call, warning her to leave immediately or the bookstore/house would be burned down with her inside. There is another call, but Madeline refuses to inform the police of the threats. She distrusts them and considers them inefficient. She considers the warnings to be a nasty prank. She cannot sell the property until she lives there for six months.

She is befriended by Philomena, an elderly friend of her late aunt. Phil is a psychology professor at the local college. From some of her comments, I wondered if the police would have a better understanding of the criminal mind. Another friend is Gloria, an Episcopal clergy and neighbour. They are ready with advice and help when the story takes a shocking turn.

The most likable person in the story is a sweet young woman, Tandy, who had worked in the bookstore and helped the aunt around the house. Madeline was amazed when she allowed Tandy to spend a couple of hours in the store; she attracted more sales and a higher profit than expected. The college students buy many books for their courses, and some older books sell for a hefty profit. Tandy pleads to stay the night, having been accustomed to doing so when the aunt was alive. When Tandy cooks gourmet meals for Madeline, plus her childhood favourites, she is very welcome to stay whenever she pleases.

The bookstore is set ablaze, and Tandy is found murdered inside. Madeline, Gloria and Philomena band together to solve the killing and arson. Madeline jumps to conclusions, makes risky decisions, and is brash and defensive. She appears to consider herself superior to the townspeople. She fails to see that the murder of Tandy was a mistake and that the death was meant for her. There are several suspects considered by the group, and it is learned that the solution lies in the dark secrets in the town, and Aunt Rose had hidden information unknown to Madeline and others. There is a touch of romance before the crimes are solved.

The ending leaves room for a future sequel that I would want to read. I would hope it would be set in the same location and with the return of the major characters. I would prefer that Madeline be less annoying.
Recommended for readers who enjoy a cozy mystery, especially one in a small town in the south, and would like a mystery involving amateur sleuths with little police involvement. 'Booked for Murder' is due to be published on December 10.

This was a cute little cozy mystery, setting up for a new series. I loved the setting of small town bookshop within a large home, and would have enjoyed more of that. There really isn’t much action taking place within the bookshop, nor do you get to explore much of it with the main character frequently leaving it in the hands of whomever happens to be in the house and wandering upstairs 😆. While I did think the book was cute overall, I’m not sure I would like to read more of the series. The characters were a little too oddball for me, and the one I thought had promise? She made a very unexpected exit rather quickly. I think this book is perfect for someone just wanting a quick and easy mystery read.

Thanks to PJ Nelson, Minotaur/St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing the ARC!

Booked For Murder is the first in The Old Juniper Bookstore Mystery series. The book itself is a mystery as its author — P.J. Nelson — (a self-described award-winning actor, dramatist, professor, and novelist) is pseudonymous. I assume that the author’s real name is Phillip DePoy, who holds the copyright to the novel.

The novel begins when Madeline Brimley, the first person narrator and main character, returns to her hometown of Enigma, Georgia (pop. 1251), having left behind a lackluster acting career in Atlanta. She has inherited her beloved Aunt Rose’s old Victorian home with a bookstore on the first floor. Upon her arrival, the gazebo in the back yard is set on fire, she begins receiving death threats on the phone, and a college student is ultimately murdered and the front door is set on fire. Suspicious whether the local police officer can handle the cases since she used to be his babysitter, Madeline decides to conduct her own investigation with the help of Dr. Philomena Waldrop, the head of the Psychology Department at the local liberal arts college, and Gloria Coleman, an episcopal priest.

Honestly, this is the best cozy mystery I’ve read in a long time. Besides giving you the warm fuzzies along with a side of mystery, the novel reads like a classic southern novel with oddball, larger-than-life characters, and a heaping dose of dry humor.
I highly recommend the book to cozy lovers who have a soft spot for southern literature, bookstores, and jazz. 4.5 stars (rounded up to 5). I can hardly wait to read the next book in the series!

Thanks to Minotaur Books/St. Martin’s Publishing Group, and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary advance readers’ copy of this book.

Review: Man, where do I even start with this one? I guess first I should say that if I were a less stubborn person I would have DNF'd it. Actually, what I should say is that if the author hadn't been so heavy handed with their attempts to (maybe) throw you off of who did it, I would have DNF'd it. But I stuck around mostly to find out if it was a very heavy handed red herring or if it was really just that obvious who did it. And while I won't spoil it for you, I will tell you that it was not worth suffering through this book to find out. Overall, I had a lot of issues with this book. A lot. First, the writing itself was painful. It felt like reading a college freshman's paper when they're trying to get to minimum word count. There is, in fact, such a thing as too much detail. When it feels like the sentences are dragging me down, it's too much detail. In short, there were too many words for words sake. Second, the story was never especially interesting. And the way that the main character's previous career as an actor was randomly brought up felt like commercials at the climax of an action movie. Nonsensical and an e-brake on the momentum. Third, I HATED the way that some of the characters were portrayed. Specifically, I hated the way the like small town, clearly down on their luck characters were characterized by a complete lack of grammar and a whole lot of stupidity. All that was missing from the author's caricature of people in the south were overalls and a piece of straw in their mouth. Fourth, as other reviews have pointed out, at no point in time was it clear what age the main character was supposed to be or what age she thought she was. Don't get me wrong, we're told her age, and then we're forced to hobble along with someone about as capable as the 70 year old character she's hanging out with. It is possible to write a character that's an old soul without making them an old bag. Fifth, it was just bad. Like one of those books that makes you think "how many better books didn't get published so that this book could?" One of those books that makes you think "do I actually enjoy reading? did I suddenly start hating it over night? or is this book just so dreadful I wouldn't read it if it was the last book on earth?" So, yeah.

Synopsis: 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.