this is a southern cozy debut mystery that I absolutely loved! Madeline Brimley is our main character and she left her small hometown in Enigma, Georgia many years ago for college and then a career as a stage actress. Just as Madeline is thinking of leaving her acting career, she receives word that her beloved, eccentric Aunt Rose has passed away and left Madeline her bookstore.

And just Aunt Rose wasn’t a typical aunt, her bookshop isn’t a typical store – it’s housed in Aunt Rose’s old Victorian mansion. Before Madeline can even settle in, the gazebo in the back yard is set on fire and Madeline receives threatening phone calls. And then there’s more fire and a murder…can Madeline safely stay in Enigma?

I couldn’t put this down. Madeline is brave and sometimes a little impulsive and the mystery she must resolve has twists and turns and red herrings! There’s a scene in the book that I was not expecting and I sat right up while I was reading. Wonderful side characters, a great setting and some laugh out loud humor made me such an enjoyable read. I can’t wait for book two.

Small southern town cozy mystery. It was a bit slow at points in the story, but overall I thought it was a good book.

What do you get when you cross an actor, professor, and an Episcopalian? A southern, cozy murder mystery that’ll absolutely keep you intrigued from start to finish!

Madeline Brimley returns to the town of Enigma, Georgia to take over her late aunt’s bookstore, but while she is there, secrets from her aunt’s past get revealed all the while a murder takes place soon after.

I really enjoyed P.J. Nelson’s writing style, the quick, short chapters, and the absolute fantastic cast of small town characters. Being from a small southern town myself, I could relate to the colloquialisms and the shenanigans that ensued within the novel. Nelson captivated me from chapter to chapter with the suspenseful language and cliffhangers. If there’s more in store for this series, I can’t wait to read them!!

Special thanks to NetGalley for the ARC! Make sure to check out Booked for Murder when it arrives in Dec. 2024!

PS — I am living for Cannonball! Absolutely adore him!!🐈‍⬛

Madeline Brimley’s return to small-town Georgia is anything but quiet in *Booked for Murder*. This charming cozy mystery delivers an engaging mix of suspense, quirky characters, and a bookstore setting that bibliophiles will adore. The plot unfolds at a steady pace, weaving together intrigue and humor as Madeline navigates cryptic threats, arson, and murder—all while adjusting to life as a bookstore owner. The atmospheric setting of The Old Juniper Bookstore, housed in a Victorian mansion, adds an irresistible touch. While some twists are predictable, the engaging protagonist and compelling mystery make this a delightful read.

Usually when a mystery purports itself to be based in a bookstore, has books on the cover, and even "booked" in the title, one would naturally expect said bookstore or even books to play a large role in the mystery. Unfortunately, Booked for Murder is not that mystery.

Our main character inherits her aunt's bookstore where she was raised in a small town that again...she grew up in. Yet, throughout the entire novel, Madeline acts like someone who is a complete stranger - even to those who supposedly raised her. She has no idea about romantic relationships between known associates that have supposedly been going on for years despite herself only having left her small town for college and the theater and returning while still in her twenties. She was close enough to her aunt to inherit her bookstore and house, yet had no idea that she had taken in another wayward girl after Madeline left. These small details matter when one is setting up a mystery in a small town with a close-knit community. Also - a small town in Georgia is not going to have every single citizen quoting Shakespeare. They just aren't.

As far as Madeline's detective skills following arson on her property and a murder in her living room, she has none. At all. For someone who has spent much of her life devoted to theater, apparently EVERYONE is a phenomenal actor in her life and she can't even figure out who is gay - which, not meaning to stereotype, but someone in theater should not be blindsided by someone close to them coming out unless you are completely oblivious. Madeline takes the award for being one of the most oblivious detectives to grace the page. She jumps to conclusions and publicly accuses people with zero factual evidence. What clues and confessions she does end up uncovering are simply told to her in various states of drunkeness.

Did this mystery take place in a bookstore? Yes, however due to said murder, the bookstore is closed for 95% of the book and Madeline herself never does any bookselling or managing or really anything. Other than Shakespeare references and a few other obscure theater mentions, Madeline's acting abilities don't even take center stage. There were no disguises or attempts at pretending to be someone else to get to the bottom of the matter. Her theater background had no relevance whatsovever.

Overall, this mystery did not work for me. As a booklover, I was hoping to fall into a cozy bookstore based mystery and also hoping the main character's theater background would offer some crazy "in disguise" shenanigans. What I got instead was a basic murder with little to no clues for the reader to guess whodunnit and information was simply handed to our amateur sleuth with little to no detective work involved. However, if you like cozy mysteries with zero spice and where you don't have to wear your thinking cap and want to just enjoy the small town setting, then this book is for you.

Thank you to NetGalley, Minotaur Books, and PJ Nelson for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first book in an old juniper bookstore mystery. It is A fast paced, could not put down cozy mystery, filled with complex interesting characters, murder and mayhem, enjoyable read! A real page turner and a must read if you love twists and turns in your cozies!

In "Booked for Murder," a struggling actor returns to her small town roots when her aunt passes away and leaves her an old Victorian house with a bookstore. While Madeline Brimley tries to get her bearings, things immediately start going wrong, including a fire in her backyard and threatening phone calls. And while she might be willing to sell everything and leave right away, a codicil in her aunt's will requires her to live in the house for six months before she actually inherits it. The big question is whether or not she can survive staying there six months!

As Madeline, her aunt's best friend Philomenia, and the local female priest Gloria all set out to try to figure out the story behind the threatening phone calls, more than one secret is uncovered, any one of which could cost someone their life.

Perfectly positioned to be the start of a series, this story sucks you in and keeps hold of you until the last page.

Thank you to P.J. Nelson, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

A relaxing read ! I loved the narrator of the book the most. She did a wonderful job with the different characters’ voices.

Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC!

A cozy, fun, mystery suspense , with a little romance.
With Maddie who inherited a bookstore and gets involved in a murder.
A good read for a new series.
Voluntarily reviewed.

If you’re looking for a cozy murder mystery this might be for you! Madeline’s use or lack of a cellphone was a little silly as others have mentioned but I digress. The book started out well but kind of fizzled…
Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur books for the ARC!

This is everything I wanted from a small town bookstore murder mystery. I loved the premise and the introduction of the town's quirky cast of characters, which I will look forward to seeing again in future books in the series. Madeline was a little foolhardy (please stop to think first every once in a while) but her brazenness was also endearing.

I loved how this was set in a bookstore that is also a house! The characters were just ok, I wasn't really attached to any of them. The overall story was a good mystery. I'm super interested to see if we find out what secrets Rose had and where did all the money come from?

Booked for Murder was a cute cozy mystery book.

Madeline, girl, I wanted to shake her down. Because what's going on up there that would cause you to consistently put yourself in danger. GET A CELL PHONE!!

Man, Tandy did not deserve what she got and by who!! Now that, was a shock. The mystery of who burned down the gazebo and everything else, crazy.

I will say that for a little town, they sure are full of surprises. I loved "Father" Gloria, and her resilience, Fil and so much more. I just hope Madeline gets a cell phone at some point in this series.

ozy mysteries are one of my favorite things in the world, and I am so glad that Booked for Murder by P.J. Nelson is the start of a new series! I loved the mix of romance, drama, crime, humor, and serious topics that were all packed into the story, and this could have easily been a one sitting read. Madeline was a great female lead, and she was not only relatable but a little sassy to boot. I also loved the supporting characters in the book, especially Philomena (Phil) and Gloria, and I was surprised by every single whodunnit reveal.

One of the best parts of the book for me besides the humor and fantastic characters ended up being the audiobook, and I would recommend listening over reading with the eyes here. Hallie Bee Bard was nothing but a pleasure to listen to, and I loved her Southern accent and the way she changed her voice for the various characters. There is a dash of romance (because why not), a cantankerous but calming cat, and plenty of small-town gossip and drama. The Victorian mansion and bookstore setting aren’t to be missed either!

Read this if you are a sucker for Southern cozies, mysterious plotlines, and amateur sleuthing.

Audiobook Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This was a cute small town cozy mystery with a bookstore and an adorably fiesty store cat. I liked Madeline and her spunky personality. I found her cell phone ownership hard to believe, as an actor, but I decided to just roll with it. The audiobook's narrator was great and kept my interest in the story going. I loved meeting the town and the cast of them. I loved the stories about the gazebo and the memories everyone had. It was a cute read, I'd definitely look for Book 2 in the series to see where there next adventure takes them.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

A cozy mystery perfect to read by the fireplace in winter with a cup of hot chocolate! I found this charming and read several reviews, the consensus is either you really enjoyed it or you didn’t even finish it. I really enjoyed the setting and found this to be entertaining… quirky characters, old bookstore, literally two of my favorite things! I requested my library to get this!

A cute little mystery! I loved the setting. There is something about the south that lends itself so well to a mystery.

Dark cozy murder mystery with eccentric characters with tropes including inherited book store (previously an old Victorian home—how cool!), bookstore cat, struggling actress who returns to their hometown, find the killer before you become the next target

P.J. Nelson's "Booked for Murder" delivers an engaging mystery packed with suspense, quirky charm, and a dash of small-town intrigue. Madeline Brimley, a struggling actress who inherits her late aunt Rose's enchanting Victorian mansion and beloved Old Juniper Bookshop, is thrust into a series of unexpected and perilous events. From arson to threatening phone calls, and eventually murder, Madeline's quiet retreat to Enigma, Georgia, transforms into a pulse-pounding adventure. Nelson crafts a plot brimming with twists and red herrings, keeping readers on their toes as the list of suspects grows.

The characterization is a standout feature of the novel, with Madeline emerging as a complex and relatable protagonist. Her vulnerability and determination shine through as she navigates the mystery surrounding Tandy Fletcher's tragic death while adjusting to life in her aunt's shadow. The supporting cast, from the endearing Dr. Philomena Waldrop to the steadfast Gloria Coleman, adds depth and warmth to the narrative. Even secondary figures, like the enigmatic property speculator and the ill-fated Tandy, are drawn with care, enriching the story's layers.

Nelson masterfully balances humor, heart, and intrigue, making THIS an enjoyable and satisfying read. The idyllic small-town setting contrasts cleverly with the dark secrets it harbors, creating a delightful atmosphere for mystery enthusiasts. While the ever-shifting clues and motives may occasionally leave readers dizzy, the engaging protagonist and well-crafted suspense ensure a rewarding conclusion. "Booked for Murder" is a thoroughly entertaining whodunit that promises an enjoyable escape for fans of cozy mysteries.

This book was a pleasant surprise.
I thoroughly enjoyed it, as it was a quick read and a good time.