This was so much fun. While Bailey is trying to organize the Spooky Season Literary Festival, a dead body turns up and she becomes the lead suspect. She is forced to start doing her own sleuthing. I hope there's a sequel.

**3.5-stars rounded up**

Chaos at the Lazy Bones Bookshop is a Cozy Mystery set in a Halloween-themed town, Elyan Hollow, Oregon. Yes, you read that right, Halloween-themed town. We're talking 365-Halloween. Sounds like my life, actually.

In this story we are following Bailey, the owner of Lazy Bones Bookshop, who has recently organized Elyan Hollow's first ever Literary Festival. She's anxious for it to be a hit and has a good line-up of authors at the ready, including a hometown boy, Rex, who is now a popular Horror author.
Coinciding with the Festival, the crew of a ghost-hunting television show, Gone Ghouls, has come to Elyan Hollow and they want to use her shop as one of their filming locations.

After which, chaos ensues...

Just as she thinks things couldn't get more out of hand, Bailey and her best friend, Colby, discover a dead body in the local hay bale maze. They're quiet moment of relaxation exploring the maze is over before it ever truly began. It's clear the individual died by nefarious means, and unfortunately, Bailey then finds herself as the main suspect.

Bailey, along with her friends, must then try to find out the truth if they want to clear Bailey's name. She knows she had nothing to do with the murder, but that means the killer is still out there, on the streets of Elyan Hollow and no one will be safe until they're caught.

I thought this was really cute. I loved the small town setting and how everything felt Halloween-inspired. The names of the businesses, the foods and drinks served, as well as the way the whole town leaned into that vibe, it was fantastic. The mystery was a little slow to kick off, but I did enjoy getting to know Bailey and what her life was like in Elyan Hollow. Her fabulous canine companion, a Great Pyrenees named Jack, was the icing on the cake of this one for me. We love a doggo playing a large role in a Cozy story!

Once the dead body appeared, I was hooked. I wanted to know what had happened. I could see some motives, but who would have had the will to do it? Everyone seemed so nice!

I did enjoy following along as Bailey tried to figure it all out. I could have used a bit more substance in that area, but overall, I do feel like it had a fun mystery and that this is a great start to a series. I feel like this was such a comforting read as well. It def pandered to my tastes and I've already recommended it to a few friends. It's like a love letter to those of us who carry Halloween in our hearts all year round.

In addition to the aspects mentioned above, there's also a bit involving Bailey's family and her position within it. That part of the story def tugged at my heartstrings. Bailey's relationship with her mother is basically non-existent, for which there are many different reasons. I did really feel for Bailey in the moments that explored that and I appreciated the author including that in the story. I am hoping as the series continues that we do get to see that whole aspect expanded on some more. I guess this would be a good time to say, if there are more books, I will absolutely be picking them up. I truly hope there are.

Thank you so much to the publisher, Kensington Cozies, for providing me with a copy to read and review. Duncan delivered exactly what I anticipated with this one. I would recommend this for any Reader who loves Cozy Mysteries, bookshop-based stories, knitting, adorable dogs, and/or Halloween!

SO COZY! If you're like me and you love fall, small towns, books, Halloween, yummy food and a great mystery - this book is for you! It's a fantastic start to a new cozy series and I already can't wait for more. I enjoy Emmeline Duncan's storytelling and characters so much; her MCs always have such an interesting past and family dynamic which makes them stronger and even better at reading and understanding people. I love that alongside the murder mystery we are learning about Bailey's past as she uncovers secrets and processes all the new information. I looooved the idea of the book festival and a peak into the mind of a bookseller. I also loved her found family in this town and all the cozy businesses with fun spooky names. This is a town I would absolutely love to visit or even better live in. I was SHOCKED by the murder and loved the various reveals.

I can't wait for the next one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Emmeline Duncan for an Advanced Reader's Copy of this title!

This was such a fun little cozy read! It very much is fall/Halloween vibes with a background murder mystery plot. I had a lot of fun just turning off my brain and immersing myself in the world of Elyan Hollow. Halloween is my favorite holiday and living in a world of perpetual Halloween/Fall is definitely the goal. This book for me was the spiritual equivalent of throwing on a Halloween or Fall TV show that I have watched a bunch of times and just letting it ride.

I loved the amount of detail the author delved into when describing the set-up of the town and how all the businesses and individuals interacted with each other. I would say sometimes it felt like Portlandia-levels of trying to describe home-grown, artisanal, local, authentic foods, drinks, and crafts, but I didn't mind it overmuch and I felt like the detailing in this instance fir the book's theme of trying to set you into the world of Elyan Hollow. I definitely found myself picturing what it would be like to live in this town and how I would interact with the businesses and community described, which was very nice as I sit inside hiding from the 100 degree summer weather.

Though this book is a murder mystery, I would not walk into it with the expectation that you will be kept on your toes with suspense. This is a COZY book first and foremost, and while there is murder and intrigue, don't expect body horror/gore and Stephen King or Agatha Christie thriller-levels of guessing who-done-it. We are here to have fun, talk about book subscription boxes, find a body or two, and then eat an artisanal chocolate chip cookie before going on a club run that ends at the local brewery/burrito restaurant.

I enjoyed the Oregon-themed immersion here and will probably re-read this book when fall actually hits (please, let it be soon I am not built for summer), and will definitely be looking for the next book in the series!

I really enjoyed this first entry in Duncan's new cozy series. I am a big fan of her Ground Rules series, and this felt similiar in character and plot design. I loved how the town felt so fleshed out and all of the fun Halloween puns sprinkled throughout. I look forward to returning to this world. It felt very cozy and fun, just like her other books. Although the mystery to me was a little predictable, I still really enjoyed this and couldn't put it down. I look forward to the next installment.

It was cute, not life changing. From the blurb/premise, I thought this would be the perfect cozy, mystery vibe. It did fit the bill and is enjoyable but missing that little extra something to make it memorable.

When I started Chaos at the Lazy Bones Bookshop I wasn’t sure I was going to give it a high rating. There were a number of elements that reminded me of other cozy mystery series, but the book soon diverged into its own path.
I like the Halloween theme for the town. I like the names of the shops playing with that theme. I like the bookshop and the main character. I struggle to remember her name because the book is told in first person from Bailey’s perspective. I like books written in first person, I just tend to forget that character’s name.
There are a couple of mysteries here - who killed Lance and who is Bailey’s father?
I have to say it might take me a bit to like Bailey’s mother. I know she had her dreams, but she essentially abandoned her toddler daughter.
I like who Bailey’s dad turned out to be. I like Bailey’s friend group. I feel sorry for Detective Whitlock. He seems to have a lot to handle.
At the end of the book, I have to say I would definitely recommend it and look forward to visiting Elyan Hollow again.
Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington for the opportunity to read this book.

I was looking for something easy to read and cozy when I stumbled on Chaos at the Lazy Bones Bookshop. The setting is a picturesque Halloween themed town. The main character has recently taken over her grandfathers bookshop. A reality show film crew brings the chaos as the main character tries to execute a literary festival.
This book has a lot going on. There’s a ton of characters that are like able and easy to keep straight. It delivers cozy, chaos, and Halloween. The main character is likeable and the story is fairly straightforward.
I felt like some of the minut details were over explained. I would’ve loved to more in depth character development of fewer characters.
Overall, a quick, fun read with a cozy Halloween-y vibe.
3.5 rounded up to 4 because of VIBES.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Cozies for the ARC!

Calling all the Halloweentown fans! Carve out time to read this new cozy mystery by Emmeline Duncan set in a Halloweentown-inspired locale.
Bailey Briggs, owner of her family’s Lazy Bones Bookshop, has a few ghosts to settle in Elyan Hollow, Oregon. Lance Gregory and his film crew for his show Gone Ghouls ask to film in Bailey’s shop where no ghouls only fakes destroy merchandise and decorations. Bailey throws them out, and Lance is found dead a few days later during Bailey’s Lit Festival.
As Bailey investigates with her sidekick Jack Skeleton (her Great Pyrenees), ghosts from her mother’s past surface, complicating matters but also leaving clues to the murders.

I can’t wait for the next in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Cozies/Kensington Publishing, and Emmeline Duncan for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Fun, fun and more fun are the words that come to my mind when I think of telling you why you should read this cozy mystery. A small town in Oregon has become Halloween town year-round. The businesses all have Halloween themed names and they embrace the holiday with gusto. The Lazy Bones Bookshop is the central business as that is where we find our main character most of the time since she owns the bookstore. She is witty, caring, intelligent, curious and a little bit broken by the actions of the people who should love her most which makes her even more realistic. The friend and family group she has managed to cobble together are supportive, uniquely different and even more fun! The plot is well crafted drawing you first into the personal lives of the characters and then sucking you even further into the book with the mystery that follows. I absolutely am placing this series on my must-read list, although, if done well the writing in this book, the unique characters and well-crafted mystery would lend itself well to audiobook which would absolutely make my day as I am an avid audio lover! Regardless, I will be watching for the next book in this series and it will be on my must-read list!

This was such a wonderful and enjoyable read!!!! I loved this book and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys this genre. Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A cozy mystery involving a Halloween town, a literary festival, and a murder. Bailey, our heroine, discovers the victim, and is right away the main suspect. She needs to clear her name, so she works to solve the murder in her own. Of course, Bailey owns the local book store, and has some adorable and lovable local business owner friends who help her along the way. This book was so stinking cute! I can’t wait for the second one to come out!

Chaos at the Lazy Bones Bookshop reminded me of a Hallmark Mystery channel movie. It had all the vibes and feels of a cozy Halloween Town novel.
I feel where they lacked was in the mystery itself. I felt like it happened and then people just went on their merry way hardly talking about it. I just wish there was more into the investigating of the murder. Thought I didn't see the reveal coming it still was a little meh for me.

All in all I had a fun time reading it and I will probably pick up the next in the series.

Cute concept of a Halloween-themed town and the main character owns the bookshop, is best friends with the librarian, and is desperate to figure out who her father is. The story was OK. There was a lot of repetition and a whole lot of nothing that happened in the present as Bailey was obsessed with the past (which made sense); all they did was knit and sign books. A lot of telling and not showing. I wanted to love this one but it fell flat for me. Hoping the next one is better.

As a big fan of cozies, I was super excited to read about one set in a bookstore in a Halloween themed town. All of my favorites. Unfortunately, this one fell flat for me. The writing was very choppy and disjointed, we would get chapters abruptly ending and then starting with “Monday morning this happened” etc. and it felt like we were jumping pages sometimes. I felt like the town, characters, and literary festival could all have been expanded upon but were very flat and one dimensional instead. Also, there was a lot of telling and not showing that made getting through this hard at some points. This had a lot of promise but unfortunately fell short for me. If you’re a cozy fan who loves Halloween and all things bookish then give this a try, it’s a quick read, it was just not for me!

Publishing 7/23/24

Thank you so much to Kensington and NetGalley for providing me with this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Chaos at the Lazy Bones Bookshop is book #1 in the Halloween Bookshop Mystery series by Emmeline Duncan.

Bailey Briggs runs Lazy Bones Books in the Halloween-themed town of Elyan Hollow. Bailey is heading the Spooky Season Literary Festival and is worried about something going wrong. She has no idea how wrong things can go! This was a very entertaining story that I couldn’t put down. The setting is charming and Bailey, her grandfather and her friends are very likable characters. I enjoy reading books where the characters also love books. Along with the murder mystery, there is a personal mystery for Bailey. The murder mystery kept me guessing until the end. I look forward to more of this series!

Thank you to the author, Kensington Publishing, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

"Chaos at the Lazy Bones Bookshop" by Emmeline Duncan takes us to Elyan Hollow, Oregon, a town that lives and breathes Halloween all year round. The story centers on Bailey Briggs, who inherits her grandfather’s beloved bookshop, Lazy Bones Books. But life gets complicated when Bailey stumbles upon the town’s hidden dark side.

Halloween has always been Bailey's favorite time, but managing the bookshop, working on her graphic novel, and organizing the Spooky Season Literary Festival leaves her overwhelmed. Things get even more chaotic with the presence of Gone Ghouls, a ghost-hunting reality TV show filming around town. Their antics are everywhere, adding to her stress.

The plot thickens when the Literary Festival, meant to kick off the Halloween Fair, begins with a murder. Bailey discovers the victim and becomes the prime suspect, with some pretty incriminating evidence against her. Determined to clear her name, Bailey dives into solving the mystery with the help of her friend Colby and her loyal dog, Jack Skeleton.

Duncan does a fantastic job of bringing Elyan Hollow to life, making it feel like a place you'd want to visit despite the chaos. The town’s permanent Halloween vibe is a charming setting for this cozy mystery. Bailey’s character is relatable, juggling her responsibilities while trying to honor her grandfather’s legacy. Her interactions with the quirky townsfolk, like Ash from the Mortuary & Deli Bottle Shop, add depth and humor to the story.

The festive atmosphere of Elyan Hollow is enchanting, capturing the spirit of Halloween in a way that makes you wish you were there. The arrival of Taylor Edison, the snooty ghost-hunting show researcher, adds a fun twist and hints at possible supernatural elements.

As Bailey’s investigation unfolds, it delves into family secrets, professional rivalries, and town feuds, with the list of suspects—and victims—growing. Duncan blends cozy mystery with a vibrant, character-driven narrative, making this a delightful read for anyone who loves small-town settings and festive mysteries.

"Chaos at the Lazy Bones Bookshop" is a heartwarming and intriguing adventure that celebrates community and the joy of embracing your roots. Emmeline Duncan has crafted a captivating tale where ordinary life meets the extraordinary, all wrapped up in Halloween charm. Bailey’s journey to clear her name and uncover the town’s secrets will keep you turning the pages.

I was really excited to read this book, but this particular volume fell into some common, first-volume issues. To start with, I loved the concept of a Halloween-themed town, and I felt the Lazy Bones Bookshop was well developed as a setting. However, I'm primarily a character-based reader, and that's where most of the problems fell. I felt that there were way too many characters, possibly as a way to feature quirky small-town people. I love getting a chance to highlight a town in different ways, but although the jobs were different, the people and their dialogue never felt very unique. I just ended up losing track of about half the people, and it never felt like we got close to any particular people. Sadly, this seemed to include our main character. Bailey and several others never feel fully fleshed out as people. I do see potential for the series and characters evolving and solidifying more in a sequel, but it just wasn't there in this book.

3.5 stars
This book piqued my interest right away because I love cozy mysteries but really captured me was a Halloween themed town, a four-legged friend and a bookshop. I was excited to hear about the town and the themed stores. I love her father but wished we saw him more often. The twist and turns in the plot were captivating but at times, it seemed the story was a little slower. I still enjoyed the story from beginning to end and would love to read more by this author in the near future.

I absolutely love Emmeline Duncan’s Ground Rules Mystery series and the second I saw the cover & blurb for Chaos at the Lazy Bones Bookshop I knew I had to read it ASAP! This book has all of my favorite things - a Halloween themed Indie bookstore, a dog named Jack Skellington, a head scratching mystery and to top it all off, it takes place in Halloweentown, OR during spooky season!!! The main character Bailey is literally living my dream - well, minus the whole finding 💀 bodies thing!

🎃 Halloweentown, OR
📚 Indie Bookshop
🐾 Adorable Pup
💼 Family Business
👻 Halloween Festival
🫶 Community
📖 Series Debut
🔍 Cozy Mystery
🔐 Secrets

Chaos at the Lazy Bones Bookshop is such a fun start to a brand new series and I can’t wait to see what happens next!

Thank you so much Kensington Books for the advanced copy!