Thank you so much to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for my copy of The Body in the Bookstore by Ellie Alexander in exchange for an honest review. It publishes June 19, 2024.
Yet another fun first novel in a new series of cozies from Ellie Alexander! I've read several of her books, and this one checks out as another great book in her lineup. I loved Annie's background in criminology, and I found the background mystery to be very promising to continue on in the series.

This was a really good start to a new series. It has a great cast of characters and a nice little mystery.
I was pretty much hooked from page one. I really wanted to go to the book festival too.
I’m looking forward to reading the next one.

The Body in the Bookstore is the first book in the Secret Bookcase mystery series by Ellie Alexander. Annie Murray works at the Secret Bookcase in Redwood Grove as a bookseller and event coordinator.

After the failure of an author event, Annie and her coworker Fletcher present the idea of an immersive mystery festival to their boss, Hal Christie, who believes he is the grandson of Agatha Christie. The bookstore would be the focal point and local stores and restaurants would benefit from tourists in town. As I read about this festival, it made me wonder if the mystery festival in Ashland, Oregon is anything like this.

I really liked this book and Ms. Alexander’s description of this Agatha Christie themed bookstore made me wish there were one in my town with its different areas/themes. Annie’s coworker Fletcher is fun in his obsession with Sherlock Holmes. Her good friend Pri, who works at Cryptic Coffee, is full of fun and great ideas. Let’s not forget the hunk, Liam, who owns Stags Head pub, which he decorates with paper stag heads (why?). These characters are what made the book such fun to read and I enjoyed them so much.

Three former college mates come to town for the festival and the most obnoxious one of them ends up dead in Annie’s bookstore. Why was she in the secret room and who could have killed her? There are many suspects as she offended everyone she came into contact with. I had wondered about the person who ended up as the killer, and the motive is not your standard motive.

The only problem I had with the story was the backstory of Scarlet’s death while she and Annie were in college. There seemed to be a lot said about it and how Annie felt guilty because of it, how it has affected her whole life, and how she has closed herself off from being close to people. I don’t know why she blames herself because they both were in the same criminology class investigating a cold case. I do see that this background information is important to future books as Scarlet’s murder is also unsolved and a cold case itself. It will be interesting to see where this goes and I can’t wait to read further stories in this series.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Body in the Bookstore is book number one in the Secret Bookcase Mystery Series by Ellie Alexander. I have loved the other series that Ms. Alexander writes and was looking forward to this new series. Annie is a bookseller in Redwood Grove, a cozy town in California. It is however a sleepy town which needs a boost for all the businesses. Annie plans a mystery themed book festival complete with author panels, mysteries for readers to solve and mystery themed pub crawls. On the first day of the festival, a guest turns up murdered in the bookstore. The detective assigned to the case is Annie’s criminology professor from college. Annie had majored in criminology but the death of her dear friend changed her career path. To add intrigue, the victim went to college with Annie. There are also two other people from her graduating class that “mysteriously” showed up at the festival. In all honesty, I think The Body in the Bookstore starts out slow. But a few chapters in, I was invested in the mystery and anxious to find out what happened.

3.5 stars
Overall, an enjoyable read! I thought the main mystery was compelling and that the red herrings were well done. I loved the setting and the way the author was able to describe such a vivid world. There were some things I didn’t love which brought my rating down a bit. I felt that the author repeated some background info too much. I also felt like we were told Liam was a horrible person, but didn’t see much evidence of that on the page. I’m also conflicted on how to feel about the ongoing mystery in the background, but it does make me want to pick up the second one and give it a try. Looking forward to seeing how these characters and relationships evolve throughout the series.

First off thank you to NetGalley for the free read! #TheBodyintheBookstore #NetGalley

The story started out a little slow, but after a few chapters I quickly got into it! The ending didn’t turn out at all how I thought it would, but I enjoyed it nonetheless! Throughout the entirety of the story I found myself questioning every person wondering, of course, whodunit?? I couldn’t have guessed the outcome at all and am excited to read the 2nd book also thanks to NetGalley!

A delightful first book in a new mystery series. When bookseller Annie Murray plans a mystery weekend to improve the struggling bookshop she works in, little does she realise she'll end up embroiled in murder of an old university nemesis.

'The Body in the Bookstore' was such an easy read with a compelling enough mystery (though a bit clunky in the resolution of 'who dunnit?'. Redwood Grove and its inhabitants - Annie's boss Hal, colleague Fletcher, bestie Priya were all delightful. Annie is still grieving the unsolved murder of her best friend Scarlet and feels responsible becuase Scarlet was chasing a lead from a cold case they were investigating a cold case for their criminology course. There's a bit of an 'enemies to lovers' spark with Liam, owner of one of the town's pubs who hates fiction.

My only quibble with this book is the implausibility of all the coincidences. Why were her old university classmates coming to Redwood Grove? Also her old criminology professor just happens to now be a detective assigned to her town? I wish this was explained better and it’s why I give it three stars. But overall I am drawn to this series and wish Redwood Grove and The Secret Bookcase were real places!

Thanks to Storm and NetGalley for the ARC.

Oh this was so good. A book completely immersed in the mystery genre: a murder in a mystery book store during a mystery festival. It has bookish people, Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes references, a barista bestie, potential enemies to lovers side-story, a budding older generation romance, and a fierce sleuth who dusts off her criminal knowledge from college to solve the murder that happened in her place of work. I can’t wait to read more of the series!

Book 1 in this engrossing series is set in my fav location--a bookstore--with a body found during the store's Mystery Fest. Oh no! Kept me glued to the page as I raced to find out whodunit. A winner!

I enjoyed this cozy mystery novel and its main character, Annie, however I found myself more interested in the festival they were having and the bookstore she worked in than the resolution of the crime itself. (I would love to attend something like that.)

It was distracting how so many people from her past showed up with no real interconnection. I feel like they some of them didn't add to the plot.

Overall, the conclusion of the crime and revelation of the culprit were a bit anticlimactic, but the book was left on a bit of a cliffhanger regarding an old cold case which has me wanting to read the next book in the series.

Thank you Storm Publishing for providing this eARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I was excited to read this new cozy mystery series by Ellie Alexander because I have enjoyed her books in the past. Anytime a cozy has a bookstore premise I am excited to read. Annie Murray works in a bookstore called The Secret Bookcase that is struggling to stay afloat. She decides to get more foot traffic in the store by hosting a Mystery Fest event with the help of the whole town. The stores and restaurants in town all participated and have book and murdered themed drinks and specials at their stores. It’s a huge success until a dead body is found in the bookstore.

I thought this was a fun book themed cozy mystery. I enjoy Ellie Alexander’s writing and this was written well. I enjoyed the characters and the setting for the story. I loved how the bookstore had nods to Agatha Christie and highlighted a love for mystery novels. I would recommend this to people who love cozy mysteries, reading about bookstores, books, or want a fast paced mystery to read. I will be starting book two soon!

Thank you Storm Publishing for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Eight years ago, Annie Murray's best friend, Scarlett, was murdered just before they were to graduate college in criminology. Annie left criminology and came to Redwood Grove to work at the Secret Bookcase bookstore for Hal Christie. The bookstore is slowly dying and the rest of the town is not doing much better. Annie and her co-worker, Fletcher, come up with a plan for a mystery festival and get almost all of the town's businesses involved.
When the festival begins, Annie is shocked to see three of her former classmates there. She had tried to avoid Kayla and her roommate Monica as well as her boyfriend Seth during school. Kayla, she discovers, is a cousin of Justin at a local bar. Monica is representing a new author, Eli Ledger, who is doing a reading from his yet-to-be published work. Kayla is seen in a heated argument with Caroline who has a store in town.
Kayla is found stabbed in the bookstore during the festival in the Secret Bookcase where the clues to the Scavenger Hunt are placed. Annie's former professor, Dr. Caldwell is investigating. Annie is able to provide her with several clues, one of which endangers herself and leads to the unveiling of the murderer.
This is a great new series from an enjoyable author. Ms. Alexander's Bakeshop mysteries and her Sloane Kraus mysteries are great and this promises to be just as good.

"The Body in the Bookstore" marks the exciting debut of Ellie Alexander's latest cozy mystery series, featuring an engaging new sleuth, Annie Murray. Known for her skillful weaving of intrigue and charm, Alexander delivers a compelling first installment that is sure to delight fans of the genre.

Annie Murray, a former criminology student turned bookstore owner, finds herself at the center of a chilling mystery when a body is discovered behind the shelves of her beloved bookstore. The timing couldn't be worse, as Annie has just organized a mystery-themed book festival in hopes of revitalizing her struggling business. The victim turns out to be an old college acquaintance, thrusting Annie into a whirlwind of past connections and present dangers.

Alexander's portrayal of Annie is both refreshing and relatable. Her background in criminology adds depth to her character, making her a believable and resourceful amateur detective. The personal stakes are high for Annie, as she navigates the complexities of reuniting with old classmates while trying to solve the murder. This dynamic provides a rich backdrop for the unfolding mystery, and Annie's past, including the unresolved murder of her best friend, adds an intriguing layer of suspense that promises to develop throughout the series.

The setting of the bookstore is a bibliophile's dream. Alexander creates a cozy, atmospheric environment that draws readers into the story. The book festival, with its literary enthusiasm and eccentric attendees, adds a delightful touch, making the murder's occurrence even more shocking and impactful.

What stands out in "The Body in the Bookstore" is the seamless blend of past and present mysteries. Annie's personal history, particularly the unsolved murder of her best friend, hints at a deeper, overarching narrative that will keep readers hooked for future installments. The interplay between the cold case and the current murder investigation is handled deftly, ensuring that readers are invested in both storylines.

Ellie Alexander's writing shines with her usual warmth and wit, making "The Body in the Bookstore" a page-turner. The pacing is well-balanced, maintaining a steady rhythm that keeps the reader engaged without feeling rushed.

Fans of cozy mysteries, especially those with a penchant for books about books, will find much to love in this novel. Ellie Alexander has once again proven herself as the queen of cozy mysteries.

***** 5/5

Thank you to the author and Storm Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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The Body in the Bookstore by Ellie Alexander is a delightful, fast-paced Cozy novel that I thoroughly enjoyed. Cozies are excellent reads with less explicit sex and language found in many books of similar genres. Annie Murray is single, in her mid-thirties, a lover of crime fiction and has been a book seller and event coordinator at the Secret Bookcase in Redwood Grove, California for eight years. Annie loves her community, her job and Hal the owner of the book store. Business has been slow and Annie and her workmate, Fletcher Hughes are concerned that Hal might sell their beloved, beautiful and unique store. To save the store, Annie and Fletcher come up with the idea of a weekend Mystery Fest involving the entire community, authors, local restaurants and pubs and of course readers. Annie wrote an immersive mystery for the event revolving around a lost heirloom belonging to the Wentworth's, a wealthy family credited with the founding of Redwood Grove. Clues were to be distributed at various participating venues and were designed to lead participants on a scavenger hunt. All was going famously until one of the participants was found dead in the store's sitting room. That's all I'm sharing, but hold onto your seat from then on. The victim is a person from Annie's past, and others she hasn't seen in years also happen to be at the event. Coincidence? There are no dearth of suspects, I was completely engaged with the well-crafted storyline, and relished every page until the last. Thanks to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and Elkie Alexander for the opportunity to read an ARC of The Body in the Bookstore. My review reflects my honest opinion- I really lliked the book very much.

The Secret Bookcase Mystery series kicks off wonderfully with this first book in the series. Annie Murray loves her job at The Secret Bookcase bookstore in Redwood Grove, California, but knows that she needs to do something to help drum up more business or she's afraid the store owner, a grandfatherly gentleman, Hal, will be forced to make cutbacks. She comes up with the idea to have a Mystery Festival that would benefit not only the bookstore, but the town of Redwood Grove as a whole. All of the business owners are excited at the prospect, except for Liam, the owner of The Stag's Head pub who Annie is none too fond of in general. Not to be detoured, Annie works with her fellow bookstore employee and friend, Fletcher, who takes the idea and runs with it and they make it bigger and better than she could have imagined. The planning goes well and before they know it, the festival is the next day and they are going through a rundown of all that will transpire. That's when Annie runs into some people she had known in college. Monica and Kayla who were joined at the hip in college until they had a falling out just before graduation and Kayla's former boyfriend, Seth, are all at the business owner's preview the night before the festival begins. Monica is there in her role as editor to one of the up-and-coming authors who signed on to give a brief preview of his soon-to-be-released book of short stories. Kayla is there because she has been creating a new website and marketing plan for one of the local businesses, or so she says when she is sober enough to make sense, but the store owner she is supposedly working for is none too happy to see her. Why Seth is there is a mystery in itself since he and Kayla broke up before their graduation and he definitely isn't the bookish type to be there for the festival. Seeing all of them brings Annie's thoughts back to her last days of college when her best friend, Scarlet, was murdered. Annie is shaken by all the memories flooding in on her but she knows she must somehow put them aside so that she can focus on making the festival a huge success. She manages to do just that ... at least until there is a murder the very first day of the festival and the detective in charge of the investigation is none other than Dr. Caldwell, Annie's college criminology professor. How is Annie going to get through the festival when she not only has the past and her friend Scarlet's still unsolved murder on her mind and another murder to try to help solve all while keeping things running smoothly for the many festivalgoers? Thankfully, she has the help of Fletcher, Hal, and her friend, coffeeshop owner, Priya, to help her not just with the festival, but with trying to solve the murder. You get strong characters, a great storyline, and not one, but two mysteries to read about in this well written book. The recent murder is solved and the past murder is discussed enough that you know it will be an ongoing topic throughout the series, which leaves this reader eager for the next book in the series.
*I received a digital advanced reader copy from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I love Ellie Alexander and will jump at the chance to read anything she writes - this new series being no exception! I enjoyed this first installment of the Secret Bookcase Mysteries, although the characters didn't quite grab me as much as some of her other books. I loved the setting and the concept of the mystery weekend, and I especially liked the concept of the overarching mystery that I look forward to unraveling over future books. Can't wait for the next!

I love Ellie Alexander’s writing and will jump at the chance to read anything she writes so I was excited to get this first book in a new series. I enjoyed the story but I’m not sure what exactly it was that didn’t work for me in this one. I loved the setting and the festival seems like something I would love to visit one day. The subplot of Annie’s best friend’s murder is interesting and I’d like to know more about that. I think the characters in this one were just OK. They didn’t leap off the page for me as her other characters do so I never really felt a connection to Annie so maybe that’s where the issue was for me. I will still read the next in the series and hope that she grows on me.

This is a definite must read for all book lovers, and fans of cozy murder mysteries. Any book that’s set in a bookstore, particularly one with eccentric characters, themed rooms and a murder has me hooked.

I loved the enthusiasm of the three main character, Hal, Annie and Fletcher for all things bookish. The idea of a secret bookcase is great - who wouldn’t love one of those. Setting a weekend book festival here just adds to its charm, especially when the majority of the other businesses all come on board with the idea.

Annie is still trying to come to terms with the unsolved murder of her best friend Scarlet, and when a body is found during the festival, it brings it all back to her. I loved the premise of this book, the characters were great, I loved the eccentricity of Hal and Fletcher, and would definitely visit the store and Redwood Grove. A great pace, lots of red herrings and an unexpected ending. Recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This cozy mystery is a mystery book lovers dream.

Annie is living in small town Northern California at a local mystery bookstore when she comes across the idea to host a mystery fest- full of all the mystery nostalgia you could want.

Still hung up on her best friends unsolved murder from 10 years ago, Annie can’t just let this murder go unsolved and inserts herself into the case, only to find the suspects are a little too close to home, and there are too many people with a possible motive. In full Nancy Drew fashion, this quick read has readers looking for clues and following Annie’s hunches as she goes.

I may have a soft spot for books about book lovers, but this hit all the right spots.
Ending with a cliffhanger leaving readers craving the next book— Body in the Bookstore should be on every cozy mystery lovers list.

In The Body in the Bookstore by Ellie Alexander the Secret Bookcase bookstore owned by Hal Christie is losing money.

Annie, who has worked for the bookstore in Redwood Grove in Northern California as a bookseller and event planner for eight years, comes up with the idea of a Mystery Festival weekend for the town with headquarters at the Secret Bookcase but with events at all the different stores and restaurants and pubs in the small town including the library and the theatre.

Her coworker Fletcher agrees to help in the planning and execution and whatever they dream up including author talks and signings, puzzles to solve with clues hidden around the Village Square and a film fest.

The Mystery Festival starts and is going well until a dead body turns up behind a secret bookcase. The police let the festival continue while they try to find a murderer and since the detective in charge is one of Annie’s former college professors and the deceased one of her former classmates, she’s asked to help.
Will she find the killer before someone else dies? Read this fascinating novel to find out. You’ll definitely be glad you did.