Ellie Alexander [author of one of my favourite book series, the Sloan Krause Mysteries] has a new series and it has all the hallmarks of being one of my new absolute favourite series!

Meet Annie Murray. She works at the best bookstore in Redwood Grove, The Secret Bookcase, and she has a fabulous idea to drum up more business for the too quiet bookstore... a mystery fest weekend involving the whole town. Or it as a good idea, until a body is discovered behind a secret bookshelf in the bookstore. Suddenly Annie is thrown back into solving a crime, one that is feeling eerily similar to the death of her college best friend all those years ago.

The Body in the Bookstore is a wonderful introduction to a new series, and after just this first book I am forever hooked. Like I want to run away to Redwood Grove, work at The Secret Bookcase, with Annie, Fletcher [a self-declared Sherlockian scholar] and Hal [who is convinced he is THE Agatha Christie's grandson]. Together the trio create a charming atmosphere in this beautiful bookstore, even more mysterious because it is the place a murder happens!

Ellie Alexander hooks the reader in from the start. Annie has a tragic back story involving the unsolved murder of her best friend in college, and she is starting over in Redwood Grove. Naturally she is the perfect person to help solve the murder, as she has a degree in criminology and works in a mystery bookshop! It was a delight to take the adventure alongside her, as she picked up clues with her friend, Priya, and they try to solve the crime.

I simply loved everything about The Body in the Bookstore. With enough mystery references to make my mystery-loving heart soar, the story runs at a fast pace and leaves readers absolutely enthralled.

If you're like me and you need to pick up the next book right away you're in luck! The second book in the series, A Murder at the Movies, at the same time, so readers will be able to binge this wonderful series.

Ellie Alexander does it again! She's managed to create a strong main character in Annie that you want to root for to find her way. The fictional town of Redwood Grove was close knit, endearing, and full of a full cast of characters that I look forward to learning more about in future installments. Hal, Pri, Fletcher, and Caroline all added to the ambiance of the town, and I can tell that they will add to the quirkiness of future story lines. I am also intrigued to learn more about Scarlet's murder in book 2.

This is a promising start to a new series - the setting is interesting and the characters are interesting. There is a lot going on here though because the main character has a complicated backstory, and so I think that means the actual mystery that this book is centred on is less complex that you’re expecting. I would read more though - there’s enough hanging threads to make me come back.

A nice start to a new series. A bookish/author centered cozy mystery. Several interesting characters. A bit of a back story mystery that will continue. Great location for a body. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary. I look forward to reading the next one in this delightful series.

I really enjoyed this book, it is a real, old fashioned, cosy mystery.
Annie Murray studied criminology at uni but after the murder of her best friend a disillusioned Annie left law enforcement behind and found that she loved working in a small bookshop in the quaint small town of Redwood Grove.
The Secret Bookshop was owned by Hal Christie and run by Annie and her co worker Fletcher. Hal was worried, the bookshop wasn't doing well, it will probably have to close but Annie and Fletcher weren't going down without a fight, they would mobilise the whole town in a mystery weekend. The events would be based at the bookstore but the hunt for clues would include all the shops, pubs, eateries etc in the town, everyone was on board, well almost everyone, this would inject some money into the town.
Annie was astounded when three of her ex collage classmates turned up out of the blue, was it a coincidence ? what did they want ?
Everything was going well, the tills were ringing with money, everyone was happy......that was until the body of one of Annie's college friends turned up in the small room behind the moving bookcase at The Secret Bookcase.
This story is fast paced, it has wonderful characters, there are so many suspects and I must admit that I had them all convicted at some point in the story. It is a convoluted tale, the murder is being investigated by Annie's ex college tutor who enrols Annie's help, there are plenty of red herrings, there is suspense, it will make you laugh, it will have you guessing and it even hints at romance in following books.
Thank you Net Gallery and Storm Publishing for my ARC, my review is voluntary.

Annie Murray is a bookseller and event coordinator at the Secret Bookcase and shares her cottage with feline Professor Plum in Redwood Grove, California. Annie loves working for the owner Hal and with colleague Fletcher in the mystery bookstore inspired by Agatha Christie, complete with a secret room in the reconverted old manor house. Sales have been dwindling over the years and a revival is needed as Annie wants to avoid Hal initiating a conversation of closure. An interactive mystery-themed book festival for booklovers involving the whole town might be an uplift in the revenue stream for the bookstore and all the businesses in town. Who knew the influx of visitors would include classmates Annie has not seen since college and even her favorite professor?

Cozy mysteries about bookstores immediately entice my attention, having moonlighted in a bookstore while working full-time as a librarian and attending grad school. This magical read, with its engaging plot, has quickly become my top favorite in the genre. The author's descriptive writing style immediately drew me in, painting picturesque scenes from the first chapter. My first 2 favorites are…
"…blooming dogwoods, sherbet-colored roses, and the promise of everything to come."
"… hours evaporated like raindrops on a hot July afternoon."

The business and restaurant names add to the atmosphere of the setting. Imagine the food and drink offerings at Salsa Street Grill (food truck), Stag Head (pub), Cryptic Coffee, State of Mind Public House (pub), and Grand Hotel. There's also shopping at Artifacts (vintage boutique) and nature delights in Oceanside Park. But beyond the names, let your imagination run wild with the architectural descriptions of the exterior and interior of the buildings. Don't imagine dry academic descriptions but colorful and charming visions of a small town you want to visit in person, except it's a fictional offering that offers the most pleasurable #armchairtravel.

*Did you catch the asterisk * after the release date in the heading of my review? I saw the author's post, "Do you want to know a secret?" on Instagram, saying that "A Murder at the Movies" (Book 2 in the series) will be released on the same day! Exceptional News: 2 books will be Released in the Same Series on the Same Day!

Thank you to Ellie Alexander, Storm Publishing, and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read an eARC of this novel.

This charming mystery novel introduces Annie and the delightful staff of The Secret Bookcase, a unique bookstore in Redwood Grove, California. When a body is discovered during a town-wide mystery festival, Annie's background in criminal justice becomes crucial as she works alongside the local detective to uncover the truth. The engaging plot, well-developed characters, and cozy small-town atmosphere make this a compelling start to a promising new series. A must-read for fans of cozy mysteries and book-themed adventures.

A new series with Annie and the staff of The Secret Bookcase.
The bookshop is hosting a Mystery themed weekend that takes place in the shops of the town.
A body is found in a secret room of bookshop .There seems to be more than one suspects.
Really good second characters, lots of drama,with twists.
A good mystery.
Voluntarily reviewed.

This book was AMAZING! A great start to a new series, I loved the characters and the mystery was well done. I can’t wait to read more in this series! I would highly recommend this book to everyone!

This author's Bakeshop series is one of my top 3 favorites, and I was glad to see write a book-themed series.
Annie works at a bookstore in a small Northern California town, even though her college degree is in Criminal Justice. She has planned a town-wide Mystery Festival and is surprised to see three former classmates attending the festival. One of the classmates is found dead in the bookstore's secret bookcase where clues for a scavenger hunt are hidden. Annie is glad to find that her favorite CJ college professor is now the town's detective, and they work together to find the killer. There is also a backstory involving her college BFF, who was killed, but very few details are given.

I loved this book! The first of a series, The Body in the Bookstore has so many elements to satisfy a reader. First, the appeal to any mystery book lover. Annie Murray works for the largest mystery bookstore on the west coast. A former manor house in Northern California, the descriptions of the store with all things Agatha Christie and a nod to vintage mystery classics instantly charm any mystery reader. Secondly, the town, Redwood Grove, with its charming and/or quirky citizens comes to life with author Ellie Alexander’s characterizations. Thirdly, there is an overarching mystery involving the murder of Annie’s college best friend. It looks like researching this murder will be a theme for the next few books in the series. Fourthly, the murder mystery that was resolved in this book was interesting and kept me guessing. Finally, oks to be another overarching theme of enemies to lovers romance. Not much happened in this first novel, but there is much promise.

For me, an avid mystery and romance reader, but one who appreciates a well- written story, this clicked all the boxes. I will definitely be reading the books that follow in this series.

Annie Murray is a bookseller in Redwood Grove, California at the Secret Bookcase. Sales are slow and Annie is worried. When something a customer says triggers Annie to have an idea. A mystery weekend with authors, scavenger hunts involving the local stores and bars. She manages to convince most of the owners to buy into the weekend. As the day arrives Annie is surprised to run into an old college friend or 2. When one of the friends is murdered in the bookstore, Annie becomes involved in solving the mystery.

This is the start of a new series. I loved the characters both from the bookstore and the other shops. I look forward to learning more about the Secret Bookcase.

This is a cute and fun mystery with some classic cozy tropes along with some unique elements. We’ve got a mystery bookstore with themed rooms that mystery readers will absolutely love, along with a mystery festival with fun events. The sleuth has an interesting backstory, with a degree in criminology and a best friend’s murder that she’s been trying to solve for ten years. Also refreshing is how she actively works with the police, and the police are shown in a very positive and capable light. Alexander’s many fans will enjoy this and be eager for the next, and luckily book 1 and 2 are releasing on the same day!!!

Thank you to the following for trusting me for an honest review with this ARC: NetGalley, Ellie Alexander, and Storm Publishing
The Body in the Bookstore by @ellie_alexander
5/5⭐

Synopsis: Bookseller Annie Muray has come up with a mystery-themed festival to help save the bookshop where she works, other local businesses, and put Redwood Grove on the map. The event takes a shocking turn then a body is discovered behind the shelves in the bookstore, and it turns out to be an old college acquaintance of Annie. Determined for the festival's success Annie helps to piece together the mystery of whodunit.

Review: Ellie Alexander has done it AGAIN!! When an old classmate of Annie's is murdered at the bookshop she works at, will she be able to get the CLUE she needs to solve the murder? As cozy mysteries go this is one of the coziest. The descriptions of the small town, the food and drinks, the mystery book references, and the bookstore all sound incredible. And who wouldn't want to read about a mystery festival where you get to solve the mystery and visit local stores. (If only it was a real thing🙍🏻‍♀️.) This book was so good I devoured it in one sitting. Love the plot and the mystery to be solved. She had me switching my guesses as to who done it several times. It was easy to see where Annie's mind was going while trying to figure out what happened. It is a nice short but fast paced story that will have you wanting more! Be sure to check it out on June 19th, 2024.

You'll enjoy this book if you like:
🔸Cozy mysteries
🔸Agatha Christie
🔸Who Done It/Clue the board game
🔸Books about books/bookstores
🔸Cozy vibes
🔸Found family

#netgalley #netgalleyreview #thebodyinthebookstore #elliealexander #stormpublishing #arcreview #cozymystery #cozy #junereads

Thank you to Netgalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Through some ups and downs I have landed squarely in the middle on this book. I liked the concept a lot, but the writing style was difficult for me to gel with. The main character didn't really do detective work, she just asked people for information and they almost exclusively freely gave it. And the mystery was overall pretty average with some fairly obvious holes in my opinion. But I was charmed by the small town narrative and the bookshop at its heart, so it would be hard for me to call this book truly bad.
I have to say though, Liam was genuinely an unbearable character, with this strange energy from Pri as if she was trying to guilt Annie into 'fixing him'. Annie didn't owe him being fixed and he behaved universally rudely and disrespectfully to her. Doesn't really matter if he has some mysterious yet to be revealed complex backstory, he's rude af. And their later interactions felt pretty contrived.

3.5 stars
This was a breezy and light murder mystery. I really loved the atmosphere created by the author for small towns. The whole book festival for murder mystery seemed like something I would definitely attend.

When one of Annie's ex-classmates gets killed, Annie initiates her own investigation to find the killer. In terms of being a sleuth, there wasn't much other than people confiding very easily to Annie and she thinking that everyone could be a killer without finding any veritable proof. So that part was not so fun because she could at least ask alibis.

My biggest issue was the dialogues. It felt disjointed and I lost track of who is saying what. I had to go back many times to understand the flow of conversation. Also the ultimate killer was nothing of a great mystery. However the vibe created by the author was wonderful and I will definitely read the next one.

I thank NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the E-Arc and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of THE BODY IN THE BOOKSTORE (Book 1 of the Secret Bookcase Mystery series) by Ellie Alexander in exchange for an honest review. Annie Murray is a bookseller at The Secret Bookcase Agatha Christie themed boutique bookstore in Redwood Grove, California. The bookstore is failing, so Annie and her coworkers will soon be out of job unless they can entice more business to the shop. Annie imagines and implements a mystery-themed book festival. It seems like it’s old home week when three of Annie’s college classmates show up for the events. However, the mystery-themed festival turns into a real-life whodunit when one classmate dies in the bookstore. College acquaintances continue to be a feature of the events when Annie’s old criminology professor is assigned to be the detective in charge of the investigation. Annie’s best friend in college was murdered the day before graduation, so the walking and talking reminders of Annie’s college days brings her constant background grief to the fore. The murder of the classmate makes Annie wonder if the two deaths are connected. Is there a serial killer stalking her college class, or are the two murders separately motivated?

I liked the book and look forward to the next in the series. I am a fan of Ellie Alexander’s other series and am excited for the new books. I recommend this book to fans of Ellie Alexander and to fans of cozy murder mysteries featuring small towns, town events, struggling small businesses, and boutique bookstores.

#TheBodyintheBookstore #NetGalley

I loved the setting and each of the characters. Whilst the ending went in a different direction, I found it great and I only wanted more afterwards. I can't wait to see more of her work.

The setting is a niche Agatha Christie inspired mystery bookstore in an out of the way small town in north California. Declining customer numbers, low sales and pressure to sell puts the shop’s future is in jeopardy. Annie Murray is the stores bookseller and events coordinator and has to concoct a plan and act quickly to save the store. Whatever she plans has to be epic and nothing that has been done before. With the help of her close friends a plan is developed for an immersive mystery book festival. The festival starts well and Annie remains positive despite the arrival of an old college acquaintance, Kayla, whose drunken behaviour threatens to mar the event. Kayla is later found stabbed in a secret bookcase and Annie is drawn into helping in the investigation.

The bookshop, townscape and central characters are nicely developed. The plot is well paced and the list of suspects, each with a strong motive, quickly grows. My only criticism is that DrCaldwell, the Detective leading the murder enquiry, is not very convincing. She interviews witnesses together in front of members of the public and shares what should be case confidential information with Annie and her friends. Overall though, an enjoyable cosy mystery with some good plot twists.

The Body in the Bookstore is an adorable new series cozy mystery. This book gives all the good feels that a mystery and book lover enjoys! A small town, a woman who LOVES books, a boss she adores, a mystery fest weekend and a good ole fashion murder. This book has several compelling suspects from people in the past and new acquaintances. This author did an amazing job of keeping readers guessing who the murderer might be. Everyone seems to have a motive but no one sticks out right away. The Body in the Bookstore is the perfect book for a cozy weekend at home with a good cup of tea or glass of wine! I look forward to the next book in the series.

Thank you Netgallery, Storm Publishing and of course Ellie Alexander for this deliciously cozy mystery.