A Murder at the Movies is the second book in the new series, The Secret Bookcase Mysteries, by Ellie Alexander. After getting through the Mystery Fest, Annie sets up their next event - a film festival. The first ever in the history of Redwood Grove. With the film festival, though, comes a very harsh movie critic. Before the premier movie even really gets going, the film critic falls from the balcony. There is what seems to be a never ending suspect list just based on the interactions between the critic and everyone he was around. Annie finds herself wading through everyone's backstory and history with the critic in an effort to unmask the killer so she can say that's a wrap before anyone else gets hurt.

I really enjoyed the second book in the Secret Bookcase Mystery. There are several threads woven into this story. It's not just a current murder mystery. Annie lost a friend years ago to murder and she's still trying to figure that one out. The chemistry between Annie and Liam sparks a little brighter in A Murder at the Movies but doesn't overshadow the mystery. I love my cozies with a bit of romance but not a love story that undermines the story.

The characters are interesting, likeable, and 3-dimensional. The author wrote them realistically with personality (or lack thereof, as it were for some of them), dimension, and emotion. I enjoyed the small town feel created and developed, and I felt like I was there assisting Annie figure out who had the means, motive, and opportunity. The story and mystery really pulled me in and kept me engaged. The death/murder mystery kept me guessing. I found the entire book to be well thought out with wonderful pacing.

3.5 Stars
Murder + theatre = an easy hook for me! This cozy mystery had all the classic elements—intrigue, secrets, and of course, a murder at the heart of a film festival. It’s a fun, chilled read with all the small-town mystery vibes, and I especially loved the recurring coffee/lattes theme. A great pick if you love lighthearted whodunits!

#AMurderattheMovies #NetGalley

A Murder at the Movies is an intriguing and atmospheric cozy mystery that will keep readers guessing. Annie Murray, the bookseller and event organizer, finds herself drawn into a complex murder mystery during a film festival in her small town. The cast of colorful characters, from the scandalous actress to the obsessed film historian, creates a web of secrets and tension that Annie must navigate. While the plot keeps you hooked with its twists and turns, the pacing can occasionally feel a bit slow, and some of the clues are a bit too easy to spot. However, the charming setting and Annie’s determination to uncover the truth make for an enjoyable read. A solid 3.5 stars for fans of cozy mysteries with a touch of Hollywood glamour.

I have had this book on my virtual shelf for a while now, and by the time I got to it I did not remember that it was not the first in the series. There have been several books since I got access to it and I’m now way behind. I begin with this statement because the first part did impact my reading experience. I don’t think second books are a bad place to start ( I read Harry Potter that way when I was younger), but sometimes being more familiar with the characters lends additional depth.

The story is set in a town with an entire house set up as a mystery bookshop, something that I would love to spend a couple of days in in real life. Due to their niche setup, a director approaches our lead protagonist to screen a movie in their town in a thematic fashion. We soon know who the victim will be and from there the case begins. I was actually even more interested in the background case of a missing friend, a cold case which is related to another cold case. I think it’s enough of a book to have readers coming back.

I guessed the culprit early on thanks to specific focus by the author, but it was still a good read. I would recommend this to fans of the genre because of the thematic aspects.

I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

This is a great new series featuring a small town and book store dedicated to mystery books. In this story a director wants to host her movie premiere in the town after hearing how great it is. (See book 1). Something goes wrong with the film and a murder occurs right in the theater. Suspects abound and the killer may surprise you.

📚 Book Review 📚

I started reading this one a while ago, but it didn’t grab me in the same way as the last book of this series so I’ve only just gone back to it.

Annie’s back and in the middle of the mysterious death of a rude film critic, in her home town. The characters don’t feel real, more like caricatures but they do the job. It’s a cosy mystery but without any real oomph or bite which is a shame. The ending feels a bit rushed but loose ends are tied up.

I’d like to thank Storm Publishing, NetGalley and the author for the arc and the fantastic opportunity, in exchange for my honest feedback 😊

⭐️⭐️

This book is the second book in the new series. I was skeptical about the first book. But I ended up enjoying it very much, so the second book has come along. I couldn't put it down it was very mysterious and had me coming and going. Annie is amazing in that she doesn't quit and goes on to find the killer and gets hit. Ellie Alexander, I think you have a hit at this new great series. Keep up the great job. I enjoyed reading this book. Thanks, NetGalley.

Thank you to the author, publisher and @NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Theres just something about a cozy mystery and finding a series that you vibe with 👏🏼

Ellie Alexander has done a great job of making these quick, but intriguing reads. I’m a little concerned that somehow from June to November we’re getting FOUR books in this series, but I’m also not mad about it.

I’m starting to get very invested in some of the supporting characters and I can’t wait to read what other wild adventures we’ll take in Redwood Grove!

I enjoyed the overall theme of the book. Murder takes place at a film festival, but it dragged on a bit. I felt the Annie and Liam hate love story was dragged on for far too long and I just found myself annoyed. Like maybe you shouldn't be together. This is my bad. I don't think cozy mysteries are my cup of tea. They're just too slow.

I ADORE Ellie Alexander and this book was no exception. It's a fantastic follow-up to The Body in the Bookstore and I need more ASAP!!

The second book in the Secret Bookcase series is a wonderful addition. The characters you fell in love with in A Body in the Bookstore are back and you will find yourself invested in their lives. The author does a great job of creating a murder mystery that will have you guessing until the very end. I love watching Annie work to make The Secret Bookcase a viable bookstore as well as helping the other businesses in Redwood Grove succeed. The characters are well developed … even those that are only featured in this book. I also love seeing the developing relationship with Liam and how Annie is trying her to best to avoid him. I imagine fireworks will be sparkling in the future and I can’t wait to see how they manage to resolve their issues.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review an advanced copy of this novel. I highly enjoyed it and will be recommending it to others.

I just love Ellie Alexander! Writing cozy mysteries is definitely her calling and whenever she releases a book I will eat it up! I absolutely loved her series revolving around the brewery and the one around baking. This series is another new favorite of mine. Keep them coming and I’ll keep reading them.

A Murder at the Movies is the second installment in A Secret Bookcase Mystery series by Ellie Alexander.

This is a solid series with very down to earth and relatable main character. She is smart, likeable and careful. I particularly like that she isn't silly nor she rushes into danger without any thought.
I like the romance angle as well. It is well done and it doesn't deter from the story.
Mystery is well presented, the ending was nicely wrapped up and it makes sense.
I also enjoy side characters so much, they have depth and are so loveable and likeable.
There are several directions that this series can take and I can't wait to find out what decions our main charcter makes.

Ellie's books are like a hot cup of tea, pure cozy but with a slight hint of murder. The scenes she writes about I can picture in my head and makes me want to visit some of the shops mentioned. Highly recommended if you like a cozy murder mystery.

ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏʙᴏᴏᴋ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ || A MURDER AT THE MOVIES [thank you to Storm Publishing for my #gifted digital copy!]

Title: A Murder at the Movies
Author: Ellie Alexander
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Format: audio
Star Rating: ★★★☆☆
Narrator: Ellen Quay
Narration: ★★★★☆

ꜱᴜᴍᴍᴀʀʏ:
After successfully saving her beloved bookstore with a hit event, Annie is eager to launch Redwood Grove's first film festival. But her excitement is shattered when a notorious film critic falls to his death during the premiere of a Hitchcock-inspired thriller. Annie’s gut tells her this wasn't an accident.

As she digs into the lives of the cast, crew, and guests—each hiding dark secrets, from a scandalous lead actress to a possessive film historian—Annie must unravel a web of lies to catch the killer before they strike again. Will she solve the mystery and save her festival, or become the next victim?

ᴍʏ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛꜱ:
This was a fun little cozy, small town mystery! Between the cast of local characters and the influx of Hollywood people, there was never a dull moment! I really enjoyed how the mystery played out - allowing Annie to work her criminology chops and feel realistic at the same time (I mean, she gets caught investigating several times, haha).

If you’re looking for an easy listen, I would recommend this one!

However, a small caveat: while this could be read as a standalone, the author does not do much in the way of summarizing backstory, so you are left with quite a few questions that honestly may have been answered in book 1. Just food for thought.

ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:
Small Town Mysteries
A Murder She Wrote
Books About Bookstores
Amateur Sleuths
Unreliable Characters

ᴅᴇᴛᴀɪʟꜱ:
GR: 4.23 ⭐️
# of Hours: 6 hours and 53 minutes
Pub Date: June 19, 2024

Thank you netgalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC.

Book two in the secret bookcase series. We are back with Annie and the gang. This time she is putting on a horror movie premiere. After a highly charged, conflict filled dinner the night before they are looking forward to watching the movie. Unfortunately, a body is thrown from the balcony shortly after the movie starts. Can Annie and her friends catch the killer?

Loved catching up with Annie, Hal, Fletcher, Pri, and Liam. This time there is underlying romantic feelings developing for Annie. Pri finally speaks to double Americano. And despite another murder in their small town they have a successful event.

5 stats again.

<i>A Murder at the Movies</i> seems to have it all: a thriving bookstore, enemies-to-who-knows will-they-won’t-they (obviously, I am not telling you), the Agatha Christie inspiration it proudly displays on its sleeve, and a Hollywood premiere that an attending critic intends to be the last chance for the film’s screening. Little does he know that he’s the one with a last chance to write a review – which he has already written without watching the movie…

A lot of disbelief suspension is required. To begin with, there is a bookstore so prosperous that it employs multiple people, all of whom love their job and not one mentions Amazon. (I am not sure which year the book is set in exactly, but there are smartphones in it.) People run around, declaring their desire to murder the critic. One review from one critic can destroy a movie before it premieres. (If there is a real life equivalent of Martin, I can’t think of one. Also, the review is quoted and… that’s… not how movie reviews work.) And while the enemies-to-who-knows enemy is apparently an absolute arse, we never see a single example of the aforementioned arseness, but the protagonist tends to get rather tingly and warm from smelling his aftershave and <i>garlic</i>.

The characters are…not very fleshed out. I had problems telling Fletcher from Hal – one was the owner, and one was the not owner. The two directors at the premiere interact in very odd ways that are not quite explained throughout the book. Characters disappear and reappear as needed, some of them primary suspects. And the book commits the ultimate sin: the author assumes, unlike Christie, that the reader is not as smart as the characters. I could go on, but basically this book had all the ingredients I search for in my comfort reads, and completely didn’t work for me when those ingredients got stirred in one pot.

There are truly awful Agatha Christie books, which she admitted in her autobiography she had written to pay the bills quickly. <i>A Murder at the Movies</i> is not a bad book. It’s not great. It’s proof that sometimes I think I know exactly what I need and then it turns out that I should have been more specific. ‘I enjoyed it enough to finish’ is unfortunately the biggest compliment I can dispense (it’s definite proof that I am not Martin! Also, I am not dead.). I guessed who the killer was mid-book and hoped to be disappointed with myself; unfortunately, I was right. The clue was painfully obvious. But then, there is a reason why Agatha Christie’s books remain popular nearly 50 years after her death.

I recommend this book to fans of, well, Christie’s everyone-in-the-room mysteries with (this was not Agatha’s forte) possible romance and a protagonist that definitely makes me expect more – the ending is a vague cliffhanger. Even though I had to check who the person was and why it was important…

I am loving Annie and the rest of the characters in this new series. Alexander does an awesome job of giving us the right amount of mystery and suspense while building characters and their relationships. I look forward to the next book in this series.

A Murder at the Movies
by Ellie Alexander
Pub DateJun 19 2024
Storm Publishing
General Fiction \(Adult\)| Mystery & Thrillers


Storm Publishing and Netgalley provided me with a copy of Murder at the Movies for review:



Annie Murray, a bookseller and events organizer, finds herself embroiled in one of Hollywood's most sinister plots when she invites Hollywood to her small-town film festival.


In the wake of her first event, which revived the fortunes of the bookstore she so dearly loves, Annie is excited to present Redwood Grove's first film festival. When an infamous film critic plunges to his death during the premiere of a Hitchcock-inspired thriller, Annie's instincts tell her it is no accident. From the lead actress with a scandalous past, to a film historian obsessed with protecting his vintage reel collection, she discovers that many of the cast, crew, and guests harbor dark secrets.


As Annie attempts to unravel the mystery, she must sift through a maze of hidden agendas and deceptions to expose the killer before they strike again. Will she be able to crack the case in time to save her film festival or will she end up in the spotlight?


I give up A Murder at Movies five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!