A lovely cozy mystery book. Very easy to get into and a light hearted read. I would love to read more from this author.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and all opinions expressed are mine.

The book follows Annie who is tasked with running a film festival in her small town that results in the death of an infamous film critic . Like any small town sleuth she starts investigating the cast ,crew and guests as everyone seems to be hiding a secret. In true Ellie form this is fast paced ,intriguing and well written.

A lovely cozy mystery and I enjoyed this light-hearted and fun read by an author I hadn't read before. Very entertaining. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Ellie Alexander is one of my favorite mystery authors, and she never disappoints! This was such a fun cozy and so charming! The twists and turns were so fun, and I cannot wait to read more in this series!

I enjoyed this one better than the first but I still can’t seem to connect with Annie or the other characters. The story itself was OK; still not sure why a film director would want to hold a movie premiere in a tiny town they’d never been to before and had nothing to do with the movie or why Annie, as the bookstore events manager, would be organizing it. I want more of Ellie Alexander’s fun, vibrant characters and cozy towns and I’m not getting the same vibe here. I will try one more as I am curious about the backstory with the cold case.

Another fun cozy mystery in the books for me already and I'm here for it! This time it's a movie theater murder and Annie is more involved this time trying to solve the case. We also see more of the love interest and Annie together and interacting more and really starting to ride the line from hate to love. We also see more of Annie's kitty which I'm all here for as well. It was a great mystery. I figured out who did it about 80% in, maybe a little sooner but it was still a fun time. Definitely recommend picking this one up this cozy season.

Princess Fuzzypants here: Annie is an usual cozy heroine. She has been trained in criminology and her professor happens to be the local Chief of Police. She loves working in a bookstore that caters to mystery readers. Dr. Caldwell, her former prof, admires her capabilities and is trying to convince her to come back to her first love, putting the bad guys away. In the meantime, she uses Annie as a resource and it turns out she is very good at it. The two make an awesome duo.

They will need each other’s power of observation to figure out which of many suspects killed the odious film critic who died at the premiere of a movie he was set to scathe. The director, the actors, the producer and so many others had good reason to hate this despicable bully. Which one did it or did they all conspire? While there were lots of blind alleys and twists and turns, it was the way the investigation was conducted between the two professionals that resonated most. I did suspect the final reveal a bit earlier than our heroine but it still was a thrilling end. I am ready for more of Annie and her friends.

Five purrs and two paws up.

Ellie Alexander brings the second cozy set in the Secret Bookcase bookstore and its small town. Annie Murray talks up a Film Festival to attract visitors and the town joins in. Then as the festival starts a film critic is found murdered and the lady who premiered her movie at the festival and others look guilty. Annie Murray works with her former criminology professor turned town detective to find the killer. What could go wrong? Read and find out in this enchanting cozy.

A great addition to an incredible series! Wonderful characters in an incredible setting. This book will keep you guessing until the end.

A Murder at the Movies is the 2nd Secret Bookcase shopfront cozy by Ellie Alexander. Released 19th June 2024 by Storm publishing, it's 262 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The first book in the series is also currently available on KU. A third series book is due out from the same publisher at the end of Sept. 2024.
This is a well written light cozy with a MC who owns and runs a bookshop in a small tourist town destination. The background is well interwoven in the book, and it works as a standalone without needing to have read the previous book. This time, MC Annie is arranging a film festival event in Redwood Grove. She's again drawn into amateur investigation with the untimely death of a nasty film critic during a film premiere.

The author is prolific and quite experienced, the plotting is fairly tight and it doesn't drag. The book is very clean, with only a sprinkling of light cursing and nothing more objectionable in the book than off-page murder, and the requisite threatened violence in the denouement and solution to the murder. Definitely safe for reading at work or on the bus.

Four stars, a fun light cozy mystery. The series will be a hit with fans of "Jessica Fletcher", Cleo Coyle, and Jenn McKinlay and other small town storefront cozies.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Ellie Alexander’s A Murder at the Movies is a delightful addition to her popular, cozy mystery series. Set against the charming backdrop of a vintage cinema, this novel combines a clever plot with engaging characters. The protagonist, whose investigative skills are as sharp as her wit, uncovers secrets hidden beneath the glitz and glamour of the film world. Alexander’s writing is both witty and warm, drawing readers into a world where the stakes are high, but the atmosphere remains irresistibly cozy. (I reviewed an advance reader copy and all opinions are my own.) Fans of the genre will find this book a delightful escape, with its perfect blend of suspense and charm.

I’m quickly falling in love with Ellie Alexander’s latest series. It's smart, easy-to-read, and entertaining.

As always, it’s getting to know the “regular” characters that make a cozy mystery series really fun, and I’m having a blast learning more about Annie and her close circle, which now includes hunky pub-owner Liam. Because of the new characters involved in the film festival, some of the townsfolk that we met in passing in the first book take a backseat in this adventure, but overall, the characters were balanced out very well and it’s never overwhelming.

The victim was fairly obvious from the get-go but there were so many reasons why someone would want him gone that it was quite a job sorting through suspects and motives. Annie is once again looped into the investigation by Prof. Caldwell and Annie’s background in criminology makes it easy to believe that she’s a competent investigator, not just an amateur sleuth.

Annie is also a big part of why I’m enjoying this series so far. She’s smart and logical, but also generous and kind. She’s not perfect though, and feels very real – someone I would definitely want to be friends with in real life.

Since I blew my way through the first two books VERY quickly, I’m overjoyed to learn that Book 3 will be out in just a few months! I can’t wait to see what Annie and her friends do next!

*** Thank you to the publisher, Storm Publishing, for providing me with an e-copy of this book via Netgalley for review purposes.

Book 2 in this new series didn’t disappoint. Many of the same characters are present in this installment, as they work to figure out who killed the disliked but powerful movie critic. With a few different suspects, Annie works to solve the murder alongside detective Caldwell. I did figure out who committed the crime well in advance but it was also because the other suspects were talked about enough that I was able to dismiss them. I did like that Annie and Liam have thawed their relationship and Priya’s crush evolved as well. I’m looking forward to reading book 3.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

In Ellie Alexander’s “A Murder at the Movies”, bookseller and events organizer Annie Murray steps into the glitzy world of Hollywood during Redwood Grove’s film festival. But when a film critic meets a Hitchcock-inspired demise, Annie’s instincts tell her it’s no accident. As she unravels dark secrets among the cast and crew, the suspense builds.

Here’s why cozy mystery fans will love this book:

The plot keeps you guessing until the final pages. Hidden agendas and deception abound, making it a delightful puzzle.

Colorful Characters: From scandalous lead actresses to vintage film historians, the cast adds charm and intrigue.

Heart and Humor: Alexander infuses the story with warmth and wit. You’ll root for Annie as she navigates danger.

Readers are raving about this series. It’s fun, fast-paced, and perfect for cozy mystery enthusiasts.

This is the second visit to the small town of Redwood Grove, California and this time Hollywood is in town for a premiere. When an indie director wants to work with Annie and the crew at the Secret Bookcase Annie knows she's in for a chaotic week of dinners, movie premeieres and all kinds of Hollywood politics. But she had no real idea just how much chaos and conflict she was setting herself up for - and when the dead body makes a dramatic entrance things get really busy.

I really enjoyed the mystery and while I had some ideas of how things would turn out I wasn't sure on all the details and there were more than a few surprises. There is a little setup for the next mystery which I'mvery excited about and a bit more information on the mystery that is part of Annie's backstory. There's also a little bit of some romance brewing - maybe!

I really love the setting here and the cast of characters is a lot of fun. And did I mention that the bookshop Annie works at is Agatha Christie themed complete with a secret room?

I loved the context for this book. A clever interesting story with great characters that become very familiar in the series. I struggle with the writing style but read because of the characters and story.

On the heels of her success coordinating a town-wide mystery festival, bookseller Annie Murray gets a call from Hollywood. Word of the festival quickly traveled south to independent film director Heather Hathaway, who is searching for a venue to debut her Alfred Hitchcock-esque movie, Midnight Alibi. Annie eagerly gets to work, once again enlisting the support and involvement of all of the businesses in Redwood Grove. When Heather and the rest of the cast and producers arrive in town, the culture clash is significant. There is an underlying current of hostility that gives Annie a sinking, sickly feeling. Excited ticket holders fill the seats of the town's historic theater to view the film's world premiere. But a body falling from the balcony to the aisle below stops the screening short and sets another murder investigation in motion.

A Murder at the Movies is the second book in veteran cozy mystery writer Ellie Alexander's Secret Bookcase series from Storm Publishing. She expertly immerses readers in the idyllic small town and lures us into a captivating story. Readers also get a few more pieces of the puzzle surrounding the murder of Annie's best friend, a long-game plot point introduced in book one, The Body in the Bookstore. This new series is off to a stellar start, and I have high hopes for Ellie Alexander's storytelling in books to come.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions.

Great second book! A Murder at the Movies is a fast, entertaining read that keeps you looking forward for the next book! Definitely looking forward to the next one and getting to know all the characters.

Thank you for allowing me to review this book. The second in The Secret Bookcase series, It is just as good as the first. Annie is asked to organise a Film Festival weekend for a new movie in Redwood Grove. On the launch night the film critic is murdered.. Annie is soon Involved in trying to find the murderer. As the story develops various secrets are revealed, providing different possibilities. Nothing is fully revealed until the end. Alongside this, Annie and Liam are developing a relationship. I look forward to reading how this works out.
I recommend this book, but suggest the first book is read to understand Annie and the local key characters.

A Murder at the Movies is the second installment of the Secret Bookcase Mystery Series by Ellie Alexander. Annie Murray is overseeing a film festival in the small town of Redwood Grove, California. The movie is a horror movie which isn’t really Annie’s favorite genre but she’s excited to see the premiere. During the first bizarre minutes of the film, there is a loud thud as a body drops from the balcony. At first, the audience thinks it is possible part of the movie but they quickly realize it is a real body. Annie is brought into the investigation by her old college professor (now a local detective) Dr. Caldwell. To add to this, Dr. Caldwell thinks Annie should follow her education into criminology. I enjoyed the book although it did seem slow in parts. I wish they would quit referring to the death of Annie’s friend, Scarlett, in such general terms. What happened and how can Annie solve the mystery after all these years??? The book was a quick read buy not quite to the level of Ellie Alexander’s other series. I’m looking forward to the next installment and hope it answers some of my questions.