A Murder at the Movies is the second book in the A Secret Bookcase Mystery Book series, and in my opinion, another fantastic hit. I can’t tell you how much I love this series! I completely devoured the book in just a couple of hours.

Annie Murphy, Criminology major turned bookseller, revitalized the beloved bookstore she works at with a Mystery-themed weekend for readers. She’s now been asked to help an Indie director bring Hollywood to Redwood Grove with a Hitchcock-inspired film for its movie premier. Annie and the town are excited to have another influx of tourists and movie and book fans for a weekend-long festival. But more than Hollywood glamour arrives with warring directors, an actress with secrets, the producer, and an egotistical movie critic who could make or break the director with nothing more than his pen. Murder strikes at the movie premier, and Annie is on the case to save the weekend and find the killer.

Cozy Mysteries are my favorite genre to read, and this series skyrocketed to one of my top favorite series of all time. This book includes all the aspects of Cozies that I love: small towns, close-knit communities, amateur sleuth, best friend, quirky characters, a beloved cat, a bookshop housed in an English manor-themed mansion, plenty of plot twists and red herrings, and an intricately planned mystery. Those aspects can be found in many Cozies, but the way the author, Ellie Alexander, writes is what makes this series so incredibly excellent.

I read the first two books in this series over the weekend, and I’m breathlessly waiting for the third book to be published in September!

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for allowing me to read the arc. I’m happy to leave my honest opinion of this exciting book!

The Body in the Bookstore & A Murder at the Movies by Ellie Alexander (ARC review)- both released on 19th June. @ellie_alexander @netgalley

To say I was pleasantly surprised by these two books would be an understatement. Even though I lean more towards the darker murder mysteries I thoroughly enjoyed both of these books and felt compelled to follow the story to the end.

These two books make up volumes 1 & 2 in a new series "A Secret Bookcase Mystery" by Ellie Alexander and if you enjoy cozy murder mysteries then these books will scratch an itch.

The series follows Annie Murray, a former criminology student now working in a bookstore, as she investigates two cases in Redwood Grove. Fortunately, Annie is a warm protagonist and the people she interacts with are equally as easy to like. While both books are whodunnits there is a strong emphasis on relationships with the side characters featuring heavily.

The mysteries are well written with plenty of intrigue and suspects to keep the momentum up. There is one overarching mystery storyline that will probably make up the backbone for the series but I'm not sure how long that can be drawn out for.

Both books fall to the usual cozy murder mysteries contrivances you come to expect (an amateur sleuth invited into the investigations because of historical ties, overactive imaginations, etc) but none are so great that they cannot be overlooked.

These books are homages to the murder mystery genre and accomplish that task admirably. The inspiration of Agatha Christie is worn on the sleeve and these books are fitting tributes. The mystery genre is continuously alluded to via Easter eggs and direct references. These books truly are love letters to the mystery genre.

If you enjoyed the Saturday afternoon murder mysteries, in particular Murder She Wrote, then you will enjoy these books. I haven't read any other Ellie Alexander books so I cannot attest to differences or similarities to her other books but these two books are worth reading.

Finally, there are some T-Shirts that many readers would love to have (e.g. "I closed my book to be here" and "Punctuation Saves Lives. Let's Eat Kids. Let's Eat, Kids).

A murder at the movies follows on from the end of the body in the bookstore, this time we follow Annie as she helps set up a movie preview in her small town following the success of mystery fest in the body in the bookstore.. A death at the premiere sees Annie don her sleuthing cap once again as she goes in search of answers and questions suspects. This is a cosy mystery full of small town charm with a great descriptive writing style that will have you wanting to visit the secret bookcase bookstore with one of Priya’s delicious coffee blends in hand. Eager to read book 3.

A Murder at the Movies is book #2 in the Secret Bookcase Mystery series by Ellie Alexander.

It was nice having the first two books of the series available the same day. I like meeting the characters and then not having to wait months to see them again.
Annie is asked to launch a Hitchcock film festival. Unfortunately, a death occurs and Annie is drawn to investigate. I really enjoyed the mystery and it kept me guessing until the end. I can’t wait for the next book!

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

This is another great entry in the series. I like the premise of a murder occurring in an old movie theater during the showing of a thriller/murder mystery. The only issue I have is the same issue I have with Alexander’s Bakeshop Mysteries series: the mc has too much access to and influence over the lead detective. I look forward to reading the next installment.

After the success of their first book festival, Annie Murray and the Secret Bookcase store are asked to organise a film premiere for a Hitchcock inspired movie. Bringing Hollywood to Redwood Grove proves to be more challenging than expected, especially when a much hated film critic creates his own big scene in the opening sequence of the film.

Annie’s criminology degree is put to use by her old mentor, now the leading detective in the murder investigation. We get to know more about the main characters, with their backgrounds being fleshed out nicely. Hal and Fletcher, from the book store are people you would want to be friends with, and Priyas menu of delicious sounding drinks makes you want to go out and buy one. There are numerous suspects, red herrings and interesting stories. Izzy is quite the drama queen, Cora the plucky leading lady with a secret she is desperate to keep and the tension between Annie and Liam is developing nicely. An enjoyable read, well written and very satisfying. It’ll be interesting to see where this series goes next. Recommended.

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

'A Murder at the Movies' is a wonderful addition to Ellie Alexander's A Secret Bookcase Mystery series. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know more about each character and the tie-in to old movies was engaging. A murder takes place at a film festival and Annie and her crew are involved in solving it. There is much more about pub owner Liam and and I like the way the relationship is developing. The ending is surprising the end promises more great things to come for Annie in solving Scarlet's murder. I can't wait!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

This is the second book in the Secret Bookcase mysteries series. Book One, The Body in the Bookstore, was published the same day. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for the opportunity to read & review both titles.

After the success of the book festival that occurred in Book one, Annie Murray, ex-criminology student, bookstore employee at the Secret Bookcase, is asked to host of movie premiere for an indy horror film in her small town of Redwood Grove. Annie agrees & it seems things are going well until a famous film critic plunges from the theater balcony to his death during the premiere. Annie & her friends are again drawn into the investigation.

What a delightful book! It continues the background stories & characters from the first book. We get to know about them & they develop a bit more. Annie's best friend, Pri, continues to delight and we learn a bit more about pub owner, Liam. The mystery and movie references in this one are lots of fun. The mystery is well plotted and an intriguing puzzle to solve. I so enjoyed my time w/Annie & her friends and look forward to more adventures from the Secret Bookcase crew.

Second in series.
Annie is planning another event for the town and bookshop but of course it doesn't go smoothly.
Good mystery,suspense,surprises,twists and slight romance.
Great characters especially Liam.
Voluntarily reviewed,

Each installment gets better and better. There was more than one mystery afoot!

I received a complimentary copy of the book from Storm Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Ellie Alexander is one of my favorite mystery authors. And this was a great start a new series. Can't wait to see where the series go.

The second book in this new series which is being released on the same day as the first one. Book one The Body in the Bookstore which was a fantastic read and captured this reader from beginning to conclusion. A Murder At The Movies is a equally captivating mystery and great second in series. Thank you to the author for releasing both the first and second in series on the same day. This is a treat for readers. Its a readers dream to be able to read the first and second in this wonderful series.

We return to charming Redwood Grove to Annie who works in their small town bookstore. She has recently had success as a event planner when she put on a successful mystery event.. Her event was publicized and now Hollywood wants to visit and join in putting on a movie event.. Annie will participate and is asked to be the event planner. The event is poised to be a great success and very exciting for the small town. The event begins to go off perfectly when a shocking murder occurs at the event. Annie is once again on the case with her criminalogy background and the help of her friend the local detective. Red herrings abound and clues kept me guessing the well crafted sleuth to conclusion. I loved the Hollywood aspect and different personalities Annie worked with . The author frames her characters beautifully.
I loved this next in series. I highly recommend this wonderful new series .

Thank you to Net Galley, the publisher and to the author for the opportunity for review. I cannot wait for the next in series.

I am enjoying this series and can't wait for the next one. I want to know what happens. The mystery kept get guessing. I like the characters and setting.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 Stars
One Liner: Nice!

Annie gets a call from a Hollywood director to organize a movie screening for a thriller after her Mystery Festival weekend becomes a grand success. They are all excited, of course, and agree.
However, Annie realizes that the Hwood (even a small fragment) entering the small town may not be a good idea. When a narcissistic film critic dies during the movie premiere, it is up to Annie to find out what happened and who the killer is.
The story comes in Annie’s first-person POV.

My Thoughts:
The advantage of reading books 1 & 2 back-to-back is that I could skim through the stuff I already know. That said, new details from Annie’s past are revealed, so it is better to pay attention.
In a way, this book isn’t different from the previous one. There’s an event, and the most rude and annoying person gets bumped off. Then, we have a list of suspects coz almost everyone hates them.
Annie is more involved in the investigation this time. While some of it is not realistic, I’ve seen similar stuff in cozies, so I don’t mind it much.
I forgot to mention Professor Plum, Annie’s cat in my review of book one. The cat doesn’t have any role except to be the MC’s pet. It’s the same in the book but it did feature a few more scenes.
There’s a slow yet visible shift in the dynamic between our MC and the potential love interest. Irrespective of what happens, I like how it highlights the difference in perspectives and the communication gap between them.
Priya’s range of coffees is great fun to read (even if ‘turmeric latte’ coming from an Indian like her makes me wince), and the way she names them is too good!
Yet again, the sleuthing is conversation-based rather than action-based. While conversations reveal details, it gets too much here. I do appreciate the little action in the climax. Give us more and make it a little hard for the MC, please. On the plus side, I can read this even when half-asleep. It is that easy.
There is a sort of cliffhanger (for the overarching mystery) in this one. We’ll know the details in the next one. The main mystery is complete, though.

To summarize, A Murder at the Movies continues the series at the same tempo. It is an easy book to read and should work as a standalone (but read the first anyway). The title for the next book is mentioned at the end, so I’ll grab it when a copy is available.
Thank you, NetGalley and Storm Publishing, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

This is a common review for both the two novels in A Secret Bookcase series I read.
It's an entertaining series that improves with each novels. Both are well plotted and features a solid mystery.
I like how Annie, the main character evolved. Her desire to solve the murder of Scarle, her friend murdered some days before graduation, borders on obsession and PTDS and can be quite disturbing at time. It becomes less relevant in the characters descriptions in the second half of the first novel and it's in the background in the second.
The cast of characters is intersting and Annie grew on me as she was able to move on.
The bookshop and the festival are fascinating and the solid mysteries kept me guessing.
Recommended
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

So much fun! Totally enjoyed the the first in the series and this one was even better. Now I want to know! When is the third one coming out. I am so invested already. Annie Murray receives an interesting phone call from a Hollywood director wanting to premiere her latest mystery movie there. The Hollywood archetypes are so interesting and enjoyable and the mystery nicely plotted. But the true joy of this series, and any Ellie Alexander series, is all the secondary characters with realistic quirks and desires that make the story so compelling! Just loved it.

This was an really enjoyable book! I loved the main character Annie and all of her friends.

This, the second book in the series, had less scenes in the bookstore with introduction of various Hollywood-type characters and naturally movie-related topics. The author supplies lots of mystery and suspicion concerning the murder and another crime, leaving the reader with plenty of possibilities for the perp.

Each book in "Secret Bookcase Mystery" series also advances Annie's thoughts about the past and plans for the future as well those of her best friend Pri.

Thank you Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC of this book. This was an honest review.

The overall theme of Murder at the Movies being in a movie theatre did not appeal to me. Nevertheless, I should have figured that out from the title. It sounded like a fun event was being organized for the Hidden Bookcase by our Amature Sleuth Annie. I'm not into movies but this mystery would be perfect if you are. There's a brewing relationship between Annie and Liam, the owner of a local bar. Quite a bit of tension exists here that I actually enjoy. I just hope they get together soon. It was interesting to learn about Annie's background in criminology. I found the murder to be interesting and the hunt for the killer to be thrilling.

I'm so loving this new series! This is the second book and continues the sleuthing of Annie. She is having a film festival in Redwood Grove! When the critic dies at the premiere Annie is sure it was no accident. She set out to solve the mystery with a cast of suspects. Lots of red herrings with twists. It seems like there are many who had issues with the victim. The characters are well developed. Love the plot! Thanks#Netgalley and #StormPublishing for the eARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are mine.

Second book in the new Secret Bookcase Mystery series picks up right where the first one left off. This time a movie is being premiered in town and Annie has helped plan premiere weekend. Unfortunately another death occurs and Annie is helping her old professor, Dr. Caldwell, who is now a detective in Redwood Grove., to solve the murder. I was totally surprised when the killer was revealed, I had no clue! I also like the thread going through the series of the murder of Annie's college friend Scarlett. Slowly I hope she solves Scarlett's murder so she can move on with her life. Like maybe hook up with Liam?

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This review is based on an ARC from NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher.