I really enjoyed Death at the Dinner Party. This series is becoming one of my new favorites very quickly. It has a premise that is quite different compared to other cozy mystery series I read... mainly that the protagonist has training in criminology and is seen as an asset to the local police detective instead of being treated as a nuisance. Annie is a great character and I'm happy to see how her friendship with Liam is evolving. The murder mystery was very interesting and I like how it tied in with the town's Wentworth family mystery. I'm definitely looking forward to the next book in this series.

The events coordinator at the Secret Bookcase, Annie Murray, has organized a murder mystery-themed dinner party at the newly renovated historic Wentworth farmhouse. The property has garnered enduring rumors of secret passageways concealing a fabled fortune in gems and gold, attracting widespread interest and leading to sold-out tickets. Annie was introduced to the new owner, Penny Shurr, through her friend Priya (Pri) Kapoor. Costly renovations have caused Penny's depleted savings, and significant improvements are still needed on the property's exterior, including the orchards, vineyards, and farming equipment. The women have worked tirelessly to ensure the success of the upcoming dinner party and fundraising auction for experiences in Redwood Grove.

It's another irresistible visit to a small town in Northern California. A mystery-themed bookstore hints at a unique architectural element called the Secret Bookcase, along with an owner's genealogy that could link to an ancestry connection to Agatha Christie. As a fellow enthusiast of mysteries and small-town events, I find these elements particularly engaging. This time, there are two events before Halloween: an offsite fundraising dinner party on an eerie and stormy night, adding to the atmosphere with links to the town's history, and a children's story time celebration at the bookstore. The author's descriptive writing not only creates vivid images of delectable menus for dinner and story time refreshments but also infuses friendship and romance in the characters' lives that sparkle with humor, respect, and looking out for one another. What history and/or mystery buff can resist an investigation that might finally answer rumors from the 1800s?

Reviewer’s Note: The author’s website shares: "This series is a love letter to the mysteries that shaped me and is inspired by the real-life Mystery Festival we launched in Ashland, OR in 2023." You can be assured that this reader plans to visit Redwood Grove for the next event! I hope you will too!

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

Annie Murray’s friend Penny is financially struggling to restore the historic Wentworth farmhouse. Annie is intrigued by the beautiful property and the rumors about the Wentworth family fortune hidden on the property. Anxious to help her friend, Annie hosts a mystery-themed dinner party. The evening begins ideally, and everyone enjoys themselves until Curtis Wright, a neighboring troublemaker and bully, drops dead at the table.
It seemed that someone had poisoned his food. Curtis, who had been pressuring Annie’s friend Penny to sell her land to him, was the likely target. Annie, fearing for Penny's safety, launches into a frantic investigation to clear her friend's name. Her quest leads her into a labyrinth of family secrets, dubious business transactions, and concealed passages in the ancient farmhouse.
When Annie discovers the truth, her life is in danger when the killer comes after her. She is trapped with no escape. Will this be the end for her?
This is another of Ellie Alexander’s riveting, nonstop, edge-of-the-seat page-turners that will keep you hooked until the final, jaw-dropping revelation.

Ellie Alexander's greatest strength is her ability to create an ensemble that fans love! While A Secret Bookcase Mystery series isn't quite there, it is swiftly moving in that direction and this third book in the series is moving things along well. I am becoming more and more attached to these characters with each book, and I have no doubt that soon my reviews will start with Love, Love, Love this series. For now, I really liked Annie, Liam, Pri, and Dr. Cauldwell and am becoming attached to Penny, so I really rooted for a positive ending.
When a Murder Dinner Party turns into real murder Annie, backed up mostly by Liam, takes charge until the weather delayed Dr. Cauldwell and the rest of the police department can get there. Ms. Alexander's books are always worth reading, but be prepared for a drawn out beginning as the atmosphere is built and the suspects are introduced before the murder.
Annie's education in criminology helps her preserve the scene and look at possible suspects as they await the arrival of the police, but enough happens during that time to give Annie and the reader plenty to think about.
I have hooked on the mystery of Scarlet's death and love the growing relationship between Annie and Liam. I look forward to getting to know all my friends better over the next books.
Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for allowing me to read and review an ARC of Death at the Dinner Party. As a big fan of Ellie Alexander, I was delighted to get an early look at the 3rd book in this fun new series.
#NetGalley #StromPublishing #EllieAlexander #DeathattheDinnerParty #ASecretBookcaseMystery

I loved that Death at the Dinner Party felt like a game of Clue. The murder mystery dinner party set at the infamous Wentworth property now owned by Penny, Priya’s new girlfriend, was just the kind of mystery for Annie and friends to get mixed up in. Throw in an interested real estate developer wanting to buy Penny’s property, plus an over dramatic play director, a skittish actor and a grouchy next door neighbor intent on causing problems you are in for an interesting party. I liked Annie teaming up with Liam again and I’m really excited about what could be happening for them in the future. I’m enjoying this new cozy mystery series by Ellie Alexander and can’t wait for the next one!



Thank you publishers @ellie_alexander and @netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

Annie works at the Secret Bookcase, but this time she is helping her friends Pri and Penny by organizing a murder mystery dinner party at the old farmhouse that Penny is renovating. Being close to Halloween, they go with a Poe vibe. Local community theater actors are hired to create the mystery. Adding to the atmosphere, it is a dark and very stormy night. Instead of the staged death, an actual death occurs and then…the lights go out!
Annie steps in and tries to preserve the scene, but some guests just won’t stay put. Was it a murder? If so, who was the culprit? There are ditzy actors, greedy land developers, and treasure hunters. Annie is also finding restaurant owner, Liam, is a nice guy and deciding what direction she wants her life to take.
The third book in the series continues a fun, interesting group of friends mixed with a twisty mystery. I enjoyed Death at the Dinner Party!
Thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.

3rd book in the series has Annie Murray helping her friends Pri & Penny host a Murder Mystery at Penny’s newly remodeled historic farm. The people brought together for the dinner have a lot of history and several are feuding over buying the area farms to build new housing and possibly to find lost treasure. The evening quickly turns from fake murder to real murder. The police’s arrival is delayed by fallen trees to Annie takes control of the situation and this is where I get stuck. Throughout the 3 books, Annie constantly talks about her degree in criminology and hopes to have her own detective agency and stresses knowing procedures to use in crimes but then does things that I can’t believe are part of what procedures call for such as moving a body. It wouldn't bother me if she didn't stress her knowledge of procedure that her degree gives her some sort of authority in a criminal investigation. Throughout the crime and aftermath, we see the relationship between Annie and Liam grow towards romance which is fine but does seem strange when it’s literally while they are moving a dead body. The mystery aspect of the book is interesting and enjoyable but there is still little to no progress about the death of Annie’s best friend, which is the underlying drive for Annie’s choices. I really hope we finally get the full story in the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.

A murder mystery dinner with a storm threatening to cut off the electricity, right out of the gate? That is how you grab my attention. Unfortunately, this ended up being my least favorite of the series so far. I had such high hopes with the premise and loving the first two in the series. But it ended up being quite obvious who the culprit was from very early on. There has also been no advancement in the murder of Scarlet. Which after 3 books you would think we would have something happening. I do, overall, enjoy this series and will continue on.

Thank you to the publisher for the free copy in exchange for my honest review.

I just finished #DeathattheDinnerParty #NetGalley after a very stressful morning.
I love this new series by Ellie Alexander and I'm excited to recommend to other readers.
Annie works hard to come up with ideas to keep The Secret Bookcase book shop running.
Her ideas are always fun and exciting, and a murder mystery dinner sounds incredible.
Unfortunately, things don't go as planned and Annie and her best friend Pri find themselves in a dangerous situation, and Annie isn't sure she can find her way out of trouble.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.

"Death at the Dinner Party" is an absolute blast to read! The story is packed with suspense, and I couldn't get enough of the Agatha Christie references. The author is an incredible storyteller, and I always looked forward to my reading time. This book is so gripping that it made me turn off the TV because all the excitement and curiosity I needed was right there in the story.

I'm thrilled that this is part of a series. I've already ordered the first book and can't wait to dive into the rest. If you're looking for a fun and thrilling mystery, "Death at the Dinner Party" is a must-read!

"Death at the Dinner Party" is the third book in Ellie Alexander’s The Secret Bookcase Mystery series. Annie’s newest friend, Penny, is holding a murder mystery dinner to raise money for the property she bought. Instead of a faux murder, a real murder occurs in the middle of dinner. Throw in a hidden treasure and secret tunnels, and you have a fun read. The series usually revolves around special events planned by Annie. This time the special event is for a friend instead of involving her work at the bookstore. We also find out a little bit more about her friend Scarlett's murder after the second book's cliffhanger. Annie is taking a look at her life and reconsidering her decision not to open a private investigator's office, but she also enjoys her work at the bookstore. I'm looking forward to the fourth book in the series.

I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher and/or author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

greed, real-estate, California, friends, friendship, amateur-sleuth, fund-raisers, small-business, small-town, bookseller, local-law-enforcement, unpleasant-victims, unpleasant-suspect, murder, investigation, romance, mysteries, missing-persons****

Murder Mystery Dinner Theater and Dinner Detective Suppers are supposed to be fun with actors holding the plot together and the paid guests enjoying themselves. But nobody is supposed to be actually murdered! The characters from the first two books are back with a new villain and a whole new collection of plot twists and red herrings.
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Storm Publishing via NetGalley.
#SecretBookcaseMysteriesBk3 #CozyMystery Pub Date Sep 30, 2024

This is another fun entry in the series. I especially enjoyed the Clue inspired premise and mystery. The only real weakness is Annie’s impetuousness. She had a couple of TSTL moments. I hope the Scarlet plot gets resolved soon.

I always know that when I pick up a book by Ellie Alexander that I am going to be entertained and enjoy my time with the characters. Death at the Dinner Party is the third installment in this new series and I am enjoying the setting and the characters. Ms. Alexander is a pro with the small town cozy. She writes in such a way that you immediately fall in love with the town and it becomes almost a minor character in the book. This series has another charming setting that makes the reader want to visit. The characters are progressing nicely and we do get a bit more progress on the mystery that runs in the background of each book. This was an enjoyable read and I look forward to many more books in the series.

Another good instalment in this series. Nice to see some progress with Liam, and the murder mystery was rather clever in a great setting. The food and reading details were very enjoyable, I’d like to move there! I just wish Annie would stop banging on about her criminology training….we've all got it by book three. Also, there was little more on the Scarlet mystery, hopefully more will be revealed in the next book. This is a very pleasant series, and I look forward to the next book. Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for a chance to review this book.

Kindle Copy for Review from NetGalley and Storm Publishing.

I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review

Trying to help her friend who is having financial problems Annie decides to throw a spooky dinner party. An immersive dinner party turns deadly as the food is tampered with arsenic as she becomes prime suspect. The house is full of suspicious legends which might have a clue to the murder. It is one dinner party to die for in this mystery

I enjoyed this third installment in the new series. I really like the characters, especially Annie, and the relationships developing. I will say that since the first book, I’m disappointed not to have spent more time in the bookshop (I guess the series name made me think it would be more bookstore-focused), but the last 2 books have been located elsewhere in town.

This is the third book in the series following the investigative exploits of Annie Murray. The setting is a charming Agatha Christie inspired mystery bookstore in an out of the way small town in north California. Preparations are in hand for Halloween and Penny, the new owner of the Wentworth farm, is hosting a spooky immersive murder mystery themed party. The Halloween atmosphere is enhanced with a storm, thunder, lighting, a power cut and a real murder. Throw into the mix rumours of hidden treasure, secrets passages and a little romance and this story has all the ingredients for an intriguing plot.

The bookshop, the old houses, farms and central characters are nicely developed and the growing relationships between Annie and Liam and also Pri and Penny are a nice touch. The plot is well paced and the list of suspects quickly grows. The is an intriguing subplot in the series relating to the murder 10 years earlier of Annie’s best friend, Scarlet. Each book sees Annie make small advances in her investigations of what is now a cold case and an unexpected find hints of further intrigue to come. Overall an enjoyable cosy mystery, in a delightful setting with some good plot twists.

A stormy night and a murder! This story was full of fun twists and turns. I like how the character relationships are building. The ending was a nice twist. Looking forward to book 4!

Rounded up to 4.5 stars!

I think this one is the best one yet!! It was short and sweet and the perfect cozy mystery in my opinion. I loved the depiction of friendships in this one and the cool treasure hunter vibes. And Liam! *squeals* I cannot wait to see the path that Annie takes! I also hope we get to see Annie solve Scarlet’s case.