Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Ellie Alexander has perfected the cozy mystery. This is book 3 in her A Secret Bookcase series but can be read as a stand alone (some spoilers to previous books if reading out of order).

A murder mystery dinner party with hired actors to put on the show, but a guest dies before the mystery was supposed to begin. I was hooked from the dinner party, went sideways with the red herrings, and didn't guess who did it until the end!

Fans of cozy mysteries this one is for you.

This is the 3rd book in the Secret Bookcase series. I wasn't so sure about the first book, but each book in this series has gotten better and better! I read this cover to cover in one sitting. In this book Annie, Pri, and Penny host a murder mystery party where of course there ends up being a real murder. With plenty of suspects as usual, the author had me guessing until the end. I am thoroughly enjoying this series and I'm very excited that book 4 is being released later this month!

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The fund raising dinner at the historic farmhouse has barely started when one of the guests collapses. Curtis isn't one of the actors hired for that night's murder mystery, he's actually dead, and quite a few of his fellow attendees have reason to want him gone. I'm practically giddy about this new-to-me mystery series (I jumped in with the third book, which I don't recommend since I'm obviously missing some important back story -- I'll catch up on the first two titles as soon as I can.) It's atmospheric, the event is one that the characters are actually invested in, the protagonist is a trained crimonologist who knows what she's doing... and parts of it read like my favorite bits of the Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden books I loved as a kid. It's fun and fast paced and I read the whole thing in one delighted sitting.

Death at the Dinner Party (A Secret Bookcase Mystery #3) is a really good read. I really enjoyed this book. It is a bit all over the place in a good way. It keeps you guessing, and not sure what is going to happen or who done it. I really good read that is worth adding to your TBR IMO if you enjoy murder mysteries.

“Death at the Dinner Party” is the nicely done third book in Ellie Alexander’s Secret Bookcase cozy mystery series. I very quickly fell in love with this series – not only the bookstore setting but main character Annie Murray who studied criminology in college but is still haunted by the murder of her friend Scarlett, her growing relationship with restauranter Liam, her boss who thinks he is Agatha Christie’s long lost grandson, her friendship with Pri, and Pri’s girlfriend Penny. Annie’s being torn between her love for working at the bookstore and love for solving mysteries is well done (although I do hope the mystery of Scarlett’s murder is solved soon as it is starting to drag on a bit). Much of the action in this book takes place away from the bookstore as Annie tries to solve the mystery of a murder that took place at Penny’s house with Penny being one of the main suspects. The mystery is well done (the murder takes place at a dinner party with dinner goers trapped during a storm) with just the right amount of suspects and tension when the killer is finally revealed. Well done by Alexander!

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.

This is the third recent release in this fabulous new series "The Secret Bookcase Mystery Series". The author is a favorite of cozy lovers and has released now the first three in the series right away for readers. This is another wonderful series with great characters and a fun sleuth. Thank you to the publisher,, Net Galley and the author for the opportunity for review. The characters are richly drawn to the series, the sleuth well crafted and the supporting characters all add to the fun of this series.

Our protagnist Annie is helping with a murder mystery dinner to help raise funds for the restoration of a famous farmhouse. The family is the Wentworth's and are local legends. They are long rumored to have a missing fortune. When a guest drops dead during the dinner Annie puts on her slething hat and once again finds red herrings and clues abound. The guests are all snowbound in the mysterious farmhouse and Annie finds herself at the center of the investigation.

I loved the atmospheric setting in the snow. The sleuth was so well crafted I did not discover the suspect. The characters all richly drawn to the setting and added to the mystery. This was such a fun read and designed to entertain the reader to the utmost of a country house murder. Well done to the author. i loved this next in series.

Much like all of Ellie Alexander’s series, I LOVE this series! This installment was no exception. The mystery was fun, the characters are great, and the plot was well paced. I can’t wait for the next one!!

Death at the Dinner Party is a deliciously suspenseful addition to this cozy series, and I couldn’t put it down! I LOVE this new series from Ellie Alexander. She's quickly becoming one of my fav cozy mystery writers. This series is so fun and I can't wait for the next one.

Another great installment in a series where the town goes all out for every event. Lots of fun and twists and turns in the mystery. I am hoping there will be more in the series,

Another fabulous murder mystery to add to this entertaining series. Fast paced read. I didn’t foresee the murderer ahead of time. I loved the romance factor. The setting was fantastic. This small town continues to charm and thrill.

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This is the third book in this series & it was yet another fun ready. This time, Annie is helping with a murder mystery dinner to help raise funds for the restoration of the Wentworth farmhouse, owned by her best friend's girlfriend & full of legends & lore about the missing Wentworth fortune. All is is going well until one of the guests drops dead, and all signs point to murder. Annie & her friends find themselves investigating while waiting on the police to arrive during a snowstorm.

This has all the classic trappings of a country house murder. Annie & the other characters are becoming more developed. The story is engaging, the mystery is fun, & I am enjoying the setting. It is a delightful cozy read. I recommend the whole series, which begins with The Body in the Bookstore.

Thanks to Netgalley & Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read & review this title.

I think I enjoyed this one more because I am starting to warm to Annie. She was less rigid in this one and was more likeable. The setting was interesting, too, and more sense to me than the movie premiere. Still not a fan of Fletcher or Dr. Caldwell but hoping they’ll eventually grow on me, too. The mystery in this one was interesting and I do like the developments with Liam and the cold case so I will continue with the series.

An absolutely stunning, creepy setting perfect for the fall and winter! I love the isolation that the characters experience as they're trapped in this estate together after one of them is murdered. This series is SO good! I highly recommend it.


I plan to review this on my YouTube channel at the end of the month in my reading wrap up video,.

Ellie Alexander’s Death at the Dinner Party is a delightful blend of cozy mystery and small-town charm that keeps readers on their toes from start to finish. The novel follows Annie Murray, a spirited and clever hostess who, after planning a murder mystery-themed dinner party, finds herself at the center of a real-life murder investigation when the abrasive Curtis Wright drops dead at her table. The premise is fun and engaging, drawing readers into a world of secrets, hidden fortunes, and dark passageways as Annie sets out to clear her friend Penny’s name.

The historical Wentworth farmhouse serves as the perfect eerie backdrop, with rumors of a hidden fortune and a mysterious family history adding layers of intrigue to the story. Annie's investigation uncovers a tangled web of old family secrets and shady business deals, which keeps the plot moving at a brisk pace. The cast of characters, each with their own motives for disliking Curtis, creates plenty of red herrings, making it hard to predict the killer until the very end. Annie is a relatable and determined protagonist, and her efforts to piece together the mystery make for a compelling read.

While the book delivers plenty of suspense and twists, some of the reveals toward the end feel a bit rushed, and the buildup to the climax could have benefited from a bit more depth. However, the charming setting, witty dialogue, and fast-paced narrative more than make up for it, making Death at the Dinner Party a thoroughly enjoyable cozy mystery. Fans of authors like Lauren Elliott and Janet Evanovich will appreciate this latest installment in The Secret Bookcase series, packed with small-town intrigue and delicious drama.

Death at the Dinner Party is the third installment in the Secret Bookcase Mystery Series by Ellie Alexander. I do enjoy a cozy mystery and especially one written by Alexander This story takes place at a “mystery murder” dinner fundraiser. Unfortunately, the murder is all too real. I have now read all three of the installments. I enjoy the series and feel like I am getting very familiar with the characters. Although the books reference things in the past, each book is a stand-alone. I’m looking forward to see how different relationships progress over the series. If you are looking for a fun cozy mystery, be sure to pick this one up. Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC.

Ellie Alexander writes the best cozy mysteries—great bookish settings, lovable characters, and fun mysteries to solve.

This series has been excellent. I love the bookstore and I love the fun bookish events the main character Annie hosts, including a murder mystery dinner in this particular case. And Liam is a yummy book boyfriend. I like the continuous thread of Annie’s best friend Scarlett’s death investigation and wondering what happened, and I’m eager to see how that unfolds. I also like that Annie shows growth as a character.

I just wish the town and the bookstore were real so I could visit!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for this copy. I received this book in exchange for my honest review. My thoughts are entirely my own.

Annie is helping host a murder mystery part with her best friend Pri and her girlfriend Penny. At the dinner party a man is poisoned and dies. Annie uses her criminology background is assess the scene and gave as much information and evidence as she can. Annie diggs deeper into the case and learns that the mysterious Wentworth fortune is involved. One of the women at the mystery party is actually a Wentworth and wants her family inheritance back. Luckily she is apprehended but not before trying to set Annie and Pri on fire after they go searching for the Wentworth fortune.

Annie organises a murder mystery dinner to raise funds for the continued renovation of Penny's farmhouse, which has an infamous past. The small-town community is involved, and all is going well until the weather breaks, the power fails, and someone dies. I like the regular cast of characters in the cosy mystery. Their friendship dynamic is believable, and the sense of a community working together is relatable. Annie finds she has another murder to solve, and there are many suspects. The investigation is easy to follow, and there are clues and false leads. The setting is spooky intensified because of the stormy weather and the farm's history. The intensity and sense of danger increase as the story progresses. I like the characterisation, the closed room mystery and the echoes of the past that create a spooky ethos.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Death at a Dinner Party by Ellie Alexander is the third book in the Secret Bookcase Mystery series. Annie Murray has agreed to organize a dinner party for her friend, Penny, The goal of the event is to help Penny make some money to be able to afford to continue to renovate the Wentworth Farmhouse she bought a few months ago. However, this is not just any ordinary dinner party. It is a murder mystery party. Annie hires the local theater troupe to perform at the dinner, and to stage a fake murder. Unfortunately, before the fake murder can happen, one of the dinner guests does actually die! The authorities are notified, but since there is a terrible storm raging outside, it takes them awhile to arrive. Annie must remain calm, and given her criminology background, she must do her best to make sure everyone stays put, and that the proper protocol is followed.

I loved this book! It was awesome to see Annie take charge of the situation and to try and figure out who the killer was. I also loved the ongoing friendship between her and Liam and look forward to watching their friendship hopefully turn into something more in the books to come!

Many thanks to #NetGalley and #StormPublishing for the opportunity to read and review the eARC of #DeathAtTheDinnerParty

Death at the Dinner Party is the third book in A Secret Bookcase Mystery and a wonderful addition to the series.

The main character, Annie Murray, has a lot going on yet handles it all with such ease. She works at a bookstore called The Secret Bookcase, but in addition to the day-to-day job, she is also an event planner who has been very successful with her book-themed gatherings. In this story, she creates a mystery dinner theater as a fundraiser to help her friend, Penny, raise the cash to continue the restoration of her new home, the old Wentworth Manor. But before anyone could solve the staged murder, a real murderer changed the plans! But no worries, because Annie was on the case immediately! Annie didn't even hesitate in doing what was necessary and took charge to make sure the proper protocol was met, and that the audience stayed as calm and safe as possible while waiting for the authorities to arrive.

I have thoroughly enjoyed every story in this series so far, and this one was no exception! The dinner theater was a fun and creative setting for this book and the characters are written so well that I feel like they could be friends of mine. I love the relationship building between Annie and Liam as well as the new romance between Annie's BFF, Pri, and the new lady in her life, Penny. I do hope that we see more of the characters of Hal and Fletcher, as well as the bookstore, in future installments. I can't wait to see what they will all be up to in the next book!

Many thanks to #NetGalley and #StormPublishing for the opportunity to read and review the eARC of #DeathAtTheDinnerParty.