I'm enjoying this series. I love the characters and the setting. How I'd like to find my own small town like this. The mystery kept me guessing.
I hope for more.

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

What a FUN idea and book! Annie is an incredible detective and her knowledge of criminology is super helpful as she solves twisty murders. I loved the way Alexander wove in the history of the Wentworth house into the story, and the idea of a treasure hunt + a murder + a dinner party was just so much fun to read! I really enjoyed this mystery!

I found Death at the Dinner Party by Ellie Alexander really hard to get into, the characters didn't engage me at all. The premise was a good on, who doesn't like a Murder Mystery Dinner with a real corpse, but I just didn't care who done it?

Death at the Dinner Party by Ellie Alexander is a murder mystery with the catch being the murder happened at a murder mystery dinner party. The actual victim was a man no one had any use for; he had even started trouble that evening. Narrowing down the suspects was going to be a problem. Then the electricity went out. They had thought that the stormy night added to the ambiance of the evening, but electricity was going too far. Annie Murray, student of criminology, was there to try to do things properly until the police arrived. That was postponed slightly until they cleared some downed trees. The evening was a fund raiser for the Huntington property which Penny, Pri’s significant other, had bought with an eye to refurbishing. Sadly, she had run out of money before it was all finished, although the house was in pretty good shape. As Dr. Caldwell had taught Annie, she followed procedure as much as she was able. She made notes and started a timeline. Liam Donovan, chef, who had been her nemesis until recently was there to help her and keep her steady.

This is a fun series. Annie works in a bookshop, the like you have never seen: it was in a old house and based on Agatha Christie’s home. Soon she would have to decide whether to remain at the bookstore, go to work with Dr. Caldwell and the police, or start her own private investigation service. She did’t know where her life was going, but that didn’t stop her from doing what she could, wherever she was. She is a terrific character. Her best friend, Priya Kapoor is a barista and baker. She loves making desserts. She was beyond worried that Penny would be accused. In fact, she was in a panic about it so that became another of Annie’s worries: keeping Pri calm. It was a relatively short book but Alexander packed a lot into it. It had all the requisite cozy mystery components, including a crazy person. It was a thoroughly enjoyable mystery.

I was invited to read Death at the Dinner Party by Storm Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #StormPublishing#EllieAlexander #DeathAtTheDinnerParty

The third book in this series and I have read them all. I am growing to really like all the main characters.

Annie works at a bookshop which has a Sherlock Holmes theme and sells mostly mysteries and crime books. She is also an amateur sleuth and spends a lot of time searching for the person who killed her close friend. She has an agreeable relationship with the local police which is refreshing for this genre.

At a Halloween dinner party a guest dies from poisoning and issues raised by this lead to a search for lost treasure, secret tunnels, explosions and many possible culprits. It is a fun book which also features a developing relationship between Annie and Liam. Recommended. 4 stars.

After reading, and immensely enjoying, the first 2 books in this series. I was excited to read this book.This time, the mystery is set in a historic mansion, with rumors of secret passageways and hidden treasure. It's wonderful to spend time in another place in town, though I do love the bookstore. Well developed characters with strong relationships and a loathsome victim make this book a joy to read. Although this is book 3, it can be read as a standalone without any confusion. I highly recommend this book, and series.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

ARC Review
Death at the Dinner Party by Ellie Alexander
5/5 ⭐

Thank you to NetGalley @netgalley, Ellie Alexander @ellie_alexander , and Storm Publishing @stormbooks_co for this e-book in exchange for an honest review.

The weather played nice for this murder mystery dinner. You couldn't beat having a dark and stormy night to up the scare factor, that is until a guest turns up dead. This clue style cozy mystery will have you devouring this book in one sitting to find out whodunnit. The descriptions in the book are so lush and pull you right in. This setting does take place in October and around Halloween time so it is perfect to add to your October TBR.

I really enjoyed the realistic scenarios in the story. Like what happens when an amateur sleuth tries to solve a murder but gets trapped. That's more realistic and more likely to happen and I can appreciate the realness of it. The twists and turns really kept me guessing who the murderer was.

I also enjoy the budding romance and relationships in the storyline. It adds to the story in a positive but not overbearing way. So if you're looking for a good cozy mystery this Fall this is the one to read.

#netgalley #netgalleyreview #elliealexander #deathatthedinnerparty #cozymystery

The Plot
Annie helps to organise a murder mystery dinner party for her friend, Penny, to help her raise some much needed funds. What starts off as a fun evening quickly sours when tensions between the guests overspill and a real murder occurs. Annie begins to investigate, and the secrets of the town and its inhabitants soon come to light.
My Review
The backdrop to this novel with it’s Hallowe’en theme and small town vibes was like a pumpkin spiced latte, warm, sweet, and autumn in a mug or, in this case, a book. I loved the setting of a dinner party at an old manor house, which was very spooky and atmospheric, especially with the weather and all of the theatrical goings on.
I did guess who was going to be murdered and the identity of the murderer early on in the novel. However, the introduction of other suspects and the lives of the main characters kept me reading. The subplot in the novel took me out of the main story for a few pages, but the novel soon got going again, and I thought the ending was very imaginative.

Death at the Dinner Party is Ellie Alexander's third release in her Annie Murray-Secret Bookcase series.
Annie is a former criminology student, deeply affected by the murder of her best friend in college. She and Scarlet were working on a team project investigating the cold case murder of a young woman, Natalie Thompson. Scarlet apparently had a source, and felt close to cracking the case, yet insisted she meet him/ her alone. Now Annie appears to be at a crossroad- deciding the future direction of her life. Following Scarlet's murder Annie started a job that she has loved for several years at the Secret Bookcase, an Agatha Christie inspired store, owned by her mentor and friend Hal. Hal is nearing retirement, and would like to see Annie and her friend and coworker Fletcher Hughes continue to run the business. Dr. Caldwell, Annie's former college professor and current police chief of Redwood Grove, has offered Annie a position with the police department. She also thinks perhaps she would like to own her own private detective agency, a dream she and Scarlet shared.
As the title indicates Annie is helping her friend Pri and her new romantic partner Penny host a dinner party to raise funds so that Penny can continue renovating the Wentworth Farm, a local landmark, As you may have already deduced a murder takes place at the event, and their are multiple suspects. I enjoy this cozy series, however I would like to see Ms. Alexander kick it up a bit. Each book is similar to the previous: Scarlet's unsolved murder, Annie's tenuous relationship with Liam Donovan, a local pub owner, and the course she wants to follow in her life. The plots are well developed; although occasionally predictable, the cast of characters likable; Death at the Dinner Party is a satisfying and entertaining read. Thanks to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and the author for the opportunity to read an ARC; my review reflects my honest opinion. 3.5 stars.

I can’t believe Alexander (an author I adore) can be so prolific! Four books in this new series, all out in 2024. This time around she leans in even more to the Agatha Christie-ness, a murder at an already spooky themed dinner party. It’s the perfect setting & has tons of atmosphere.

It’s also a bonus that the heroine Annie, has a criminology background. So while she is an amateur sleuth, she has a lot of useful skills to go along. This book & the whole series is a love letter to classic, golden age mysteries. The next book is set at Christmas & I’m very much looking forward to it.

In homage to Clue, this Secret Bookcase mystery has a dark and stormy night and a dinner party at a restored historic home. Annie and her friend Pri plan a fundraising dinner to help Penny raise money to continue restoration of the Wentworth home and property.
The descriptions throughout are decadent.
The murder victim is unlikable. Suspects abound, but the true criminal may not be high on your radar.
I enjoyed spending more time with Annie and friends. There is such a sense of community built for this small town, Redwood Grove.
You need to read this series.
Thanks to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.

The restoration of the Wentworth farmhouse by their friend Penny, and its looming costs, inspired Annie Murray to organise a murder mystery fundraiser, with delicious "themed" food and entertainment, raffles and giveaways. All was going well - the first course of delectable nibbles had been eaten, soup was to follow, all with plenty of wine - when one of the guests dropped dead from his chair, gasping with his last breath - "poison"...

Annie ran The Secret Bookcase which had been in the small town for decades, and while her true calling was solving crimes, she adored the bookshop. But now, her sleuthing hat came on and while the police were on their way, Annie kept the remaining guests happy, and worked out a timeline for the night's murder. But would she solve the crime, clearing her friend Penny's name? Or was danger moving closer?

Death at the Dinner Party is the 3rd in A Secret Bookcase Mystery by Ellie Alexander and it sounded like lots of fun. But while I mostly enjoyed it, there was a little too much waffling on, which took away from the actual plot. I'll try #4 soon :)

With thanks to NetGalley & Storm Publishing for my digital ARC to read and review.

It’s fall, and Halloween is quickly approaching in the town of Redwood Grove, California. Bookseller Annie Murray is busy designing and coordinating a ticketed, immersive murder mystery dinner party to help her friend Penny. Penny has been carefully renovating and restoring the historic Wentworth farmhouse she recently purchased. This project, though, doesn’t come cheap, and Annie hopes this dinner party will raise money to assist Penny’s restoration. The Wentworth farmhouse, empty since 1970, is considered a local landmark in Redwood Grove, and rumors still swirl about the family and the possibility of a hidden fortune on the property.

As the house fills with the delicious smells of dinner and a storm rages outside, the guests and murder mystery actors are ready. Unfortunately Curtis Wright, a neighbor and all around unpleasant town bully, is in attendance, and it seems that everyone at the dinner has reason to hate him. It’s still surprising and horrifying, though, when Curtis drops dead at the dining table only moments into the soup course. And it’s clear that his death is not from natural causes.

Due to the storm, police are slow to get to the farmhouse, and Annie’s in charge. What follows is a sort of locked room mystery, similar to the wonderful movie Clue. Even when the police finally arrive and everyone is sent home with instructions not to leave town, Annie doesn’t stop investigating. And the tension and twists just keep coming. I was tapping away so fast on my kindle that I had to remind myself to slow down, to see if I could catch the killer with Annie. The final scene had me holding my breath.

While the murder mystery in book three wraps up, the continuing storyline of the murder of Annie’s dear college friend continues. I’d also add there’s more buildup to a possible romance for Annie, and I’m here for it.

If you enjoy reading seasonally, this is the perfect fall read with wonderful details of life in Redwood Grove and the Secret Bookcase Shop decorated for Halloween, as well as a clever mystery with the hint of lost treasure. I’d love to visit Annie and the town of Redwood Grove in real life, but since I can’t, I’ll stick with the pages of a book. And readers don’t have to wait long for book four – A Holiday Homicide, due out on November 20, 2024.

An excellent third outing in this series!

This time round Annie Murray is organising a murder mystery themed dinner party at the home of Penny, recent newcomer to Redwood Grove. Penny has taken on the restoration of the Wentworth farmhouse which has lain empty for some decades and is the perfect setting for a spooky evening and it's all going really, really well - until, that is, Curtis Wright drops dead at the table. When attention turns to suspecting Penny, Annie knows that she needs to step up and find the real murderer . . .

When I got this book, I loved the thought of it so much that I read books 1 and 2 before opening this one, and I'm glad I did. Although you can read them all as stand-alones, I do love a good series and this is an excellent one. By this third novel, I feel as if I know the regular characters well and there are plenty of additions to make this a real mystery. Did I work it out? Well, with my usual habit of suspecting everyone in the book, I always get there in the end! A few red herrings along the way kept me glued to the very end. If you enjoy a good murder mystery, then this is a series I definitely recommend. For me, 5*.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.

Death at the Dinner Party is the 3rd book in The Secret Bookcase Mystery series by Ellie Alexander. This is a very enjoyable and unique cozy mystery book and series! Annie Murray works at the Secret Bookcase Bookstore along with her boss Hal and coworker Fletcher. Annie's best friend Pri owns the.local coffee shop and Pri's girlfriend Penny is restoring Wentworth House. Penny is running out of money for repairs so they decide to organize a murder mystery dinner event. Some of the local theater troupe are helping with the performance. Several of the guests don't get along and neighbor Curtis is unlikable. One of the guests ends up dead and some secrets are uncovered including rumors of a Wentworth missing fortune. Annie likes Liam Donovan who owns the pub in town. There isn't as much fun banter between them but there is chemistry and potential romance. Annie and Pri take some questionable chances while sleuthing but that gives the book a little excitement. The thing that makes this series so unique is Annie has a Criminology background and the.lead detective, Dr Caldwell was her former professor. This makes the.exchange.of information smooth and interesting. Annie likes working at The Secret Bookcase. Her boss Hal is hinting about retiring. Annie and her deceased friend Scarlett talked about opening a Private Investigation Agency and Annie is thinking about it. Dr Caldwell asked Annie to join her department and become a police officer/detective. Hopefully Annie will make a decision soon. On top of that she is investigating her friend Scarlet's murder. Stay tuned for more exciting tales of Annie and The Secret Bookcase! This book was very enjoyable and it was hard to put down! #MurderAtTheDinnerParty #TheSecretBookcaseMystery #NetGalley #StormPublishing. #EllieAlexander

#WeAreBookish

Quick weekend read by the fire! I always love coming back to a series I've been reading to see what's happening in the lives of the town. This was no different. I'm slightly disappointed that we haven't gotten further on Scarlett's death, but I'm hoping that more is coming on that in the next book.

Annie is helping her friend Penny to host a murder mystery dinner and the last thing anyone guessed was that someone would actually be murdered. Annie works through the clues like always and figures it out almost too late. Things are moving very slowly between Annie and Liam, not sure if it's a good thing or a bad thing. I hope we find out when we get the next book!

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.

Death at the Dinner Party is book #3 in the Secret Bookcase Mystery series by Ellie Alexander.

Annie Murray is hosting a murder mystery themed party to help a friend when things go awry and someone dies. Annie’s friend is a suspect and she steps in to help clear her name. The suspect was not well liked so there are plenty of suspects. I like that Annie has a background that makes sense for her to be able to investigate. I enjoyed this book and the whole series.

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.

The third in the Secret Bookcase Mystery series that I have had the pleasure of reading. Another absolute cracker of a book that kept me entertained from first page to last page. Combining drama and suspense wrapped up in the challenge of making a bookshop viable. Looking forward to book four in the series. Thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the chance to ARC this book.

I really enjoyed the previous two mysteries and was so excited to see that this one involved the Wentworth family mystery that is talked about in the previous books. I also really liked that Penny is finding she bit off more than she could chew with the renovatation which lines up with pretty much everyone I know who has done any kind of big renovation. I really enjoy spending time with Annie and the rest of Redwood Grove. The mix of bookish and foodie characters is nice and provides a good mix of personalities. As before, The Secret Bookshelf is on my top five fictional places that I wish were real and I love the relationships between Annie, Fletcher, and the owner whose last name just happens to be Christie.

What kept this one from being a favorite is that it felt a bit unbalanced. Over 40% of the book takes place in the dining room after the murder happens and while Annie is in charge there really isn't any investigating. I also found a few things that happened a bit questionable - especially the moving the body. As well, Annie's continual referencing to her training got a bit old.

While this wasn't my favorite of the series so far it was a fun read. This series has everything a good cozy is supposed to have - good characters, a memorable community, and an entertaining mystery. I'm looking forward to reading the next book.

I just finished reading "Death at the Dinner Party." Annie Murray, Priya Kapoor, Penny Shurr, and Liam Donovan are back in an interesting story developing in Redwood Grove. They all participate in some way in solving the murder of a resident. The book is well-written and full of twists and some funny dialogue. I recommend it.