Death at the Dinner Party is the third book in the a secret bookcase mystery and it’s a fantastic book.

Annie Murray works in a bookstore along with Fletcher and Hal. She has kind of taken on the role of town event planner. Her friend Penny’s girlfriend recently bought an old farmhouse and the renovation costs are very high. To offset the costs, they are hosting a murder mystery dinner.

Well there is a real murder during the dinner party but a huge storm causes the power to go out and the police are unable to get to the house for a while. It is up to Annie to start the investigation with the help of her love interest, Liam.

I enjoy all of the characters in this series and how we are getting to know them. We are also getting a little bit more of Scarlet’s murder figured out in each book.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Storm Publishing, NetGalley, and author Ellie Alexander for another amazing book in the fantastic Secret Bookcase series. This one follows our intrepid sleuth Annie and her lovely friends right into one of my favorite types of mystery! Her friend Penny is struggling with money issues trying to renovate her new home—an old property that has had rumored treasures hidden on it from the original owners.
Annie decides the best solution is to hold a mystery dinner where guests will have to pay for the chance to win great prizes. However, when a greedy neighbor falls over dead at dinner (not the actor who was supposed to be the victim) things begin to take a dark turn. Even worse, a terrible storm moves in cutting off the power, and no one is allowed to leave until the police can reach them. So just which person at the dinner hated this neighbor so much they wanted to kill them in front of everyone?
This is only the beginning of the problems facing Annie and I admire her moxie at keeping a cool head. She really is the one you want looking out for you when you’re in trouble. If you love Agatha Christie or Janet Evanovich, this book is for you. Five stars all the way.

This is the 3rd in the Secret Bookcase Series. Annie Murray is helping her friend Pri and her friend Penny with a murder mystery at her new home the historic Wentworth property. Since Penny has purchased the property several months ago she has been doing her best to renovate and restore the home to its former glory. The Wentworth property is famous and shrouded in mystery as the family disappeared and there are rumors of hidden passages and treasure on the estate. Penny is trying to finish what she has started but it has been more costly than she anticipated and to generate some money to continue the restoration, Annie and Pri put together a plan for a murder mystery evening. Unfortunately two of the guests who are in attendance are Patrick, a property developer who is trying to purchase the property from Penny dirt cheap and her neighbor Curtis who is also wanting Penny to abandon her plans for the home. Curtis and Patrick are at odds as he wants his property as well so they devise a plan to keep them apart during the evening. So of course, it would not be one of Annie’s events if there wasn’t a real murder as opposed to a staged one. Curtis is the victim and it appears to be a fast acting poison and with the bad weather, emergency services and the police cannot get there immediately. Annie takes charge but not all the guests are willing to cooperate. Liam, Pri and Penny are all willing to help Annie in her investigation but when the power goes out and Patrick leaves Annie is hoping Dr. Caldwell and the police arrive soon. Once the police arrive, Annie gladly turns the investigation over to her mentor Dr. Caldwell but she of course wants Annie’s help with the investigation. Annie has a way of getting information from one of the actors that evening and Pri and Annie head out to Curtis’s house and Penny’s to investigate. Of course they solve the crime but not without getting almost killed. I really enjoy this series. The mystery moves quickly and Annie is so likeable as are all her friends. Her relationship with Liam is moving in the right direction. So excited for the next installment.

As cozy mysteries go this one is all right. I read the first two in the series before reading this so I would be more familiar with the setting and characters which I like. However, I feel like something is lacking and I can’t put my finger on it. I much prefer her Sloan Krause series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity. Review will be posted on Litsy.

I still really like the concept and varied locations for this series. However, I am not really warming to the characters as much as I would like. I'm sure it is because the Bakeshop and Sloan Krause series have me completely spoiled. Both are awesome and continue to keep me coming back for more. Sadly, I don't think this series will bring the same eager anticipation for each new book but I will continue to read them.

The perfect blend of Agatha Christie and the cult-classic 'Clue' movie.

An atmospheric delight that brings us back into the fold of Annie Murray and crew, this time as her friends Pri and Penny host a murder-mystery dinner at a rambling old farmhouse.

As always, Ellie Alexander hits it out of the park with her newest addition to the Secret Bookcase mystery series. As is a hallmark of her books, the food descriptions are mouth-watering and the mystery won't let you go until the last page (especially with the overarching one of the series).

It must be noted that the development of Pri and Penny's relationship is so natural and organic that you will be wishing that all authors could write such well-rounded LGBTQ+ characters who aren't relegated to background decoration.

Although I absolutely adore The Secret Bookcase Store, the first half of the book away from it allowed for Annie to have time to truly reflect on how she wants to move forward in her own life.

This reader for one can't wait until the fourth book in the series is released.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read this book for free in exchange for my honest review.

Annie again gets to use her considerable and various talents, this time making up a story for a murder mystery dinner to help fundraise.
Great descriptions of a creepy house amid a raging storm lend to the atmosphere of the staged murder turning real. A harrowing climax kept me on the edge of my seat.
I have some questions regarding certain characters that intensify with each book, so I'm curious to see how the author addresses those particular plot points in the future books.
Just a random side note- I want the apple bread recipe!

Thank you to Ellie Alexander and NetGalley for the ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.
Death at the Dinner Party is a cozy mystery very reminiscent of the game Clue. I enjoyed trying to play detective along with Annie. This story makes you channel your best Sherlock Holmes. If you enjoy mysteries I recommend you give this one a try.

30 Sep 2024

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of DEATH AT THE DINNER PARTY (Book 3 of the Secret Bookcase Mysteries series) by Ellie Alexander in exchange for an honest review. Pri and Penny approach Annie with a problem. Their funds for renovating/restoring Wentworth Manor and Farm have run dry. Two men have made low-ball offers to buy the farm acreage, and they are pressuring Penny to sell. Penny doesn’t want to sell the farm; she wants to revive and run the vineyard. Annie’s solution is to host a costumed murder mystery dinner the weekend before Halloween and to hire the Redwood Curtain Players to perform a loose script written by Annie. However, the event goes amiss when the wrong person drops dead during dinner. Instead of an actor feigning dead, Curtis Wright (retired, mid-seventies, Penny’s neighbor, one of the men attempting to buy Wentworth Farm, and generally unpleasant person) really dies from poisoning. Now, Penny’s a person of interest. In order to save the fundraiser and her friend Penny, Annie must deviate from her script and identify a real killer.

I liked this book and am a fan of Ellie Alexander’s other series. I recommend this book to fans of cozy murder mysteries featuring fundraisers, murder mystery theater, small town intrigue, and Clue-type set-ups.

#DeathattheDinnerParty #NetGalley

Imagine helping to host a fund raisier murder mystery dinner party for 50 guests for the unthinkable to happen…a real murder!
Not only is there the dead body of crotchety old man Curtis that most of the town folk disliked, Annie, Pri and Penny had 50 suspects!
A good setting, great characters and a mysterious fortune make this charming crafted story entertaining and fun. Thank you Netgalley and Storm Publishing for an early copy. This review is my personal opinion.

Another really enjoyable read in Ellie Alexander's Secret Bookcase Mystery series set in Redwood Grove, California! This third instalment centers around a murder mystery themed dinner where one of the guests is unalived by poisoning during the entrée!

I really enjoyed the twists and turns, the cozy small town and getting to know it's lovable characters more. I'm excited to see where this series goes next!

Another really enjoyable book from Ellie Alexander! I love the main character Annie, all of her friends, and the setting on Redwood Grove, Ca.

The action in the third book in the series occurs at a murder mystery dinner which occurs during a "dark and stormy night". Annie has scripted and organized the dinner as fund-raiser for Pri's new friend Penny at an old farmhouse which has a possible dark history and rumor of hidden treasure. However, it is a guest, not an actor who is really murdered. Penny works with her mentor at the police to help find the culprit.

There are enough scenes back at the bookstore with her boss Hal and her friend Fletcher to keep with the title of the series. And a bit more hint of
romance for Annie and Liam (who caters the dinner party). Some allusions to Nancy Drew with hidden passages, inheritance, and personal danger.

Each book in "Secret Bookcase Mystery" series also advances Annie's thoughts about the past and plans for the future, as well as her cold-case
investigation into the murder of her bet friend Scarlet.

This book is more like a cosy mystery than the thrillers I usually read, but was ideal to read in the car while my grandson was at a party. A light read for me with just a touch of romance. I did wonder how the murder was committed in a room full of people but method, motive etc was covered throughout the plot. Secret tunnels, hidden treasure, lucky escapes..... it was a fun read.

This was a great installment in this cozy mystery series! I would definitely recommend reading in order because there is a cold case introduced in book one that continues through the books. I can’t wait for the next book in the series!

Annie Murray, has organised two highly successful recent events in the small town of Redwood Grove, but this time her skills are being used for a much more intimate event. Her best friend, Pri's girlfriend, Penny, is renovating the Wentworth farmhouse, empty since the 1970s, which is forever linked to a mysterious fire and subsequent disappearance of the Wentworth family and their fabled fortune. Penny's money is running out however, and so, as Halloween draws ever closer, Annie is holding a murder mystery dinner party to raise much needed funds.

Everything is going fine until a massive storm hits, all the power drops out, and a guest dies at the table! Trapped by the storm and fallen trees the guests are none too pleased to find their evening out turning into a murder investigation. Annie and Pri look for clues but with more than a few guests having reason to hate the victim and a vital piece of evidence disappearing they realise no one is safe from their audacious and devious killer, especially them!

Book three in this ever improving series focuses mainly on Annie's life outside the Secret Bookcase Bookstore with her latest venture completely separate from her working life. The whole book was a fun ride with red herrings and actual clues vying for positions of importance. Changes in Annie's personal life were mention but not focused on although that will change in book four, I think. The main protagonists are all nicely fleshed out now and the friendships and burgeoning romances are a pleasant distraction from clue hunting.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Storm Publishing, but the opinions expressed are my own. I am enjoying this series very much and happily recommend it.

As much as I love Ellie Alexander's writing, the ending felt a bit rushed. I wanted to know more about the history and the possible hidden rooms. I also wanted more of a backstory on the new characters.
Even though this one was a miss, I am eagerly awaiting the next one.

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

Annie Murray and her best friend, Pri Kapoor, are busy getting ready for a mystery dinner event they are planning for Pri's girlfriend, Penny, to raise money to continue renovating her historic home. The events Annie plans always seem to be planned to the tiniest detail so that nothing goes wrong, but fate always intervenes to take the event from perfect to tragic, and this dinner party is no exception when one of the guests is murdered. Why was this person murdered? Does it have anything to do with the missing fortune of the Wentworth family who owned the house that Penny lives in and many other properties in Redwood Grove before disappearing in the 1800s? Can Annie figure out what happened so that her former teacher and now Redwood Grove police chief, Dr. Caldwell, can make an arrest? Will Annie and Liam address the obvious tension between them? Read this terrific cozy mystery to find out the answers to all these questions. This was another really entertaining, well written book in the Secret Bookcase Mystery series by Ellie Alexander. I'm already looking forward to reading what happens next for everyone in Redwood Grove.

* I received an advanced reader copy from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. I love anything that Ellie Alexander writes. They are just such wholesome,fun light mysteries set against picturesque towns with quirky and nuanced characters.

This series is really hooking me - the stakes feel a little higher, the predicaments a little more panicky and the romance that is blossoming is just sooo satisfying.

(Ellie Alexander - break the mold and write a romance novel, please!)

This book was a closed room mystery which is always fun - I kind of wish the entire book was while they were stuck there, but that might no longer be cozy.

All in all really excited to keep reading these!

The premise of this book was promising with the idea of a murder mystery dinner turning sideways and actually becoming a murder mystery. The cozy fall vibes were optimal and the mystery was heightened by the weather and eeriness of its original setting. However, this book ended up disappointing me. I came into this book expecting it to be a one-room concept where everything takes place within the Wentworth home. When it left the building is when I think the story really lost me.

The first half of the book was fine, your standard cozy mystery formula. A good introduction to the characters and a good plot set up. There were a lot of moments at the start that made you want to learn more about the character dynamics and why some actions were motivated.

I think, after the setting left the mansion, it started becoming more description heavy and less character action. There were a lot of explaining of things that I felt didn’t add to the story, nor make build up the cozy atmosphere (i.e. explaining what an ARC is). I semi DNF’d it around the 160page mark and just skimmed to find out what happened because I felt like I was reading so much useless description.

There were also a lot of moments that I felt were awkward, unreasonable, and at times inappropriate. I am by no means against romance subplots in mysteries, but there’s a time and place. For example, the moment between Liam and Annie after freeing Ophelia just felt weird… like someone JUST got murdered and y’all might kiss? Also, I didn’t realize this was a series so the overarching Scarlet subplot that I guess is strung throughout the series felt oddly placed and a bit forced into the story.

Overall, I wanted to like this book but just felt it would have been better as a one-room/building mystery. I do give props to the author for their talent to set the scene for optimal cozy fall vibes, that was very apparent throughout the book. I do appreciate the opportunity to have read it and am thankful to the publisher for sending me a copy.

Cosy murder with our Annie, of Bookseller fame, currently organising a murder mystery dinner party at the infamous Wentworth farmhouse recently bought by one of her friends. The party is to try to raise funds to renovate the old property. Two people are determined to buy the farm and one drops dead over the soup, not quite the 'murder' planned for the event. Plenty of twists and turns, Secret passages, evil doings, everything you can imagine. A fund, light read and back to being a bit too twee again, at times. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy