This is #4 in the Cambridge Bookshop series. It's Christmas in Cambridge and Molly is happy to see that the toy store appears to be reopening. She meets Charlotte, whose recently deceased Grandfather had owned the shop for many years. Charlotte is his only heir and she plans to honor her Grandfather's memory by reopening the shop. Charlotte has some complications to deal with resulting from Grandfather's late marriage to Althea, a greedy woman who is contesting the will and looking for a valuable antique doll she suspects is hidden in the toy store. When Althea's grandson, Barnaby is found semi-conscious from poison in the shop, Charlotte becomes a suspect. Barnaby's friend, Reese isn't so lucky. He too is poisoned and dies. Molly steps in to help identify the killer and suspicion falls on Althea and her greedy family. The family part of the plot was it's weakest and confusing point. I like the search for clues leading to the location of the doll. Molly's romance with Kieran is progressing and there's another romantic duo too.

This was the first book I've read in this series and it won't be my last! This book is set in England during the Christmas season. Charlotte Pemberly inherits a toy store from her grandfather which his new wife and family highly resent. The will is ironclad but there is a valuable antique doll that the family are determined to find. When Charlotte is accused of poisoning one of her new relatives. Molly is determined to clear her new friends name. This was a great cozy with a very twisty plot, red herrings galore. and plenty of suspense and intrigue that kept me on the edge of my seat until the last page! I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the next book in this delightful series.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion or my review itself.

It’s Christmas time in Cambridge, and Molly is thrilled to decorate the bookstore she now co owns. But after meeting Charlotte, who is passionate about bringing her grandfather’s toy store back to life, strange things start to happen. There is a poisoning, and a search for a highly valuable Madame Alexander doll. To help solve the case, Molly joins the cast of Madrigals and Mayhem.

I love the setting of this. Cambridge really comes alive, as do the stores depicted. The characters have big personalities that really work within this story, and their storylines are compelling. The various mysteries are good too. If you enjoy a nice holiday cozy, this one just might be for you.

This was my first book by Elizabeth Penney but it will not be my last! I knew this was book 4 of the Cambridge Bookshop series but it really appealed to me when I saw it. Now that I've read about Molly and the gang I need to go back to the beginning! It's a great cozy mystery that's set in Cambridge which makes me love it even more since I've been there. If you're looking for a fun Christmas mystery, look no further!

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Publication date: 26 November 2024

Molly Kimball is in the thick of it again!  Even though she hardly knows Charlotte, she's certain that her new friend and fellow business owner is innocent.  Not to mention her long-time friend, Daisy.  The way Molly bands together with her friends - as well as her mom and Aunt Violet - to get to the truth is inspiring.  What's even better is that Molly isn't afraid to doubt herself, knowing she might have jumped to a conclusion or is having mixed feelings about a suspect.  It's something I don't always see in a cozy, but makes for a good character.  

I also really enjoyed the fact that Molly wasn't dating a member of the police force, even if her mom might be in the future.  While I don't mind that particular scenario, it seems like the main character in every cozy is, so Molly having a boyfriend not on the force was refreshing. This series definitely has a fun bunch of characters, all of whom I'd love to get to know better.

The mystery was intriguing as well.  I rarely figure things out before the big reveal, but I can often pinpoint the doer, if not the reason why.  This time, I had my suspicions, but I wasn't quite right, either.  But that's okay - figuring it out is all part of the fun.

Although this is the fourth book in the series, it can easily be read as a standalone.  Which is nice since I keep requesting books, not realizing the series is already several books deep.  The author does a good job of quickly recapping anything you might need to know without spoiling any of the previous books.  It definitely makes me want to go back to book #1 and start the series fresh.  I'd recommend this series to anyone who loves quaint English towns, old bookstores, and fun family dynamics.

Molly is celebrating her first English Christmas in Madrigals and Mayhem by Elizabeth Penney and solving a mystery or two along the way.

Will Molly clear Charlotte's name before one of them is next?

Molly Kimball
Molly Kimball is our sleuth and point-of-view character. She is enjoying her new life in Cambridge with her mom and Aunt Violet. Molly loves being at the bookstore and especially spending time with her boyfriend. I have to say that Molly is a great character, and I adore how she embraces life in England. Molly relishes spending time with her maternal family but is also carving out a spot for herself in the town and with her boyfriend, Kiernan.

The Mysteries
Molly's new friend, Charlotte Pemberly, is the new owner of the toy store across the street from their bookstore called Pemberly’s Emporium. The first mystery that Molly gets wrapped up in is finding a Madame Alexander doll that is rightfully Charlotte's, which her grandfather hid so that his new wife's family couldn't get it. The second mystery is Charlotte's step-cousin, the grandson of her grandpa's new wife, was poisoned at her toy store, and the police think that Charlotte did it. Molly decides to help prove Charlotte innocent while also helping her find the doll before her step-grandma's family can. Along the way, Molly uncovers more than she should, which makes the killer anxious. I had an idea of who did it, and I was right.

Five Stars
My rating for Madrigals and Mayhem by Elizabeth Penney is five stars, and I love the whole holiday feel it brought. Madrigals and Mayhem by Elizabeth Penney is my first book by this author. Since I first saw the series, I've wanted to try it out, and I'm glad I did. Ms. Penney did an excellent job of transporting me to Cambridge, England. I also felt like I was helping Molly solve the case. I recommend it to all cozy mystery fans out there.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Madrigals and Mayhem by Elizabeth Penney.

Until the next time,
Karen the Baroness

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out Baroness Book Trove.

Madrigals and Mayhem by Elizabeth Penney is an fun read filled with delightful characters and a setting that’s both cozy and captivating. The protagonist feels wonderfully relatable, making it easy to get invested in her journey. The plot is full of unexpected twists that keep the story engaging and fresh. Penney’s writing is warm and inviting, making this mystery a perfect escape for readers looking for charm, intrigue, and a touch of mayhem. (I received an advance reader copy and all opinions are my own.) A thoroughly enjoyable experience from start to finish!

Molly Kimball is excited to be spending her first English Christmas in Cambridge, since she and her mother had moved from Vermont to help with the family bookshop. But when a toy store reopens down the street, she is doubly excited. When she goes to the local bakery to get some coffee and a scone, she meets the new owner of the toy store, Charlotte Pemberly.

Charlotte had inherited the shop from her grandfather, who had passed. His will had given Charlotte everything, but he had been married for a short while to a woman named Althea Winters, and she is contesting the will, along with her grandchildren, especially since the inheritance is not just for the toy store but it includes a rare Madame Alexander doll worth half a million pounds. But the doll has gone missing, and Charlotte thinks that Althea or maybe her family members had been breaking into the stop to look for it.

Charlotte invites Molly over for a tour of the shop, and Molly readily agrees along with her best friend and the owner of the bakery, Daisy. Molly in particular had been taken with a dollhouse that Charlotte had put in the store window, and she couldn’t wait to get a closer look. But as they’re looking around the store, Charlotte finds Althea’s grandson in the breakroom. He was on the sofa, not looking at all well, with a cake box in his hands. The women call an ambulance and take a look at what he’d been eating. It was in a box and with a card from Daisy’s shop, but she’s quick to say that she didn’t make the cake. It had blue frosting, and she refuses to use blue frosting.

The ambulance shows up and takes him to the hospital, and not too long after that, the police show up. They believe that he was poisoned by the cakes, and it looks like Daisy was set up to take the fall. Molly immediately thinks that Charlotte was the one who was supposed to eat the cake, and she can’t help but think it had to do with Althea. As Molly tries to unravel what’s goin on, trying to keep both Daisy and Molly from the danger she thinks is around them, she also starts to wonder if maybe something nefarious had befallen Charlotte’s grandfather. Could he have been poisoned also?

As Molly enjoys the Christmas season, decorating the bookshop and even lending her singing voice to a madrigal celebration, she also tries to figure out what is going on with Charlotte and her family. As she gathers a list of suspects and tries to figure out who was where and when, who has a motive, and who is cold enough to try to murder someone, she finds herself in the sights of a murderer. Will she survive to see the new year?

Madrigals and Mayhem is the fourth book in Elizabeth Penney’s gentle Cambridge Bookshop mystery series. This one blends a murder mystery with Christmas traditions, a treasure hunt, and a book within a book. The use of the dollhouse and the book about the dollhouse add a layer of intrigue to the crimes happening to Charlotte and her toy store, and it adds a texture to the story that is unexpected and lovely. I really enjoyed this book and thought that it adds an intriguing set of crimes to a lovely setting for a Christmas themed mystery.

Egalleys for Madrigals and Mayhem were provided by Minotaur Books through NetGalley, with many thanks.

Elizabeth Penney’s Cambridge Bookshop cozy series is cemented as one of my favorite cozy series. The setting and characters are perfection and the mysteries are well crafted and plotted. This holiday timed installment was one I really enjoyed. I liked the new store opening near the bookshop and the characters that introduced to the series. The mystery of this one was intriguing and the Christmastime setting made it alot of fun. I hope this series continues for a good long time!

I really liked new business owner Charlotte’s character a lot. She seemed to blend right in with Molly and Daisy as far as being friends went. Molly set out to prove Charlotte’s grandfather might’ve not had a natural death and one thing she did was join a local play, with Kieran of course, so she could be closer to what she believed was the source of some trouble. What happened during the play was absolutely hilarious at one point!

Once everything was solved and a super satisfying outcome occurred, Molly and her loved ones could celebrate an amazing Christmas together. With the two people having special announcements in this story, I really can’t wait to see what happens in the next book!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by St. Martin/Minotaur via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

This is the fourth book in the Cambridge Bookshop cozy mystery series, which follows the sleuthing adventures of USian expat Molly Kimball. In the eight or so months since she and her mother moved from Vermont to London, the former librarian turned bookseller has found herself embroiled in several murder investigations.

Which means that the local constabulary isn't exactly thrilled to find her on the scene of an attempted murder by poisoning.

Beware: DNF review.

To my recollection, this is my introduction to the author's writing, and I must say that I'm not impressed. This probably comes across as unnecessarily harsh, but I found it impossible to lose myself in the story.

It's not that the story is narrated in first person, past tense--not a favorite narrative device by far--, or even that Molly, despite being (in her own words) "almost thirty", comes across like someone a solid decade younger, but that the writing style keeps kicking me out of the story.

For example, when Molly is back at the bookstore about to share her most recent encounter with the less-than-enthused local police force, we are treated to her every tangential thought in the middle of the actual conversation, like this:

"I thought about scrambling an egg and eating it on buttered toast. Yes, that's what I wanted right now. Comfort food. "You will not believe what happened at the toy shop today," I said conversationally as I got up and went to the fridge. Cheddar would be a great addition to my egg, I decided. Plus a couple of mushrooms." (Chapter 4)

Then there's the artless inclusions of character descriptions every time a new person shows up, like so:

"As I unwrapped a delicious-looking chicken salad loaded with vegetables and pickles, Tim said, "I'm really ticked off about this whole thing." He didn't need to elaborate. Athletic and good looking, Tim had a blond fade and kind blue eyes." (Chapter 5)

I mentioned above that Molly sounds very young for her chronological age, which is evident when she automatically takes it as a given that Charlotte is innocent, simply because she and Daisy were with her when they found the poison victim, even though there's nothing to prove she didn't plant the poisoned pastries herself before going to get herself an alibi via credulous fellow local business owners. Instead, Molly takes every word out of Charlotte's mouth as gospel after an acquaintance of something like twenty minutes.

Which is good and fine for something like joining a book club, not so much for assigning culpability--or innocence--in an attempted murder case.

In fact, the only time in the first twenty percent of the book that Molly reacts with some maturity and common sense, is when she suggests that Charlotte should get a lawyer as soon as possible; whether or not the cops focus on her as a suspect, it's possible her loathsome step-family would try to take legal action against her, since the poisoning happened in her business premises.

The rest of the time, Molly spends time planning a new window display, getting stuff up from the store's basement, and generally going off on tangents that, granted, may pay off later in the book, but are thoroughly disjointed in the beginning.

I've read and enjoyed other stories where the narrative spends quite a bit of time just following the protagonists living their lives in between whatever plot points are necessary to tell the main story; those books succeeded for me entirely on the strength of their authors' voices. I feel no such pull here.

In fact, I have been trying to get this ARC read for a week, and have not been able to get past the 20% mark, so here's where I officially throw in the towel.

Madrigals and Mayhem is a DNF.

Madrigals and Mayhem by Elizabeth Penney has Molly eager to experience her first Christmas in Cambridge with her family and friends. An attempted murder, though, was not on Molly’s Christmas wish list nor is a murder. I found Madrigals and Mayhem to be easy to read. I like the cast of characters as well as the setting. I just love Thomas Marlowe—Manuscripts and Folios. The shop is rich in history and full of fabulous books. I also enjoyed the descriptions of the toy shop. I wanted Charlotte’s dollhouse, and I like how it played into the story. I was not a fan of the lengthy excerpts from the dollhouse book. They took me away from the story. The mystery was interesting but simple to solve. I wish the guilty party had not been so obvious. There were several suspects and more than one crime (which I liked). I did not like the repetitive details. Molly learns something or finds a clue, she shares it with someone, and then they go to the pub and share it with their circle of friends (and so on). The treasure hunt was a fun addition. There is a good reveal and wrap up at the end. There is romance in the story as well. I liked a special announcement at the end. I enjoyed the book references and bookmarked a couple of them. The story needed more Christmas. Madrigals and Mayhem can be read as a standalone for those new to The Cambridge Bookshop Series. Take a trip to Cambridge in Madrigals and Mayhem for a dollhouse display, poisoned pastries, greedy relatives, a treasure hunt, rough rehearsals, and a cheery Christmas.

In this latest addition to the Cambridge book shop mystery series, mysterious poisonings, destructive break-ins, and missing valuables lead readers through twists and turns to solve the crimes. Family rivalries abound as Molly and friends become involved in helping Charlotte, the owner of the Magpie Lane toy shop, to find out what is happening and why. The Christmas setting adds interest to the story, as does the madrigal performance at which many clues are revealed. Romance also makes an appearance and provides a perfect setup for future entries in the series.

Although this book can be read as a standalone, readers familiar with the series will enjoy becoming reacquainted with Aunt Violet and Molly's mom, as well as other merchants on Magpie Lane. This is a clean and cozy mystery, without overt violence, strong language, or descriptive intimacy (kisses only).

I received this novel from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

I received an arc from the publishers through Netgalley and even though I have not read any of the other books I was able to really enjoy this one. For a Cozy Mystery it was full of action and twists and kept me guessing until the end. There was a light dusting of romance and characters that really cared about each other. The only thing I could have wished for was just a pinch more Christmas but I was still able to tell it was set at Christmas. Great book and I will look into the rest of the series.

Madrigals and Mayhem by Elizabeth Penney takes us to Magpie Lane in historic Cambridge, England, where Molly Kimball and her mother, Nina, have moved to help Molly’s great-aunt Violet in the family bookstore, Thomas Marlowe. She had noticed that the toy store down the way appeared to be reopening and there was the most wonderful antique doll house in the window. It inspired her to create a display of books featuring doll houses at Thomas Marlowe. Then she met the owner, Charlotte Pemberly and recognized her as a kindred spirit the moment Daisy, the owner of Tea & Crumpets and her best friend, introduced them. At that point she and Daisy both got sucked into Charlotte’s family drama which included the search for a doll which was worth an untold amount of money. That turned out to be a scavenger hunt which was right up Molly’s alley. Then things began to turn to murder.

Molly’s father had died and she and her mother felt at loose ends. This has turned out to be a great move. Molly loved her job and had a lovely boyfriend, Tristan, who was the second son of the local lord. Her mother, Nina, not sure if she was ready, had attracted the attention fo the local lead detective, Sean, and was experimenting with that. Aunt Violet had a beau her own age that she had had for years. They were leading a good life on Magpie Lane and really didn’t need any of the nonsense going on with Charlotte, but the woman was quickly becoming a good friend. An additional perk was Molly auditioning for and being accepted into the Madrigals and Mayhem performance marking the Christmas season. It was a good book with appealing characters, a good mystery, and the perfect setting.

I was invited to read Madrigals and Mayhem by St Martin’s Press. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #StMartinsPress #ElizabethPenney #MadrigalsAndMayhem

Madrigals and Mayhem, the fourth book in the Cambridge Bookshop Series by Elizabeth Penney, is a perfect book to read in the lead up to the holidays.
As always, Penney has produced a well-written, fast-paced mystery, with an intriguing storyline and plenty of suspects, that keeps the reader turning the pages. The characters are relatable and the setting is one that every avid reader will love. Although it is part of a series, the book can stand alone, as previous details that are relevant are described well, but not in such a way as to overwhelm the current story.
I highly recommend adding this book to your list of holiday reads.
I was happy to receive an ARC of #MadrigalsandMayhem from #NetGalley.

Charlotte Pemberly is set to reopen her beloved grandfather toy store. Wash inherited everything from her grandfather, his ex-wife and her family are doing their best to make Charlotte’s life difficult. When Charlotte’s step cousin is found poisoned in her store, Molly agrees to help figure out what is going on. Before the threats become fatal for Charlotte.

How far will greed make the family go in trying to get part of the estate, even after the court, gave it all to Charlotte? can Molly even trust that Charlotte is telling her the truth? After all, she just met the young woman. With two sides to each story and so many possible suspects, Molly has her work cut out for her. Can she help solve the mystery, or will this be, the final chapter from Molly?

This was another great entry in the series. I love the first three books and absolutely loved this fourth one. I love being transported to Cambridge and can almost smell the scent of the bookstore as I’m reading. This is a solid whodunit that have you adding the author to your alert list for each and every new entry in the series.

This is a new to me series and I truly enjoyed it. Molly is living above her family bookstore. Molly grew up in Vermont but after her dad’s death has moved with her mum back to Cambridge. Her friend runs a bakery across the way and the toy store appears to be re-opening. Christmas is upon the town and preparations are in process. I really loved the characters and the setting of this book. I like the way Molly explored the possible murder while working through different family dynamics. I am definitely looking forward to more in this series.

Book four of the Cambridge Bookshop series starts out with Molly Kimball decorating the Thomas Marlowe – Manuscripts and Folios bookstore for the Christmas holiday. Taking her inspiration from the dollhouse at the Pemberly Toy Shop down the street, Molly makes a display of dollhouse related books. Dolls figure prominently in this cozy mystery, from a VERY rare Madame Alexander to the story book, Charlotte’s Dollhouse, which we get to read right along with Molly. Interestingly enough, Charlotte is the name of the girl who has inherited the Pemberly Toy Shop. Not only did Charlotte’s grandad leave Charlotte the shop but also a scavenger hunt that is supposed to lead to the rare Madame Alexander doll. In addition to the scavenger hunt there are a few poisonings, some toxic relationships, an engagement, a Madrigal song experience, a little mayhem, and a happy ending.

Molly is an American of many talents who has joined her English mom and great aunt in running the family bookstore located in Cambridge, England. Things to know about Molly, she can research books and help run the family bookstore, she can think fast on her feet especially when asking tricky questions, and she apparently she can sing quite well. Molly is also a fast friend as demonstrated by her desire to help Charlotte not even an hour after meeting her. Poor Molly has a broad of vipers for a family, well a stepfamily of vipers, and they aren’t even that nice to each other.

Elizabeth Penney has done a superb job of creating such unlikeable people that you instantly empathize with Charlotte and can’t wait to see how Molly will get to the bottom of the shenanigans. Shenanigans that include break-ins and messing with the toy store dollhouse. Molly knows that Detective Inspector Sean Ryan is more than capable of hunting down the clues and getting the bad guy, but Molly can’t help it if she seems to always be in the right place at the right time. Molly has the ability to pay close attention and she notices things, things that most people don’t notice. It is this attention to detail that has helped Molly in the past (I can attest to how enjoyable the previous books are) to solve more than one mystery.

Between the hidden doll mystery and the murder mystery you can’t help but to keep turning the pages of this holiday who-done-it that takes place in this picturesque English town. The clues are well laid out and the misdirection had me second and third guessing. The only thing missing is the recipe for Daisy’s cranberry white chocolate scone.

Madrigals and Mayhem
By: Elizabeth Penney

Publish Date: November 26, 2024

Publisher: St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books

Mystery and Thriller

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I would like to thank both St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

Book Review:

I really enjoyed this book and gave it 4 stars. This is around Christmas time in the United Kingdom.

Molly sees that the toy store is reopening for the holidays. She meets the new owned who happens to be the granddaughter of the previous owner. The previous owner has passed away a few months earlier. Molly sees a dollhouse in the window display that has drawn her attention. Charlotte the new owner offers to show her the dollhouse. When they get into the store, they notice that Charlottes stepcousin is in the break room very sick. That is concerning because he isn't supposed to be there because he didn't inherit the business, and the door was locked when Charlotte left the night before. Molly finds out more than she bargained for with the whole situation. She tries to help her new friend and things just go further than she can figure out.

I really like the friendships and family in this story line. I also like how it is placed during the holiday season.