This was so fun! I was already acquainted with Elle Cosimano (Finlay Donovan series), Emma Rosenblum (Bad Summer People), and Jesse Q. Sutano (You Will Never Be Me) and excited to read more from as well as read the short stories by the other three authors. Short stories are not what I usually read, but reading these made me want to change that. My two favorites from the collection were A Classic Case by Alicia Johnson which is the story about a woman with a new crush and a friend who goes missing as well as Staged by Elle Cosimano, the story of two real estate agents turned detectives when a landscaper is found dead in one of the homes in an old Victorian home. Give me all the quirky characters and amateur sleuths. I'd highly recommend to anyone looking for a light read or an introduction to any of these authors.

This series was super fun! Quick reads with thriller twists that made it very bingeable. My favourite in this little short series was The Nosy Neighbor by Nita Prose, but I was highly entertained by all 6, and was excited for some familiar and some new to me authors.

The Busybodies Collection is a 6-book Amazon Original Short Stories Collection. They are all about meddling families and relatives, nosy neighbors and busybodies who keep their noses in other people's business. The stories were okay, but they were very short and I think I realized that I much prefer a full book with more of a fleshed out plot and characters. These stories were too short and while they all tried to have some kind of a 'twist' you could easily see it coming.

Overall, it was a fun collection and if you like short stories and cute mysteries, particularly by some of the best authors in the suspense field right now, then it's well worth it.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for this Advanced Reader Copy.

Elle Cosimano - 4/5 stars - I enjoyed the premise and the friendship between the fmc and her friend. This one was somewhat easy to figure out midway through but still enjoyed it.

Jesse Q. Sutanto - 3/5 stars - Not my favorite of the bunch and the storyline just seemed far fetched. The mother poisoning her right after meeting her didn’t make sense to me.

Emma Rosenblum - 4/5 stars - I enjoyed this one as well. I liked that this didn’t had a unique story being set in the fashion world. The ending was unexpected and could set up another story!

Nita Prose - 2/5 stars - My least favorite of the stories. I just didn’t connect with it. There was often repetitive sentences and it made it not an enjoyable read.

Kellye Garrett - 4/5 stars - Most unique premise of the bunch. Also the least predictable. I enjoyed the FMC doing it for her brother and also taking charge of the situation.

Alicia Thompson - 5/5 stars - I loved this one! While not as suspense driven as the others, this was still a good story. Audrey was a likeable main character.

I thought this was a fun series of short mystery stories by some great authors. I have read some of the authors in this series, but it was my first introduction to others. Due to that, I enjoyed the opportunity to read these. I do have to say some of the stories were a bit more fun than others. My favorites were The Reunion Dinner, Crime of Fashion, and The Nosy Neighbor. I do wish that we got a bit more with some of the stories, but that is the downfall of short stories as a whole. That being said, this collection was a fun middle of the road collection. I thought all of them were great though. It was the perfect way to spend a nice cozy evening. Rated all together, I give them a 3/5 stars.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced reading copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

Collectively, I will give this a higher rating due the stronger stories, but they do not all rate a 4 to me. I think it takes skill to do a short mystery, and some of the stories accomplished this, but some missed the mark leaving the story rushed and feeling incomplete.

Busybodies: A Collection is a delightful anthology featuring six captivating, quirky tales that will keep readers hooked from start to finish. Featuring stories from Elle Cosimano, Jesse Q. Sutanto, Emma Rosenblum, Nita Prose, Kellye Garrett, and Alicia Thompson, this collection revolves around amateur sleuths—everyday people who, whether through curiosity, chance, or a bit of nosiness, find themselves tangled in mysteries far beyond their control.

The stories blend hair-raising suspense with hilarious moments, as these "busybody" characters get in way over their heads, investigating everything from mysterious neighbors to long-buried secrets. Each story is uniquely entertaining, showcasing a different perspective on the amateur detective trope, from meddling relatives to gossipy friends, all of whom unwittingly find themselves in the middle of a puzzle they can't resist solving.

With a mix of humor, suspense, and wit, Busybodies is a perfect collection for fans of cozy mysteries and lighthearted crime-solving. It's an enjoyable and quick read for anyone who loves a good mystery, served with a side of laughs.

From the publisher:
Every nosy neighbor, gossipy friend, and meddling relative is just one good mystery away from becoming a detective. From behind locked doors or out in broad daylight, driven by chance or curiosity, amateur sleuths get in over their heads in these six hair-raising, hilarious stories.

The Busybodies Collection became available October 15, 2024 from Amazon Original Stories.

There are 6 stories in the collection by various authors: Staged by Elle Cosimano, The Reunion Dinner by Jesse Q. Sutanto, Crime of Fashion by Emma Rosenblum, The Nosy Neighbor by Nita Prose, One Lucky Subscriber by Kellye Garrett, and A Classic Case by Alicia Thompson. Each mystery features a character that could be seen in some light as a busybody.

All of the stories in the collection were good. I did have my favorites though. In particular I enjoyed the stories by Elle Cosimano, Jesse Q. Sutanto, and Nita Prose. To be fair, Elle Cosimano and Jesse Q. Sutanto were already among my favorite authors. But, this was the first time I'd read stories by the other authors.

What I liked about all of the stories was that they were good mysteries with twists and some humor. Regarding the humor, there was more in some than others. When considering the twists, two stories stood out the most for me. They were the stories by Jesse Q. Sutanto and the one by Nita Prose.

I gave this collection 5 out of 5 stars. I liked all of the stories in the collection, which is unusual. Usually it's hit or miss. I would recommend this collection to people who enjoy well-written short mysteries with twists and humor.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher through NetGalley. This did not influence my review.

This collection was a lot of fun! I love all of the authors and this collections gives you a nice taste of their writing style in bit size short stories!! Highly recommend!

These are the short notes I made about the stories, thank you NetGalley for the copy!

Story 1: enjoyed the characters and small town everyone overlapping whodunnit vibes

Story 2: I guessed half the twist but still enjoyed it! Chaotic and cozy like all her stories.

Story 3 - didn't overly like the fashion story line and the mis-use of OCD bothered me, it didn't add to the story and was unnecessary

Story 4 - loved the quick paced twists told as retired community low stakes drama style

Story 5 - I'm not fully sure I got the end of this one? But it was well written and a good story

Story 6 - quick and cute! The twist was funny and I enjoyed the unexpected community part of the story

I ended up not reading all of these because I just couldn't really get into all of them. I usually really enjoy short story collections, but this one wasn't for me. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for review.

I recently had the pleasure of reading The Busybodies Collection, a delightful compilation of short stories, courtesy of NetGalley and Amazon Originals. I’m incredibly grateful to have received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Each short story in this collection was unique, offering a fresh and immersive reading experience every time I turned the page. What truly stood out was the depth in each tale; despite being short stories, they felt as rich and layered as full-length novels. While I admit some of the characters weren’t initially my favorites (after all, who really likes a busybody?), I found myself warming up to them by the end. Each twist brought a new perspective, and by the conclusion of every story, I discovered something to appreciate about each character’s quirks and journeys.

This collection includes contributions from authors I already love and admire, as well as some new voices that I’m excited to explore further. If you’re stuck in a reading slump, The Busybodies Collection is the perfect antidote. Whether you pick up one story or binge the entire collection, you’re bound to find yourself thoroughly entertained.

This collection was so much fun, I got to read author’s I loved and be introduced to new voices (to me) that I will be adding to my TBR! The settings were fun and creative, they were the perfect blend. Highly recommend!

Fun mystery short stories. Would have preferred to have an audio copy.

Thanks NetGalley for an early copy. All opinions are my own.

This was a really fun little series of books! I thoroughly enjoyed every single part it was fun and original.

The "Busybodies" collection is a thrilling and diverse series that captivated me from start to finish. Each book in the series brought something unique, yet they all shared a common thread of suspense, clever plotting, and unexpected twists.

The first book hooked me right away with its engaging characters, each one sharp and resourceful in solving a murder on their own. The second book, though not quite as compelling for me, still offered an interesting plot, even if the involvement of so many people in one situation felt a bit far-fetched at times. The third book was a real page-turner, with fast pacing and an intriguing villain. However, I did wish certain characters hadn’t been so easily misled.

The fourth book stood out for its wild, unpredictable nature. I didn't quite get the ending I envisioned, but I suspect it was meant to unfold that way, especially with the complexities of neighborhood relationships. The fifth book was my favorite of the series, with influencers at the center and a hide-and-seek game that turned almost into a horror experience. It was gripping and kept me hooked until the very end.

Finally, the sixth book brought a romantic thriller twist to the series, blending suspense with a touch of nostalgia through clever nods to film icons Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant. This book offered a refreshing change of pace, with romance and mystery intertwined seamlessly.

Overall, the "Busybodies" collection was a thrilling, fast-paced ride with each book offering a different flavor of suspense and intrigue. Whether you’re into crime-solving, dark twists, or romantic thrillers, this series has something for everyone.

Book 243 of 300 ~ 2024

🌟🌟🌟💫

Cute collection with an almost equal amount of mehs and ooooos.

The narrator helps.

So the breakdown:

Book 229 of 300 ~ 2024 - book 1 Staged

🌟🌟🌟💫

I needed a cute little cosy mystery, and that's what I got.

Decent pace and ok ending.. felt a bit abrupt. Oh, wells.

Book 231 of 300 ~ 2024 - book 2 The Reunion Dinner

🌟🌟🌟🌟💫

When the village bicycle turns up at your family reunion dinner, you can be sure to expect gossip, fury, and a murder?

Trust Ms Sutanto to give it a twist. One star just because she wrote it.

Book 237 of 300 ~ 2024 book 3 Crime of Fashion

🌟🌟🌟

Meh. After book 2, this felt disappointing and just rather messy. I dragged my feet with this one and just hoped that the next one will be better.

So jewellery went missing and it becomes the assistants fault... even worse, her possible crime.

The little twist at the end made it get the extra half star.

Book 238 of 300 ~ 2024 - book 4 The Nosy Neighbour

🌟🌟🌟🌟

Nita Prose is brilliant, and this gave me some goosebumps. Be weary of who you watch and who might be watching you.

Book 239 of 300 ~ 2024 - book 5 One Lucky Subscriber

🌟🌟💫

Interesting premise. Good try. Hold my attention? No. I can barely recall it, which is rare.

Book 242 of 300 ~ 2024 - book 6 A Classic Case

🌟🌟🌟💫

The twist was so exciting, and I was squealing.. and then it went flat and meh. Should have rolled with it. Ahhh, instead of turning it into a love story. I made it more exciting by making it a what if similar to Nita Prose's book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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This collection of short stories was a little underwhelming to me. I had really high hopes because I have absolutely loved books in the past by Elle Cosimano and Jesse Q. Sutanto, but I think each story was too short to be well-developed and some of the "twists" turned out to be really silly and unbelievable. All in all, I still love reading short stories, especially when I'm stuck in a reading rut, but these were a bit of a miss for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

This collection of cozy mystery novellas was *such* a delight! If you love quick, easy-to-dive-into mysteries with just the right amount of intrigue and charm, this one’s for you. Each story was like a warm hug with a side of whodunit fun!

I’m already a huge fan of Elle Cosimano and Jesse Q. Sutanto, so picking this up was a no-brainer. And guess what? It did *not* disappoint! Their stories had all the clever twists, humor, and lovable characters you’d expect. If you’re looking for a cozy mystery escape, grab a blanket, a beverage of choice, and this book. It’s the perfect binge-read for a lazy afternoon. 3.8 stars

3.5 ⭐️ This was such a fun little string of novellas. I enjoyed listening to them while I was working around the house, it made my tasks a little more interesting! I love a good cozy mystery and would recommend this collection if you want some quick and easy mystery short stories, they were fun! The last one was my favorite, but the narrators were all very good.
Thank you Netgalley for sending me this collection in exchange for a review