This is a lovely collection of six bite-sized mysteries, written by women (some I that I know and others I had yet to explore). I enjoyed the diversity of the writing and discovering some new authors I am keen to see more of. I wasn’t expecting this to be so humorous!

From a tale of two realtors-turned-detectives, to a deadly family dinner, to the disappearance of a very expensive necklace, to a fabulously eccentric neighbour, to a viral game of hide-and-seek, and finally a missing video patron. My favourite story was definitely <i>A Classic Case</i> by Alicia Thompson.

Overall, I think this works way better as an audiobook and I struggled to read the formatting of the Kindle book, although it was beautifully designed. Some stories were definitely better than others.

Thank you to Amazon Original Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This compilation, available to Amazon Prime members comprises six short cosy mysteries by popular authors. All slightly off beat, entertaining and good fun!

*Staged by Elle Cosimano, in which first time realtor Lyda is staging an old house for open inspection with the help of friends. When one of them is murdered in the house she must discover the culprit and their motive.

*The Reunion Dinner by Jesse Q. Sutanto. A woman hosting her first family Chinese New Year dinner gets an unpleasant surprise from her son and then a guest is murdered. Great unexpected ending!

*Crime of Fashion by Emma Rosenblum. When an exquisite Bulgari necklace at a fashion shoot disappears the young wardrobe assistant is the one the finger is pointed at. To keep her job and reputation she must solve the case herself. Some enjoyable tongue-in-cheek comments on the fashion industry.

*The Nosy Neighbour by Nita Prose. Marge is the elderly, nosy neighbour who sits at her window keeping tabs and passing judgment on her neighbour Doris and her husband Bob. But Doris has her own plans for Marge to get her just rewards for her nosiness. Very enjoyable, even if I wouldn’t want either Marge or Doris as my neighbour.

*One Lucky subscriber by Kellye Garrett, in which a popular social media influencer holds a high stakes game in a suburban shopping mall that turns into a murder investigation. Interesting idea that didn’t quite work for me.

*A Classic Case by Alicia Thompson. A young introverted woman who loves old movies is alarmed when the elderly man she meets at the video store every week doesn’t turn up. The grumpy sales clerk who she has a secret crush on, seems not to care about her or his missing customer. Cute story and my pick of the collection.

These are so fun! Very formulaic, but I love that I get a short, satisfying cozy mystery that only takes a half hour to read. And by some of the best authors! I love these Amazon original collections!

This is a review of the 6 ebook Amazon Original Short Stories Collection.

This collection contains six short stories. They are all about busybodies, nosy neighbors or meddling relatives. I thought that these stories/cozy mysteries were all good reads.

In Staged by Elle Cosimano the story is about a real estate agent who stages a house and then tries to solve a case. This was a fun story that included two friends staging a house. But then when something bad happens they try to become detectives.

In The Reunion Dinner by Jesse Q. Sutanto a family dinner turns deadly. This story takes place during the Chinese New Year celebration. Josephine is hosting the dinner, when her son surprises her by bringing an unexpected guest. This was a fun crazy story.

In Crime of Fashion by Emma Rosenblum a $3 million dollar necklace disappears during a closed photo shoot. This was a fun mystery to try to figure out who stole the jewelry.

In The Nosy Neighbor by Nita Prose Marge has been spying on her neighbors Doris and Bob for years. This was a fun story because Marge had her suspicions. I really enjoyed both Doris and Marge. This was such an amusing story.

In One Lucky Subscriber by Kellye Garrett a viral stunt takes place at the mall. A social media influencer/Youtuber sets up a a crazy challenge in a mall. This was a an enjoyable read.

In A Classic Case by Alicia Thompson a woman who loves old movies develops a crush on the store owner. In this story the video store clerk is usually grumpy. And old Mr. Hoffman rents the same film every week. When Audrey becomes concerned she tries to figure out what has happened to her favorite older gentleman.

Overall this was a fun series. If you like cozy mysteries and want to see some new stories by your favorite authors then definitely check these out.

Busybodies: There’s a Mystery Around Every Corner is an engaging collection that brings together an exciting mix of short stories from talented authors like Elle Cosimano, Jesse Q. Sutanto, Emma Rosenblum, Nita Prose, Kellye Garrett, and Alicia Thompson. Each story is a delightful exploration of intrigue, humor, and the quirks of everyday life, showcasing how mysteries can unfold in the most unexpected places. The diverse voices and unique styles keep the reading experience fresh and captivating, making it easy to dive into each new tale. I loved how the anthology emphasizes the fun and unpredictability of life, reminding us that sometimes, all it takes is a curious mind to uncover the secrets around us. This collection is a perfect choice for anyone who enjoys a good mystery with a twist!

This collection of short mystery/thriller stories was a lot of fun! Some of these authors I recognized - Jesse Q Sutanto, Alicia Thompson - but the rest were completely unfamiliar to me, and I appreciate the opportunity to get a small dose of a new author. All of these can be read in one sitting, and make for great palate cleansers between other reads.

Staged by Elle Cosimano: 3 stars
Light and fun! A new-to-me author I want to read more from because i really liked how this was written.

The Reunion Dinner by Jesse Q. Sutanto: 4 stars
I love Jesse Q Sutanto, and I loved this! It was my favourite of the collection, and I wish it was longer. The big reveal at the end was perfect.

Crime of Fashion by Emma Rosenblum: 2 Stars
I love a closed door mystery - an extremely expensive necklace is stolen and all the suspects are on set - but unfortunately this one felt a bit too contrived for me.

The Nosy Neighbor by Nita Prose: 4 stars
Nosy older ladies is the best trope in a mystery story and there is nothing you can do to change my mind. This was so much fun.

One Lucky Subscriber by Kellye Garrett: 3 stars
Read this while picturing your least favourite youtuber/internet persona and you'll have a blast.

A Classic Case by Alicia Thompson: 4 stars
A whodunnit! A cute romance! An adorable cat! So much silliness! What a strong closer for the collection.

Overall, I had a lot of fun with this. Lacking in re-read potential, unfortunately, but that's the nature of mystery stories in general, so not this book's fault.

Some of the stories were good but it mostly fell flat for me. I couldn’t get into the plot lines and stay hooked like I generally do.

3.5 stars for this collection overall.

I loved Amazon's Valentine's Day short story collection, so I was excited to pick up this mystery one. Unfortunately, the short length of each mystery led to some of them feeling rushed or unfinished and others to some twists that didn't land well

The exception was Alicia Thompson's story. Of all the short stories in this series it was my favorite. It's fun, sweet, and charming. I enjoyed the full length book I read from Alicia so I had high hopes for this one and it did not disappoint.

I liked a lot of the authors in this short story collection so even though I’m not a huge fan of short stories, I decided to give this one a shot.

I find it a bit tricky to rate a collection as they really varied in how much I enjoyed them.

My favorite was One Lucky Subscriber. This story was one I was hoping was longer, it really captivated me from the start and kept me engaged. I also really enjoyed The Nosy Neighbor and found it interesting.

Overall, I’m not sure this theme is the best for short stories but they were quick and fun.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

This was a fun collection of short stories! I enjoyed reading, while listening to the audiobook. They have the perfect length to hook you in and read in one sitting while not consuming too much time. These are a perfect read for in between books, or if you just want to have a quick cozy mystery.

Thank you Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley for the arc!

I would rate the entire group a 3.5. I wanted to love them all, but some didn’t quite meet my expectations. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This collection of mysteries follows 6 busybodies that true crime'd too close to the sun. From nosy neighbors to workplace scandals, this was a wild ride. I love anything Elle Cosimano writes, and through her being in this collection, I've found other authors to add to my TBR.

Staged by Elle Cosimano:
This was hilariously unhinged. If Elle Cosimano published her grocery list, I’d read it. That’s how much I enjoy her writing.

Two real estate agents are getting their listings prepared for their open houses. Directly across the street from each other, and for the same day. Someone is found dead in one of the homes and the killer is on the loose. Who did it? Lyda and her best friend are going to find out.

Reunion Dinner by Jesse Q. Sutanto:
Okay, this was wilddddd!!

Josephine is hosting a big family dinner. Her son brings an unexpected guest: his surprise fiancé. Someone drops dead at the dinner table, cops show up, and Josephine works her way through the guest list to puzzle the night together. A lot of people in the room have motive.

Crime of Fashion by Emma Rosenblum:
This was sooo good! During a magazine photoshoot, a $3M necklace goes missing. Now the assistant, Nellie, has to piece together what happened because she’s the easy target to pin it on. I was picturing that ABC Family show “The Bold Type” the whole time.

That ending was fascinating too!!

The Nosy Neighbor by Nita Prose:
This one’s a bit creepier. We all have that neighbor who stares out their window and is in everyone’s business. In this case, Marge. She’s 75 and gets asked to housesit for Doris, across the street (that she’s watched for 50 years).

Doris and he’s husband are going to Spain for a few days, but the story isn’t adding up. Marge is convinced Doris is up to no good and investigates.

One Lucky Subscriber by Kellye Garrett:
A game of hide-and-seek inside a mall gets crazy with an attempted murder. Hosted by a YouTube star, everyone is competing for big prize money. There’s a group of fan favorites, plus Kennedy, a subscriber.

A Classic Case by Alicia Thompson:
Audrey loves spending time at the local video store, browsing the classics. She has a crush on the owner, and weekly chats with an elderly customer. Mr. Hoffman come into the store every Wednesday at 2pm to renew the same movie. Only, this week, he doesn’t arrive. Audrey takes it upon herself to track him down and find out what happened.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for my advanced digital copy!

The Busybodies Collection is an anthology that has six wonderful author with their short stories featuring amateur sleuths who find themselves entangled in mysteries. In Elle Cosimano's Staged, Lyda is trying to make it as a real estate agent but can't seem to make the sale. Finally, she is nearing the finish line with her open house with the help of her friend Dani. But just as they start to stage the house they find a dead body in the master bedroom. Will Lyda and Dani be able to solve the murder so she can finally sale a house? I think I would love just about anything Elle Cosimano writes but the way she writes about girl super sleuths and their friendships is astonishing. (Finlay Donovan series is the best). I hope she continues to write about this duo too.

Busybodies is a collection of stories that offers a glimpse into the everyday lives of its characters, exploring the nuances of human relationships and community interactions. While I found some of the stories engaging and relatable, others felt a bit lackluster and didn’t fully resonate with me.

The writing is solid, with moments of humor and insight, but the pacing sometimes dragged, making it hard to stay fully invested throughout. Some characters were well-developed and memorable, while others felt a bit flat or underexplored.

Overall, Busybodies has its charm and certainly contains enjoyable moments, but it didn’t leave a lasting impact on me. It’s an okay read for those looking for light, character-driven stories, but it may not appeal to everyone.

Loving these short stories from some amazing authors!!
All of these are mystery/thrillers that you can read in one sitting, a combination of all six is a solid four stars from me!

Staged - Elle Cosimano 4 stars
When the landscaper, who is also known as the town womanizer, winds up dead nights before Lyda's open house, Lyda and Dani do what they can to find the murderer and still get the sale!
In this quick, cozy mystery - our main characters are introduced as well as a few villains, the process of elimination to solve the murder worked well for the short story! Light and nearly funny, as you'd expect with Elle Cosimano's writing.


The Reunion Dinner - Jesse Q. Sutanto 5 stars
Josephine finally gets to host Chinese New Year after her older brother suffers a fall but a murder at the dinner table threatens to ruin her big night!
Okay, Jesse Q Sutanto just wrote the best short story. I loved the family members, the dinner, and the big reveal!


Crime of Fashion - Emma Rosenblum 3 Stars
When a $3 million Bulgari diamond necklace disappears into thin air during a locked photo shoot, the suspects are all on set.
Quick little mystery but make it mean girls in the fashion industry. Not sure how I feel about the "me too" moment in play, but the ending felt a little like karma and it's going to keep coming back around!

The Nosy Neighbor - Nita Prose 4 stars
Nosy ladies in their seventies, maybe Marge learned her lesson after digging - literally and figuratively - into her neighbors business!!


One Lucky Subscriber - Kellye Garrett 3 stars
When a Youtuber hosts a game of hide and seek overnight at a mall, things go wild when he thinks someone tried to murder him!
The villain reveal was surprising, and the Youtuber deserved to have lost that much money in one night ;)


A Classic Case - Alicia Thompson 5 stars
A whodunnit mixed with a little rom-com, I was here for it! When Mr Hoffman doesn't show up to the movie rental at the time Audrey knows he should be there, she assumes the worst and is determined to find him and help him! We've got a bit of breaking and entering, a cat stealing the show, and some romance brewing. My favorite short story of the Busybodies Collection!

I love these amazon short story collections! There is always something you may not have picked up yourself.

Surprisingly Kellye Garrett's story was my favorite. Having never read her works before, I'll have to check out more by her.

Rated 4 stars. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC ebook.

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read these fun short stories. Although I have only read one, I am sure the rest are just as fun. What a line up of great authors, I can’t wait to dive back into!

What an amazing collection of short stories. What they are about is in the title - busybodies, whether they are co-workers, family or neighbours. Each story is unique and I enjoyed all of them. They are bite sized and perfect for those in-between books. . I loved every single one of them especially The Nosy Neighbour by Nita Prose (Why I didn't see that ending coming is beyond me - so good).

Thank you to Amazon Original Stories and Netgalley for gifting me a copy of these short stories.

I loved this collection of short stories from Amazon Originals! They were fittingly about "busybodies" so the title speaks for itself :-D

I loved a couple of these cozy short stories. My favorites were (in order of preference)
- A Classic Case: this was SO cute! I laughed out loud a couple times because of Audrey's character
- Crime of Fashion: it was hard not to root for Nellie to solve this mystery
- The Reunion Dinner: I want to say something here but just realized, while typing, that it's a big spoiler so instead I'll say I loved the ending of this one!
- One Lucky Subscriber: the premise of this was super fun to read

ARC Review
These were fun, quick little mysteries! I wouldn't say there were my favorite mystery novellas ever, but they were unique and cozy and a decent read between other books.