A Holiday Homicide is book 4in a series. I haven't read the previous books, and this works as a standalone. However, I do want to read the rest now, as it would help with the continuing story throughout.

Annie decides to hold a gingerbread baking competition at her bookstore. When an influencer is found dead during the event, Annie knows she has to solve the crime to save the event, and the reputation of her store. Can she figure it out?

I really like the mix of characters, and the bookstore sounds amazing, somewhere I'd like to visit! I like the story of Annie's murdered friend running throughout the series, I will definitely be looking out for the next book to see where that goes. A good cosy mystery.

A Holiday Homicide by Ellie Alexander is the fourth book in the Secret Bookcase Mystery series. It is the holiday season in Redwood Grove, and Annie Murray has once again agreed to host an event at the Secret Bookcase, This time, she is in charge of a town-wide gingerbread house building contest. To make things even more exciting, Lily Hawthorne, an extremely popular baking social media influencer, has come to town to stream the contest on her platform, and to announce the winners of the contest live. Annie is excited because this will mean more well deserved publicity for the bookstore, and for her friend, Sugar's, bakery. However, it soon becomes apparent to Annie that there is tension within Lily's entourage and that Lily is not as sweet as she appears online. Annie gets pulled into another mystery when she unfortunately finds Lily dead in the bookstore. Were the circumstances surrounding her death due to natural causes, or did someone want Lily dead?

This is my favorite book in the series so far. I love Annie! She is smart, caring, compassionate, and incredibly capable in handling these murder mysteries. I also love her friends, who are always supportive of her and her need to continue to solve these murders. I love her continuing relationship with Liam and how sweet he is to her. He obviously cares about her, and is there to lend a hand if needed. I can't wait to read the next one!

Thank you to #NetGalley and #Storm Publishing for the opportunity to this read this book.

So many unexpected things happens and the mystery engulfs Anna in the complex web of secrets, mystery, rivalry and suspense. While celebrity baker is found dead and investigation gets interesting.

Thanks to the Publisher

This is the fourth installment of this cozy mystery series, and this one sees the bookshop hosting a gingerbread baking competition.

When the baking competition goes
horribly wrong, Annie is back on the
case. Annie is always a likable character and a diligent detective. With the whole host of Christmas characters, this story is
perfect for those looking for a cozy
but fun holiday mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end!

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

A Holiday Homicide is the fourth book in the Secret Bookcase mystery series by Ellie Alexander. This title is set during the holiday season and focuses on a gingerbread house contest. The event is being held at the Secret Bookcase where the main character, Annie Murray, is the special events planner.

The small town of Redwood Grove, California is very excited to have a major social media baking influencer, Lily Hawthorne, streaming live from the event. However, the excitement turns disastrous when Annie discovers yet another dead body at the event!

One of the things that I love best about this series, besides the wonderful cast of characters, is the dual mysteries. Not only do we encounter a new murder victim in each story but we also have the cold case of Annie's college BFF, Scarlet's, murder. In this title, Annie has a meeting that has led to the discovery of major information in her investigation about what happened ten years ago. On a more personal level, we also have progress in the relationship between Annie and the local pub owner, Liam.

I was a little disappointed in the ending of this book because I felt that we did not get the exciting conclusion that one comes to expect with this type of mystery. But all in all, I have thoroughly enjoyed the story and I'm looking forward to my next visit with Annie and friends.

Thank you to the author, Storm Publishing, and #NetGalley for allowing me to read #AHolidayHomicide and offer my honest opinion.

“A Holiday Homicide” is the nicely done fourth book in Ellie Alexander’s Secret Bookcase cozy mystery series – I have been hooked on this series from the start. I love everything about this series – starting with main character Annie Murray who, while still mourning the death of her best friend Scarlet, has moved on with her life, working at the Secret Bookcase book store, has a new love interest, and is slowly getting back into solving mysteries. I also love her boyfriend Liam, new best friend Pri, coworker Fletcher, and her book Hal – as well as the bookstore setting. The series has two plotlines – the ongoing one of Annie trying to figure out who killed Scarlet as well as the main mystery in the book – in this book Annie comes closer to solving Scarlet’s murder as well as trying to figure out who killed a celebrity baker during a gingerbread-baking competition. Of the two, in this book I liked the storyline of Scarlet’s killer better – it’s nice to see Annie get closer to finding out who the killer is and finally shutting the door on that chapter of her life. The main mystery was okay but I figured out early on who the killer was and the part where all was revealed felt a little flat and anticlimactic. Because of this, and because of another event that happened in the book but was then dropped with no explanation as to who was behind it, while I did enjoy the book I knocked off a star on my rating.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.

Book Review: A Holiday Homicide by Ellie Alexander

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

So, I just finished reading A Holiday Homicide by Ellie Alexander, and wow, what a fun ride! This was my first time diving into this series, and I have to say, it won’t be my last.

The story follows Annie Murray, who has big plans for a festive season at her charming little bookstore, the Secret Bookcase. Just as she’s gearing up for a gingerbread-baking competition, disaster strikes when a celebrity baker drops dead right in the middle of the action. Talk about a holiday bummer! The whispers of foul play start swirling around Redwood Grove faster than snowflakes in a blizzard. Annie, with her new love interest Liam and her trusty bookstore crew, jumps headfirst into solving the murder. As they dig deeper, Annie uncovers layers of secrets and rivalries that make the baking community far less sweet than it seems. The suspense builds as she races against time to unravel the mystery before the killer can strike again.

First off, can we talk about how gorgeous the cover is? Seriously, I’m a sucker for a good book cover, and this one is just perfect for the holiday vibe. The writing was so engaging that I found myself completely sucked into the story. It’s definitely cozy mystery material and worked perfectly as a standalone—no need to have read previous books in the series to enjoy this one.

The pacing was spot-on; I never felt like it dragged or rushed. The plot was well thought out, keeping me guessing until the very end. Plus, I absolutely loved the characters! Annie is relatable and likable, and it’s easy to root for her throughout the twists and turns of this festive whodunit.

All in all, A Holiday Homicide is a delightful read that truly captures the essence of the season while keeping you on your toes. I can't wait to dive into the next book in this series—if they’re all this entertaining, I'm in for a treat! If you're looking for a cozy mystery to cozy up with this holiday season, grab yourself a cookie (or two) and get ready for some sleuthing fun!

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

Ellie Alexander gives us a Holiday Homicide with Annie Murray at the Secret Bookcase when a gingerbread structures contest goes wrong and the influencer who has made the main gingerbread structure ends up dead. Was it the fervent fan? Was it the baker in town? Was it the publicist ? Was it promotional company exec? How did she die? At the same time Annie is thinking about her next career steps in the middle of helping policeman Dr. Caldwell with the case. Short but snappy cozy.

I absolutely enjoyed this book so much. It was a perfect holiday book. I was hooked from the first page, and I couldn't stop reading it! I was on the edge of my seat the entire time! The twist was epic, and I enjoyed every minute of this book. I can't wait for more from this author. I highly recommend this one for those whodunit kind of readers.

Thank you Net Galley ARC and Storm Publishing

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Read if you like:
🎄 Christmas murder
🎄 books about books ❤️❤️❤️
🎄 small town Christmas festival

I loved the scenery and descriptions in here! It definitely felt like a Christmas book ❤️💚 I really enjoyed the descriptions of all the food that was happening in the book! It made me hungry 😈😈 And of course I love a Christmas festival! I love the descriptions of everything so I can envision that I am actually in the book with the characters.
This was definitely a slower cozy mystery, and I feel like it didn’t hold my attention like many other cozy mysteries do 👎🏻
The characters were just meh for me, I did not love or hate them. I feel like the book was so long and drawn out and then the end was just thrown in there.
I read this one without reading any of the other books in the series, but I think that was totally fine I didn’t feel like I missed any big details or anything like that.

Holiday Homicide by Ellie Alexander is a delightful \ addition to the Secret Bookcase Mystery series. In this fourth installment, Alexander expertly weaves together cozy charm with a touch of suspense. The plot, set against the festive backdrop of the holiday season, keeps readers engaged with its intriguing mystery, relatable characters, and unexpected twists. The protagonist, along with the supportive cast, adds warmth and depth to the story, making it a perfect read for fans of cozy mysteries. (I received an advance reader copy and all opinions are my own.) With its clever writing and holiday flair, Holiday Homicide is sure to leave readers eagerly awaiting the next chapter in the series.

A Holiday Homicide is the 4th installment of the Secret Bookcase Mystery Series. Annie is once again busy with a promotion for the Secret Bookcase book store. This time, there is a gingerbread house contest led by a famous baking influencer, Lily Hawthorne. Redwood Grove residents enthusiastically baked gingerbread houses to enter in the contest. Annie is dealing with some things in her personal life. She and Fletcher, another employee at the bookshop, are trying to figure out if they can buy the bookshop from the retiring owner, Hal. Annie also has an offer to join the Redwood Grove police department. Her romance with a local pub owner is heating up. And she still is trying to solve the mystery around her best friend’s murder ten years ago. With all this going on, Annie discovers a body in the bookshop. As she tries to help solve this mystery, all the other aspects of her life are keeping her busy. The characters are well developed. The story is fast paced. Each book is a read alone, but I feel like you get to know more about them in each book. Although this is set at Christmas time, it really isn’t what I would call a Christmas book. In all honesty, I love Ellie Alexander books. She has several series going that I enjoy immensely. I’m thrilled to have gotten an ARC from NetGalley and Storm Publishing. My only problem is waiting for the next book in whichever series Ms. Alexander is working on currently. Love the book!

This is the first book I have read by this author and I found it a really lovely cozy mystery. I loved that it was dealing with a current murder and a cold case murder too.

I loved the Christmas setting in the Secret Bookcase Series, and the characters were all so lovely, especially Annie’s.

Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing

(3.75 stars)
This fourth book in the Secret Bookcase mystery series is another winner for Ellie Alexander. This one is filled with Christmas atmosphere, and centers around a gingerbread house contest being hosted by the Secret Bookcase bookstore. Once again, we get a lot of local color, with the setting in a northern California town called Redwood Grove. The main character is Annie Murray, who runs the special events for the mystery-centric bookstore. Gingerbread houses have nothing to do with mysteries, but that’s okay, as it’s a great way to drum up interest and business for the store. The gingerbread house contest has attracted a baking influencer named Lily who will be live-streaming from the event. One of the most interesting things about this book was being able to see both the public side of a social media influencer and the behind-the-scenes aspect.

As indicated by the title, there’s a death at the event and there are several suspects. I guessed correctly on the murderer’s identity but not the method. Along with that mystery, there’s progress in the murder case of Annie’s best friend, Scarlet, which has been a topic running through all four of the books in this series. I hope we’ll get more in the next book in the series (I’m assuming there will be at least one more!) There is also progress in Annie’s plans for her future - will she continue to work at the bookstore or follow her first love (she studied criminal justice in college) and join her mentor in an official capacity in the police department? There’s also progress in Annie’s relationship with Liam, the local pub owner.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra

The fourth book in the Secret Bookcase Mystery series by Ellie Alexander is a definite hit with me! A Holiday Homicide embraces all that I cherish in a cozy mystery, infused with a holiday seasoned theme – what more could one ask for? Engaging characters, interesting whodunit which captured my interest throughout and wonderful character development.

Redwood Grove is abuzz with the latest event being hosted by the Secret Bookcase – a gingerbread house competition. Talk about getting someone in the holiday mood – the following passage certainly got to me:

“The bookstore was my favorite place on the planet on an average ordinary day, but during the holidays, it was pure magic. Festive jazz music drifted along the corridors of the restored English country estate that now housed the largest mystery bookshop on the West Coast. I made my way to the Foyer, where dazzling golden twinkle lights greeted me, along with two small Christmas trees flanking the front doors.”

Okay – back to the story. The Secret Bookcase is holding a competition, with many Gingerbread House baker’s in attendance. Stiff competition unfortunately yields a tragic event – the death of Lily – a social media influencer and baker! And of course with this happening, Annie is driven to piece together the series of events that have lead to this death. We find out the baking community is certainly not all sweetness, but a ruthless bunch of baker’s! Who would have thought? There are many red herrings to keep readers guessing. And if I am being truthfully honest – that is the way I like my cozy mysteries – guessing until the end.

Annie and her new beau Liam are also progressing nicely in the advancement of their relationship. I am quite enjoying this slow burn; happy they are not rushing their relationship.

I enjoyed the interaction between Pri (Annie’s bestie) and Annie as they are walking to the pub, moving towards Annie’s opportunity of taking a step to bringing Scarlett’s killer to justice – talk about nervous (both Annie and this reader). This also reminded me of discussions re: Santa I had with my parents previously as a child:

“I can’t remember a time I was this nervous, and also strangely excited,” I admitted. “It’s kind of like Christmas Eve. I was also super excited for presents and slightly terrified of actually seeing Santa Claus.”

“Totally normal. It’s a strange dude coming down the chimney. Think about the lyrics to ‘Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town’. ‘He sees you when you’re sleeping. He knows when you’re awake.’ Stalker much?” She laughed and squeezed my hand tighter as the pathway spilled out onto the village square.”

Concurrently, she is also moving along her fact finding mission with respect to the events that lead to Scarlett’s death all those years ago. The death which occurred while Annie and Scarlett were investigating a cold case as part of the requirements for a criminology course they were taking.

The continuing steps Annie is taking towards solving the murder of Scarlett throughout this series is a theme which, if you have not read the series from the beginning, warrants the reader to start the series at the beginning as this will add depth to the stories as each are read. The reader will understand Annie’s motivation and get a real sense of her history. Though note that A Holiday Homicide can be read as a stand alone.

I am so thrilled with this series and this latest installment. If you enjoy cozy mysteries, excellent story telling, Christmas themed stories and baked goods (and who doesn’t), then pick up a copy of A Holiday Homicide and get settled for a cozy read 🙂

Ellie Alexander has done it again! A Holiday Homicide, book four in the Secret Bookcase Mystery, is the perfect Christmas cozy mystery - celebrity baker, gingerbread house competition, quaintly decorated small town, and a cast of characters we’ve all come to know and love during the last four books. I’m counting the days until the next book.

I love the Secret Bookcase Mystery series! A Holiday Homicide by Ellie Alexander was a short and sweet cozy mystery! I have loved the growth of Annie as a main character over the last four books. In A Holiday Homicide Annie and her crew decide to host a holiday bake off at her bookstore hosted by a famous baking influencer. Unfortunately before the fun filled weekend takes off someone ends up dead! It's up to Ellie and her friends to solve the case. These are great books for a quick mystery or palette cleanser. I'd recommend!

5/5 stars

I devoured this book and this cozy mystery series keeps getting better and better! Returning to charming Redwood Grove in all his small town vibes is very nostalgic and I want to go visit The Secret Bookcase bookstore.

This one was easy to follow, kept me invested and I loved the advancements in Annie's personal life too.

The whodunnit in these books are so good and I keep thinking I'm going to guess the killer but I don't.

I loved all the baking aspects and it was fun to learn about the future of The bookstore.

I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends and I can’t wait for book 5 to come out!

I'm so glad I live in a world with Ellie Alexander holiday reads - truly a gift to readers! I only started reading cozy mysteries this year but Ellie Alexander is absolutely one of my all time favorite authors. The gingerbread making, Christmas vibes, and of course a mystery are perfect! This one should be read anytime that you need to feel warm and happy.

Loving this series! Such a great holiday mystery to read curled up on the couch. Ellie Alexander is fantastic!! Give me more!!