I enjoyed these short stories. The mysteries are interesting, & the characters are well developed. The only thing I didn’t like is the frequent injections of religion into the dialogue. If it isn’t relevant to the plot or story I don’t want to hear it. Then it’s just preaching. #SecretsBetweentheShelves #NetGalley

These four novellas, all set around bookstores, were super cute. I loved the quick pace and the fact that they were short easy reads. I love a cozy mystery vibe and these authors hit it out of the park.

Secrets Between the Shelves, Four Cozy Bookshop Mysteries
Murder in the Mystery Section by Cynthia Hickey, The Secret Passage by Linda Baten Johnson, By Hook or by Book by Teresa Ives Lilly and The Missing Chapter by Marilyn Turk
This is a collection of four clean, contemporary mysteries in bookshop settings with varying degrees of elements of Christian faith.
In the first story, Murder in the Mystery Section, Amber, the owner of the local bookshop, has purchased some rare books. One of the local residents, Mrs. Peabody, claims that the books were stolen from her and that Amber has purchased stolen property. She demands that Amber return the books to her. Unfortunately, Mrs. Peabody is murdered in Amber’s bookshop and Amber is their main suspect. Mrs. Peabody’s nephew, Brandt, comes to town and wants to ascertain what was so special about the books that someone would kill his aunt for them. He and Amber find themselves working together to solve the mystery. Are the books a treasure map? And if so, what is the treasure? Will Amber and Brandt’s blossoming relationship survive the revelation? This story is fast paced and easy to read with minimal faith elements.
The second selection, The Secret passage, Abbie bought a local building where she plans to open a bookshop and also works for a local rancher, Ben. He employs troubled youths in the hopes of helping them rehabilitating them. One day when Abbie is working in the building, she is attacked. Once she recovers, she and her friend Zach begin working on the renovations. She enters the shop one day and discovers the dead body of a young girl. In the process of renovations, they discover a secret door that leads to a secret room, apparently used for runaways to take shelter in. How did runaways know about the secret room? Is someone helping them? Will Zach and Abbie develop more than a friendship while renovating the building and solving mysteries? This story is easy to read and involves a strong element of faith.
In By Hook or by Book, the third story in the collection, Lily Carter has moved back home and opens a pirate themed bookstore in honor of local folklore. Someone tries to break into Lily’s bookstore and Dwayne Forgione, a policeman who loves to tell jokes, is sent to investigate. As the story progresses, there are two murders. One in front of the local thrift store, owned by Lily’s mother’s best friend Katie and the other in Lily’s shop. The list of suspects is plentiful. What was the murdered person looking for? Will Lily and Dwayne solve the mystery? Will they forge a lasting relationship? This story has a strong element of Christian faith and is an enjoyable who-dunit.
The final story of the collection is the longest of the four. Kelly moves to town and plans to open an art shop highlighting local artists. She meets Jeb, the owner of the local bookshop reading room, who has secrets. The locals suspect he had something to do with the disappearance of his wife. The rumor is that he killed her and set his large mansion on fire to cover up the crime. There is no proof he was involved and no body was ever found. He prefers to keep the truth private. When a local woman, Bunny, dies in his shop, the old rumors emerge. Kelly is determined to discover the truth and forms a friendship with Jeb. Was Bunny’s death a result of natural causes or was there foul play involved? Will Kelly and Jeb learn to trust each other and allow their friendship to grow? Will the mysteries of Jeb’s wife’s death and Bunny’s death be solved?
This was a fun story to read, not heavy or dark, very clean with an element of faith that was not pushy or preachey.
This is from the publisher’s website:
“Mysteries Leap Off the Page

Murder and mayhem haunt four newly-opened bookstores.

The mysteries enjoyed in books come to life, threatening four businesses. Amber’s new bookshop and tearoom draws rare book collectors, but when one ends up dead in the mystery section, the shop’s future is questionable. Lilly’s pirate themed bookshop fits right into Harbor Inn, Maine, but she never expected to find a young pirate dead on her shop’s floor. Abby opens Secret Passages Bookshop in a Wyoming mountain town, not realizing her historic building held a real secret passage and a missing teenager. Lauren moves to Florida and frequents the Seaside Books and Reading Room, where she is strangely attracted to the owner—who is suspected of killing his wife. Can the store owners and their patrons solve the mysteries before their businesses go under?”
All four of these stories are easy to read with varying degrees of Christian faith involved. All are clean with no objectionable language or inappropriate intimacy.
I received a complimentary ARC of this book from the Barbour publishing via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own.
(A word about ARC books. Advanced Reading Copies (ARCs) are a preview copy and are not a finished product. They may differ from the final published work and may include additional editing. My reviews may include some things that vary from the final published book.)

'Secrets Between the Shelves' shares 4 cozy mystery novellas, all written by authors new to me. As is typical with collections of shorter stories, it is hard to dive into the puzzle or characters enough blow me away. The gentle reminder of God's sovereignty is a refreshing! I'm not used to getting that in mystery novels. I would be open to seeing what these authors can do with a full novel to explore the plot and characters more.

If you're looking for some quick cozy mysteries, then you should try this collection. Special thanks to Barbour Publishing and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book is a collection of four cozy mysteries. Every story is different but every story starts with a murder at a bookshop and the mystery that follows after. The stories are short but not too short that the story and characters are just surface level.
I didn’t really enjoy the book as much as I had hoped. The stories were a bit underwhelming and at times predictable. It wasn’t really the thrill I was hoping for in a mystery novel. For me personally it took very long to get through the stories.
It was very cozy though and the faith references were really great throughout the stories. I liked the little reminders of faith even when they were going through very difficult or hard times.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was kind of a slow read. It wasn't my favorite and I got through it to finish it. This might not be my genre of writing or maybe for a different season.

I received a complimentary copy and this review is completely my own.
I enjoyed the stories and they were light-hearted and cozy mysteries.
They kept your attention and quick to read.

This book contains four charming mysteries to suit your fancy. A Murder in the Mystery Section was my favourite because it was the most light, fun, truly cozy and I just really enjoyed it. The cast of characters were quirky and likeable. I like how Amber's grandmother lets stress roll off her shoulders. Amber becomes the first suspect in this small town and a great many threats to her as well.
Short cozy stories are as follows:
A Murder in the Mystery Section by Cynthia Hickey
The Secret Passage Bookshop by Linda Baten Johnson
By Hook or by Book by Teresa Ives Lilly
The Missing Chapter by Marilyn Turk
I received this e-book for free from Bourbour Publishing via NetGalley, and the opinions I express are honest and my own. ☕︎☕︎☕︎☕︎

This delightful novel brings the charm of bookshops to life—along with the unexpected dangers lurking among their shelves. Centered around four unique bookstores across different towns, the story intertwines mystery, suspense, and a love of literature, making it a perfect read for cozy mystery enthusiasts.

Amber’s bookshop and tearoom becomes the scene of a chilling crime when a rare book collector is found dead in the mystery section. Lilly’s pirate-themed bookstore in Harbor Inn, Maine, sets the stage for an unexpected tragedy when a young man dressed as a pirate turns up dead. In a Wyoming mountain town, Abby’s Secret Passages Bookshop lives up to its name when a hidden passageway reveals a missing teenager’s fate. Meanwhile, Kelly’s artistic shop in a coastal town witnesses a suspicious death that threatens her new business venture.

Each storyline offers its own unique setting, set of suspects, and amateur sleuths determined to uncover the truth before their livelihoods—and perhaps their lives—are at risk. The author skillfully blends intrigue with the cozy charm of bookshops, creating an engaging experience for readers who enjoy mysteries that feel both suspenseful and heartwarming.

With its mix of literary settings, compelling puzzles, and resourceful protagonists, this book is a must-read for fans of bookish mysteries. If you love stories where bookshops hide more than just good reads, this collection of mysteries will keep you turning the pages long into the night.

The four stories are a little underwhelming and forgettable as far as the plot goes, but the messages are great overall. Although this wasn’t the perfect book for me, the stories would be nice with a cup of tea on a rainy day.

I received an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for a review and opinions are my own.

These were fun! Will I remember anything about them in a year? ... remains to be seen. More than anything, they felt like reading Nancy Drew mysteries, which isn't a bad thing, necessarily. Most of them gave the vibe that they were part of a bigger series (which I don't think they were?) which gave them all an element of "did I miss something?" as I was reading. But overall, quite fun, very cozy, and I enjoyed it! 3.5 stars from me!

**I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.**

Thank you so much to NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Secrets Between the Shelves coming out February 1, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This was a new experience for me. I normally don’t read anthologies. I really love cozy mysteries! So I was excited to check this out. However, I think the stories tended to blend in with each other. I enjoyed them, but they didn’t really stand out as much as I thought. I might’ve just liked it more if there were two stories.

I enjoy picking up collections of short stories to try out new authors. I was familiar with Cynthia Hickey but also enjoyed the other authors' stories in this anthology. This book is great for cozy mystery lovers looking for a new series.

this was such a cozy read! I loved the mysteries and the vibe of all the stories. I think the plot was interesting in all of them and some plot twists were so unexpected! It was a pleasure to visit this world and get invested in the investigations and lives of the small town communities.

A Delightful Collection of Christian Cozy Mysteries. This novella collection was a fun and easy read, perfect for anyone who enjoys Christian cozy mysteries. Each story revolved around bookstores, adding a charming setting that book lovers will appreciate.

The first book was fantastic and left me eager to read more from this author. The second book had a compelling plot with a great focus on saving kids, though I found the repeated "Abby girl" nickname a bit cringey. The third book didn’t resonate with me as much since pirates aren’t my thing, but I appreciated the many heartfelt prayers throughout. The fourth story was another enjoyable read.

Since these were novellas, the pacing felt a bit rushed at times, but overall, they were engaging and uplifting. If you're looking for lighthearted mysteries with faith-filled themes, this collection is worth checking out!

Thank you NetGalley, Barbour Publishing, and Barbour Fiction for the opportunity to read and review this advanced copy.

I have always enjoyed the cozies that Barbour publishes and Secrets Between the Shelves did not disappoint. These short stories with bookstore settings keep the reader engaged. All the stories have a light faith element and romance as all cozies need!
Cynthia Hickey is a veteran author in these novella collections and her story about a new bookstore owner finding a dead lady in her story on day two was once again my favorite. I enjoyed the romance and having multiage characters.
I received a complimentary copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and publisher, but all opinions are my own.

A nice collection of mystery stories that each feature a bookstore. Each mystery was fun, with a few surprises along way. These are easy quick reads with interesting characters and lovely settings, from Florida to Maine just to name a couple. Good read.

First time I've read a 4-in-1 cozy mystery novella, and it was delightful!

Each of the stories are about 14 chapters; quick and easy reads for commuting or just having a mini mystery break. Because they were shorter than regular fiction novels, the action and mystery were fast-paced so you can get right into it.

A point of difference was that each novella was written in first-person. I haven't read mystery novels from that viewpoint before, so it was a good change. While all stories had interesting plot lines and were written well to keep the reader turning the page, I personally think the first novella, Murder in the Mystery sections, needed some transition statements or "scene markers" in the form of a visual bar or line on the page. One minute the characters were doing something and by the next sentence it was a new scene or new day and no transition. It was a little clunky for me.

Overall, I think it was a great read and I was keen to keep coming back to it to find out whodunnit and what happened next.

(SPOILER ALERT)
I felt some of the romantic interests were not at all obvious. In the second novella, The Secret Passage Bookshop, there was barely a hint of a romantic interest between the main character and another, and then it was suddenly a public display of affection right in the last page. That was a surprise, but in a confusing way.

What's not to love about a bookstore? Add a mystery to go with it and you've got an unbeatable combination. Four different murders must be solved in these 4 bookshop mysteries and it looks like it's up to the amateur sleuths to do the job. As the clues begin to come together, hints of romance may be in the air. All 4 authors have done a great job with keeping me guessing until the end. See if you can figure out the whodunits before you hit that last page! I had a favorite of these 4 stories. Bet you will find one too!

What a great collection of cozy mysteries! Each novella is written by a different author, and they are all great reads. They are the perfect length for reading at the end of the day. I loved this collection and highly recommend it to anyone who is a fan of cozy mysteries.
I received a complimentary copy from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.