I just finished Booked for Murder by P.J Nelson, I received a gifted paperback, ebook and audiobook and here are my thoughts.

When Madeline left for college all those years ago, she never thought she would return to that small town.. But when her aunt passes leaving her the book store, she heads back to small town Georgia but someone isn’t glad she is back and when a body is found in the book shop, she understands just how deadly being there really is.

Loved it. The narrator was amazing. It was a really well done audio.

I loved all the characters. Madeline was wonderful and stubborn just like me. The plot was quite charming and I loved that it was set in a bookstore. I think I have a soft spot for that. The mystery was decent and it plodded along nicely and the ending was really solid.

It was a little slow but that really did not bother me. If you like cozy mysteries, this one is a must read!

4 stars.

Thank you to @minotaurbooks and @netgalley for my gifted copies.

Cozy murder mystery. Small town drama. There were some parts that were a little cheesy but overall a fun read, well developed most of the time and I might come back for more if a book 2 appears.

Blah. Meh. Sigh.
This is a book about a girl who's Not Like Other Girls™ written by a writer who's Not Like Other Writers™. Everything about this books screams disdain for small towns and small town folk. Which tracks, because the main character has nothing but disdain for this small town and the small town folk she meets there.

The main character is an annoying narcissist, and she is very stupid. Nothing about this "cozy" mystery is cozy. The killer is obvious from about the first time you meet them and the mystery is about as bland and boring as you can get. The writing was fine, but nothing special. The narrator was good for the audiobook.

**3.5-stars rounded up**

📚♥️📚♥️📚♥️📚♥️📚♥️📚♥️📚♥️📚

Booked for Murder is the 1st-book in the Old Juniper Bookstore Mysteries series. This is a new Cozy Mystery series set in a small Georgia town.
In this, we meet Madeline Brimley, who has just returned to her hometown of Enigma, Georgia, after the passing of her Aunt Rose, her dearest remaining relative.

Maddy has mixed feelings about going back. She always dreamed of leaving Enigma and heading to NYC, as an actress, to follow in her Aunt Rose's footsteps, actually. Things in New York were tough though, and she actually ended up in the Theater circuit in Atlanta instead. Even though Atlanta isn't quite what she dreamed, it's better than Enigma, and now she has to go back. Aunt Rose left Madeline her property, including her bookstore, the Old Juniper, which caters to the local college students.

Almost as soon as Madeline arrives back, though, things start going wrong. First, the long-standing and well-loved gazebo in the back yard is set ablaze, and then Madeline starts receiving disturbing calls from someone threatening her unless she leaves. Madeline isn't one to be easily intimidated however, so the calls and fire end up having the opposite effect, making her dig in even more.

She befriends a local student, Tandy, who seems to have also been quite close with Aunt Rose. Tandy inserts herself into helping with the bookstore, for which Maddy is grateful. That is until the next fire, that ultimately ends in murder.

Not fully trusting the local authorities, and also feeling slightly guilty over the violent death which took place in the bookstore, Maddy begins an investigation of her own. Will she be able to find out who is after her, or will they end up getting to her first? It seems they've tried to kill already. The next time, they may actually be successful.

This was a fun start to new Cozy Mystery series. I did enjoy the bookshop setting and the small town Georgia feels. I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator did a great job channeling some accents that felt true to the story. At first, I wasn't sure I was going to vibe with Maddy. She can be a little abrasive and off-putting at times. It almost felt at certain points that she was completely unreasonable and condescending to those around her, but I think it's all just an intentional part of her character journey. She did become more likable over the course of the book and I started to understand where she was coming from the more I learned about her.

There was also a nice mix of side characters, Gloria, the reverend of a nearby church being my favorite, as well as a potential love interest for Maddy. I feel like Nelson did a solid job setting up the small town atmosphere, as well as providing plenty of room for Maddy, as well as this series, to grow moving forward. I would definitely be interested in reading more mysteries centered around the Old Juniper Bookstore.

Thank you to the publisher, Dreamscape Media, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I would def recommend the audio format if you are interested in picking this one up!

I was very excited by an amateur sleuth mystery. But this book, while entertaining in parts, didn't endear me to its characters at all. Why'd they act the way they did, what drove them to new things, what got them riled up and what helped them be sane...I could not tell you one character from the other if it weren't for tangible differentiators like their names or jobs. I loved the plot - the twists came in at all the right times and the unfolding of the story was intriguing enough to be a successful mystery book. But I considered DNFing a lot of times.

Mixed feelings about this one.

This was such a cozy mystery vibe. I loved the story of how she came into possession of the book store.

A solid mystery that sets readers up for a series. I really enjoyed the characters and plot and found that the author did a great job of giving you just enough answers to solve this mystery but still keep you invested in the characters for the next book. The narrator was fantastic, though some of the southern drawls were too exaggerated and not quite Georgian. For the central mystery, I found the plot well rounded- if a little predictable, but I expect that with a cozy mystery.

This is exactly what you want it to be. It's a cozy mystery and I really enjoyed the audiobook for this. I will say that I wasn't quite sure where it was going to go because they made it seem like so many were at fault but I wasn't that shocked when it was revealed. However I really did enjoy my time listening to this!

Links to come.

“As an official minister in the church—and I’ve got a degree and a certificate and a funny collar and everything—I would have to say you’re wrong, Doctor I’m-a-psychologist-so-I-know-human-nature. The world is made mostly of things trying to stay alive.”

I liked this start to a new cozy mystery series. Madeline is an intriguing character, a little lost and rough around the edges, but still likable and relatable. I thought it was interesting how her background in theatre influenced her thought processes and her investigation style, like her ability to remember spoken conversations almost verbatim. The town of Enigma is simultaneously charming and a little off-beat. I liked getting to know the townsfolk, especially Gloria. The mystery itself was engaging. I’ll admit that I wasn’t emotionally prepared for that death, but I understand why it had to happen for the story to move forward.

The audiobook is narrated by Hallie Bee Bard. I thought she did a great job bringing Madeline and her investigation to life.

“On the surface, small towns can seem so simple, but they’re not. Behind every smile there could be an unspoken resentment. Every kind word was a possible pretense. Every action had more than one motive. Everybody had secrets and lived with the dull fear that those secrets would be found out.“

Enigma is a small town where it’s citizens have many secrets. There’s a murder and anyone could be the suspect, everyone has a motive.

The FMC moves back to town after her aunt dies to help get loose ends tied. While there, someone wants her gone. They try to burn down the house twice, they leave threatening messages, & someone is even murdered.

If you enjoy:
🕵️‍♀️ cozy mysteries
🧩 suspects left and right
🏡 small towns
🎭 drama

The audiobook for this one was cozy to listen to as well. The narrator had the perfect voice for our FMC. Her southern voices for all the characters were spot on.
Length: 9 hours
Narrator: Hallie Bee Bard

Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, & Minotaur Books (SMP) for the free ARC & ALC in exchange for an honest review!

Thanks to NetGalley for the free ALC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is the epitome of cosy mystery, although it does offer larger stakes than many others of the same genre, with fully named and established characters actually at risk. The characters are well rounded enough that there is a level of depth to them without their development overtaking the story.

The small town feel is done well however there is an aspect of realism that is sometimes lacking.

In 𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞𝗘𝗗 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗠𝗨𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗥, 𝗣.𝗝. 𝗡𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗼𝗻 delivers an atmospheric southern cozy mystery brimming with charm, suspense, and small-town intrigue. When Madeline Brimley inherits her late Aunt Rose’s eccentric Victorian bookstore in Enigma, Georgia, she hopes for a fresh start. But her arrival is anything but smooth: a gazebo fire, chilling threats, and a murder in the store itself leave her fighting to clear her name. Madeline is a determined protagonist whose resilience and quick thinking make her a compelling lead. The quirky supporting cast, including new friends who help untangle the town’s secrets, adds humor and warmth to this otherwise suspenseful tale. Nelson’s vivid descriptions bring the old bookstore and small-town setting to life, creating an engaging backdrop for the unfolding mystery. This series opener is a delightful blend of southern charm, danger, and cozy escapism. Fans of bookstore mysteries and strong heroines will love this intriguing caper.

This was such a cozy read! It’s perfect for winter and the season, and while it seemed to drag in some parts, it was still good!

This debut cosy murder book, was a great listen, with some very quirky characters.

When Madeline inherits her aunts house/bookshop, she has to move back to live there and run the bookshop, but then she starts getting threatening letters and someone tries to set the place on fire...

It has mystery and great characters who develop well throughout all in all a wonderful listen

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.

Rating: 4/5
I received an eARC for my honest opinion.

I liked this murder mystery book a lot. It was cozy, it had mystery, a little bit of romance, murder and great characters.

This book is about Madeline who inherits her aunt’s house after she passed, but it’s not just a house. Upstairs is the house, and downstairs is a cute and cozy bookstore. However, when Madeline gets to Georgia and to the house someone sets ablaze the gazebo in the backyard, and now she is getting threatening calls telling her she needs to leave or else… Who is it in this small town where she grew up that is trying to kill her and destroy the house that she inherits?

This is the best book to read in the fall/winter, it’s cozy, it’s interesting, the writing style just flows, and you will find yourself ending the book within 1 sitting. I liked that the plot was engaging and still allowed you to have fun while wondering what will happen next. I liked the fact that the author made sure to paint a picture of what was going on or what the characters were thinking without giving the readers an info dump. There wasn’t a dull or boring moment in this book, something interesting was happening on every page and the reader will find themselves invested in the investigation, all the half-cooked ideas that Madeline came up with to later say “what was I thinking”. I found myself laughing and wondering to myself “did I pick the wrong person, did they do it”. I loved that there were twists and turns in the plot because it kept it fresh.

The characters were well developed, and I loved that you would see Madeline’s growth throughout the book… well other than her running into danger without back up lol. You will see a strong, determined woman who will not let anyone step all over her and what is hers now, but you will also see a small-town community come together to work through all the events that happen in this book. However, let's talk about that sexy handyman now lol. I need more of that man in this book lol or in another book, he was sweet, understanding but rational and a calming person for Madeline.

I received the audio for this book as well and I found the narrator did a great job with bringing this book to life. I loved how she changed her tones for all the emotions and the changing her voice for all the characters. I would definitely listen to another book by this narrator, and I would read another book from this author as well.

I want to thank NetGalley and Dreamscape/St. Martin Press for the opportunity to review this book.

After inheriting her aunt’s bookstore in a small town, Madeline finds herself battling arson and murder. She must solve the crimes before becoming the next victim.

This book is difficult to review because the writing is so smart while the heroine is TSTL. Madeline makes terrible decision after terrible decision with no explanation for why a smart person would do that, other than “I need the heroine to make this terrible decision in order for my plot to work.” I also felt like the victim was too well-developed for cozy mystery. The combination of a Southern literary style with cozy mystery was a bit jarring at first, but I got used to it. I enjoyed the audiobook narration.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

What a fun mystery and absolutely loved the narrator! I enjoyed the plot and there were definitely great twists. Would definitely recommend to mystery fans

Dreamscape Media ALC
I really enjoyed this southern cozy mystery. I liked how it took the main plot points of the genre and messed with them just a bit to give the story a completely fresh feel, while I also knew what to expect. I thought the eclectic bookstore Madeline inherited was such an interesting place for bad things to happen. This book showed how valuable friendships are, how we can care for someone quickly, and how everyone in a small town is a suspect. It also explored grief and moving on to what's next. The narration was so fun to listen to, and I'll continue to listen to this series because the performance was top notch.

This was atmospheric and cozy!

I really enjoyed the setting, and the cast of characters. I don’t typically read a lot of cozy mysteries, but I enjoyed this one. I do feel like there was maybe a touch too much going on with all of the sub plots, and the pacing was a little off. Other than that, this was definitely enjoyable.

Apparently, it's either romances or cozy mysteries for me in December! Booked For Murder, An Old Juniper Bookstore Mystery, by P. J. Nelson is book one in this fun new series!

Madaline Brimley is met with arson after returning to small-town Georgia to run an inherited bookstore, but threatening phone calls quickly escalate to murder for this amateur sleuth.

The loss of one character shortly after being introduced to them pulled at my heart strings! I felt the same way as Madaline did because I too only just met and latched onto this now deceased character! They were the sweetest, and then they were gone too soon!

As this is the first book in a new series, there isn't a lot to judge it on, but Nelson did a great job with atmospheric descriptions and in laying the groundwork for series continuation.

Hallie Bee Bard created a truly entertaining audiobook! The appropriate voices for all characters added to my enjoyment and allowed for each individual to be easily distinguished amongst the others!

Overall, this was a quick and entertaining mystery!

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and Dreamscape Media for the complimentary copies to read and review.