We're back with another head-scratching mystery at my favorite fictional bookstore.
After the first night of a matchmaking event where some weird stuff went down including a palm reader making some dire remarks, one of the town's beloved residents is found dead in front of the store.
Annie of course is going to investigate, not only did she personally know the victim but she also found him outside her beloved bookstore.
There were plenty of twists and turns along the way as Annie investigated, and it kept me on the edge of my seat trying to figure out who the killer would be.. I'm excited for the conclusion of the series where we finally get too find out the truth behind what happened to Scarlet!!

Annie and her business partner Fletcher run an Agatha Christie inspired bookstore in Redwood Cove. When one of the much-loved locals is found dead just before a Valentine's day event at the bookstore, Annie uses her sleuthing skills to help the detective on the case to find the truth. There are quite a few suspects to choose from including a rival bookstore employee, a potential old flame and a crazy psychic. Who killed George and is his murder linked to the murder of her best friend 10 years previously?

I enjoyed this easy and cosy read with likeable characters and a book-related setting. Who doesn't love a storyline about people whose lives are surrounded by books - my ultimate dream life!! I was able to finish this book in a couple of days and while it was a lot of fun to read, and I didn't guess where the storyline was heading, I felt the story lacked depth. Had the characters been better developed with more background development of the story, I would have given it a higher rating.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book to read and review.

Cozy, funny, and suspenseful all packaged with a bow! The 5th book of the Secret Bookcase mysteries. In my opinion the books should be read in order as there is a background story that unfolds throughout the entire series. Each book also has a standalone main plot but to enjoy the characters and coziness of the town of Redwood Grove, it is necessary to read every book from the series in order.

The main character, Annie Murray, is intelligent, brave, and relatable. Her coworkers and friends in Redwood Grove create such a cozy feel with their relationships and interactions. In addition to the cozy feel goods this book brings, it is not short on mystery and suspense! A murder at the Secret Bookcase book store!! In the style of Agatha Christie, everyone has the means and the motive! Annie brainstorms her way through each suspect racing to find the murderer. Working alongside the local detective and her personal friend, Dr. Caldwell, they must work quickly to solve the case.

Thanks to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and Ellie Alexander for the ARC and chance to give my honest opinion!

Lovely coz murder mystery. Always enjoy this series

Always a pageturner until the end

Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing

When a beloved member of the local community turns up dead outside the bookstore at which Annie works, she's determined to figure out who killed him. And even more determined when she thinks there may be a connection between his death and the death of her best friend and college classmate a decade prior. With lots of suspects, Valentine's Day festivities, and a budding romance, Annie has her work cut out for her.

I've really loved this whole Secret Bookcase series and cannot wait for the sixth and final installment. I am SO intrigued to see what really happened to Scarlet, Annie's murdered friend, and for Annie and Liam to finally formalize their relationship. But! I will also be so sad it's over. Maybe we can get a season two, with another overarching mystery?? Anyway, this book was one of my favorite installments in the series, with everything just tying together really nicely. A very solid, enjoyable cozy mystery.

Thanks to Storm Publishing for my eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

5 stars - 9/10

Who doesn't love a cozy series set in a bookshop?

Annie's half bookseller and half detective, and she makes it work. The mystery in this book is well plotted, and the resolution is satisfying. The motive isn't anything earth-shatteringly new, but it's well played out. It's also one of those times when the identity of the murderer makes me kind of sad. Those books stay with me longer, I'll admit.

While part of the resolution is fairly simple, there's a more complex side to it, too. That's because there's more than one devious thing happening. That's satisfying, as well, because some of my instincts about characters were proved right, and some were proved wrong.

I love knowing that the next book in this series is the last one. Not because I don't like the series--I do! But because I know the overarching story arc about Scarlet's death will be resolved, along with whatever the individual murder in that final book is.

Some of my favorite series are dragging on too a bit too long. I'm glad to see this shorter sort of series, with a bit of an overarching storyline, but with strong individual mysteries. A series that ends before it's gone on too long. Bring on the grand finale!

Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Book Name: A Victim at Valentine's
Author Name: Ellie Alexander
Pub Date: Feb, 10, 2025
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NetGalley and Publisher: Thank you @netgalley and @stormbooks_co for the ARC!

Description:
In the cozy town of Redwood Grove, Annie Murray’s Valentine’s Day plans are upended when a cherished community member is found dead in her Agatha Christie-inspired bookshop. With a wide range of suspects, including an eccentric psychic, a rival bookseller, and even a professional matchmaker, the case becomes increasingly complex.

As Annie delves deeper, she uncovers connections to the unresolved tragedy of her best friend’s death, which still casts a shadow over her life. With Valentine’s plans with the charming Liam on hold, Annie must use her sharp instincts to unravel the truth before the killer strikes again.

This delightful cozy mystery, filled with romance and intrigue, is perfect for fans of Tonya Kappes, Lauren Elliott, and Ellery Adams.

My Thoughts:
Unputdownable cozy mystery! This was such a fun read i couldn’t get enough!
I was immediately drawn to this book because of the Agatha Christie connection, and it did not disappoint. Ellie Alexander has created a captivating world in Redwood Grove, and Annie’s Agatha Christie-themed bookshop is a dream come true for mystery lovers.

I especially loved the touch of whimsy with Annie’s crow companions they added charm and an unexpected layer to the story. The characters are richly drawn, the suspects intriguing, and the mystery kept me guessing until the very last page.

The blend of romance and mystery was perfectly balanced, and Annie’s relationship with Liam was heartwarming without overshadowing the gripping plot. The ties to Annie’s past added emotional depth, making this more than just a surface-level whodunit.

If you love cozy mysteries with clever twists, endearing characters, and an ode to Agatha Christie, A Victim at Valentine's is a must-read. Ellie Alexander has nailed it with this utterly addictive and delightful book.

#AVictimatValentines #NetGalley

Using books to make a love connection is a bookworm's perfect match. We meet Victoria, who may be perfect for Fletcher....or may be a killer. Jekyll and Hyde the bookstore crows provide some entertainment and a bit of ominousness when needed. I hope they'll continue to play a role. Along the way we learn more about Liam and Dr. Caldwell, plus a major lead in Scarlet's murder. Looking forward to seeing how that wraps up in the next, final book.

Another home run annd so enjoyable! I do everything Ellie Alexander writes, her books are just fun easy reads that take me away to another world.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review book

This was a pretty good book. I haven't read those that came before this one, but everything was still easy to understand, and I didn't feel lost. I'll probably go back and read the first four anyway because I liked these characters. The story was good, the murder was well done, and the twists were fantastic. This is a very good cozy mystery with good characters and good story.
The only thing I didn't really like and got a little bored with was the whole crow thing. I won't say much about it, but it was a little weird at times. Other than that, great story.

This is a good Valentine’s Day themed cozy mystery. As much as I have enjoyed reading the series, I am ready for it to end. Annie has a couple of TSTL moments throughout the book. I look forward to reading the final book when it is released.

A Victim at Valentine’s is an absolute delight for cozy mystery lovers! Set in the charming town of Redwood Grove, this fifth installment in the Secret Bookcase Mystery series delivers a mix of suspense, small-town charm, and a touch of romance.

When a local icon is found dead on Valentine’s Day, Annie’s sharp mind and love of mysteries are put to the test. I loved that she has a degree in criminology, it makes the investigation more realistic. How nice that she also owns a bookstore. The colorful cast of suspects, from a quirky psychic to a rival bookseller, keeps the intrigue alive. I wouldn't have minded more details regarding the bookstore. On the bright side, we have matchmaking for book lovers, a coffee corner, and a lot of twists and turns.

This one did not hit for me. It had a good idea in the story line and the characters were well thought out but I saw the clues and the ending before I got to the end but it got me out of a reading slump which was awesome so thank you for that. But I do want to read more books by this author

Another home run I love everything she writes . They are just fun easy reads that take me away to another world.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review book

Cute Valentine's read with a mystery twist! Annie runs a bookstore and is hosting a love match weekend for locals. The vibe of the bookstore is spot on for Valentine's Day. When a local man is found dead, she goes into detective mode to solve the case.

So cute, just in time for Valentine's! I didn't read the others in this series, but the author does a great job at filling you in. Cute little cozy read just in time for Valentine's.

This book is another winner for the Secret Bookcase series. Over the course of the series, we have come to know a cast of quirky characters who make Redwood Grove sound like a charming place to chase down killers. Unfortunately, with more information forthcoming in the Scarlett story line, it feels like we are moving toward a conclusion that will leave us sad to see this bunch go. This is a book that takes place at Valentines day with another fun event planned with the style Annie has become known for in the series. Since, it is a book about love, we see Annie and Liam's connection deepen with some hard truths and new love for Fletcher. Also, new, this book added a few more non-human characters who ultimately have a handle in solving the puzzle. I won't spoil how crows help save the day but I will say their inclusion and personalities were unique to this story.
The mystery was more suspenseful than action packed but the author did a nice job of reeling the audience in. As I read, I found myself developing my own theories which were wrong. It was fun to go with Annie as she developed and rejected multiple theories herself. Along, we her, the author helped us move toward the crow assisted conclusion to one story. That is a long way of saying there were plenty of red herrings. The suspense blended nicely with the Valentines theme both giving Annie time to watch and question her suspects. The Valentines event also sounded a touch suspenseful as books were used to help make the Storybook matches for the town folk.
Overall, this was a fun book. I anxiously and sadly await the next. We know the next book will bring us answers about Scarlet's story but it will also be time to say goodbye to this fun crew and the awesome events the authors uses as the backdrop for murder and suspense.
Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Thank you Storm Publishing and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion !

A murder mystery Valentines day? Sign me up! Although I haven't read the first few Secret Bookcase mysteries, it was easy to follow along Annie's story and discover how she would assist with solving the case. I loved the cast of characters, and especially love the psychic thrown in! The writing made me feel I was a part of this small town and even with what seemed to be murders left and right, I would love to visit this town and just partkae in their antics. Super cute and cozy mystery read just in time for Valentines day!

I really enjoyed this installment in the Secret Bookcase Mysteries! I thought I had predicted the twist at the end of this one, but the truth threw me for a loop and felt more believable. I'm just sad that it seems like the next book will be the last in this series!

A good cozy mystery series. This one has the book store allowing a dating matchmaker to offer some events over Valentine's Day. Finding a body on the front porch on the second morning was not part of the plan. Good story and enjoyed it, along with the running murder mystery from others in the series. Would recommend.

A Victim at Valentine’s in the 5th in the Secret Bookcase series by Ellie Alexander. In this outing, the main character, Annie, is putting together a matchmaking weekend event at the fabulous bookstore that she runs with her close friend, Fletcher. They are also close to launching the detective agency that they will run out of the store. Plus, there is the murder of her best friend from college that has been a running thread throughout the series.

This series has all of the proper cozy elements: amazing food and drink, a stunning setting in a cute town near the Pacific Ocean, likable characters who are generally supportive of each other and are developing further over time, an adorable pet. decent but not impossible to solve mysteries, and an in with the local police that allows information to pass freely.

But, and I can’t put my finger on just why, this series just doesn’t resonate with me in the same way that the author’s bakeshop mysteries do. Admittedly, I have only read a couple of the Secret Bookcase books, and I liked this one more than #2 in the series but think it may be the best friend backstory that puts me off. For something that seems to have impeded Annie’s life in such a big way, there doesn’t seem to be much progress with it, and she doesn’t seem to make it a priority.

Still, this book, which can be read as a standalone, will likely appeal to a lot of cozy readers. Overall, it is well written and a fun setting to spend some time in.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the e-ARK.
3.5 stars