The Victim at Valentine's by Ellie Alexander is a cozy mystery set in the charming town of Redwood Grove. The story follows Annie Murray, the owner of an Agatha Christie-inspired bookshop, whose Valentine's Day plans take a dark turn when a beloved community member is found dead in her shop. As Annie assists the lead detective in solving the crime, she uncovers a web of secrets and suspects, including a psychic, a matchmaker, and a rival bookseller.
The novel also ties in a decade-old tragedy involving Annie's best friend, adding emotional depth to the mystery. With its engaging plot, vibrant characters, and a touch of romance, this book is a delightful read for fans of cozy mysteries. Ellie Alexander's writing captures the charm of small-town life while keeping readers guessing until the very end.
If you're a fan of Agatha Christie-style mysteries with a modern twist, this might be a perfect pick for you! Have you read other books in the Secret Bookcase Mystery series?

I have enjoyed all of the books in the Secret Bookcase series written by Ellie Alexander. Books about bookshops and murder just grab my attention and I’m ready to get lost in the pages! The characters are well developed and you will come to love Annie and the rest of the gang in Redwood Grove. A murder mystery while the bookshop is hosting a Valentine’s Day matching making event will grab your attention and have you flipping through the pages quickly. Lots of twist and turns and clues that will have you wondering who is guilty of murder. And then you get a shock at the end when new information is revealed about the death of Annie’s best friend, Scarlet. You will gasp out loud! I am, however, sad to know that there will only be one more book in this series. So I strongly encourage you to go back to the first book in the series and read them all while we anxiously await the release of the final book. I can’t wait to see what the gang at the Secret Bookcase will get into next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

Adult
Contemporary
Cozy Mystery
Mystery

*Victim at Valentine's* is a cozy mystery with the perfect blend of suspense and charm. Set in the picturesque town of Redwood Grove, the story quickly pulls you in with the mysterious death of a well-known community member at Annie Murray’s Agatha Christie-inspired bookshop. As Annie works alongside the lead detective to uncover the truth, there’s no shortage of intriguing suspects, from a quirky psychic to a rival bookseller, all with believable motives.

The plot kept me guessing, and Annie’s sharp eye for detail was a fun highlight, especially when she starts uncovering ties to a tragedy from her past. Though the mystery kept me engaged, this is book 5 of a series and the main mystery fell a little flat as the suspects were one dimensional, the overall book was probably geared towards readers who have read books 1-4 as the big twist actually delt with a mystery that has spanned all previous books. Without that context it felt a little slow at times. The romance with Liam adds a nice touch, though it’s clearly secondary to the crime-solving.

The narration was great, and overall, it’s an enjoyable, page-turning listen for fans of cozy mysteries with a dash of romance. Highly recommend it for a cozy evening in when wanting an easy read.

A fast-paced mystery with great supporting characters and a long-lasting feeling of “who would have done this?” While this book is later in an ongoing series, it was my first experience with the series and author. I believe the book stands well on its own, and you don’t need to read the previous books to enjoy it. However, if you go back and read previous titles, you could have some potential spoilers.

The narrator was terrific and matched the tone of the story.

A Victim at Valentine's was a pleasant enough cozy mystery. The Agatha Christie-inspired bookshop setting was charming, and I enjoyed Annie's amateur sleuthing. While the plot was a bit predictable, it was a light and entertaining read. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This was exactly what I expect from Ellie Alexander- a fast paced, enjoyable cozy mystery! I have noticed that Alexander writes her books with a strong sense of place and great supporting characters. It always makes me feel like I'm there, and the MC's friends are my people, too. This was the first book of this series that I've read, so I definitely felt like I was missing info from the series mystery (the murder investigation of her best friend.) Fortunately, it's not imperative to have read the rest to enjoy this book, but it will make you want to go back and read the previous ones! Narrator did a great job- I enjoyed her voice (read at 1.5 speed.) Overall, enjoyable read!

In A Victim at Valentine's, Ellie Alexander brings readers back to the cozy town of Redwood Grove for a Valentine’s Day mystery filled with twists, secrets, and plenty of heart. When a well-loved member of the community is found dead at Annie Murray’s Agatha Christie-inspired bookshop, the town is rocked to its core. Annie, ever the detective at heart, teams up with the lead investigator to help crack the case, uncovering a web of motives that points to a colorful cast of suspects.

From a quirky psychic to a professional matchmaker, to a rival bookseller with a grudge, each suspect offers a plausible—and worrying—motive. As Annie digs deeper, she begins to wonder if the murder is connected to a decade-old tragedy: the death of her best friend, Scarlett, which still haunts her to this day. Putting her own Valentine’s Day plans with her charming love interest, Liam, on the back burner, Annie must find the killer before she ends up as the next victim.

Alexander's writing shines as she perfectly captures the atmospheric charm of Redwood Grove, making it a perfect setting for a Valentine’s Day mystery. The Secret Bookcase is decked out with paper hearts, blind-date-with-a-book packages, and the promise of a matchmaking weekend, but the murder of a beloved town figure quickly turns the festivities into a deadly game.

As Annie works through the case, I couldn’t help but feel on edge, trying to piece together the puzzle alongside her. The suspense is palpable, and I found myself second-guessing every suspect. What truly stands out in this installment is how Annie's pursuit of justice for Scarlett ties into the current case, providing a deeply emotional layer to the mystery. Annie gets closer and closer to the solution.

If you’ve been following the series, A Victim at Valentine's is a brilliant continuation that keeps you on the edge of your seat while tugging at your heartstrings. If you love a well-paced, cozy mystery with emotional depth, this is a must-read. I’m eagerly awaiting the next book to see how Annie’s journey unfolds!

This was the first book of this series that I read. Despite references to previous books I felt it could be read as a stand alone.
This was a fast paced cozy mystery for which I am always a sucker. I enjoyed the characters and enjoyed trying to figure out whodunnit. As a whole I felt it was a good book with a good story and characters and a fast read.

A Victim at Valentine's is the 5th and second to last book in this wonderful series. The Secret Bookcase Bookshop is hosting a matchmaking event to celebrate Valentine’s Day, at the request of a local pillar of the community, George. Things are going well, but after the first even, Annie finds George dead on a bench. It appears that he has died from a serious allergic reaction. The police are called and they determine that someone might have deliberately introduced an allergin to George. They encourage Annie to continue with the events so they can investigate without anyone leaving town. Annie is working on her PI licence, but she is still invited to help in the investigation. George was a philanthropist, helping others in the community and investing in small businesses, so who would want to harm him?

As Annie questioned people and investigated, she was able to determine a handful of suspects, but who would have known about George's allergy? I found the investigation in this one a bit weak, but I enjoyed all the goings on in the story. The events for the Match Making were fun and I liked that Hall, Annie's future partner might have found someone he is interested in. I love the recurring characters in this series as they are great friends, and a bit quirky. I have to say that Priya was not annoying in this one, like she was in the last book. There is some danger as Annie figures out who is responsible, but she is able to bring the mystery to a satisfying conclusion. The ending of this one has Annie finding out a name in her investigation of the death of her BFF, and it looks like the conclusion of that mystery is forthcoming. Ellen Quay is doing a wonderful job narrating this series. Her voices match the characters in my head and her tone, pace and expression add to my enjoyment of the story.

A great addition to a wonderful series! I enjoyed the narrator and the pace of the book. It keeps you entertained and engaged.

This is book 5 in this series and while I have read a couple I haven’t read them all and still enjoyed this one a lot. Annie is preparing for her private detective license test as well as for a matchmaking event at her bookstore. She is shaken when she finds a local dead and she’s excited when her friend who is investigating for the police asks her to help. I really liked the side characters (especially the crows!). The mystery was well done and I liked the pace of clues and how it all came together. I didn’t get everything right but I did get a lot of it. I really like the setting for this series too, the book store seems really cool and I am definitely going to finish this series. I listened to the audiobook for this one. The narrator was good and definitely helped bring the story to life for me.

This was the first book of this series that I read. There is reference to previous happenings but still could be read alone.
This was a cute mystery that went fast. I enjoyed the characters and had fun trying to guess who was the killer, which I am terrible at by the way. Overall a quick cute read with a good plot!!

This is the first book I read by author Ellie Alexander. I was not able to get into the audio, however, I did finish the book. I did enjoy the audio book by Dreamscape media. This book gave me the vibe of a YA Mystery book.

Annie own a cute little book store and she decided to have a love matching event on Valentine's day. One morning she found a dead body in front of her store. Annie uses her investigation skills to help the police find the killer. Apart from mystery there is also a cute PG romance between Annie and Liam (pub owner).

I do need to state that every time the psychics voice would come up I would laugh because it reminded me of Sybil Trelawney's voice (fortune teller of HP).

I recommend the book if you want a season simple book.

I enjoyed this audiobook. A Victim at Valentine's is the fifth book in the "A secret bookcase mystery" series. I have read only book one in this series but that was not a problem. The book is written so that you can read it as a stand-alone book. The narrator of the book is Ellen Quay and she does a great job of keeping you entertained and engaged in the book.
I love that this fictional city is located in the San Francisco Bay Area. My hometown is even mentioned a few times in the story very fun.
Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for an advance copy. This is my honest thoughts on this book.

A Victim at Valentine's by Ellie Alexander

lighthearted mysterious medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75

A Victim for Valentine was a fun, easy listen with just the right amount of holiday charm! While it didn’t blow me away, it was an enjoyable ride, perfect for when you want something light but still engaging. The cute references sprinkled throughout added an extra layer of charm, making it a great seasonal read.

The Narrator voice adds to the cozy mystery vibe. It’s upbeat and maintains intrigue without making it too tense.

The mystery itself was solid nothing groundbreaking, but it kept me entertained. The pacing was smooth, and the audiobook made it even easier to sink into the story. If you’re looking for a cozy, Valentines themed whodunit that won’t demand too much from you, this one is a solid choice!

An immersive, cosy murder mystery themed around love. I haven’t read the previous books in the series, so at times, I was a little confused, but it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of A Victim at Valentine’s. For me, the immersive description was a standout in this book and really pulled me into the story. It was a quick and enjoyable listen.



Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an audiobook ARC.

I love this. My first from the series but rest assured u will go back and get ready for the last. So good!

I like to try new-to-me cozy mysteries. So while this is book 5 in the Secret Bookcase mystery series, I haven't read the previous books in the series. Actually, I didn't realize it was book 5 and while listening to it, I thought it was book 1 in the series.

I felt like this was a young adult or even a middle-grade book though the characters are adults. The main character Annie overexplained everything. I mean what mystery reader doesn't know it is important to narrow down the time of death. Plus, when she was told she might be in danger she responded it's okay, "I studied criminology". I mean it would be like someone saying they needed a doctor and I respond "I can take care of it I studied biology." It would have been better if she had some self-defense. But it is the kind of response I would expect from a teenager.

I also couldn't figure out how Dr. Cadwell was related to the police department. At first, I thought she was the medical examiner or forensic scientist. Then Annie mentioned she was a professor at the local college so I thought perhaps she was a consultant because I had never heard of someone being a police detective AND a college professor as both are pretty demanding jobs. So it felt unrealistic to me. Perhaps it is explained in an earlier book.

The setting is cute - I liked the bookstore in an old manor with themed rooms and the Valentine's weekend match-making event looked fu. The mystery was interesting as I didn't know any of the characters so I couldn't really pinpoint the motive or who had done it. But I don't think I will keep reading this series. It just wasn't for me - I have so many cozy mystery series right now that it has to be spectacular for me to consider adding it to my must-read list. If you are new to the genre, this would be a good book to pick up.

The narrator, Ellen Quay, did a great job with the different character voices. I haven't listened to any other books she has read, but I would listen to another book with her as the narrator.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Sunday - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2025/02/a-victim-at-valentines-by-ellie.html

This was such a good read! It had a great pace that kept me engaged throughout, and the story was easy to follow. At first, it took me a little while to adjust to the narrator's style, but once I did, I found that the voice was perfect for a cozy mystery. The mix of charm, suspense, and a touch of humor created the ideal atmosphere for the genre. Overall, a delightful and cozy read—perfect for a relaxing escape! Highly recommended for anyone looking for an entertaining and light-hearted mystery.

A Victim at Valentine’s by Ellie Alexander ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Valentine’s Day takes a deathly turn when a well-known and loved man from this otherwise safe and quiet community is found dead outside Annie’s bookshop. Launching into a classic “Who-dun-it,” Annie helps law enforcement to narrow down suspects, motives, and gather evidence. I wasn’t convinced on any of the suspects and found myself guessing until the end! I listened to the book on audio and found it was an easy, enjoyable little mystery with sprinkles of romance.💘 A cozy, perfect read for Valentine’s Day!

Thank you @netgalley + @ellie_alexander 💋

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