A weekend of events are planned at the bookstore and matchmaking will take place. Plans will be disrupted by the discovery of a body outside the bookshop. What is going on and are others in danger?

Well written and narrated novel (I listened to the audiobook). Good characters in this cosy crime novel. Well paced and lots of investigations will be needed to resolve mysteries.enjoy.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ -NetGalley Audiobook 🎧

<b>Description:</b>
Annie Murray’s Valentine’s Day plans take a sinister turn when a beloved pillar of the local community is found dead at her Agatha Christie-inspired bookshop.

<b>Review:</b>
I didn’t realize this was book #5 of the A Secret Bookcase Mystery series when I requested it. The plot was easy to follow and interesting, but the series has a continuing storyline that, although explained during this story, is better read from the beginning. My favorite character, unfortunately, was not a continuing character. It was good, but not a series I’ll start from the beginning at this time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review. Publication Date: 02/10/25

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 Stars (Excellent)
Setting: The Enchanting Town of Redwood Grove
Genre: Cozy Mystery

Ellie Alexander delivers another delightful installment in A Victim at Valentine’s, seamlessly blending cozy mystery charm with suspense and a touch of romance. Set in the enchanting town of Redwood Grove, the story takes an unexpected turn when a well-respected community member is found dead in Annie Murray’s Agatha Christie-inspired bookshop. What should have been a sweet Valentine’s Day quickly becomes a thrilling whodunit filled with quirky suspects, old secrets, and surprising twists.

Annie is a wonderfully engaging protagonist, balancing her investigative instincts with personal struggles tied to a decade-old tragedy. Her chemistry with Liam adds a lovely romantic subplot without overshadowing the central mystery. The town’s colorful characters—from a peculiar psychic to a rival bookseller—keep the plot intriguing, ensuring readers are constantly second-guessing their suspicions.

The audiobook narration is particularly outstanding, bringing Redwood Grove and its inhabitants to life with immersive storytelling. While the mystery unfolds at a steady pace, a few plot points feel slightly predictable, keeping it just shy of a perfect five-star rating. However, the warm atmosphere, clever clues, and engaging twists make this a must-read for fans of cozy mysteries.

Whether you’re a longtime follower of the Secret Bookcase Mystery series or a newcomer, A Victim at Valentine’s is an irresistible treat—perfect for curling up with a cup of tea and getting lost in a captivating small-town whodunit. #netgalley #avictimatvalentines

Ellie Alexander can do no wrong with her cozy bookstore mysteries! A Victim At Valentine's is the fifth installment of The Secret Bookcase Mystery series, and it is just as good as each book before it! It's a cozy mystery set in Redwood Grove, where our girl Annie Murray is back at it again, solving another murder mystery.
It is right around Valentine's Day, and Annie is contacted to host a Valentine's Day singles mixer at the bookstore. Annie is excited, and with the help of her partner, Fletcher, she's sure she can pull it off. But of course, this wouldn't be a Secret Bookcase Mystery without a murder!
This is yet again another great cozy murder mystery by Ellie Alexander. By this point, I feel so connected to each character that I go into these books 100% invested. The plot is great, the twist at the end was wonderful, and as usual, Annie and Liam.. loved them! Fletcher is a favorite too, and I'm happy to see him exploring this new side!
My only issue is the whole Scarlett situation. With every book, we only get a little, small nibble. I'm starting to wonder how long it would take for us to actually make some real progress in solving her murder. A solid 4 star read overall.
Thank you NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Ellie Alexander for this ARC.

Plot follows Anne who is almost a co-owner of The Secret Bookcase Bookshop, with Valentine's Day being just around the corner; George, a sponsor / philanthropist asks Anne to host a matchmaking event. The day arrives and it not only brings crowds but a death package... Anne now has to solve the murder instead of going on her dinner date...

This is the 5th book in the series,  I personally read it as a standalone and it was easy to follow in terms of the mystery it's centered around but character development and plot wise you may want to start with the first one ( I'm planning to)
This was an enjoyable read, fast paced and short, however one thing that felt out of place was the mention of Indian arranged marriages (?) In 2025(?) I sure do hope not lol

The you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC

I have been enjoying this series from Ellie Alexander. Annie runs an Agatha Christie themed Mystery bookshop and they are hosting a Valentine's Mingle for customers looking for love. Everything is going to plan when a pilar of the community is found dead the morning of the event. Annie has a list of potential suspects and determines the killer just in time for Valentine’s day.

I enjoy our main protagonist Annie and her coworkers Fletcher and Hal, they make a great team. The cozy atmosphere of this book is great and I highly recommend it if you are a cozy mystery reader. There is a plot point that started in book one so I suggest reading in order, you won’t be disappointed!

This book comes out on February 10th, grab yourself a copy!

Thank you Dreamscape Media for an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve listened to the other four books in this series and loved them all. This one was a great addition to the series and in perfect time for Valentine’s Day since it has a theme of match making in a book store.
Great narration as always and well written. I love this cozy mystery series.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Dreamscape for my copy of A Victim at Valentine's by Ellie Alexander Narrated by Ellen Quay in exchange for an honest review. It publishes February 10, 2025.
First off, Ellen Quay rocked this narration! I hope to hear more of her work in the future!
I really enjoyed this installment in the Secret Bookcase series! I loved how ominous it felt, I couldn’t put it down!
I loved how everyone’s personal and professional lives kept moving along, you can see some real character development! I love it!

This is my second read from Ellie Alexander and she did not disappoint! Victim at Valentine’s by Ellie Alexander is a delightful cozy mystery perfect for the season. Set in the charming town of Redwood Grove, the story blends intrigue, small-town charm, and a touch of romance. The protagonist, Annie Murray, is a relatable and determined, and the mystery unfolds with plenty of twists to keep readers engaged. With well-developed characters, a cozy atmosphere, and a compelling plot, this book is an enjoyable read for fans of the genre. Whether you’re new to the series or a returning reader, it’s a great pick for a Valentine’s-themed mystery!

A Victim at Valentine’s is the fifth cozy mystery in the A Secret Bookcase Mystery series. It’s Valentine’s in Redwood Grove and the bookshop is holding a match making event. When the event turns deadly, Annie Murray assists in unraveling the secrets and uncovering suspects. Will Annie get to the bottom of the mystery before it’s too late?

Cozy mysteries are my favorites and even though I haven’t read any of the other books in this series this holiday themed book caught my eye this time of year and I knew I wanted to read it. This was an enjoyable cozy mystery that was fast paced and easy to read. I didn’t see the killer coming and was surprised to see who did it at the end. I liked Annie and her friends and thought they were a good cast of characters that I’d like to visit again. I was able to read this mystery without a problem even though I haven’t read any of the other books in the series. I do plan on going back and starting this series from the beginning though. I really enjoyed this and would recommend it to anyone looking for a non romance book for Valentine’s Day!

(3.75 stars)
If you’re a fan of cozy mysteries, you definitely should take a look at the Secret Bookcase series by Ellie Alexander. It is filled with interesting recurring characters, from the main female character, Annie Murray, who is the special events coordinator of this mystery-centric bookstore, to her boyfriend/pub owner, Liam, to her bookstore-colleague/detective-partner, Fletcher, to her good friend, coffee shop owner Pri. Each book takes place in a small town in northern California, Redwood Grove. The bookstore itself is almost a character! As always, Ellie Alexander knows how to write a strong mystery story.

This time, the Secret Bookcase bookstore is hosting a Valentine’s-themed event: a matchmaking weekend revolving around books! This makes it perfect for readers who love a seasonal story.

A local philanthropist is found dead and an investigation ensues. (I had trouble guessing the perpetrator!) In addition, there’s progress in a case that has been an overarching theme in each of the previous four books, the murder of Annie’s friend Scarlet, a number of years ago; it looks like we are getting close to the solution at last!

I zoomed through this one, mainly via the audiobook version, which was well narrated by Ellen Quay.

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

Such a great edition of this fun series! I loved the character progression and the updates in Scarlet’s murder. The overarching narrative of the mysteries is just so intriguing!!

This was a good cozy - nothing spectacular, but it held my interest for sure. I would like to see more of the sleuthing, kind of felt disconnected from that.
The narrator did a nice job.

This was a cozy murder mystery set in an independent bookstore at Valentine’s Day - check, check, check 😉 It’s an easy, entertaining read (/listen) that manages to feel low stakes (you know, minus the whole murder situation).

It is part of a larger series, so there was a continuing storyline that I couldn’t fully appreciate, but it didn’t take away from the main story in this book!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the audio ARC!

A Victim at Valentine’s was a great addition to the Bakeshop Mystery series. The cozy town that the story took place in gave it a homelike vibe, despite the underlying suspense and mystery of solving a murder. I thoroughly enjoyed this classic “whodunnit” story and it was perfect for this Valentine’s Day season. The story kept me engaged the entire time and the narration was absolutely amazing!

Annie is enjoying working at a cozy bookstore, but when a Pilar of the community is murdered and left outside her bookstore, she has to investigate the likely, unlikely, and usual suspects to solve this murder mystery. Join these easy to love characters as they piece together clues to find their culprit.

Thank you Dreamscape Media for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

A Victim at Valentine's
by Ellie Alexander
Narrated by Ellen Quay

I received an ARC of this audiobook through Netgalley.

This was a cozy mystery mostly that takes place in an ideal bookstore. I enjoyed the book, but not the characters.

I felt like I was coming to a movie late and missed the main plot, the character development, and a clear idea of what the movie theater even looked like.

When I looked the book up - it turns out this was book 5 in the A Secret Bookcase Mystery series by Ellie Alexander.

I am hopeful that the other books give the target audience a better idea of those things. But, since I read this as a standalone book - it was only okay.

I can only hope I would have liked the book better if I had read the other 4 books first!

Overall: Good as a cozy mystery as long as you don’t feel the need for character development. My advice: Read the other books first.

I loved this audio! This was such a spectacular story, I was impressed with the twist of this book. Such a good Valentine's book. I was not expecting the end at all. A Victim at Valentine's is the must read thriller for February.

The Victim at Valentine's by Ellie Alexander is a charming and fresh take on the classic cozy mystery. The unique dynamic between the protagonist and the lead detective—who encourages her to help solve the murder—adds a fun twist to the genre. The cast of intriguing suspects and lovable supporting characters makes you feel right at home, and you’ll find yourself rooting for them every step of the way. With a clever plot that keeps you guessing, the unexpected ending will leave you pleasantly surprised. Ellen Quay’s narration is engaging and perfectly matches the story’s tone. (I received an advance listener copy and all opinions are my own.) A delightful read from start to finish!

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the audio version. First off I enjoyed the narrator. I have read a previous novel from this series. So I was excited to read another one. I think this book was okay. If you are looking for a fast cozy murder mystery, you will like this one. Even though it is part of a series there is mention of a previous murder but in the last novel I read in the series this is just about an unsolved murder of her friend she has been trying to solve. I will say I think the story felt very very rushed in some spots and the ending more so. I don't think it needed to be longer but maybe planned out a little better. It just felt so abrupt. Anyways I would recommend for all those murder mystery novel fans out there!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for allowing me to listen to this in exchange for an honest review.

When Annie Murray agrees to host a Valentines Day event at the Secret Staircase she gets more than she bargained for when village patron George shows up dead. Could his murder have something to do with the death of her best friend Scarlet years ago?

This was a fun cozy mystery with a great narrator.