I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

Last Word to the Wise is the second installment of the Christie Bookshop series. I clever series set in the mountains of Colorado.

Ellie and Meg Christie run their Book Chalet that has been in the family for decades. When their cousin decides to start a matchmaking business, the sisters are tapped to the the initial testers of the service. Ellie's date, is not a match, but Meg is definitely interested in her date. When the guy doesn't show up for the second date, Meg is angry. Feeling upset at the possibility of negative press, the cousin goes to the home of the guy to find out why he stood up Meg. One very good reason, he is dead, and it looks suspicious.

As the crime is solved, there are many twists, turns, and possible suspects. Who it is, you will not believe.

✨ Last Word to the Wise by Ann Claire is a cozy mystery you won't want to miss! 🕵️‍♀️ Set in the charming town of Wise, the story follows a librarian with a knack for solving crimes. When a local mystery unfolds, she dives right in, using her wit and love of books to crack the case. 📚🔍

The small-town vibes, quirky characters, and witty writing make this such a fun, feel-good read. While the mystery is solid, it’s the lovable characters and lighthearted humor that really steal the show. 💖

Perfect for cozy mystery lovers!

“The Christie sisters are back, and this time they’re facing their scariest challenge yet: blind dates! Their cousin Lorna has yet another business scheme in mind, and this one has books written all over it. She’s starting a bookish matchmaking service called Bibliophiles Find Love and has her eye on her first two guinea pigs, her cousins who just so happen to own a bookshop. Expecting another disaster story to add to their hilariously disastrous dating history, Ellie and Meg drag their feet but eventually agree to be paired up with men who match their reading tastes. Ellie’s date is as bad as expected and has her counting down the minutes until the end. Meg, on the other hand, hits it off with her match, and they part ways with plans for a second date the very next day. She is on cloud nine until he stands her up. After such a great night, what went wrong? Murder, that’s what, and Meg is the prime suspect. The Christie sisters have another case to solve, and with the investigation hitting so close to home, the stakes are even higher.”

*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from Bantam, an imprint of Ballantine Books, through NetGalley in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

“Dead and Gondola” gave me all the warm fuzzies I was expecting from a cozy mystery set atop a mountain inside a bookshop owned by a family with the surname Christie. I had high hopes for the sequel, perhaps too high, and it let me down. The Last Word, Colorado, setting is the same. The Christie family is the same. It’s everything else that falls short which is unfortunate because a murder mystery stemming from a bookish matchmaking service is such a promising premise.

I’ll start with some positives. Have no fear because Agatha C. Christie, the long-haired Siamese cat, is back, and she is still the real star of the show. The literary references are out in full force, and I expected nothing less. A pinch of Brontë, a dash of Gatsby, a healthy handful of Austen, and, of course, extra, heaping servings of Agatha Christie. For those of you faint at heart, prepare yourself for the very real possibility that the murder victim is Mr. Darcy. Don’t say I didn’t warn you! A copy of Agatha’s successful play The Mousetrap makes an appearance at a crime scene, a great reminder that I need to read the play script before I continue to call myself a fan. There’s a lot of romance to go around in this book, and Ellie gets her own chance at love in the form of Sam Ibarra. An amateur sleuth and a detective? Classic. A tale as old as time! This is the real cherry on top: There’s brief mention of a character who trail races with his donkey named Bartholamule. Go back and read that name again because I don’t think you laughed hard enough the first time.

The real problem with “Last Word to the Wise” is that it lacks balance, a fine line between cozy mystery cheesiness and cringey cheesiness. Something about the writing felt off compared to the first book, and some scenes played out too conveniently. When Ellie’s niece Rose disappears, she questions one of her school friends, and the question she chooses when time is of the essence is “have her reading tastes changed recently?” Apparently she has some kind of sixth sense when it comes to books. When Pasha responds that Rosie recently got into romances about high school sweethearts who reconnect years later, Ellie comes to the correct conclusion that Rosie’s dad is in her life again, the guy who left her mom at the altar years ago. That is way too on the nose, especially for a mystery. Remember when you were a kid and you had a tendency to spend more time describing what was going to happen instead of letting your imagination run free while playing? This book holds your hand and uses “baby talk,” and I don’t like being talked down to, as if I can’t deduce what’s going on.

After a few months of trying, I finally made my way to the end. I’m tempted to go lower, but for now, I’m landing on a Three Stars rating which feels accurate and fair despite my very strong feelings. This series still has promise, and if a third book is on its way, I’m willing to give it a chance. It’s hard to mask my disappointment so I’m going to leave you with this beautiful quote from Ellie Christie in chapter two: “As a kid, the vestibule had been my wardrobe to Narnia, my time-traveling phone box, a wormhole to worlds past, present, and unknown. All the places that books could take me. I might have grown up in a bookshop, but the library was always special.”

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Content Breakdown: Alcohol, Bars, One mention of Being mad at the universe, Blood, Bride left at the altar, Cheating (on a significant other), Dating Service & Matchmaking, Discovery & Description of a dead body, Brief mention of Ghost tours & Feeling the breath of a spirit, Intoxication, Language (a couple uses of Jack-a$$), Murder, Physical Attacks/Attempted Murder (male & female, non-fatal), & Single-Motherhood

Last Word to the Wise is the second book in the Christie Bookstore cozy series by Ann Claire. Released 3rd Oct 2023 by Penguin Random House on their Ballantine imprint, it's 336 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links.

This is a well written and engaging bookish cozy mystery set in ski country in Colorado. The amateur protagonists, sisters whose name is Christie, who own and manage a bookstore, are intelligent and believably rendered. The clues and mystery are fair play, and are self contained in this volume, so no cliffhangers or annoying "cheats" in the solution. They even have a shop cat named Agatha C. (for cat).

This installment sees the sisters involved in their cousin's startup, a bookish dating service, and although the denouement and resolution are fairly easy to guess beforehand, they're well written and satisfying. The language is clean, and there's no graphic violence or sexual content. This would be a good choice for lovers of light cozies, the kind with whimsically eccentric small town characters, a town diner, a shop cat, and rural countryside. Readers who are fans of Diane Kelly and Laurie Cass will find a lot to like here.

Four stars. It would be a good choice for public library acquisition, or a short binge/series/buddy read.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

The Christie sisters and their bookshop cat, Agatha, flirt with cold-hearted crime when bookish matchmaking turns into a date with death.

Sisters Ellie and Meg Christie share a love of books, reading, and their new roles as co-caretakers of the Book Chalet, their family’s historic bookshop tucked midway up a scenic Colorado mountain. But romance? That’s another story. Ellie and Meg joke they’re in sisterly competition for worst relationships. So, when their cousin signs them up for her newest business endeavor, matchmaking based on bookish tastes, the sisters approach their blind double dates with foot-dragging dread.

While Ellie’s date meets her low expectations, Meg’s match, a book-loving romantic straight out of classic literature, charms her over a lovely dinner. The next morning, Meg is giddy with anticipation of a second date—until she’s stood up without a word. She fumes that she should have known better. However, her date had a good reason for ghosting her. He’s dead. Murdered, the police later confirm.

As the last known person to see the victim alive, Meg becomes a prime suspect in his death. She grimly quips that at least her dating record can’t get any worse. But it does. A thorn from Meg’s romantic past returns to little Last Word, espousing motives too sweet to believe.

To sleuth out the truth, the sisters must sift through secrets deeper than the February snowfall. Clues accumulate, but so do suspects, crimes, and betrayals. Ellie and Meg can’t afford to leave any page unturned. Romance may not be their forte, but hearts and lives are on the line, and the Christies know how to solve a mystery—especially when murder is involved.

I will always be down for a cozy mystery and Ellie and Meg never disappoint. I love the sprinkles of Christie throughout the novel as always. And of course a mystery book with cats always is gonna slap. I will say I enjoy book 1 better than this. There were many new friends added to this story and the every evolving small town cozy feel. Overall, love these faster paced mysteries and read in an evening.

Thanks to Random House Publishing - Ballantine, NetGalley and author Ann Claire for this book in exchange for an honest review.

To be honest I've only read a couple of Agatha Christie mysteries. I picked up 1st Book in this Series - Dead and Gondola and loved its Bookstore on a Mountain setting so I was excited to receive an Advanced Readers Copy of Book 2 - Last Word to the Wise. Great cozy mystery full of book lovers, cats, and cocoa. So find a comfy chair and settle in.

Such a fun book! A true cozy mystery. I loved the first book in the series, Dead and Gondola, and this one did not disappoint. I love all the main characters and thought the mystery was well thought out. It makes we want to revisit Agatha Christie

The Christie sisters are at it again - finding dead bodies. Ellie and Meg don’t mean to get in the middle of a murder investigation, but they keep showing up at all the wrong times. Hopefully this time they can clear Meg from being the main suspect before someone else gets hurt. Mystery, a cozy mountain town, books & an adorable cat. What more could you want?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Netgally, the publishers, and Ann Claire

When I requested this book I was unaware that it was apart of a series, one that requires you to read the previous books for this one to make sense. I am unable to read all the previous books along with this one before the publish date. Therefore, I will rate this a fair 3/5 stars and will adjust the rating and review when I am able to read all the books in the series along with this one.

Fun, light cozy mystery. I liked the second book in the Christie Bookshop series. It didn't pull me in quite like the first one but was still enjoyable. The Agatha Christie references were fun.

Last Word to the Wise is a cozy mystery by Ann Claire. It is book two in the Christie Bookshop Mystery series, and I would recommend reading them in order.

Summary: When Ellie and Meg got roped into their cousin’s newest business scheme (a book-themed dating service), they had no idea their first blind dates would lead to one of them being accused of murder. Can they figure out who committed the crime, or is it more than just their love lives that are doomed?

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book. I love the quirky characters in this series, and it was such fun to revisit them for a second time. It felt like coming home, which is always the sign of a good read!

This book has a unique story line, a good mystery that keeps you guessing, and lots of bookish references, which I love.

I would definitely recommend this book. It was a great read, and I hope there will be plenty more in this series!

I would like to thank Random House Publishing Group for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my review. Thank you!

I posted this review to my Goodreads account on 1.20.23:

I enjoyed DEAD AND GONDOLA, so I was all in for another cozy mystery set in quaint Last Word, Colorado. Bookstore settings always appeal to me and it was a joy to revisit The Book Chalet, complete with its celebrity cat. The Christie sisters are likable, if not really unique or particularly memorable. Their relationship is warm, wholesome, and refreshingly drama-free. Their friends, family members, and acquaintances are also appealing, although again, none of them really stand out and a few of them—especially in this installment—blended together so much that I got a tad confused. Sam Ibarra is a nice new addition to the series' cast and I actually liked Waldon too. He makes me laugh at least. As far as plot goes, LAST WORD TO THE WISE moves a little slowly, but the book is still a quick read that had enough action to keep me reading. The killer's identity is not as obvious as I first thought, so that was a nice surprise. As with most cozies, this book is squeaky clean, with no profanity or sex and only mild violence. Always a bonus for me! So, while this series may not be the most dynamic or original, I enjoy its upbeat vibe, its bookishness, its fun setting, its appealing characters, and its intriguing-enough mysteries. Needless to say, I'm looking forward to the next installment.

If I could, I would give this book 3 1/2 stars; since I can't, I'm rounding up.

Despite the murders in the series, these cozy murder mysteries about the Christie sisters, who are not related to Agatha Christie but run a bookshop and know all things Agatha Christie, are lovely. Suspenseful, thought provoking, and entertaining, this series is an overall delight. This book continues on the secrets from Dead and Gondola and has the sisters working to undercover the mystery of yet another death.

Just finished this one, it was the perfect companion on this (literally) freezing, snowy day!

This is the second in the series. I love the setting - a cozy book chalet run by the Christie sisters in a small Colorado mountain town. This cozy series is perfect for mystery lovers - plenty of Agatha Christie references as Ellie Christie investigates to solve another murder in her small town.

Don’t miss this one if you like cozy mysteries, small town murder, strong female leads, amateur sleuths, and especially a fun bookstore setting complete with a bookstore cat!

I love this cozy mystery series! Meg and Ellie Christie, along with their adorable cat named in honor of mystery queen Agatha, are once again visited by murder and mystery at their lovely Book Chalet. This time, the setup is romance, with matchmaking inspired by book preferences bringing trouble to Meg. Ellie is determined to help her sister and works the mystery with the locals and new-addition Detective Sam. The possibly budding relationship between Ellie and Sam was my favorite part! I also enjoyed the pacing, cast of characters, and the intrigue. My only gripe is that sometimes the characters got a bit boring ( Yes, Meg is nice. Can she be more, please?) and sometimes the book read more YA than adult (Ellie is 30 something?!). Other than that, I had no issues and happily devoured this one. I’m hoping for a 3rd in the series soon!

Ellie and Meg Christie are back for more bookish shenanigans and amateur sleuthing! When the sisters agree to go on a double bookish blind date they would never suspect that they would be embroiled in a murder - again! With Meg being the last person to see her dead bookish date, the sisters will have to put all of their skills to use to uncover who the killer is.

The Christie Bookshop series is fast becoming a cozy murder mystery favorite for me. This second book in the series holds even more twists and persons of interest, while still having the same great characters. If you love wit along with your murder, then this is the series for you.

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, but I really feel like the author outdid herself in this one. I actually had no idea who had done what and there were so many axillary mysteries that made it a quick, easy and captivating read.

The only reasons that you may not want to read this is if you are looking for an intense thriller, gore or a psychological thriller. Part of the plot includes an absentee father and some difficult family dynamics that may not be for you, but I think that the author did such a great job at covering those topics while still staying true to the tone of the book and giving the topic proper justice.

Overall, I love this world that Ann Claire has built. I already want to jump back into this one so I can see how she weaved everything together. I will be avidly awaiting more books in this series and letting all of my cozy mystery lovers know about this one!

Last Word to the Wise is the second book in the Christie Bookshop series by Ann Claire. This is a delightful cozy mystery series. It is clever, captivating and feel-good, and the small town setting is ideal.

This particular story has winter themes and we get more of the two sisters and bookshop owners along with their cats, as they get hoodwinked into trying their cousin’s matching-making service. Ellie’s date is a bit of a disaster, but Meg’s seems to go quite well, until he doesn’t show up for the follow-up brunch. When he is found dead, Meg ends up topping the suspect list, and so of course, the sisters must investigate.

The bookish setting in this story is so cozy, the family is close-knit, and the ongoing stories of each of the characters is engaging. Some of the characters are admittedly rather annoying, but you always have one (or more) in your life, right? Ultimately, this is a charming, entertaining series and I look forward to seeing where things go from here.

1 cup of tea ☕️+ 1 rainy afternoon ☔️+ 1 cozy mystery 📖= the perfect way to spend the day 🥰

I just finished the latest installment in the Christie Bookshop Mysteries & it was EXCELLENT! After reading the debut last year I’ve been craving book 2 & this didn’t disappoint. If you’re looking for a bookish cozy with the perfect location, best cast of characters and fun mysteries then you need to pick up this series.

Thank you to @randomhouse for the advanced copy. This one is out on 10/03.

Loved everything about this book. The sister dynamic was fun to read and I loved the who done it aspect of the book. I did not guess the killer at the end.

This is a cute, biblio-dating, small-town cozy mystery/romance. The story is built around Agatha Christie mysteries, from the character names, cat name, quotes, book titles, play, and, of course, murders and other suspicious events. It offers some insight into Agatha Christie’s characters.

Lorna, a creative but pushy and self-involved woman is always hopping from one small business venture to another, be it real estate, candle selling, or now, book inspired dating. The problem is that Lorna isn’t overly interested in following all the steps required to form a successful business and is perfectly happy to cut corners. She ropes her cousins, sisters Ellie and Meg Christie, booksellers, into submitting themselves to her book matched dating. Things don’t go quite as Lorna anticipated, but that doesn’t stop her.

When Lorna goes to visit one of those she matched and finds things at his house suspiciously upturned, she calls Ellie to join her. Ellie discovers a body. And then she discovers Sam Ibarra, a handsome and intelligent Last Word police detective.

This was a nicely written and cute cozy mystery. It’s filled with an array of quirky characters. You’ll find a few surprises along the way. If you enjoy cute cozies, then this might be a good choice for you.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I thank all involved for their generosity, but it had no effect on this review. All opinions in this review reflect my true and honest reactions to reading this book.