A Very Novel Murder by Ellie Alexander

 A Very Novel Murder

Book Summary

Opening a detective agency above her beloved bookstore seems like the perfect business plan—until Annie Murray’s first case involves a suspicious death right on her doorstep.

June Munrow, an elderly resident of Annie’s home town, Redwood Grove, is convinced that young Kelly Taylor’s recent drowning wasn't the tragic accident everyone believes it to be. Despite the police ruling, June is determined to prove there’s more to the story and hires the Novel Detectives to uncover the truth.

As Annie delves into Kelly’s life, she discovers a tangled web of secrets involving Kelly’s complicated relationships, a peculiar landlord, and her mysterious roommate. Everyone connected to Kelly seems to be hiding something, and the deeper Annie digs, the more puzzling the case becomes.

With her trademark blend of curiosity and compassion, can Annie piece together the clues and solve her first official case—before she gets into deep water herself?

My Thoughts

A Very Novel Murder by Ellie Alexander is the first book in The Novel Detectives series.  It is a spin-off from A Secret Bookcase Mysteries. A Very Novel Murder works as a standalone, but reading the previous series gives more character background.  I found the story to be easy to read, and the main characters are likeable.  The book describes rooms, items, food, and clothes in great detail, and its pacing is leisurely.  First Annie and Fletcher have no business and then they have two cases to solve.  Novel Detectives is hired by June, the nosy neighbor on the block, to uncover the truth regarding the death of Kelly, an up-and-coming surfer.  June believes her friend was murdered and has even compiled a list of suspects for the duo.   

I liked this mystery.  It was not complicated, but it made me smile (if I told you why, I would spoil it for you).  Annie and Fletcher’s other case will require more time. Caroline asks them to investigate Hal’s ancestry.  Hal believes that he is related to Agatha Christie and Caroline has found an item that may reveal the truth.  Much like A Secret Bookcase Mysteries, I believe this whodunit will be revealed gradually across multiple books. I am curious to see how that storyline will play out.  My favorite quote from A Very Novel Murder is, “It just went to show you couldn’t judge a book by its cover, or a reader by the book.” 

A Very Novel Murder is available from Amazon*.  The next two books in The Novel Detectives Mystery series are  A Death in the Dark which comes out on April 21 and A Murder at the Mansion on July 21.  You can find A Secret Bookcase Mysteries here.  Ellie Alexander also wries A Bakeshop Mysteries and has The Whisking Hour coming out February 24.  You can find all of Ellie Alexander's novels here.  Thank you for stopping by today.  I will return tomorrow which is Wednesday, January 21 with Death by Irish Coffee by Alex Erickson.  It is the 15th A Bookstore Cafe Mystery.  I am off to rest.  I caught a cold last week (I did not move fast enough to avoid it) and it is lingering (the cold weather is not helping).  Luckily, my mother has not caught it.  I hope that you have a delightful day.  Take care, stay warm, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

*This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.  Thank you for supporting The Avid Reader.

The Good Mothers by Caitlin Weaver

The Good Mothers

Book Summary

With an eight-year-old son struggling with ADHD and nowhere else to turn, soon-to-be-divorced mom Lacey answers a life-saving ad: “Seeking responsible single mom to join our household. Motherhood can be lonely and we support each other!”

When she arrives at Wildwood Lane she finds a ramshackle house with a welcoming bright yellow door and a wraparound porch with its cozy couch and scattered toys. And inside, three mothers who have forged their own rules for survival.

As Lacey battles her conspiracy-theorist ex-husband for custody while juggling a new, make-or-break job, she discovers these women offer more than shared childcare, communal dinners and late nights bonding over wine after the kids’ bedtime. They're building something revolutionary: a chosen family where women don’t just survive—they thrive.

But when her enigmatic housemate comes up with a risky plan that could secure her financially and protect her son’s future, she faces an impossible choice: How far will she go to protect the family she’s found?

A fierce, tender novel about how sometimes women have to break the rules to build the life they really want. Perfect for readers who loved Big Little Lies and All They Need to Know.

My Thoughts

The Good Mothers by Caitlin Weaver portrays men and women in a bad light.  In the beginning, I felt for Lacey who is trying to protect her son from her husband.  Lacey’s son has been diagnosed with ADHD and needs medication, but her conspiracy theorist husband does not agree.  Thus ensues a bitter divorce and custody battle.  Every evening the four women residing in the “mommune” sit around the kitchen table drinking copious amounts of wine while complaining about men.  I did not like the methods the women employed to get ahead.  The men in the story with the exception are portrayed in a bad light.  

Lacey’s husband is awful and I do not blame Lacey for being nervous about him gaining custody of their sensitive son.  I found myself shaking my head and rolling my eyes over the actions taken by the women.  The ladies condemn the men for their action, but they felt it was okay to “break a few rules (they stomped on the rules).”   Breaking the rules and violence are never the answer.  I thought Lacey would have learned her lesson after the truck incident.  The ending was expected.  I did not feel that the story lived up to the blurb.

The Good Mothers is available from Amazon*.  If you are a member of Kindle Unlimited, you can read it for free.  While The Good Mothers was not my cup of tea, I suggest you download a sample to see if it suits you.  Thank you for stopping by today.  I will be back on Tuesday, January 20 with A Very Novel Murder by Ellie Alexander. It is the first A Novels Detective Mystery. I hope that you have a wonderful weekend.  Take care, stay warm, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

*This post contains affiliate links.

The Body in the Bookstore by Ellie Alexander

 The Body in the Bookstore

Book Summary

An addictively cozy and gripping murder mystery introducing a brand-new amateur sleuth and lovable heroine to the crime scene…

Welcome to The Secret Bookcase, a quirky bookstore in a grand, converted manor house, where the selection of crime fiction is dangerously good. The store has been bookseller and events manager Annie Murray’s sanctuary ever since her dreams of starting a detective agency with her best friend died, literally, when Scarlet was murdered.

Annie has never stopped trying to solve the mystery of her friend’s death, but her quiet life in leafy Redwood Grove, with its warm community of likeminded local business-owners and book-lovers, has provided the solace she needed. Until now.

When a body is discovered in the bookstore during the town’s inaugural Mystery Fest, Anne finds herself catapulted to the centre of a real-life whodunit. Dusting off her criminology degree, Annie is determined to put her sleuthing skills to good use and catch the killer – before it’s too late.

My Thoughts

The Body in the Bookstore by Ellie Alexander is the beginning of A Secret Bookcase Mysteries.  We get to meet Annie Murray, who loves mysteries, along with her best friend, Pri plus Annie’s coworker, Fletcher and her boss, Hal.  There are a variety of shop owners too.    Annie is intelligent, has an attention for detail, and a passion for books.  Annie is a likeable and relatable protagonist.  I hope we get to learn more about her as the series progresses.  I love the bookstore, the Secret Bookcase.  I could spend hours in there searching for books to add to my TBR pile. I love the items added for Mystery Fest (I want one of the old typewriters). Mystery Fest was a clever idea and a great way to save the bookstore.  It is an event that I would love to attend (so would any mystery lover). 

 It was great the way the shop owners of Redwood Grove (well, all but one grump) became involved in the event. The author did a wonderful job of worldbuilding.   The mystery was interesting.  I like where the victim was found.  Annie is an eager sleuth and Pri is happy to assist her.  There are clues scattered along the way as well as a red herring or two.  The discussions between Annie and Dr. Caldwell were insightful, but they could meander on.  I have a feeling that Annie will be working with Dr. Caldwell again in the future.  There were repetitive details (the same details repeated two, three, or five times). There was a touch of romance as Annie found herself attracted to a certain pub owner. It had Annie blushing like a teenage girl (and her mind wandering).  Annie is told at the end that there is information that may help her solve the murder of her college best friend.  We will have to wait for A Murder at the Movies (preview at the end of the book) for more details.  The Body in the Bookstore is a charming California cozy with a secret cubby, a killed college acquaintance, a slew of suspects, beatnik storyteller, a bitter ex-boyfriend, a pushy publisher, and a curious criminalist. 

The Body in the Bookstore is available from Amazon*.  The second book in A Secret Bookcase Mystery is  A Murder at the Movies.  Thank you for dropping by today.  On Tuesday, June 25, I will be featuring The Triplets' Summer Adventure by Laurel Blount.  I hope that you have a delightful weekend.  I plan on working on the lights on my porch.  I have solar lights wrapped around the support posts, but a couple of sets have bit the dust.  I am going to change them out for warm white rope lights. I also need to add hooks for my new wind chimes.  They are little tasks but it is too hot to do more!  I do have a stack of books next to the couch where I can read, relax, and enjoy a cool drink (aka Pepsi). Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.  This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.  Thank you for supporting The Avid Reader.