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.

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