Ellie Alexander

When The Secret Bookcase, the bookstore Annie Murray works for, may have to close due to declining sales, she comes up with the idea for a mystery festival. Most businesses are quickly on board and tickets sell out quickly. Annie is surprised when several of her old classmates from university show up especially when it seems there is a great deal of antagonism among them. When the body of one classmate is discovered in the secret room of the store and a friend becomes the main suspect, Annie, who studied criminology at uni, is pleased that her favourite professor, Dr Caldwell, is part of the investigative team. She is even more pleased when Dr Caldwell seeks her help. But it becomes clear very fast that the victim had a lot of enemies not only among her old classmates but among the town people and someone seems willing to do anything to keep the murder from being solved.

There is something especially enjoyable about cozy mysteries set in bookstores or libraries and The Body in the Bookcase, the first book in a new cozy mystery series, A Secret Bookcase Mystery by Ellie Alexander, is no exception. The characters are well-drawn and Annie, the main protagonist, is smart, resourceful, and likeable. If I have an quibble, it would be that the perpetrator was a bit too obvious but there was enough going on that it had little effect on my enjoyment. Overall, a fun read and I look forward to Annie's future adventures in the Secret Bookcase bookstore.

Thanks to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review… (more)

Leavenworth, Washington, a Bavarian-theme brewery town, is preparing for its Octoberfest. A group filming a documentary arrives, but the program's troublesome star ends up dead before much filming occurs. The microbrewery where Sloan Krause works is a bit off the beaten path, but tasting their cherry weizen seems to be among the star's last experiences. Sloan and the police begin investigating persons who'd had run-ins with the star. Is it Leavenworth local or a member of the documentary crew? This continues to be an interesting cozy series.… (more)

Since the interactive and immersive Mystery Festival in the spring was so successful, Annie Murray is busy coordinating preparations for the fall festival. Annie Murray is a bookseller and event coordinator at the Secret Bookcase. During an unexpected phone call, Annie can hardly believe what she hears! An independent filmmaker, Heather Hathaway, is asking Annie to coordinate the premiere of her new thriller, "Midnight Alibi," which will highlight a mystery film weekend in Redwood Grove. More publicity for the mystery bookstore inspired by Agatha Christie, complete with a secret room in the reconverted old manor house. A request Annie can't refuse!

I love armchair traveling to Redwood Grove! The allure of the bookstore and its special events, along with the chance to meet Annie Murray, her cat Professor Plum, colleague Fletcher, bookstore owner Hal Christie, former professor Dr. Caldwell, and best friend Priya (Pri) Kapoor at the coffee shop is irresistible. Surely, Pri would take me to the Stag Head so I could slyly peek at the pub owner, Liam Donovan, who gives tingles to Annie.

As charming as the setting is, the unexpected event during the premiere necessitates an intriguing investigation. More questions have led to fewer answers, with cleverly placed red herrings leading the way.

Thank you to Ellie Alexander, Storm Publishing, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an eARC of this novel. The double treat of 2 releases on the same day (June 19, 2024) is a delightful surprise for readers like me. We eagerly await the next event hosted by the Secret Bookcase.… (more)